Procuring a USA Visa
Overview
United States of America, abbreviated as the USA or the US, is one of the most visited countries of the world. With a diverse cultural background, the country attracts tourists, students, athletes, artists as well as business personnel alike. Also, with world-class facilities in terms of travel, studies, and hospitality, it is a great place for expat students and businessmen to make a mark in their careers.
Why is USA Visa Needed?
Indians traveling to the USA, either for leisure, studies or work mandatorily require a visa. The type of visa required will be determined on the basis of the purpose of the visit.
Basic Types of USA Visa
The two basic types of USA visas include:
Non-Immigrant Visa:This type of visa can be issued for a series of purposes including tourist visa, student visa, transit visa, business visa, medical visa, etc. Non-immigrant visa is for people who are not visiting with the purpose of becoming residents of the country. The application process for this is generally easier and faster than that of the migrant visa.
Immigrant Visa:This type of visa can be issued to people who wish to become residents of the country. It is generally time consuming to avail a migrant visa. People applying for this visa will require a petition signed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which will need to be filled by either a relative or a potential employer. Indians are also required to file the Form I-130 by mail. Upon filing this, you will be provided with instructions on the medical test. Once these instructions are received, you will need to visit the U.S. embassy approved physician for the examination.
USA Visa Eligibility
Based on the purpose of your visit, here is a table that provides all the information on eligibility for USA visa:
Non-Immigrant Visa Category Eligibility:
Note the abbreviations:
SEVIS: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
DOL: Department of Labor
USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
| Purpose of Travel |
Visa Category |
Eligibility Process: Approvals Required From |
| Athletes and professional sports people |
B-1 |
(NA) |
| Au pair and domestic assistant |
J |
SEVIS |
| Business traveller |
B-1 |
(NA) |
| Crewmember |
B-1 |
(NA) |
| Diplomats including foreign government officials |
A |
(NA) |
| Domestic aid accompanied by a foreign national employer |
B-1 |
(NA) |
| Employed with a designated international organization or NATO |
G1-G5, NATO |
(NA) |
| Exchange visitor |
J |
(NA) |
| Expat military professional stationed in the US |
A2, NATO1-6 |
SEVIS |
| Expats with extraordinary ability in Science, Art, Business, Athletics or Education |
O |
USCIS |
| Traveller for Cultural exchange |
Q |
DOL |
| Intra-company transferee |
L |
USCIS |
| Traveller for Medical treatment |
B-2 |
(NA) |
| Journalist and other media personnel |
I |
(NA) |
| Performing artist and entertainer |
P |
USCIS |
| Physicians and Doctors |
J, H-1B |
USCIS |
| Professor, scholar, teacher |
J |
SEVIS |
| Religious traveller |
R |
USCIS |
| Experts in Specialty occupations |
H-1B |
USCIS |
| Academic or vocational students |
F, M |
DOL then USCIS |
| Temporary agricultural worker |
H-2A |
SEVIS |
| emporary worker or laborer with a seasonal nature of work |
H-2B |
DOL then USCIS |
| Tourism, vacation, and holiday traveller |
B-2 |
DOL then USCIS |
| Training (not for employment) |
H-3 |
(NA) |
| Treaty trader or investor |
H3 |
USCIS |
| Transiting the country |
C |
(NA) |
| Criminal Activity Victim |
U |
(NA) |
| Human Trafficking Victim |
T |
USCIS |
| Non-immigrant Visa for Spouse and Kids of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) |
V |
(NA) |
Immigrant Visa Category Eligibility:
| Immediate Relative Family Sponsored |
Visa Category |
| E |
IR1, CR1 |
| Spouse of a citizen awaiting approval of I-130 |
K-3 |
| Fiance(e) to marry a citizen to live in the country |
K-1 |
| Certain Family Members of an LPR |
F2A, F2B |
| Employer Sponsored - Employment |
| Priority Workers |
E1 |
| Professionals with Advanced Degrees and Extraordinary Abilities |
E2 |
| Professional Workers |
E3, EW3 |
| Investors and employment creators |
C5, T5, R5, I5 |
| Special immigrants |
S |
| Religious Workers |
SD, SR |
| Other Immigrants |
| Diversity Immigrant Visa |
DV |
| Returning Resident |
SB |
USA Visa Application Process
You can apply for an American visa either online or offline. The application form based on the visa category can be downloaded online. For offline application, the applicant will have to fill the form and travel to the embassy. For online application, all forms will need to be submitted virtually. Once the forms are submitted, you will receive an appointment date. In all cases, applicants will need to undergo a face-to-face interview.
Documents Required for USA Visa application
For the face-to-face interview, you would need to carry the following documents:
- Visa form, fees and valid passport
- Photographs as per regulations
- Statement highlighting the purpose and nature of visit
- Financial records showing enough funds to manage the visit
- Personal resume highlighting academics and work experience
- Detailed itinerary with name of the places to be visited and numbers of the organizations involved
- Invitation letter from sponsor organization or family member
USA Visa Fees
The visa fees for USA depend on the category of visa and the purpose of visit primarily. It typically ranges from about $160 to $265 based on the nature of your visit. Click here for detailed break-up of USA visa fees.
How to Check Status of USA Visa
Upon application for visa, USA embassy will assign you a 13-digit receipt number. For immigrant visa, you will need to visit theofficial website of USCISand enter this receipt number to verify the status. For non-immigrant visa, you will need to visit theofficial website of Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC)and enter the interview location as well as the case number.
FAQs on USA Visa
Is travel insurance mandatory for obtaining a USA Visa?
No, travel insurance is not mandatory for obtaining a US visa. However, it is surely advisable in order to protect you from unfortunate events including health troubles, flight cancellation, baggage loss, robbery, hospitalization, etc. Remember that the medical and hospitalization costs in the US are very steep and this can spoil your budget in case you do not have a travel insurance. With Bharti AXA travel insurance, you can be ensured of a safe and hassle-free journey.
Are there any other benefits of purchasing a Bharti AXAtravel insurance plan?
Apart from the benefits listed above, a Bharti AXA travel insurance plan would protect you with passport loss cover, accident cover, trip cancellation or delay cover, accommodation cover, legal expenses cover, etc. It will also cover in case you need to be repatriated on an emergency basis.
US Visa Application Process
Basic Types of US Visas
There are about 185 types of US visas that can be availed based on the nature, purpose, and duration of your travel. The type applicable for you will also depend on your profession and overall profile.
However, all the 185 types of visas can be broadly categorized into two basic types: Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visas. If you are going there for residence purposes, you will require immigrant visa; otherwise non-immigrant visa.
What is Immigrant Visa:
Immigrant visa is issued only to people who have invitation letters from either a relative or a potential employer. This invitation letter is to be duly signed and submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Additionally, for Indians, a mandatory medical test is required by a physician approved by the US embassy. Post this, I-130 form will need to be filed and you’ll subsequently be invited for a face-to-face interview.
What is Non-Immigrant Visa:
Non-immigrant visa is issued to people visiting the country for a short time for purposes including but not limited to studies, business, traveling, meetings, transit, conferences, events, medical, religious, sports, arts, performance, etc.
How to Apply for US Visa:
In order to understand the application process, you will first need to understand the categories under immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
Categories Under Immigrant Visa:
Family or Relative Sponsored:
- Spouse of a citizen
- Spouse of a citizen awaiting approval of I-130
- Fiancee of a citizen
- Family members of either a citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
Categories Under Non-immigrant Visa:
- Athletes and sports persons
- Au pair
- Business traveller
- Crew member
- Diplomats and foreign government officials
- Foreign military professional stationed in the US
- Employee of a designated international organization including NATO
- Religious traveller
- Trader or Investor
- Experts in special applications
- Spouse and kids of an LPR
- Temporary laborers
- Temporary agricultural workers
- Leisure traveller
- Transiting the country
- Victim of a crime
- Victim of trafficking
- Physician
- Journalist or media personnel
- Performing artist
- Traveling for training, event or conference
Read the main page of US Visa in order to know the application eligibility of all these categories of visas.
Process for Different Types of Visas
You will need to select the relevant category from the above mentioned list and thendownload the US visa application formfor that particular category from the US Department of State website. Certainforms with I series such as I-130, I-159, etc. are available on the USCIS website. Once you have downloaded the applicable application form, you can fill it and either submit it online or submit it offline to the embassy you wish to visit. Once all the relevant forms required for US visa process are filled, you will be called for a face-to-face interview. Based on your category, you might be required to follow some extra steps that you can check on the relevant websites.
Where to Apply for US Visa?
You will first need to visit the Visa Application Centre for your photographs and fingerprints to be taken. Post that, you will need to appear for an interview at the U.S Embassy or Consulate as per the date and time confirmed with you earlier. In India, you can choose to visit any of the following embassies:
- Chennai: Gemini Circle, No. 220, Anna Salai
- Secunderabad: Paigah Palace 1-8-323 Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet
- Kolkata: 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani
- Mumbai: C-49, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East
- New Delhi: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
You will need to carry the following things when you visit the embassy:
- Supporting documents based on your visa category
- Printed copy of application form
- Printed copy of appointment letter
- Current as well as old passports
How to Book Appointment?
First, you will need tocreate an account for scheduling an appointment with the US embassy. You will then require to pay the visa processing fees as applicable based on your category. Once the fee is paid, you will see an option for "Schedule Appointment" on the main menu on the left-hand side of your dashboard.
You will need to schedule two different appointments; one with the Visa Application Centre (VAC) and the other with the Embassy for the interview. In order to schedule an appointment, you will need to enter the following details:
- 10-digit barcode number from the DS-160 form confirmation page
- The date you paid the application fee
- Your passport number
Documents required for US Visa Application Process
Supporting documents are required to be brought along for the US visa interview. The list of documents primarily depends on the category of visa you are applying for. However, is a short list of common documents that one might need:
- Proof of income, property ownership, etc.
- History of criminal cases, sentences, pardons and if any case is currently pending in courts
- Travel itinerary along with other major details and locations of your trip
- Authorized letter from your employer mentioning your salary, position, employment duration, leave approval for vacation or business purpose, if any
US Visa Eligibility
US Visa Eligibility The eligibility for US visa needs to be checked based on the category of visa that you fall under. For non-immigrant categories, you will need to take approvals from either USCIS or SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) or DOL (Department of Labor). Whether you are an athlete or a performing artist, a traveller or a businessman, before applying you will need to check thoroughly whether you fulfil all the requirements and eligibility criteria of the respective visa category.
How to Check Status of USA Visa
Non-Immigrant Visa: You can check the status on theofficial website of CEAC– Consular Electronic Application Centre
Immigrant Visa: You can check the application status on theofficial website of USCIS.
How to get US Visa
Once the application is done and the appointment is completed, you will receive your passport by courier at home with a US visa stamp. Usually, it is received in under 7 days after the interview.
Is there a Separate Process to Apply for Bharti AXA Travel Insurance?
Yes, you will need to apply fortravel insuranceseparately. In order to ensure that you are safe and covered in case of any emergency or ill-fated incidents, traveling along with comprehensive travel insurance is highly advisable. It will surely provide you financial back-up and mental peace while you freely enjoy the trip to make the most of it. Just log onto the Bharti AXA website and choose a travel insurance plan that fits both your requirements as well as your budget. With the various plan options that we offer, finding the perfect Bharti AXA travel insurance plan will be easier than ever.
US Visa Document Requirements
Basic Types of Visas
The two main types of visas for US are immigrant visa and non-immigrant visa. Immigrant visas are for those willing to shift to US for residence purpose, sponsored either by a potential employer or a well-earning relative who is a residence of the country. Non-immigrant visas are for those who are traveling or shifting to the US on a temporary basis for leisure, studies, performance, training, off-site, temporary work, religious work, etc.
Documents Required for US Visa application
Mandatory Documents:
- Current as well as all old passports
- Photographs not more than 6 months old and as recommended by the embassy
- Confirmation page of the DS-160 form submitted online
- Visa fee receipt
- Original appointment letter for the face-to-face interview
These are the mandatory documents you will need to produce during the interview. Apart from these, there would be a series of other supporting documents that you would need to produce based on the category of the visa that you are applying for. Common supporting documents for non-immigrant visa would include:
Sponsorship Documents:
In case you are sponsored by a US resident for visiting the country, you will need to produce the following documents:
- An affidavit letter that confirms that the sponsor is capable of taking care of your financial needs.
- A bank letter from the sponsor's bank that shows the current balance, date of account opening, and the total deposits over the last year.
- Employment letter of the sponsor proving that he is salaried and capable of supporting you financially.
- Payslips of the sponsor for the last three to four months.
Previous US Visits Related Documents:
- In case you have visited US before and came back on time, as per US visa requirements, you will need to present the proofs for that including stamped visa and flight tickets.
- In case you visited US before and had to extend the stay, present the Form I-797 for extension of status approval.
- In case any of your close relatives have visited US and came back on time, present the proof of the same.
Travel Documents:
- US tourist visa requirements for leisure travellers include presenting their onwards as well as return flight tickets.
- You will also need to submit a proof of accommodation confirming the place where you will be staying. It could be a hotel, rented house, friend's place or relative's place.
- In case you do not have the accommodation booked, you need to show the financial capability to book it once you reach there.
Property Documents
In case you own a property in your home country or any other place, you will need to present the proofs for the same. For non-immigrant visa, this will ensure the consular about your strong ties with your home country. Following documents related to the property should be submitted:
- Ownership papers
- Personal affidavit related to the property
- Photos of the property
Employment Documents:
- If employed, furnish details on salary, position, employment duration with the company, holiday authorization, and purpose of visiting US.
- If self-employed, furnish details on company incorporation certificate and overall income.
- If retired, present the pension book.
Family Documents:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Adoption certificate (if applicable)
- Divorce certificate (if applicable)
- Spouse's death certificate (if applicable)
- Photographs of close family
Personal Documents
- Before the interview, you are required to visit a physician approved by the US embassy panel. After undergoing a thorough medical check-up, he will issue a medical certificate to you which will need to be presented during the interview.
- Documents of any criminal/civil case records or convictions in the past (if applicable).
Other Visa Category Specific Documents Required
For Medical Travel:
USA visa requirements for medical travellers include the following apart from the documents listed above:
- Medical diagnosis from a local doctor explaining the unavailability of the required treatment and expertise in the home country.
- Letter from a medical facility in the US confirming that they can provide the required treatment. You will also need to present the cost breakdown for the same.
- Proof of financial means with which you will support your travel and treatment.
For Studies:
- Admission confirmation in a US institute.
- Apart from the normal visa fee, you will also be required to pay the fee for SEVIS I-901 and submit the payment receipt during the interview.
For Work:
- Degree and diploma certificates that make you eligible for the work profile.
- Job offer letter from a US employer
- CV
- Letter from previous employer
- Additional fee
US Visa Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for US visa depend on the category of visa you are applying for. You should gather all your US visa documents based on the list provided in this article and then work on the eligibility requirements. Apart from the documents as enlisted above, you will need to seek special permissions from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS), or Department of Labor (DOL).
US Tourist Visa
What is US Tourist Visa?
US tourist visa is for non-immigrant travellers who are not visiting the country for the purpose of residence. Tourist visa can be availed by a range of people including, but not limited to:
- Leisure travellers
- Business travellers
- Artists
- Athletes and sports people
- Short term worker and laborers
- Travellers for off-site, meetings, conferences, events, etc.
- Medical travellers
- Religious travellers
- People transiting the country
- Crew members
- Exchange visitors
- Expat military professionals
- Expats with extra-ordinary abilities
- Cultural exchange travellers
- Travellers for journalism and media related work
- Physicians and Doctors
- Academic or vocational students
- Temporary agricultural worker
- Investors
- Victim of human trafficking
- Victim of criminal activity
- Spouse of children visiting a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the country
Tourists visit US with a wide range of purposes making it one of the most travelled countries in the world and they are neatly categorized into different sub-categories within the main category of tourist visa.