US Visa Fees For Indians

All Indian citizens must hold a valid US visa if they wish to travel or relocate to the US. The only exceptions to this rule are citizens or nationals of countries included under the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

A US visa will allow you to travel to a port of entry — airports or land border crossing — and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States.

DHS/CBP inspectors are responsible for admitting travellers to the United States for a specified status and period of time and all immigration matters during your stay within the country.

While a visa does not guarantee entry into the US, it signals to DHS/CBP inspectors that a consular officer at a US Embassy or Consulate has approved your eligibility to seek entry.

According to US immigration laws, visas can be broadly categorised under two types based on your travel purposes:

- Non-Immigrant Visas: These visas are intended for travellers who are not US citizens or lawful permanent residents of the US. They are offered to temporary visitors, and the type of non-immigrant visa you opt for will depend on the purpose and duration of your visit. Non-Immigrant US visa fees in India can range from ₹15,540 - ₹26,460, depending on your visa type. These are some common non-immigrant visa categories:

• Business/Tourist Visa (B): These are valid for up to 10 years, and visitors on B1 B2 visas can stay in the US for a short period (6 months). For the most part, the US tourist visa cost for Indians will cost ₹15,540.

• B1 visas are usually for business, while B2 visas are issued for leisure. In most cases, they are combined and issued as one visa: B1/B2 visa. The US B1 B2 visa fees in India costs ₹15,540.

• Domestic Employee Visa (B-1): These are for domestic employees who wish to accompany their employer to the US to perform domestic work under their employer in the US. Domestic employee visas cost the same as US visa fees from India for 10 years, i.e. B1/B2 visas.

• Work Visa (H, L, O, P, Q): These are for temporary workers looking to enter the US for a fixed period of employment. Each visa type under this category requires the employer to file a petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

• Student Visa (F, M): For students who plan to study in the US. The course and type of school you plan to attend will determine your visa type.

• Exchange Visitor Visa (J): These visas are for applicants approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States.

• Transit/Crew Member Visas (C, D): Transit (C) visas are for applicants that are in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to another country. Crew Member (D) visas are for persons working on board commercial sea vessels or international airlines in the US.

• Religious Worker Visa (R-1): These are for temporary religious workers who enter the US to work in religious capacities.

• Journalist and Media (I): Media visas are offered for foreign media representatives travelling temporarily to the US. Applicants under this visa category can also include members of the press, radio, film, and print industries.

- Immigrant Visas (K): Applicants who wish to relocate or immigrate to the US must first have a petition approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The petition can be filed by a relative residing in the US or a potential employer at a USCIS office in the United States. The US visa fee payment in India for Immigrant or K visas costs up to ₹22,260.

Another additional fee to note here is the US visa reciprocity fee. These are additional fees imposed on non-immigrant visas from certain countries that impose fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a reciprocal fee on citizens of that country.

Since India does not impose any such fees, Indian applicants are not required to pay any reciprocity fees in addition to their US visa application fee in India.

- Applicants under A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas.

- Applicants under J visas participating in official US Government-sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs.

• For replacing machine-readable visas when the original visa was not properly affixed or needs to be reissued by no fault of the applicant.

• Applicants who are exempted by international agreement as determined by Visa Services. This includes **members and staff of an observer mission (military personnel) **under the United Nations Headquarters recognised by the UN General Assembly and their immediate families.

• Applicants travelling to provide charitable aid and services approved by Visa Services.

• US government employees travelling on official business.

• A parent, sibling, spouse, or child of a US government employee killed or critically injured in the line of duty who are:

• Travelling to attend the employee’s funeral and/or burial.

• Travelling to visit during emergency treatment and recovery of the employee.

• Issuing Post Name: This specifies the place or region your visa was issued in.

• Passport Number: Your US visa will display your passport number as one of the key details. You must check the passport number printed on your visa and ensure that it matches your current passport number.

• Entries: This section specifies your visa entry type. In case of multiple entries, it will state ‘M’; in other instances, it can state a specific number, which is the number of times you are permitted to apply for entry.

• Visa Type/Class: Your passport type and visa type will be listed under this section. ‘Class’ here denotes your visa type.

• Visa Validity: This is the time between your visa issuance and the visa’s expiration date. Your visa validity indicates the length of time you are allowed to travel to a port of entry in the United States.

• Duration of Stay: This is how long you can reside or stay within the country (US). Not to be confused with visa validity.

  For example, if your duration of stay is 6 months for a B1/B2 visa valid for 10 years. You will be allowed to stay within the country for 6 months and seek permission for entry for 10 years.

• Annotation: Any extra information regarding your visa will be displayed under this section. For example, in the case of a student visa, it will display your SEVIS number and state the name of the institution you are attending.

A visa is an essential travel document that is tied to your passport and issued by a US consulate or embassy. Without it, you will be denied entry into the US. So when applying for your US visa, it is essential to take stock of your required US visa fee payments in India to ensure that you have enough funds to cover your trip.

On the topic of US visa fees in India, a valid overseas travel insurance plan is another vital asset to opt for when travelling to the US. This is because medical costs are sky-high, and navigating the US healthcare system on your own can easily leave you feeling out of your depth.

One way to remedy this is by purchasing our travel insurance policy, which can give you a sense of security as we handle your hospitalisation costs and other mishaps you can run into during your trip.

Our online facilities allow for easy claims on travel insurance policies accompanied by a claims tracking feature to encourage transparency. We also offer 24/7 customer service and a toll-free hotline for US and Canadian travel insurance plans, ensuring that you can always contact us for assistance in case of any emergencies.

Information last updated July '23. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.