United States visa requirements for Indian passport holders

Check your circumstances

Read these conditions alongside the entry rule. Where official guidance does not state a condition, that is not confirmation that no condition applies.

Passport type Conditions to check

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your stay unless a country agreement exempts you.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Trip purpose Confirmed for this scope

B-2 covers tourism and B-1 covers business. A tourist visit does not authorize employment.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Age Conditions to check

Every traveler who needs a visa applies separately, including children listed in a parent passport. Interviews are generally required, with limited exceptions.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Residence Conditions to check

Schedule in your country of nationality or residence. If you apply based on residence, you must show evidence that you live there.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Other visas or residence permits Not stated in the cited guidance

For tourists without US permanent residence, the sources checked establish no third-country visa or residence permit that replaces a US visitor visa.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Carrier and arrival route Not stated in the cited guidance

A visa lets you travel to a US port of entry and ask to be admitted. No airline or route condition is stated.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Stay and visa validity Conditions to check

The officer at the port of entry sets how long you may stay on your I-94 record; this is separate from the visa expiry date.

Official sources: US Department of State.

How to apply

Complete Form DS-160 online, upload your photo and print the confirmation page. Pay the application fee if required before the interview, then book your interview.

Bring your passport, the DS-160 confirmation and the fee receipt. Each person who needs a visa submits a separate application.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Prepare for the interview

A consular officer decides whether you qualify. Be ready to show the purpose of your trip, your intent to leave the US afterwards and how you will pay for it; evidence of your job and family ties can help.

An invitation letter or affidavit of support is not needed and is not a deciding factor. Fingerprints are usually taken at the interview, and some cases need further administrative processing.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Where and when to apply

Schedule the interview in your country of nationality or residence. If you apply based on residence, bring evidence that you live there. Applications elsewhere can face longer waits and more difficulty qualifying.

Wait times vary by place and season. Apply early and do not buy final tickets until you have the visa.

Official sources: US Department of State; US Department of State.

At the border and after

A visa does not guarantee entry: officers at the port of entry decide. Leave by the date on your I-94 or ask USCIS for an extension in time. Overstaying voids your visa and can affect future visa eligibility.

Returning US permanent residents follow separate documentation rules. They should check that route instead of applying this tourist-visa guide.

Official sources: US Department of State; US Department of State.

Check temporary health entry restrictions

After 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 2026, passengers on international flights to or connecting through the US must sign a DRC travel-history attestation.

Recent presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan can prevent boarding or entry. Check the CDC restrictions before booking, including connections through those countries. Completing the form does not remove a restriction.

Official sources: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.