The popularity of applying for US visas, especially visitor visas, has left some applicants in India worried about whether they can travel to the US on time or not at all. In India, the number of visa adjudications in 2022 has reached over 8 million, and it is predicted that the number will only increase in 2023.

Fortunately, the US diplomatic mission in India has come up with a way to cut the backlog of visa applications. They have stated that some visa applicants may apply to diplomatic missions in other countries. Other than that, they plan to beef up their capacity by hiring more employees and arranging special interview Saturdays in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.

Determine the type of visa you need

The type of US visitor visa you need depends on the purpose of your trip. There are two main categories of visitor visas for the US:

• B-1 Business Visitor Visa: This type of visa is for individuals traveling to the US for business-related activities, such as attending business meetings, negotiating contracts, or participating in conventions and conferences;
• B-2 Tourist Visa: This type of visa is for individuals traveling to the US for leisure, medical treatment, or visits with friends and relatives;

In some cases, you may need a combined B-1/B-2 visa if your trip involves both business and tourist activities.

It is important to carefully evaluate the purpose of your trip and choose the appropriate visa category to avoid any issues or complications during the visa application process.

Applying and paying for your visa

Once you have determined the type of visa you need, you can start your application. In the application process, before the interview, your local US diplomatic mission does not yet take part.

First, you must register at CGI Federal and log in to make an application. Then proceed to make a payment depending on the available payment methods in India. Only after that you can proceed to fill out the DS-160 application form.

Besides your data, the DS-160 form must also contain photo-fulfilling US visa photo parameters that will ensure the smooth identification of the applicant.

Schedule the visa interview at a US embassy or consulate

After submitting your application, you will need to schedule your interview at a US embassy or consulate that can serve your application. Note that, as we said above, this may include US diplomatic missions in neighboring countries, but you may also need to check with the Indian embassy or consulate for details.

You will have to bring a package of documents proving your eligibility to get a visitor visa to the US. There, you will be asked questions about your visit and your ties to India. This is done to ensure you are not flying to the US to immigrate and will use the visa as intended.

At this link, you will find detailed guidelines on the required documentation and visa fees paying from India. 

Track your application

After you have passed your visa interview, you can track your application status using the methods explained to you by your US diplomatic mission.

Though the US Embassy in India is doing its best to accommodate the high volume of applications, it is important to understand that US visa applications are still not a simple procedure. Now that the diplomatic missions are taking measures to ensure better service, ensure that you do your best to get your visa accepted.