US B1/B2 Visa from India (2026) — Complete Guide

The B1/B2 is the US non-immigrant visa for tourism, visiting family, medical treatment, or short business trips. For Indian passport holders it's typically issued for 10 years, multi-entry, and the single biggest hurdle is the mandatory consular interview. As of early 2026, interview wait times vary drastically by city — Chennai has the shortest at around 1.5 months, while Mumbai and Hyderabad are 7-10 months.

This guide covers the DS-160 online form, MRV fee payment, interview booking, document prep, and the 10 most common interview questions Indian applicants face.

How the US visa process works

• Fill DS-160 online at ceac.state.gov — takes ~1-2 hours. Print the confirmation page with barcode.
• Pay MRV fee of $185 at the CGI Federal portal. Keep the receipt.
• Schedule two appointments — one at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) for biometrics, one at the US Consulate for the interview.
• Attend VAC appointment first (fingerprints + photo, ~15 min).
• Attend consular interview on the scheduled date. Typically 2-5 minutes with a consular officer.
• Passport delivery 5-10 business days after a successful interview.

US visa fees from India (2026)

Interview wait times by city (Feb 2026)

You're allowed to book your interview at any consulate, not just the one closest to your home. If you're flexible, Chennai is the clear choice for 2026.

Documents to bring to the interview

• Valid passport + all previous passports
• DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
• MRV fee receipt
• Photograph meeting US State Department specs (5cm × 5cm, white background)
• Recent bank statements (last 6 months)
• ITR for last 3 years
• Employment letter or business ownership proof
• Fixed deposit, property, or other asset proofs
• Invitation letter (if visiting family or for a business meeting)
• Previous US visa, if any

10 most common US visa interview questions

• Why do you want to visit the United States? — Be specific about the purpose and length of stay.
• How long will you stay? — Give an exact number of days/weeks.
• Who is sponsoring your trip? — If self-funded, say so confidently.
• What do you do for a living? — Job title, company name, years of experience.
• What is your annual income? — Answer honestly; officers cross-check with documents.
• Have you been to the US before? — Declare all previous trips.
• Do you have relatives in the US? — Name the relationship and visa status (citizen, GC, H1B, etc.).
• What cities will you visit? — Have a 2-3 city itinerary ready.
• Are you married? Do you have children? — Ties to India matter.
• What guarantees your return to India? — Job, family, property, business.

Answer briefly, make eye contact, and don't volunteer information that wasn't asked. Indian applicants are often refused not because of the answer but because of nervous over-explanation.

How long is the US visa valid?

For Indian citizens, the B1/B2 visa is typically issued for 10 years with multiple entries. Each entry allows a stay of up to 6 months, determined by the CBP officer at the port of entry. The visa validity is separate from the permitted stay — a 10-year visa doesn't mean you can stay 10 years.

Common refusal reasons under 214(b)

Section 214(b) is the most common refusal reason. It means the consular officer didn't believe you'd return to India after your trip. Red flags include:

• Single, young, unemployed, with family already in the US
• No travel history outside the Indian subcontinent
• Weak ties to India (renting, short job tenure, no property)
• Vague answers about trip purpose or itinerary
• Inconsistent statements between DS-160 and interview

Frequently asked questions