Non- Immigrant Tourist Visa

• At the time of the visa interview, applicants will be asked to electronically scan the four fingers and a thumb of each hand. Applicants who are required to be fingerprinted, and who have a cut or blister or other temporary skin injury on their index fingers may not be issued a visa until their finger heals before they can be fingerprinted. The scanned fingerprint data collected at the time of interview will be compared with fingerprint scans at the US port of entry to prevent the misuse of US visas by impostors and by those wanted for more serious offences. Please remember, however, that all visa applicants, regardless of their age or visa category, will require an intervi
• The Applicant should have a passport valid for at least six months from the desired date of entry. The validity of the visa issued will in no case extend the validity of the passport.
• One passport-size photograph (see specifications above).
• A Completed and signed Visa Application Form online: DS-160.
• Birth certificate and, if applicable, parents’ valid visas (for children’s applications).
• A printout of an Appointment confirmation.
• If your are employed, carry a letter from employer detailing your position, salary, how long you have been employed with the company; the period of authorized vacation; and the purpose of your U.S. trip.
• Income Tax Returns for the last three (3) years.
• Itemised Bank statements and other documents to show the assets of the Applicant (if any) is needed.
• If the Applicant is in Government Service or with the Armed Forces, a No Objection Letter or Certificate and sanctioned Leave Letter is needed.
• Dependents joining their spouse on-board ship need to carry their original marriage certificate and entire wedding photo album along with the spouse’s visa copy.
• In the event of having a Sponsor the following documents are required of him/ her:
• It is also helpful to carry evidence of how the trip will be financed along with letters of deputation, invitation or sponsorship.
• An Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) from the Sponsor.
• Bank statements.
• Employment Letter.
• Copies of the Passport (along with the visa pages) of the Relative in the United States.
• Documents to show the Sponsor’s legal status in the United States.
• For parents visiting a child resident in the U.S.:
•  If child is an Indian citizen.
• Child’s original birth certificate. Photocopy of all pages of child’s passport.
• Where the U.S. visa of child has expired, photocopy of the renewed petition required.
• Where child is a legal permanent resident in USA, photocopy of the green card (front and back) is required.
• The US Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) inspector at the port of entry decides your length of stay in the United States.

Important Note:

You are strongly recommended to keep photocopies of your passport’s data pages and of the US visa. A US non-immigrant visa is a valuable document. Inform the US Embassy/Consulate from where your visa was issued immediately if you have lost your passport. You would need to obtain a new non-immigrant visa. At the time of your interview please present the Police First Incident Report (FIR) from the Police precinct where the passport was lost in India or overseas as well as a photocopy of the lost Passport and valid US visa, if possible

If you have been denied a US non-immigrant visa under Section 214(b), you may schedule a new appointment. You must demonstrate a significant change in your circumstances or present compelling new evidence to an adjudicating Consular Officer at a subsequent interview in order to be granted a visa. There is no limitation on the number of times you may apply for a non-immigrant visa.

Temporary Work Business Visa

•  Temporary Work Visas H1-B, L-1: There are several categories of temporary worker visas some of which are listed below.

• At the time of the visa interview, applicants will be asked to electronically scan the four fingers and a thumb of each hand. Applicants who are required to be fingerprinted, and who have a cut or blister or other temporary skin injury on their index fingers may not be issued a visa until their finger heals before they can be fingerprinted. The scanned fingerprint data collected at the time of interview will be compared with fingerprint scans at the US port of entry to prevent the misuse of US visas by impostors and by those wanted for more serious offences. Please remember, however, that all visa applicants, regardless of their age or visa category, will require an in
• All applicants for such visas must have a petition approved by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (BCIS) before applying for the visa. Petitions cannot be filed with the Embassy; they must be filed in the U.S.
•  Categories of Work Visas:

• H-1B: Persons in a Specialty Occupation. H-2B: Temporary or Seasonal Non-agricultural Workers
• H-3: Trainees other than Medical or Academic. It also applies to Practical Training in the education of Handicapped Children.
• H-4: Dependants of H visa Holders. L-1: Intra-Company Transferees. L-2: Dependants of L-1 visa Holders
• O-1/ O-2: Visas for Persons of Extraordinary Ability. P-3: Artists or Entertainers in a Culturally Unique Program
•  Requirements for a H-1B or L-1 visa are:

• All the documents required for any non-immigrant visa. Notice of Approval I-797 (in original).
• The complete petition submitted by the prospective Employer including the Labor Condition Application (LCA – not applicable to L-1 applicants) and the I-129.
• The originals of University Diplomas, Mark Sheets and any other relevant Certificates. (Secondary School Information is not required).
• Letters of Work Experience from your previous Employers. One set of photocopy of all the above documents
• A Letter from the Petitioning Employer confirming the Employer’s intent to hire the Applicant.
• L visa Applicants must provide a Letter from their Employer stating the length of association with the Company.
• Pay stubs from the current or most recent place of Employment.
• First time Applicants are also requested to bring the following items:
• Names and current phone numbers of the Personnel Managers at the Applicant’s present and past Jobs.
• Photographs of the inside and outside of the current or the most recent Employer’s place of business.
• Names and contact information of two co-workers from the current or most recent place of Employment.
• Names and contact information of two co-workers from past Jobs.
• A complete resume and Cover Letter describing current job duties in detail.
• Personal bank records for the last six months.
• Information of the company in the US: Photographs of the inside and outside of the Company’s Offices, prospectus, brochures, and Annual Report.
• The Embassy will not accept documents received directly from the company by mail or fax. All documents should be brought by the applicant to the interview. The Embassy will not make this information available to anyone and will destroy the documents after review.
• An H-1B visa holder, after changing H-1B Employers in accordance with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) procedures for making such a change, may continue to use his or her original H-1B visa for entry into the United States. Upon applying for entry, the visa holder must present the new Form I-797A, Notice of Action evidencing the approval of the change of Employer in addition to the visa.

 Dependent Visas: H-4, L-2
Applicants for the related dependent visas, H-4 and L-2 visas, should submit:

• All the required documents for any Non-Immigrant visa.
• The Marriage Registration Certificate and the original Birth Certificate for each Child.
• Wedding Invitation and Wedding Ceremony photos.
• All 36 pages of the Principal Applicant’s passport (if not applying with the Principal Applicant).
• A Letter from the Spouse’s Employer confirming continued Employment.
• Copy of the Principal Applicant’s I797, I129 and LCA. Copy of the Principal Applicant’s Work Experience Letters
• Copy of the Principal Applicant’s Letter of Offer from the US Company.
• Pay stubs from Principal Applicant’s current place of Work and Income Tax Return.
• The Embassy will not accept documents received directly from the Company by mail or fax.
• All documents should be brought by the Applicant to the interview. The Embassy will not make this information available to anyone and will destroy the documents after review.

Transit Visa

• Transit (C Visa):- A citizen of a foreign country traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States enroute to a foreign destination requires a valid transit visa.

• Crew (D Visa):- A crew member serving onboard a sea vessel or aircraft in the United States needs a crew visa. Crew members of an aircraft or ship that will be transiting through the United States or its waters generally use a combination transit/crew visa (C-1/D). However, in some cases, individuals may only require the D visa. Crew members, who work aboard vessels within the Outer Continental Shelf, may qualify for a modified B-1 visa in lieu of a crew visa.
• Crew members who will be entering the United States during time-off between flights or cruises should also obtain a B-1/B-2 visa to use during these personal/vacation days. Applicants applying simultaneously for both a C-1/D and a B-1/B-2 visa pay only one visa application fee.
•  To apply for a transit visa, you must show:-

• Intent to pass in immediate and continuous transit through the United States.
• A common carrier ticket or other evidence of transportation arrangements to your destination.
• Sufficient funds to carry out the purpose of your transit journey.
• Permission to enter another country upon departure from the United States.

•  To apply for other C, D or C-1/D visas, you must demonstrate to a consular officer that:-

• The purpose of your trip is to enter the United States solely for transit or crew purposes.
• You do not intend to be paid by a U.S. source while in the United States, unless you have been granted proper approval for a temporary work visa.
• You plan to stay for a specific, limited period of time.
• You have evidence of funds to cover all expenses while in the United States

• Supporting Documents:- 
• Current proof of income, tax payments, property or business ownership, or assets.
• A letter from your employer detailing your position, salary, how long you have been employed, any authorized vacation and the business purpose, if any, of your U.S. trip.
• Where appropriate, an itinerary and/or other information about your planned trip. (This can be tentative.)
• Bank savings account books or other evidence of liquid assets that indicate the balance in your accounts and account activity.
• Real estate lease or deeds. For crew: a letter from your company’s headquarters and/or your seamen’s book