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Visa Requirements
TOURIST/BUSINESS VISA (B1/B2)
If you are applying for a Tourist Visa, you must:
 Demonstrate that you have a specific bonafide tourism and travel plan.
Demonstrate that you have significant ties to your home country, which will compel you to return after your tour in the U.S. is complete.
If you are applying for a Business Visa, you must:
Demonstrate that you will not be engaged in gainful employment or other work which is prohibited by the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
Demonstrate that you will not be compensated in the U.S. by the U.S. organization sponsoring your temporary visit.
Provide evidence of a bonafide business consultation activity that warrants your presence in the U.S.
Demonstrate evidence of social and economic ties that will compel you to return to your home country after the business consultations are completed.
If you have a U.S. sponsor of your Tourist visit, they should also submit:
Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support), if your sponsors are financing your travel and stay in the U.S. This needs to be notarized by a Notary Public in the U.S.
Supporting documents to justify the Form I-134 statement (e.g. tax returns, bank statements of the sponsor).
A genuine "letter of invitation' explaining the purpose of your U.S. visit.
If you are applying for a Business visa, you should submit:
A letter from the U.S. sponsoring organization requesting your presence and explaining the purpose of your business travel.
A letter from your current employer authorizing you to undertake the trip to the U.S.
Please note - a B1/B2 visa can only be used for limited travel activities and cannot be used to work when in the United States. If you are unsure whether your intended activity in the U.S. is consistent with the requirements of a B1/B2 visa category, please contact us.
TRANSIT VISA (C1)
If you are intending to simply transit through the United States en route to a third country, you must apply for a transit visa and present:
Evidence of onward travel (air ticket).
Valid entry authorization (visa) for your desired final destination.
CREW MEMBER VISA (C1/D)
If you are employed on board a ship and are applying for a C1/D visa, you must present:
Your original Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC).
Letter of employment and travel authorization from the Shipping Company or Agent.
Certificates establishing your seaman's qualifications.
STUDENT VISA (F1/M1 Visa)
There are two different categories of nonimmigrant visas for individuals wishing to study in the United States:
F1 - for academic studies.
M1 - for non-academic or vocational studies.
If you are applying for a Student Visa you must:
Submit visa application Form DS-158, in addition to DS-156 and DS-157.
Submit completed Form I-20 signed by the designated school official.
Confirm that your university has correctly entered your biographic details in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.
Submit original TOEFL, GRE/SAT/GMAT results.
Submit documents demonstrating previous educational qualifications.
Submit proof of availability of liquid funds to finance your studies in the U.S., if your studies are not supported by a scholarship from the school/university.
Submit a notarized Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support), if you are financially supported by an individual in the U.S., along with three years of that individual's bank statements and tax returns.
Student Employment
F1 visa holders cannot accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of their studies. Under certain circumstances, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant permission to accept off-campus employment after one year of study. F-1 students may accept on campus employment in your university without seeking prior permission from USCIS.
M1 students cannot accept employment except for the purpose of temporary practical training.
The spouse and children (F2 / M2) of students may not accept employment at any time.
Student's Dependants (F2 / M2)
Your spouse and children may also be granted a "dependant" visa (F2 or M2) to accompany or follow you. Your dependant family members must:
Submit visa application Form DS-158, in addition to DS-156 and DS-157.
Submit completed Form I-20 signed by the designated school official.
Confirm that your university has correctly entered the biographic details of each dependant family member in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.
Ensure that your name (the Principal Applicant) is annotated in their Passport, either on the last page or as an observation in an inner pager, by the issuing Passport Office.
Submit an original Marriage Registration Certificate issued by a Marriage Registrar.
Submit wedding photographs (at least 4 to 5) taken during the social marriage ceremony with both parties present in the same photograph.
Submit birth certificates of dependant children, if any.
Submit proof that you have available liquid funds to support them in the U.S.
Your dependant family members can apply for a visa either at the same time that you do or subsequent to your interview. If they are applying at a different time than you (the Principal Applicant) they must also:
Submit a photocopy of your passport (the Principal Applicant) with the valid F1 visa.
Submit a photocopy of your valid Form I-20.
Information on Educational Opportunities in the USA
For information on selecting an American university, application procedures, admission testing, financial aid and TOEFL schedules, please click here or contact:
United States Educational Foundation In India (USEFI)
38A Jawaharlal Nehru Road
Calcutta 700071.
Tel. No. 91-33-2288-1200
EXCHANGE VISITOR VISA (J1)
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides the Exchange Visitor nonimmigrant visa category for international scholars, foreign medical residents and U.S.
Government-sponsored visitors, wishing to enter the U.S. temporarily to participate in a U.S. Department of State authorized program.
To apply for an Exchange Visitor nonimmigrant visa, you must:
Submit visa application Form DS-158, in addition to DS-156 and DS-157.
Submit completed Form DS-2019 signed by the designated University/Institute's official.
Confirm that your university has correctly entered your biographic details in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.
Present documents demonstrating your previous educational qualifications.
Outside Employment
Exchange visitors may not accept paid employment in the U.S. other than that which is an integral part of their program.
Two-year Residency Regulation For a J1 Visa Holder
Section 212E of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act requires that an individual, in certain professions, return to their country of origin to reside for two years after completing a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program or Post-Doctoral Fellowship, before they can return to the U.S. to live and/or work. The interviewing Consular Officer will determine whether you are subject to this two-year residency requirement.
Dependants of Exchange Visitors (J2)
Your spouse and children may also be granted a dependant nonimmigrant visa (J2) to accompany or follow you. Your dependant family members must:
Submit Visa Application Form DS-158, in addition to DS-156 and DS-157.
Submit completed Form DS-2019 signed by the designated University/Institute's official.
Confirm that your university has correctly entered the biographic details of each dependant family member in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.
Ensure that your name (the Principal Applicant) is annotated in their Passport, either on the last page or as an observation in an inner pager, by the issuing Passport Office.
Submit an original Marriage Registration Certificate issued by a Marriage Registrar.
Submit wedding photographs (at least 4 to 5 copies) taken during the social marriage ceremony with both parties present in the same photograph.
Submit a birth certificate of dependant children.
Submit proof that you have available liquid funds to support them in the U.S.
Your dependant family members can apply for a visa either at the same time that you do or subsequent to your interview. If they are applying at a different time than you (the Principal Applicant) they must also:
Submit a photocopy of your passport (the Principal Applicant) with the valid J1 visa.
Submit a photocopy of your valid DS-2019.
Information on Exchange Visitor Programs in the USA
For information on Exchange Visitor Program, please click here or contact:
United States Educational Foundation In India (USEFI)
38A Jawaharlal Nehru Road
Calcutta 700071.
Tel. No. 91-33-2288 1200
TEMPORARY WORK VISA (H/L/O/P/Q)
The United States welcomes our ever-expanding volume of trade and commerce with India. We want legitimate business persons, performers and other qualified temporary workers to be able to travel to the U.S. with a minimum of delay and inconvenience while ensuring that our immigration laws and security procedures are adhered to. We have established several nonimmigrant visa categories to facilitate your travel.
For all of the nonimmigrant visa categories listed below, your prospective employer in the U.S. must obtain an approved Petition from the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) seeking your professional services in the U.S. The USCIS, in conjunction with the Department of Labor, is responsible for ensuring that employers adhere to the federal labor regulations for temporary employees established under U.S. law. Therefore, U.S. employers seeking to hire foreign nationals require prior authorization from the USCIS in the form of an Approved I-129S petition (used for nonimmigrant visa categories, H, L, O, P and Q).
TEMPORARY WORKERS (OR TRAINEES) (H)
Persons traveling to the U.S. as nonimmigrants for temporary employment, except certain athletes, entertainers and persons pre-eminent in their disciplines (for these persons, please see categories O and P below) usually qualify for an H visa. The H nonimmigrant visa classification includes aliens coming to perform services for a temporary period in specialty occupations such as:
Information Technology professionals.
Fashion models.
Special agricultural workers.
Qualified temporary workers of a type unavailable in the U.S.
Nurses.
Persons traveling for training purposes (H3).
INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFEREES (L)
The L classification provides nonimmigrant visas for managerial and executive personnel of multinational corporations and their corps of specialized employees who are frequently assigned abroad.
Basic Documentation
If you are applying for an H1B / H3 / L1 nonimmigrant visa, you must submit:
Your original USCIS Petition Approval (Notice of Action - Form I-797)
A copy of the complete petition package submitted by the prospective employer, including the Labor Certification (Form I-129S), which entitles you to H or L status.
All documents supporting your educational qualifications and work experience.
Dependants of Temporary Workers (H4/L2)
Your spouse and children may also be granted a dependant nonimmigrant visa (H4 or L2) to accompany or follow you. Your dependant family members must:
Submit an original or notarized photocopy of your valid Form I-797 and Form I-129S.
Ensure that your name (the Principal Applicant) is annotated in their Passport, either on the last page or as an observation in an inner pager, by the issuing Passport Office.
Submit an original Marriage Registration Certificate issued by a Marriage Registrar.
Submit wedding photographs (at least 4 to 5) taken during the social marriage ceremony with both parties present in the same photograph.
Submit birth certificates of dependant children.
Your dependant family members can apply for a visa either at the same time that you do or subsequent to your interview. If they are applying at a different time than you (the Principal Applicant) they must also:
Submit a photocopy of your passport (the Principal Applicant) with the valid H1B/H3/L1 nonimmigrant visa.
ALIENS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY(O)
The O nonimmigrant visa classification was established in 1990 to ensure that individuals of the highest ability and achievements would not be subject to the numerical limitations applied to the H category. The O classification includes individuals who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics or who have a record of extraordinary achievement in motion picture and television productions. The O classification also includes accompanying foreign nationals coming to assist in the Principal Applicant's performance. Like other temporary workers, this nonimmigrant visa is Petition-based and therefore requires prior USCIS approval.
ATHLETES, ARTISTS AND ENTERTAINERS (P)
The P classification includes athletes, artists and entertainers of an internationally recognized level of performance, or performers coming to the U.S. under a reciprocal exchange program between the U.S. or one or more countries, or performers presenting a program that is culturally unique. The P classification also includes persons who provide support for the Principal P nonimmigrant visa holder, provided that this support cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker.
INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE VISITORS (Q)
The Q classification includes foreign nationals coming to the U.S. to participate in an international cultural exchange program designated by the USCIS for the purpose of providing practical training, employment and the sharing of the history, culture and traditions of the alien's nationality.
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