Tourist Visa and Procedure
 
 
 

Tourist Visa
The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2).

When an applicant goes for a visitors visa, he must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for visitor visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:

  • The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S.A. just for pleasure.
  • That they plan to remain for a specific, limited period; and
  • That they have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will insure their return abroad at the end of the visit.

Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the American Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence.
 

Related Link:
 Business Visas (B1)

Tourist Visas(B2)

Finger Printing instead of Drop Box!!: The United States Embassy Delhi and the U.S. Consulate Generals in Chennai, Mumbai, and Calcutta have ended the "drop box" facility from July 04. The reason for ending the drop-box facility is that beginning in July 2004, U.S. consular sections in India will start collecting fingerprint impressions from all visa applicants, except those traveling on official government business or who are under age 14 or over age 79. Read the whole article

 

 

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Tourist visa documents [top]

If an applicant is sponsoring his US visit
  • A nonrefundable application fee (The fees may vary, you can also check visa fees)
  • A fully completed and signed Visa Application Form - DS-156
    (Please do not fold the DS-156 application form as this may make the information unreadable to consulate's computer systems.)     Blank forms are available without charge at all U.S. consular offices also.
  • A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States.
  • All male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 must also submit a fully completed and signed Supplemental Application Form DS-157
  • One recent (within the past six months) passport size photograph, 50mm X 50mm with a white or off-white background. Click here for details.
  • Documents showing your income, property, assets.
  • Letters from relatives or friends in the U.S. whom the applicant plans to visit or confirmation of participation in a planned tour.
  • Evidence which shows the purpose of the trip, intent to depart the United States, and arrangements made to cover the costs of the trip may be provided.
  • In case, you dont have ample money to show, then letter of sponsorship will be needed stating the evidence that you will be provided support. In this case, your sponsor need to
  • You may also provide other evidence substantiating the trip's purpose and specifying the nature of binding obligations, such as family ties or employment, which would compel your return abroad.

If an applicant has a sponsor: List of documents sponsor needs to provide

If you are a sponsor, then your need to send following documents to your relatives/ friends who want to come to the US:

  1. Completed and notarized Affidavit of Support form I-134. You can download it from US-INS web site.

     
  2. A letter from Bank/banks (on their business letter head), stating your account summary.
    (Talk to your bank and ask for your Account verification letter. Which is usually on the Banks office stationary should have Date of Account open and Current balance)

     
  3. Copy of your Bank Statement, showing a good balance in order to justify your financial position.

     
  4. Certificate Letter  from your employer (on company's business letter head), stating that you are a permanent employee of the company, and also stating your salary.

     
  5. 1 or 2 recent pay stub copies.

     
  6. Copy of few recent income tax returns or last few W2 forms.

     
  7. If you are a Visa holder Copies of your - Visa (H1/L1), H1 approval form (I-797), and I-94. (If visa has expired but has a renewed petition, photocopy of the renewed petition.
    If Green card Holder: Copy of green card.
    If USA citizen: Copy of certificate of citizenship.
    Which ever is applicable.

     
  8. A neat photocopy of your complete Passport, including even the blank pages.
    Note: If you are sponsoring your in-laws, photocopies of all pages including blank pages of your spouse's passport and your marriage certificate is also required.


     
  9. If the applicant is applying at Mumbai consulate, original birth certificate of the sponsor child ( son or daughter) is required.
    Note: if you are inviting your in-laws , then spouse's birth certificate is required not yours.

     
  10. An application/letter from you to the US consulate in India (address it to the particular consulate e.g. Delhi), requesting for issuing a visitor visa to the concerned person, stating that you will be taking care of every needful for these people, including tickets, boarding and other expenses in USA.

     
  11. A formal invitation letter addressed to the person (person's) you are inviting to US. Also stating that you will be taking care of all their needs while in US, including tickets, boarding and other expenses in USA.

 

 

Helpful Tips [top]
  • Host or sponsor in USA should send complete and readable documents. It is better to have computerized printouts, so that it can be easily readable.
  • Send complete instructions, and procedure for getting the Visa. There should be no discrepancy in any of the information given by you and by your visitor.
  • Try to send your documents as latest dated as possible, do not hold for long time, it doesn't mean to be very latest , 1 months/ 45 days is ok but not more then that.
  • Provide all authentic and clear answers to Consulate staff. In case of any confusion, don't hesitate to ask person near by or consulate staff in a polite manner.
  • If language is a problem, you may request to talk in local language or in Hindi.
  • Consulate might ask for return air tickets, medical insurance etc. Tell them those things will be done after the visa is approved.
  • Complete the Visa application form neatly. In case of error, ask for another form. Do not overwrite.
  • Visitor needs to understand the procedure and each document to be submitted.\
  • Upon receiving your visa, carefully check for any kind of mistakes like name, date of birth, type of visa, validity date, etc.
  • Never, ever say during the Interview that the purpose of your visit is Baby care taker for your "Daughter/ Daughter in law / Relative " etc. Always say that the purpose of visit is Travel USA for leisure pleasure trip.
  • Remember: The date of expiry of your stay limit, is the date on the I-94 form slip which will be attached to your passport at the port of entry in USA, and not the date stamped on your visa. Usually these are the same dates, but in some cases it might differ.