John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, said in 1959, “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’. One stands for danger, the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger, but recognize the opportunity.” More than sixty years later, his words are more relevant than ever, especially in current times of US visa rejections and immigration crackdowns.

What John F. Kennedy said in 1959 rings true about Saransh Goila, a celebrity chef and entrepreneur in India. Aiming to encourage thousands of Indians navigating US visa interviews and immigration challenges only to face rejection, Chef Saransh Goila shared an interesting anecdote on Instagram. How his life tumbled after he was denied a US visitor visa in 2011, how he overcame the feeling as if there was no tomorrow, and how it became a turning point resonated with many Indians.

PC: Chef Saransh Goila | Instagram

In his 20s, Saransh Goila was fascinated with the idea of traveling to the US and making it to Food Network. He gathered all his savings for flight tickets to Los Angeles, but the US visa rejection crushed his hopes and made him feel like this was the end of his world. However, “what happens, happens for good” – is what he believes now. The closed door to America led him to the other end of the tunnel where a better opportunity was awaiting him.

Exactly one month later, life surprised him. He got a call from Food Food TV for audition that turned his fortune around unpredictably. What appeared like a bolt from the blue was actually a response to the email that he had sent to the channel in 2010. He was shortlisted as a contestant for the FoodFood Maha Challenge 2011 hosted by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Bollywood diva, Madhuri Dixit. He won the competition and became a household name in India.

In a 2016 interview with Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor at Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indian Diaspora, Chef Saransh Goila gave a sneak peek of his 20,000km food marathon across India as part of Food Food channel’s ‘Roti Rasta aur India’ program. He documented his observations, experiences, and insights from the culinary food trip in the book titled “India on My Platter.”

His growing popularity earned him invitation to showcase Indian Cuisine in the United States in March 2012. This was the time he realized that good things happen at the right time.

Chef Saransh Goila had a completely different experience during his US visa interview the second time. “Why was your visa rejected the first time? I can’t understand,” a young interviewer at the US Consulate told him. With a gentle smile, the consular officer also told him that the chef did not need to carry any newspaper clippings to prove himself. Rather, he said, “Can you teach me more about Indian food?” A surprise to Saransh beyond his imagination!

After making a name for himself on Indian Television, Saransh Goila went on to build something of his own- Goila Butter Chicken, a brand that has now grown to over 100 locations across India and London. He is also planning to take his signature butter chicken to the USA very soon. In 2019, Saransh was featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list. He was recognized as the youngest Celebrity Chef in the list of Top 10 Chefs in India.

Reflecting on the journey, he wrote on social media, “If I had gone earlier to the US, who knows I might have struggled all my life. My rejection made me who I am today.” Saransh Goila’s journey from the first-time visa rejection to the invitation from USA reminds us that rejection does not always mean failure. Not all visa rejections are utter disappointments. In fact, for some, it is the push they need to find success in ways they have never imagined.

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Reportedly, American tech companies are advising the US visa holders, among their employees, to avoid international trips amid the heightened scrutiny at US airports for retuning travelers. However, smooth re-entry to the United States requires both immigrants and non-immigrants to have certain preparedness, like carrying essential documents while traveling abroad. If you have booked flight tickets to India, it is high time to consider the below list of documents. Travel to India, spend time with family, have fun, enjoy your vacation…without worrying about your return to the second home – America.

PC: This AI-generated image is for illustration purpose only

Passport with, at least, 6-month Validity 

Your Indian passport is more than just a travel ID; it’s your primary identity proof in the US. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended date of return to the US. Otherwise, CBP officers may refuse your entry into the United States. Not only at a port of entry in the US, but also at a port of departure in India, the less-than-6-month validity of your passport can result in boarding denial to you. Also, if your US visa is stamped on an old passport, don’t forget to carry both the old and the new one.

Employment Documents for H1B and L-1 Visa Holders

For H1B visa and L1 visa holders, carrying the most recent Form I-797 is critical to their hassle-free return to USA after an international trip. This document is the official proof of your legal employment status in the US. It includes important details like your employer’s name, job position, and validity period- details that CBP officers may verify during re-entry. Along with the I-797, you should also carry a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) and Form I-129 to prove your employment authorization in the US.

Form I-94: Your US Arrival and Departure Record

Form I-94 is a document that tracks your arrival in, departure from, and re-entry to the US, and it records the period of your legal stay in the US. This record is used by CBP officers to verify your immigration status. Before taking flights to India, download and print your latest I-94 from the official CBP website. Even if you’re a Green Card holder, CBP officers may ask for I-94 Form during your re-entry to verify your legal status. Keeping this one-page document handy is the wise to evade additional questioning on arrival from a trip to India and ensure safe re-entry into the US.

Documents for Green Card Holders and Applicants

Among the documents critical to Green Card holders’ smooth re-entry to USA is their physical Green Card. So, do always carry your physical Green Card, not just a copy or photo. If you are taking flights to USA from India after more than 6 months of stay in India or anywhere else outside the US, be prepared for a routine interrogation at the port of entry in the US. If you return to the US after 12 months, you must have a valid re-entry permit, or your Green Card could be considered abandoned.

For those in the process of getting a Green Card, especially Indian professionals transitioning from H-1B, Advance Parole is a must before leaving the US. If you travel abroad without it while your adjustment of status is pending, your application could be canceled automatically. Whether you already have permanent residency or are in the middle of the process, carrying the right documents is key to protecting your status.

Documents that Dependent Visa holders must carry

For H-4, L-2, or other dependent visa holders, it’s essential to carry marriage or birth certificates (especially if they were issued in India). Make sure they’re translated into English if needed. Also keep a copy of the primary visa holder’s key documents, like their visa stamp and I-797 approval. If you’ve been issued an EAD (work permit), carry that too, even if you’re not currently employed. During your re-entry to USA, these supporting documents will help establish your relationship with the primary visa holder and confirm your legal status in the US.

Documents that Students (F-1) must carry

If you’re studying in the US on an F-1 visa, your Form I-20 is as important as your passport. Make sure it’s signed by your Designated School Official (DSO) within the last 6 months for travel authorization. Also carry your student ID card, SEVIS fee receipt, and some proof that you’re still actively enrolled, like your latest transcripts or enrolment letter.

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Applying for a US tourist visa, in the Trump administration, is not the same as before. Rather, it has become tougher for foreign nationals, including Indians to crack US tourist visa interviews. B2 visa rejection rate is high on grounds of visa overstay in the past, open flight tickets for return journey, and not-so-strong reasons to come back to India. Those who are unmarried, on a career break, or do not have stable employment in India are likely to face rejection.

Evidently, a US tourist visa interview is more than a conversation across the counter wherein you need to demonstrate a genuine reason to visit the US and a compelling reason to come back home. Let’s get it straight. The US consular officers look for reasons not to approve your application. Their job is to filter out applications. Understanding what they want to hear from you and what exactly you should tell them is the key to cracking B1/B2 visa interviews.

Picture credit: Indiatimes.com

What US visa officers look for in B1/B2 visa applications (DS-160 Form):

Well-dressed appearance, an all-smiling face, fluent English, and/or good GK on America won’t get you a US visa stamp if the consular officer is not convinced about your connection to India. All you need to do is to provide honest, unambiguous, and precise answers to the most important US visa interview questions, given the fact that the US is one of the few countries infamous for the toughest visa approval process in the world.

• A clear purpose of visit: You must be able to explain why you are visiting the United States in a way that makes sense.
• Strong ties to your home country: You must demonstrate strong reasons to return to India after a vacation in the US, like a stable job, business, family, or property.
• Financial stability: You need to prove that you have enough funds to support yourself during a trip to the US and won’t seek any kind of employment, legal or illegal.
• Honesty & Consistency: Your answers should match the details in your application form and supporting documents. Any discrepancy or contradiction can be a red flag.

How to prepare for US tourist visa interviews: A guide for Indians

1. Be Clear and Honest about Your Intention of Visit

The officer wants to know why you are going to the US. So, your answer must be short, to the point, and convincing.

• Good Answer: “I am visiting the US for tourism. I have planned a 10-day trip to New York and Los Angeles, and I will return on March 15.”
• Bad Answer: “I just want to see the US. It is my long-cherished wish. I would spend quality time during my dream vacation.

If you are planning a business trip to the US, be specific about what business meeting, corporate event, or conference you will attend there. For example, I am traveling for a business conference in San Francisco, from June 5 to June 10. My company XYZ is covering all the expenses.

Visiting your family in USA? Neither a crime nor an office. This is a legitimate reason for many Indian parents to travel to USA on a B2 visa. Many visiting parents are senior citizens who feel like walking a tightrope during a US tourist visa interview. Do always remember, ‘Honesty is the best policy.’ Being honest in answering one of the most common but crucial US visa interview questions – Why are you going to USA – would increase your chances for visa approval.

2. You Must Show Strong Ties to Your Home Country

The consular officers reject many applications because they feel those B1/B2 visa applicants may overstay in USA. You must convince that you would leave the US on time as you have responsibilities and commitments back in India.

• Job: Carry documents, like your employment letter, showing your position, salary, and approved leave dates.
• Business: If self-employed, show business registration, tax documents, or client contracts.
• Family: If you have a spouse, children, or elderly parents depending on you in India, mention that.
• Property: Owning high-value property in your country is a strong sign that you would return.

See this example:

• Good Answer: “I work as a software engineer at XYZ Company, earning $5,000 per month. My company has approved my leave, and I will resume work on April 1.”
• Bad Answer: “I am on a career break for two months. So, I am planning a vacation in the US.” (This raises red flags. You have no financial stability or a compelling reason to return.)

3. You Should Keep Your Financial Proofs Ready

The consular officers examine whether you can afford international flight tickets for a round trip to USA, a definite period of stay in USA, and what if you face a medical emergency in the US. You should carry the below documents to the US Embassy or Consulate for a B1/B2 visa interview:

• Bank statements (last 6 months)
• Tax returns
• Salary slips
• Sponsorship letters (if someone else is paying for your trip)

If asked how you will pay for your trip, be direct.

• Good Answer: “I have saved $10,000 for this trip, and here are my bank statements as proof.”
• Bad Answer: “My friend in the US will take care of me.” (This can make them think you might depend on someone financially)

4. Don’t Hide Anything

Lying or giving different answers than what’s in your application can lead to an instant rejection. If your visa form says you will stay for two weeks, but you tell the officer you plan to stay for three months, they will immediately doubt your intentions.

If you have family in the US, don’t hide it, but also don’t over-explain. For example:

• Good Answer: “My brother lives in Chicago. I will visit him for a few days and tour the city and then return home to my job.”
• Avoid: “I don’t have any relatives there.” (If they find out otherwise, your visa could be denied permanently.) OR “I have many relatives there, and I’m considering staying longer.” (This raises concerns about your intention to return.)

Best US B2 Visitor Visa Interview Tips

Do never say anything that is not asked during the interview. Avoid oversharing, being talkative, and taking the interview casually. The more you talk, the more chances you have to say something wrong. Answer concisely and precisely what is asked. Neither more nor less. Giving unnecessary information to the consular officer is one of the US visa interview mistakes that can result in on-spot rejection.

Example:

• Officer: “Why are you visiting the US?”
• You: “I want to see New York, and my brother also lives there. He has a business. Maybe, I’ll help him out for a bit.” (It gives the officer a reason to doubt your purpose of visit)
• You: “I am going to help my daughter with her newborn”. (The officer may think you plan to stay longer as a caregiver. This might be viewed as unauthorized work in the US)

Instead, say, “I will visit my daughter and stay with her family for two weeks to spend quality time.”

Example:

• Officer: “Provide details of your planned trip”
• You: “I haven’t decided yet… I’ll see where to stay and when to come back.”

Sounding uncertain about your US travel plans is a big mistake. You should keep a basic plan ready to provide certain details like whom you will visit in the US, where you will stay in the US, how long, etc.

Other questions asked in US tourist visa interviews for Indians:

• Have you been to the US before?
• Why do you plan to stay so long? Can’t you make it a shorter trip?
• Where will you stay in the US?
• Do you have relatives or friends in the US?
• Who is sponsoring your visit?
• What does your sponsor do?
• What’s your plan to do during your stay in the US?
• Have you booked your return flights to India from USA and availed medical insurance?
• What assurance do you have that you will return to you home country?

Most of the time, a visa interview lasts not more than 2-3 minutes due to a long queue of applicants. Every word you say, every document you submit, and even your body language is studied in those few crucial moments. The consular officer tries to conclude in no time whether you are telling the truth. To be precise, you need to sound credible while answering the most important questions in a US visa interview. If you mince words, the officer may deem it as your intention to avoid certain questions or keep a lid on certain information. The officer’s doubts will culminate in denying visa to you.

As the interview goes like a rapid fire, the best way to respond quickly is to be prepared with clear, concise, credible answers to the above questions. You can also expect to be asked what you do for your living, what evidence you have to prove that you are related to the person you are going to visit in the USA, etc.

Travel Beats is a leading overseas Indian community portal for Indians in USA. Travel Beats publishes the latest air travel, visa, immigration, passport and Indian community news. Subscribe to our free newsletter for exclusive stories. 

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Everything from USAID funds to federal spending, H1B visa extension, H4 EAD, F1 OPT program, and ‘dunki’ routes for illegal immigration is under the ‘Trump 2.0’ scanner. Even B1/B2 visa, a record number of which is issued to Indians every year, is not exempt to the restrictive measures in the new US government. After liberal issuance of the US tourist visa to a fair percentage of two million Indians who traveled to USA in 2024, denial of B2 visa is again in the news.

The difficulty of cracking US visitor visa interviews has increased manifold in recent times. The viral news of B2 visa rejection to a 27-year-old senior Data analyst on career break brought it to the public notice one month ago. He wanted to visit his sister in California before he would start MBA studies at Indian School of Business in Hyderabad. But he was denied the US visitor visa under 214(b) though he showed a receipt of Rs 7 lakh paid to the B-school demonstrating his strong intention to come back to India for higher studies.

Six months ago, ‘How to crack B2 visa interview’ was trending after Arun Yogiraj, the famous sculptor of Ram Lalla idol for Ayodhya Ram Temple, failed to get a US tourist visa for a World Kannada Conference in Virginia and other events in the east coast. US visa delays and denials are common stories these days. Rejected visa applicants are scouring through Quora, Reddit, and Facebook for guidance on common reasons for B2 visa rejection.

Visa overstay during your past visit to USA is one of the most common reasons for B1/B2 visa rejection. If you extended your stay in USA for medical emergency or any other unavoidable reason, which was not reported to the concerned authorities, you are likely to face rejection of B2 visa renewal due to overstaying the visa period. In January 2024, an elderly couple from Gujarat were denied boarding to a Mumbai-Atlanta flight as their visa was revoked without their knowledge. Leaving no space for visa overstay is one of the promises that President Trump had made during his election campaigns.

What is being strictly enforced on the US visitor visa holders in Trump’s America is their arrival with confirmed return flight tickets. Previously, B1/B2 visa holders from India were able to enter the US with open flight tickets for return journey, taking advantage of loopholes in the system. Open tickets are unscheduled tickets for passengers with uncertain travel dates. It allows passengers to schedule their travel within a period stipulated by the airline. But not anymore! In the last week of January, an NRI shared that his parents on B2 visa were denied entry at Newark Airport because their return flight was not confirmed (they had open tickets).

Visa rejections not only ruin one’s travel plans but also cause dismay and incur financial losses. Over the past 12 months, the rejection of tourist visas to several countries including the US, the UK, and the UAE has cost Indians Rs 662 crore in loss. The US visa rejection rate accounted for 16.5% of every 100 visa applications submitted in 2024. With a shorter Dropbox eligibility window for Indians, B2 visa applicants are bracing for a turbulent road to America, from longer in-person interview wait times to potential travel disruptions.

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At some temples in India, Venkateswara Swamy, Sri Ganesha, and Sankatmochan Hanuman double up as “Visa Gods” for hundreds of thousands of Indians wishing to study, work, live and settle abroad. Pesky paperwork, convoluted process, visa appointment delay, fears of rejection, and likes drive ambitious individuals with their passports in folded hands to the visa temples where the deities are believed to answer their prayers for visa approvals. After all, Indians are known for their steadfast faith in the divine power.

What makes India the largest beneficiary of H1B and L1 visas issued by the United States every year? It is the visa temples in India, and one of them is in Telangana. Hardly 25km from the IT corridor of Hyderabad City, Sri Chilkur Balaji Temple grants visa boons to STEM students and software professionals aspiring to live the American Dream. Though the temple is nearly 500 years old, it came to be known as Visa Balaji temple in Hyderabad only in the 1980s.

Hundreds of visa seekers from far and wide throng the temple daily, with the crowd swelling on weekends during visa seasons. Hyderabad’s Chilkur Balaji Temple is believed to expedite the visa paperwork, remove obstacles from the process, and minimize the visa interview delay (if there is any) for those who make 11 pradakshinas around the sanctum sanctorum, chanting ‘Govinda’ with devotion. They revisit the temple and perform 108 pradakshinas out of gratitude to the deity if they are blessed with their desired visas to travel/settle abroad.

No wonder why the twin states of Telugu-speaking people receive a majority of US student visas and US employment visas every year.

Let’s travel straight to Punjab where a village named Talhan near Jalandhar has one of the visa temples in India. Unlike other visa temples where coconuts and flowers are offered to the deity, the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara receives toy planes from the visa seekers. Not only students aspiring foreign degrees or working professionals looking to have a better life overseas, but also parents seeking well-to-do NRI grooms for their daughters visit the gurudwara in Talhan.

Unsurprisingly, the market outside the gurudwara has several shops dealing in toy planes of different sizes, which sell like hot cakes. The prevailing belief is that those offering prayers at the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara in Talhan are blessed with the increased likelihood of international travel to USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. The 150-year-old gurudwara features a huge replica of aircraft atop its roof similar to various rooftop sculptures in some Punjab villages with NRI population.

Gujarat is no exception in the context of a visa god or goddess whose divine intervention is ritually sought to expediate visa approvals. Tens of hundreds of visa aspirants from across Gujarat and Rajasthan visit Chamatkarik Hanuman Mandir in Khadia, Ahmedabad every day.  The presiding deity of this modest temple is locally known as ‘Visa Hunauman’, as Lord Hanuman was the only one to have travelled overseas (without documents) in search of Devi Sita.

The visa Hanuman Mandir in Ahmedabad earned the moniker ‘Chamatkarik’ as it is believed to have done miracles even for those who had fewer chances for visa approval. The temple priests perform certain rituals to invoke Lord Hanuman and seek His blessings for devotees wishing to travel abroad.

The national capital, New Delhi, is home to two such temples granting visa boons to Indians, irrespective of caste, community, and economic status. One of the two is Pracheen Hanuman Mandir near the VFS Global Application Center at Connaught Place. Among the oldest and most popular temples in Delhi, Pracheen Hanuman Mandir is a go-to destination for those who dream of taking flights from New Delhi to USA and other countries for better opportunities.

Also, B1/B2 visa seekers visit the temple as their travel plans often take a backseat due to visa appointment delays at the US Embassy, New Delhi (where 475 days is the current wait time).

Located on IGNOU Road, Chamatkari Visa Wale Hanuman Mandir is another such place in Delhi for those awaiting coveted US visa stamps on their passports. International travel aspirants and visa applicants write their problems in red ink on a piece of paper and offer it at the feet of Lord hanuman in the temple. Interestingly, this visa temple keeps a register for those who write ‘thank you’ notes as a gesture of gratitude if their visa issues are resolved.

The trail of visa temples across India ends at the Sri Lakshmi Visa Ganapathy Temple in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Located within 10km from the US Consulate in Chennai City, the temple is frequented by troubled visa seekers with passports in one hand and coconuts in the other hand. Sri Ganesha, the god of happy beginnings, is revered as the remover of visa-related obstacles for one’s international journey at this temple. Since visa approval marks the beginning of an international trip, irrespective of the purpose, Tamil Nadu’s only visa temple in Chennai has become a beacon of hope for those anticipating visa delays or fearing visa interviews.

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The United States has recently grown vocal of the Heartland Visa, a new pathway to lawful permanent residency for skilled immigrants from different walks of life. Endorsed by the US Conference of City Mayors, the Heartland Visa is in addition to the existing popular Green Card options. This expedited path to obtaining a US Green Card has emerged from the need of offering a bait to attract skilled immigrants to cities with economic decline.

PC: Indian Eagle | Travel Beats

The US has a glorious history of immigrants having been a key driver for the socio-economic growth and innovation in coastal cities and metropolitan areas. Often referred to as a nation of immigrants, America is home to 47 million foreign-born immigrants (as of 2022) which account for not more than 14% of the total US population. Notably, India being the second largest source of skilled immigrants to the US. More than half of the total immigrant populace is mostly settled in four US states: California, Texas, Florida, and New York, according Pew Research Center.

Statistically, only 5% of highly skilled immigrants are sparsely scattered in heartland region of the United States. To be precise, the heartland regions are apparently deprived of the contributions that various skilled immigrant groups have made to a few metros in the northeast, south and west coast through relentless research, innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship. It is the immigrants who have developed 55% of America’s billion-dollar startup landscape spanning from medicine to ecommerce to technology.

In a bid to revitalize the economy of heartland regions, the US Conference of Mayors brought a bipartisan immigration proposal endorsing the Heartland Visa for skilled immigrant professionals and innovators. The Heartland Visa would act as a spur for them to rejuvenate Cleveland, Memphis, Kansas, Louisville and other economically backward cities in the heartland region with job creation, investment, innovation and technology. In lieu of that, they would have fairer chances for lawful permanent residency. Precisely, their petitions would be least likely to end up in the Green Card backlog.

Key features of Heartland Visa Program in the US

The US counties or cities with sluggish growth and low median incomes, can participate in the program. Highly skilled immigrants with a heartland visa will be required to live in the counties or cities participating in the program, but they can choose to work elsewhere. They would be allowed to select an area to live in. The petitions of high earners among the applicants will be given priority for the Heartland Visa program, as per reports.

Heartland Visas are allocated on a quarterly basis for an initial period of 3 years, which can be renewed for another 3 years. This newly endorsed Green Card program will be expanded to an allocation of minimum 100,000 visas per year in the future, depending on the number of heartland areas participating in the program.

John Lettieri, CEO and President of the Economic Innovation Group (EIG) applauded the US city mayors’ endorsement of the Heartland Visa Program and labeled it as a forward-thinking approach towards tapping into global talent for the urban areas grappling with economic stagnation and population decline.” The program seeks equitable distribution of skilled immigrant population for a balanced growth across the country.

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The US visitor visa interview dates are 200 to 280 days away from today, December 27 – which was double of the present delay in early 2023. It means those who wanted to travel to USA in mid-2023 or this holiday season would have to wait until 2024 move past a month or two. Back in April, B1/B2 visa interview appointments at the US Consulate in Kolkata had the longest wait time (400 days), whereas 320 days was the shortest wait time for in-person visitor visa interviews in Chennai. B1/B2 visa seekers are required to wait 360 days for interview appointments at the US Mission in New Delhi, then. Precisely, the US tourist visa backlog was and is there.

PC: Freepik (left) | Wikipedia (right)

The uncertainty, driven by the long visa delay, of reuniting with their parents and other family members continues to cause emotional distress to many Indian immigrants and non-immigrants in the US. Indian parents are missing out on important events in the US, such as childbirth, marriage anniversary celebration, housewarming, and graduation ceremony. However, Indian American Sunil Dhar, who lives in San Francisco,  found a way for his son’s would-be in-laws and other family members from Delhi to bypass the need of a US visitor visa.

His younger son was about to get married in June in the United States, but the bride’s parents and other family members were facing the long B2 visa interview wait time in New Delhi. Reportedly, Sunil Dhar tried hard to ensure that his would-be daughter-in-law’s parents could attend the wedding in the US as wedding is a significant event in Indian culture and a Hindu wedding is incomplete without certain rituals that a bride’s parents perform. In 2022, some of Sunil Dhar’s extended family members from India could not attend his elder son’s wedding in San Francisco due to various visa-related issues.

To avoid the visa-related issue this time, Sunil Dhar made certain arrangements so that his guests from India could enter the US without a visa and bless the couple. He shifted the wedding venue from the Bay Area further up the West Coast. The wedding took place in Blaine near Seattle, Washington State. The Peace Arch Park on the US-Canada border, the northern boundary of Blaine City, was selected as the wedding venue. Interestingly, the Peace Arch Park is a visa neutral zone without immigration checkpoints.

The bride’s family from India had the Canadian visa. They could enter the park via British Columbia without having a US visa and facing any immigration check. Hence, the bride’s parents and other guests traveled to Canada from Delhi, instead of booking Delhi to San Francisco flight tickets. The northern half of the park is in Canada and the southern half stretches into the US. They entered the park from the northern half and attended the wedding in the southern half.

Other than the above, there is an alternate way to bypass the US visitor visa interview delay in India. Indian nationals seeking B1/B2 visas can apply at the US Mission/consulates in international destinations, such as Kuwait City, Japan, and Seoul where the US tourist visa wait time is not even a week. But this alternative is not feasible for everyone, especially senior citizens traveling alone. Indian nationals require a valid visa to enter Kuwait, Japan, and South Korea. Not everyone can afford the cost of obtaining a B1/B2 visa outside of India.

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After having officially announced domestic visa renewal for H1B workers in the USA starting in January 2024, the Biden administration is all set for a transition from traditional visa stamps to paperless visas. Soon, US visa stamps and stickers on passports across the world will become a thing of the past! The shift to making American visas paperless is a futuristic move towards modernizing and streamlining the visa process for millions of US visa holders.

PC: Image by Lexamer on Freepik

Eliminating the need to stamp immigrant or non-immigrant visas on passport pages at US embassies and consulates is one of the goals that the State Department is looking to achieve. The news about paperless US visas has raised questions, such as whether the US visa application process will be changed. Julie Stufft, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services, made it clear during a media briefing that the visa process would remain the same.

US visas becoming paperless, does not mean elimination of in-person visa interviews at US missions worldwide for those who are not eligible for visa interview waivers. However, the United States’ paperless visa initiative is expected to simplify the visa renewal process, as it is likely to eliminate the need to mail physical documents to US Missions for verification. Thus, the renewal process will become more efficient and convenient.

Furthermore, risks associated with lost or damaged passports having US visa stamps will be significantly minimized as you won’t be required to show your passport as proof of your visa status. Julie Stufft elaborated on other benefits of paperless visa while speaking to media at the National Press Building in Washington DC.

What is a paperless visa? Is paperless visa same as or similar to e-visa?

A paperless visa is an electronic visa and unlike Indian e-visa. Paperless visas are safely stored in a protected government database. Indian e-visa is a completely online process, right from application to document submission to visa delivery. In the e-visa process, an electronic copy of the visa is sent to the applicant’s registered email ID. On the other hand, the US paperless visa is just what it means – a paperless proof of your visa status, a digital visa authorization (DVA). There’s no change to the application process for first-time US visa applicants, be it the forms to be filled or interviews to be attended.

Will paperless US visas be available for Indian nationals?

“I hope as soon as possible,” said Julie Stufft, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services. She did not give any other statement about it. Whether the paperless visa initiative would extend to Indians in some or all visa categories is still not clear. We are yet to know what eligibility criteria Indians would be required to fulfil for paperless US visas in the future. Needless to say, Indians make over 10% of total US visa applicants.

When will the United States roll out paperless visas?

The US plans to phase out traditional visas gradually over a period of 18 months or more. The paperless US visa initiative being a long-term project will see transition from the traditional system to a modern system in a phased manner. Buoyed by the success of the pilot trial of paperless visas at the US diplomatic mission in Dublin, the US government looks forward to launching electronic visas.

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Obtaining visas to the United States had been a nightmare for Indians primarily because of inordinately long visa interview appointment wait times in India since the pandemic subsided. With the onset of 2023, the US government has taken various measures to remove the bottlenecks and improve the process at its mission and consulates in India, reasoning that “India is our number one priority” now.

Indeed, India is the second country (after China) to send the largest number of students to America every year. However, the interview appointment wait time has significantly dropped for Indian students seeking F, M and J visas, whereas there is little improvement in the wait time (as long as 600 to 700 days) for first-time B1/B2 visa applicants in India.

PC: Freepik.com

In one of the major moves, from domestic stamping of H1B visa renewal in the US to expanding visa interview waiver, the US Department of State has increased the student visa application timeline for India, China and other countries. Now onwards, international students can apply for F1 and M1 visas within 365 days before the commencement of their academic term. This surprising move is a much-needed respite for Indians looing upon America as the ultimate destination for higher studies.

Earlier, the US Mission and Consulates would open the student visa interview scheduling window not more than 120 days before the start of academic terms. The extended US student visa application deadline will allow foreign students, especially Indians, a lot more time to apply for a F1 or M1 visa and prepare for the interview. However, there is a catch. International students having confirmed visas can travel to USA only within 30 days prior to the date of their program commencement. The student visa policy update will also give US schools more flexibility and time to issue and accept the Form I-20.

Another advantage of the new US student visa application timeline is that US colleges and universities can now issue I-20 forms 12 to 14 months before their programs begin. The Form I-20 issued to a student officially confirms the student’s enrolment in a study program at a US school. Precisely, it is a certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant student status in the US. A Form I-20 is the document that demonstrates that an international student has the financial capacity to stay and study in the United States. The form is a must need to seek the benefits, if any, available to international students in the US.

The generous extension of the US student visa application window is the second big move after certain changes were made to the US student visa system and policy in the first big move in 2022.

Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in America, reports on US visas and immigration. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle Travel, a US-based trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians, NRIs, OCIs and US nationals. Indian Eagle offers students discounted flights tickets from USA to India every year.

The post USA Extends F and M Student Visa Application Timeline to 365 Days; Check Advantages of the Updated Policy appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“I have not visited my parents for two years. I shelved travel plans because of pocket-burning airline tickets to India after the resumption of regular international flights early this year. I was blessed with a baby recently. I wish either my parents or the in-laws to be with us at the current phase of our parenthood. But no luck with B2 visa appointment dates for them. I desperately keep logged in on the US Embassy India website hoping to get a slot available; however, we are in shock that the earliest appointment is expected by March-April 2024,” Aparna Kaushik from Chicago said to Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats.

Picture Credit: US Embassy

International travel restrictions have been lifted. Country-specific entry regulations have abated. Airlines have restored their service frequency to the pre-pandemic times. But visa appointment delays continue to be a nightmare for Indians seeking interview slots for the US visitor visa, B1/B2. Particularly, the first-time applicants are at the mercy of the US Embassy and Consulates grappling with the mounting backlog of applications and the staffing shortage in India. If sources are to be believed, the backlog has exceeded 4 lakh Indian applicants awaiting interview slots for B2 and other US visas.

“Early this month we posted on our Twitter page that the US Embassy India would resume in-person tourist visa appointments from September. Surprisingly, in only two weeks, the slots got booked until April 2023. Now more than 500 days is the average wait time for the US visitor visa appointment dates in India, according to the US State Department website,” said the chief customer relations officer of Indian Eagle, a leading air-ticketing partner of Indians in America.

It means that if you apply for a US visitor visa now, your chances for getting an appointment before 2024 are minimal to none. This is nothing short of a nightmare for the first-time applicants who are required to appear for an in-person interview and biometrics. However, the wait time is relatively shorter for B2 visa renewals and those planning a business trip to the United States.

“Though the US visa wait times vary from consulate to consulate in India, this is the worst that I have ever seen since the September attacks 2001,” said David Bier, the associate director of immigration policy at Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington DC.

Picture Credit: Travel.State.Gov

The US Embassy in New Delhi has B2/B1 visa appointment dates 582 calendar days away and students visa slots some 470 days away. The US Consulate in Mumbai expects 580 calendar days to be the estimated waiting time for a US visitor visa appointment. 520 calendar days is the likely wait time for the same at the US Consulate in Hyderabad, whereas a US student visa appointment is 477 days away. In Kolkata, the US Consulate has the wait time spanning 585 calendar days from now for B1/B2 interview slots. The average wait time is 510 calendar days for B1/B2 visa appointment dates at the US Consulate, Chennai, according to the US Department of State website.

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