Getting a US Visa is a stressful process for Indians because of its high rejection ratio and difficulty. However, the pandemic made the process all the more complex. Therefore, I thought of penning down my tourist visa experience to help ease your anxiety. Moreover, a valid USA Tourist Visa gets you an entry to more than 30 countries around the world including countries like Mexico, Argentina and Turkey. Click on this link to view the complete list.
Those new to this process should first understand the different types of visas available. All the visa types are categorized using letters like F is for students, H is for working professionals, and H4 is for their spouses. J is for Ph.D. students and B for tourists, and so on. Each category comes with certain perks and restrictions. For example, the B2 Tourist Visa allows a stay of up to 6 months in the US, but only travel-related activities are permitted. Student visas F and J permit you to study and work in the US for a predefined period. It is one of the best visas for those planning to move abroad. L Visa is a work visa sponsored by any Indian company that lets their employee work in the US. It is the second-best visa type, which allows Indians to stay in the US for as long as the client wants.
I had been planning to travel to the US as a tourist for a while. Therefore, I started looking for visa appointments in the middle of the pandemic in September 2020. Getting an interview date at that point was very difficult. However, I did not lose hope. Instead, I found several telegram groups actively updating the group members about the visa dates.
Currently, the embassy is accepting Visa applications in full swing. However, getting a date in the Delhi consulate is difficult. Therefore, if you are looking for a visa appointment date sooner, I recommend trying other consulates like Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad.
The US B2 Visa process!
To apply for any visa, you start by fill a boring lengthy form called DS-160 on the USTravelDocs website. Next, you pay $160 visa fees on the CGI portal and generate the receipt. It takes around 1 to 2 days to process. Then you head back to the CGI portal and select your appointment dates.
If you are applying for the first time, you need to book two separate appointments, one for biometric and one for the interview. However, if you already have a visa and want to renew it, you only need a Dropbox appointment. The below flow chart can give you a better idea of the process.
B2 Tourist Visa interview experience
After months of sleepless nights tracking appointment dates, I finally got my appointment in Feb 2021. Six months from the time I started looking for the appointment date. For those living in Delhi, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station is where the Biometric and Dropbox appointments happen, and for Counsellor appointments, you need to head to the main consulate.
Biometric
Biometric is a simple procedure where a government official takes your fingerprints and photograph and asks a few basic questions. I chose the morning slot and reached 30-minutes before my appointment time. I carried four documents, my appointment confirmation letter, fee receipt, DS-160, and passport.
You can carry other supporting documents as well. However, considering my previous experiences, only the above four documents are needed during the Biometric.
What happens inside the biometric center?
First, you go through a security check and get a token with the counter number mentioned on the ticket. Next, you stand in the queue where an authorized person assigns you a booth. At the booth, the government official asks for your name and date of birth, followed by your photo and fingerprints (same as the Adhaar center). That’s it!
P.S: Remember to check the stamp on your DS-160 before you head out.
Consulate interview!
The interview, also known as the Consular appointment, takes place at the embassy. India has five main visa centers Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi. You can pick up any of the centers at your convenience. I booked an early morning appointment at Delhi Consulate General in Chanakyapuri.
Heading to the US consulate for the first time can be overwhelming. The ambiance is quite chaotic. However, it gets better as soon as you reach the premises. The authority prohibits carrying any article except documents supporting your visa request and a small wallet.
Therefore, you’re left with three options here. You can either bring someone who can hold all your stuff while you’re inside, two you can keep your things in your vehicle except your documents (Park at Malcha market and walk to the embassy), and three, you can keep them in the locker at the embassy as I did.
Coming back to the interview
I reached the embassy one and a half hours before my appointment (highly recommended as it remains crowded and takes time to reach the main gate). I submitted all my belongings in a locker and carried all the documents in a folder. Next, I went through three rounds of security checks. The first one was right after keeping my belongings in the locker. The second was at the main gate, where the officer checked my appointment details (sticker behind the passport). The third one was inside the premises. I then sat in the waiting area, waiting to be called inside.
On entering the building, there were two more steps to be completed. The first queue was to get a counter token and document check. After which, the officer assigned me the booth. After 20 minutes, the interviewer called out my name for the interview. My interviewer was a chirpy young American man. He asked me the following questions:
- What visa are you applying for?
- Why are you visiting the US?
- How long do you know your boyfriend, and how did you guys meet?
- Any plans to get married soon?
- Who is sponsoring your trip?
- What is your highest qualification?
- Where do you work?
- Have you been to any other country before?
- How was your experience in Morocco?
After which he said, “congratulations ma’am your visa has been approved”. (Mentally jumping for joy)
The embassy took three days to process the visa, which I collected from Shivaji Stadium (you can also get it mailed to your address with an additional fee of ₹750). Honestly, I was anxious about the whole interview process. Therefore, I thought of writing down my experience in detail to make your lives easier.
I hope you find this article helpful and wish you the best for your visa interview. If you have additional questions about the visa process, drop me a message on any of my social channels, and I shall get back to you.
