United States Visa and Immigration Guide for Applicants in India

November 15, 2026

Team of Boldvoices · 15 November 2026 · Official guidance checked 15 November 2026

Identify whether your purpose calls for a temporary visa or an immigrant visa. Use the State Department’s route guidance and the instructions for the consular post handling your case.

Jump to your route

Study · Work · Official job openings · Visit · Join family · Settle

Opportunities and rule changes

The State Department’s November 2026 Visa Bulletin publishes separate Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates for numerically limited immigrant categories. Check your category and chargeability, then use the appropriate chart and the instructions for your application stage.

Student visas (F and M)

For academic or vocational study, start with admission to an approved school and the Form I-20 it issues. Review the SEVIS fee, DS-160 and interview instructions. If you plan to work while studying or after graduation, check the authorization process with your school.

Official job openings by industry

Verified total of open vacancies that support a work visa, by industry: No official total verified as of 15 November 2026. Where a portal displays a filtered count, use it as a count of results for that search and check individual adverts for overseas eligibility and visa support.

The Department of Labor’s SeasonalJobs portal covers agricultural H-2A and non-agricultural H-2B job orders. Check the individual order for its recruitment status, start dates, positions and application contact. Job order headcounts and the number of orders are different measures.

Before counting an opening, check that the advert is active, accepts applications from overseas, and supports the specific work-visa route or provides the job offer needed for it. Count one advert once and record the number of positions separately if the employer publishes it.

Temporary work visas

Match the employment to its visa category, such as an H, L or O route where eligible. Ask the employer which petition and approval documents are required. Check the consular instructions for the specific category before booking.

Visitor visa (B-1/B-2)

B-1 covers qualifying temporary business activities and B-2 covers tourism or visits. Follow the visitor instructions for the DS-160 and the documentation relevant to your trip. Verify that your planned activities fit the visa category.

Family immigration and accompanying relatives

For immigration through a qualifying relative, check who may petition and whether the case falls in an immediate-relative or preference category. Use the separate dependant classification instructions if you are accompanying a temporary student or worker.

Employment-based permanent residence

Identify the immigrant preference category and whether a petition, employer offer or labor certification is required. Follow National Visa Center or USCIS instructions for your application stage and use the Visa Bulletin where the category is subject to numerical limits.

How to apply from India

Use the State Department’s forms and the instructions for your designated post in India. For most temporary applications, prepare the DS-160 and follow the applicable appointment process. Immigrant applicants should follow their case-specific instructions for documents, the medical exam and the interview.

Fees and processing

The State Department lists application fees in US dollars by category. Check for additional route-specific charges, and distinguish interview wait times from time to process the case after the interview.

Common question

Does a Visa Bulletin filing date mean the visa can be issued? Check the Final Action Dates separately. Follow the National Visa Center or USCIS instructions for the chart and stage that apply to you.