🇺🇸USA B1/B2 Visitor Visa — Documentation & Interview Preparation
- Processing
- Depends on interview wait time at the consulate — check current wait times
- Visa Fee
- USD 185 (MRV fee, check live rate in INR)
- Stay Duration
- Typically up to 6 months per visit, as decided by the CBP officer on arrival
- VFS Centre
- US Consulate General, Chennai (interview) — appointment via VFS/BLS
USA B1/B2 Visitor Visa — Interview Preparation Is Everything
Many of our clients have children or relatives settled in the United States, and the B1/B2 visitor visa is the standard route for parents to visit them, alongside tourism and business travel. Unlike UK, Ireland, Canada, or Australia, the US process is built around a mandatory in-person interview — usually at the US Consulate General in Chennai — which is why our focus with US visa clients is as much on interview preparation as on paperwork.
Who this visa is for
The B1/B2 visa covers business (B1) and tourism/family visits (B2), and most of our clients apply under B2 to visit sons, daughters, or other relatives living or working in the US. It does not permit employment in the US.
The process, step by step
- DS-160 online form — Filed on the official US State Department portal with accurate personal, travel, and family details.
- MRV fee payment and appointment booking — The visa fee is paid and an interview slot booked, most commonly at the Chennai consulate for Kerala applicants.
- Document preparation — We prepare a clear, consistent bundle: relationship proof, financial documents, and the sponsor’s status documents if the trip is family-funded.
- Interview preparation — This is the step most agencies skip. We run through likely questions with you — purpose of travel, relationship to sponsor, ties to India, past travel — so you walk in confident, not memorised.
- Interview and decision — Many B1/B2 decisions are given the same day at the interview window.
What the US-based sponsor should prepare
An invitation letter explaining the relationship and purpose of the visit, a copy of their US immigration status (green card, valid visa, or citizenship proof), and — where they are funding the trip — recent bank statements or payslips. We give you a short checklist to send them directly.
What applicants in Kerala need to provide
Passport, DS-160 confirmation, 6 months of bank statements, and clear proof of ties to India such as steady employment, property, or a running business. A consistent, honest story that matches your documents matters more here than in almost any other visa process, because the consular officer is assessing you directly, not just your file.
Common reasons US visit visas are refused
Section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act — the officer not being convinced the applicant has strong enough ties to India to return — is by far the most common refusal reason nationally, and it comes down almost entirely to how the interview goes, not missing paperwork. This is exactly why we spend real time on mock interview preparation with every client.
WhatsApp us to start your US B1/B2 visa application and interview preparation, or call us for a free consultation.
Documents Checklist
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay
- DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- Visa appointment confirmation letter
- Recent photograph as per US visa photo specifications
- Sponsor's invitation letter (if visiting family)
- Proof of relationship — birth or marriage certificate
- Applicant's bank statements for the last 6 months
- Property documents, employment letter, or business proof showing ties to India
- Sponsor's US immigration status proof (green card, visa, or citizenship), if relevant
- Previous US visa copies, if any prior travel history exists