USA business visa
The B-1 is the visa an Indian passport holder reaches for when the trip is business but short — a week of meetings, a contract to negotiate, a convention or a conference. Its formal name is the Temporary Business Visitor category. One point catches many first-timers off guard: India sits outside the US Visa Waiver Program, so there is no ESTA and no visa-on-arrival. Every applicant must secure a full B-1 sticker visa from a US Embassy or Consulate in India before boarding.
The path runs through Form DS-160, filed online, then the USD 185 MRV application fee and, in most cases, a face-to-face interview with a consular officer. Hold one line firmly in mind: the B-1 lets you do business, not earn from it — no US employment, no salary from a US source. Applicants from India are usually granted a generous window of 120 months (10 years), multiple entry. How long you may actually stay on any single trip is a separate matter, decided by a US Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian nationals travelling to the US for business meetings, consultations or contract negotiations
- ✓Attendees of business conventions, conferences or trade fairs who receive no salary from a US source
- ✓Professionals taking orders for goods manufactured in India, or settling an estate
- ✓Those installing, servicing or providing training on commercial/industrial equipment bought from a company outside the US (specialised knowledge, no US pay)
- ✓Applicants who can demonstrate strong ties to India and intent to return after a temporary visit
- ✓Not for gainful employment, building or construction work in the US
Visa options for USA
B-1 Temporary Business Visitor
The applicable category for Indian passport holders travelling for meetings, consultations, contract negotiations, conferences and other short-term business that does not involve US employment.
B-1/B-2 (combined visa)
US consulates in India commonly issue a single combined B-1/B-2 foil, covering both business (B-1) and tourism/medical (B-2) travel on one visa.
E-1 / E-2 (Treaty Trader / Investor)
Not available on an Indian passport — India has no commerce and navigation treaty with the US. These are relevant only to holders of a qualifying second nationality.
Documents typically required
- ✓Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay (plus any old passports)
- ✓DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- ✓MRV visa fee payment receipt (USD 185)
- ✓Visa interview appointment confirmation letter
- ✓Photograph meeting US DS-160 specifications
- ✓Invitation/business letter from the US company or event, plus a letter from your Indian employer stating your position, purpose of travel and who bears expenses
- ✓Evidence of the purpose of travel (meeting agenda, conference registration, contracts or purchase orders)
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds for the trip (bank statements, salary slips, income-tax returns)
- ✓Evidence of strong ties to India (employment, property, family) showing intent to return
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
India is not in the US Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA is off the table and a full B-1 visa is required. Since October 2025, interview-waiver ("dropbox") renewals are limited to applicants renewing a B-1/B-2 within 12 months of the prior visa's expiry, where the earlier visa was issued for full validity and the applicant was at least 18 at that time; everyone else — including children under 14 and applicants over 79 — must attend an in-person interview. Book interviews through ustraveldocs.com at the US Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata; wait times can run long, so apply well ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Can Indian passport holders get a US business visa on arrival or via ESTA?
No. India is outside the US Visa Waiver Program, so neither visa-on-arrival nor ESTA is on the table. Every Indian applicant has to obtain a B-1 visa from a US Embassy or Consulate in India before travelling.
How long is the US B-1 visa valid for Indian nationals?
For Indian nationals it usually comes as a combined B-1/B-2 and typically runs 120 months — a full 10 years — with multiple entries. Validity is not the same as stay, though: how long you may remain on each visit is set by a CBP officer at the port of entry, commonly up to six months.
Do I have to attend an in-person interview?
Usually, yes. Since October 2025 the interview waiver is narrow: it covers only B-1/B-2 renewals filed within 12 months of the previous visa's expiry, where that earlier visa was issued for full validity and you were at least 18 when it was granted. First-time applicants, and anyone under 14 or over 79, appear in person.
Do you guarantee the visa?
No — and no honest consultant can. The decision belongs entirely to the US consular officer. What we do is assess your case candidly and build the strongest, most accurate application it can support. Across the last 2-3 years, our applications have carried a 97% success rate.