Is US visa free for Indian?

Most residents or nationals of participating countries* can visit the United States for vacation or business for stays of 90 days or less without needing a visa thanks to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The following guidelines must be met in order for a traveller to be granted an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval. You can still apply for a visiting (B) visa if having a visa stamped in your passport is important to you.

Act of 2015 to Strengthen the Visa Waiver Program and Halt Terrorist Travel
Those who fall into the criteria below are no longer eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to enter the United States, as mandated by the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. To citizens of VWP nations who have visited or been in the DPRK, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen after March 1, 2011.

Persons with dual citizenship from a VWP country and the DPRK, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria. To apply for a visa at the United States Embassy or Consulate, these people should follow the standard appointment procedures. U.S. Embassies and Consulates are prepared to expedite visa applications for people who need to go to the country quickly. Individuals whose ESTA applications were refused because they are exempt from the Act due to their diplomatic or military status in one of the seven nations can appeal the decision by visiting the CBP website or calling the CBP Information Center. U.S. embassies and consulates are other options for the tourist to apply for a nonimmigrant visa.

Checking ESTA status is a must for any visitor planning to enter the United States, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The webpage for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has further details. To utilise the VWP, you’ll also need an electronic passport. The electronic chip in an e-passport increases its security features over a traditional passport. Passengers’ identities can be verified against the passport database by scanning the chip. Conventions established by the International Civil Aviation Organization are necessary for e-passports to be valid (ICAO). You can tell an electronic passport by its cover logo. Take a look at the illustration below. The DHS website has further details regarding electronic passports.

India’s visa requirements and supporting paperwork
Online visa applications for the United States require a packet of supporting papers to be sent together with the application. All of the following paperwork is necessary:
Indian passports must be valid for at least another 6 months and have at least 3 blank pages.
Pictures suitable for a passport
Confirmation of DS 160 form as printed
A Confirmation Letter for Your Interview
Confirmation of payment for a US visa
Cover letter (plain paper if employed; letterhead if self-employed).
Income Tax Returns/Form 16 from the past three years with an explanation of why you’re requesting them.
Statements from your bank proving that you have enough money to cover the cost of the trip and any additional expenditures you may incur while there are Invitation letters from sponsoring groups, such as supervisors or employers
Schedule by the day
An explanation of the research’s relevance to real-world issues, if the trip is for academic purposes.

Methods of Application
There are two ways to apply for a visa to the United States: online and offline. The online process, however, is considerably more practical. To apply for a US visa online, please refer to the instructions provided below.

• Following the amassing of the aforementioned materials, an application must be submitted via the website.
• An appropriate Form DS-160, together with supporting documentation, will be submitted once the applicant has decided on the proper visa category.
• After completing the paperwork, the next step in obtaining a visa is to set up two appointments. A non-refundable charge of $160 will also be due at the time of scheduling.
• Fingerprinting and a digital picture will take place at the first appointment, and a personal interview with the consulate will take place at the second.
• After the interview is complete, the visa applicant will be informed of the decision immediately. If your application is successful, the consulate will hold your passport for 3-4 days following your interview and then mail it back to you. In the unfortunate event that your visa application is denied, the United States Embassy will promptly return your passport and accompanying letter of refusal.