Archive · 6 Aug 2026
US Visa Guide For Indians: Which Visa Do You Need?
Many people from India want to visit or work in the United States, and they need a special permission document called a visa.
There are different visas for different reasons.
If you want to go for business meetings, you can get a B-1 visa.
If you have a very special job skill and a U.S. company wants to hire you, you might get an H-1B visa.
There are not enough H-1B visas for everyone, so the U.S. uses a lottery to pick who gets them.
The H-2B visa is for short-term workers who do not need a college degree.
People who want to marry a U.S. citizen can get a K-1 visa, but they must get married within 90 days after arriving.
People with amazing talents in sports, science, or the arts can get O or P visas.
Workers being moved by their company can use the L-1 visa.
Each visa has its own rules, time limits, and application steps.
The B-1 visa covers temporary business visits for people who need to stay longer than 90 days, but it does not allow employment with or salary from a U.S. company.
The H-1B visa for skilled professionals is capped at 65,000 regular visas per year, plus 20,000 for applicants with a U.S. master's degree or higher.
A presidential proclamation introduced an extra USD 100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions filed between September 21, 2025 and September 21, 2026, and the measure faces legal challenges.
The H-2B visa for temporary non-agricultural workers has an annual quota of 66,000 visas and does not require a university degree.
The K-1 fiance visa requires marriage within 90 days of entering the U.S., while the L-1 visa allows company transfers for up to seven years for managers and executives.
- Who
- Indian citizens planning to visit, work, marry, or temporarily settle in the United States.
- What
- An explainer of the purposes, eligibility, application steps, and validity of common U.S. visas: B-1, H-1B, H-2B, K-1, K-3, L-1, O, and P.
- When
- No publication date is given; the article references a new USD 100,000 H-1B fee for certain petitions filed between September 21, 2025 and September 21, 2026.
- Where
- The United States, including applications through U.S. consulates and entry decisions made by U.S. border officers.
- Why
- To help Indian travellers and applicants choose the right U.S. visa based on their purpose, eligibility, and how long they plan to stay.
- B-1 visa validity
- Usually 10 years; length of stay decided by border officer at entry
- H-1B annual cap
- 65,000 regular visas + 20,000 for applicants with a U.S. master's degree or higher
- New H-1B fee
- USD 100,000 for certain petitions filed September 21, 2025 - September 21, 2026
- H-1B validity
- Generally 3 years, extendable up to 6 years
- H-2B annual quota
- 66,000 visas, plus supplemental visas during labour shortages
- K-1 visa
- Valid 6 months; marriage required within 90 days of entry
- L-1 maximum stay
- 7 years for L-1A managers/executives; 5 years for L-1B specialised knowledge
- O visa validity
- Often valid for 5 years