Palm Springs & Joshua Tree in October

Visa needed before you fly for up to 180 days, about ₹17,590

1. Fill in the DS-160 visa form online (ceac.state.gov), then pay the US$185 B1/B2 fee (about ₹17,590) and book your biometrics and interview on the US Mission India's appointment site (linked from in.usembassy.gov). The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
2. Book as soon as you decide to travel: in September 2026 the next B1/B2 interview slots were 10-12 months away in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad; check every centre, as Chennai and Kolkata have sometimes been sooner. Since September 2025 nearly everyone must be interviewed in person, children and over-79s included, and you must apply in India.
3. No interview is needed only if you are renewing a full-validity B1/B2 that expired less than 12 months ago and you were 18 or older when it was issued; the consulate can still ask you to come in.
4. When the visa is approved, a US$250 "visa integrity fee" set by a 2025 law may be charged before it is issued (in October 2026 it was unclear whether Indian posts were collecting it). A B1/B2 for Indians is usually valid 10 years, for many visits.
5. At the US airport, Customs and Border Protection decides how long you may stay (often up to 6 months) and records it in your electronic I-94: check the date at i94.cbp.dhs.gov after landing. Declare food on the customs form.

Carry: Passport valid for your whole stay (6 months beyond it is safest), with the B1/B2 visa in it; DS-160 confirmation page and appointment letter (for the interview); Proof of funds and ties to India: recent bank statements, income-tax returns, an employer's leave letter or business papers; Return ticket and a day-by-day plan, with hotel bookings or an invitation letter from your host in the US; Travel insurance with high medical cover (US hospital costs are very high).

Interview waits in India run to many months and change monthly: check the State Department's visa wait-time page and book before anything non-refundable. The US$250 visa integrity fee may be added at issuance.

Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.