India at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | Yes: some categories move more slowly |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Not eligible |
| Entry restrictions | None |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | U.S. Embassy New Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Immigrant visas are processed in Mumbai. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to India right now
- H-1B rules changed in 2025–2026, including an additional payment on certain new petitions and a revised selection process. These changes affect many Indian applicants, so check the current rules before filing.
- India has its own line in the Visa Bulletin, so some family and employment green card categories move more slowly than for most countries.
- There is no E-1/E-2 treaty with India. Some Indian nationals qualify through a second nationality.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from India
H-1B visaWork visa for specialty jobs, sponsored by a U.S. employerF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolEB-2 (with PERM)Employer green card for advanced-degree or exceptional-ability jobsEB-3 green cardEmployer-sponsored green card through PERM labor certificationL-1 visaTransfer to a U.S. office of your multinational employerMarriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseDependent visas (H-4, L-2, O-3, E, TD, J-2, F-2)Visas for spouses and children of temporary workers and students
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from India visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. India is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from India get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on India nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between India and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from India enter the green card lottery?
India was not eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, and someone born in India may still qualify through a spouse born in an eligible country.
Where do people from India have their visa interview?
U.S. Embassy New Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Immigrant visas are processed in Mumbai.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in India?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Asia
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.