Indian Visa For Us Citizens
Hello, I am Jeevitha and I blog about Indian Visa for all USA citizens in this website. I am holding a three years visa and special invitation letter from Indian Government for the all Indians who are willing to go to India from any part of the world.
The Indian Visa Department has recently announced a change in their policy regarding travel for American Citizens. For the last few years, US citizens were required to travel to New Delhi, India for processing of their visa applications. However, now you may be able to apply for your visa from an embassy or consulate closer to your present residence.
Whether you’re a citizen of the US or an immigrant, traveling outside of the country can be difficult. However, if you’re an American citizen wishing to travel to India, then a US visa is required. While there are several ways to get a variety of visas, including student, employment and business visas, there is no special visa for tourists and visitors.
Indian Visa For Us Citizens
According to Forbes and DHL, India was the world’s fastest growing source market for U.S. exports in 2010, having increased by 45.7%. U.S. goods exports to India totaled $17.6 billion and accounted for 13% of total U.S. goods exports in 2010. During this period, U.S. imports from India grew by an 18.5% rate and reached almost 4% of all U.S. imports in 2010; this trend is likely to continue based on the potential of the Indian market, the increasing outsourcing of services to India by U.S.-based companies, improved macroeconomic fundamentals as well as improving global economic conditions in recent years (UIB).
U.S. travelers need to obtain a visa to enter India. At this time, American nationals can get the India eVisa for short-term stays. In 2014, the country first introduced an electronic visa system that allowed citizens of over 60 countries to apply online for their visas. In the following years, India added more countries to the eligibility list.
US citizens are eligible for an India e-Visa, which is a multiple-entry visa and grants stays of up to 180 days in the country.
American travelers can obtain an electronic visa for tourism, business, or medical treatment purposes.
Many US citizens choose the country as a holiday destination and look for the best time of the year to visit India. To experience everything this nation has to offer, Americans must meet the online visa requirements outlined below.
Travel to India from the US
Tourism in India plays an important role in the economy. According to the World Travel and Tourism, in 2017, tourism supported 41.622 million jobs, 8 percent of its total employment. The industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.9 percent by 2028. Back in 2015, it was also estimated that India’s medical tourism sector was worth about 3 billion USD and it is projected that this number will continue to rise between 7 to 8 billion USD by 2020.
The India e-Visa makes it easier for US travelers to obtain a visa to travel to the country. American travelers need to meet a few requirements to apply online for their Indian visa. All applicants need the following item:
- Passport with at least six months’ validity from the expected date of arrival
- Debit or credit card
- Email address
US travelers can visit India for tourism, business or medical purposes.
An Indian e-Visa for U.S. citizens will grant them a stay of up to 60 days from the first date of entry into the country. It is possible to get an Indian e-Visa up to 2 times per year. The e-Visa for India cannot be extended.
Foreign visitors are advised to apply for the India e-Visa at least 4 days before the arrival date. Applications are processed by the Government of India.
Documents and other Requirements for Indian e-Visa for Americans
US travelers who wish to apply for their electronic visa to India must have a valid passport, a debit or credit card, and an email address. To successfully obtain the eVisa for India, US citizens need to provide several details on the application form:
- Full name (as it appears on the passport)
- Date and place of birth
- Address and contact info
- Passport details
- Nationality
American nationals also need to fill out the following:
- Marital status
- Profession or occupation
- Details of the stay: places to be visited while in India
- Expected port of entry and port of exit
- Countries visited in the last ten years
- Religion
- Educational qualifications
All India e-Visa applicants must answer a series of security questions.
Passport and photo requirements for American travelers
US nationals must submit documents that meet the eVisa India requirements. Travelers from the United States are required to submit a scanned color copy of the first page or the biographical page of their valid passport.
Each applicant must also submit a recent passport-style color photo that meets the following requirements:
- The applicant’s face must be clearly visible
- The photograph must have a white background
- The photograph must be in focus
- The applicant’s head must be centered
- The photograph must show the applicant’s head from the crown to the tip of the chin
US Embassy Registration for Visiting India
American citizens visiting India are advised to register with the US embassy before traveling. This service is called the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Visitors registered with STEP receive a number of travel safety benefits. The US embassy to India will contact travelers to do the following:
- Provide updates and advice about security information in India
- Send information about international events that may affect travel between the US and India
- Advise and assist the traveler in the event of an emergency
- Help friends and family in the US contact the individual if there is an emergency situation back home
American diplomatic missions in India will provide assistance to US nationals traveling in the country. The US embassy is located in New Delhi. There are also American Consulate Generals in several major Indian cities, including the following:
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Kolkata
- Mumbai