USA Visitor Visa - Visitor Documents

Original Birth Certificate for children below 14 years of age.
Business travelers:
For business travelers need a letter from their employer indicating the purpose and length of the trip as well as the firm's intent to defray the costs of the trip, or an explanation of other sources of funds. If you are a business traveler and your company is financing your visit, you can carry relevant proof of the same. If the company is new or unknown, it will be helpful to carry tax records of the company for the last 3 years. If available, provide the company's market and financial position with financial records, source of funds, income tax papers and any media coverage, advertisement, brochures etc. for the company. If you are going to US for a conference, show proof of registration.

Tourists and others:
For tourists and others traveling to the United States for pleasure, such evidence may consist of a statement by the applicants outlining their plans in the United States and explaining the reasons they will return to India (family ties, employment, or similar binding obligations). Other evidence may include letters of invitation from relatives or friends in the United States whom the applicant plans to visit, confirmation of participation in group tours, an invitation to an event such as printed wedding invitation or invitation to attend graduation, etc.

Medical treatment:
For persons traveling to the U.S. for medical treatment, evidence should include a statement from a doctor or institution accepting the patient for the proposed medical treatment, an estimate of the cost of the treatment, and documentation of how these costs will be met. Applicants going to the U.S. for medical treatment must also go to a U.S. Embassy Panel Physician to determine whether the treatment is available in India or necessary to be done in the United States.
Applicants who do not have sufficient funds of their own to support themselves during their proposed stay in the United States must present credible evidence to show that they will be supported there by some interested person; such evidence should reflect the ties between applicant and sponsor which form the basis for the latter's assurances of extending support. All original documents sent to you by your sponsor in USA. See Documents - Sponsor for this.
Self-sponsored applicants may show evidence of financial resources through bank statements and tax returns for the past 3 years.
Dependents joining their spouse on board ship need to carry their original marriage certificate and entire wedding photo album along with the spouse's visa copy.
Photocopies of the first page, address page and last page of your current passport.
Applicants for visitor visas must show that they qualify under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption in the Act is that every applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:
- the purpose of their trip is to enter the United States temporarily for business or pleasure or medical treatment;
- they plan to remain for a specific, limited period;
- they have a residence outside the United States and the intent to return abroad at the conclusion of the visit.
The prime criterion of issuance of a visitor visa is whether the applicant convinces the consular officer that the applicant truly intends to return to his/her home country after a temporary stay in the United States. It is impossible to specify the exact form such documentation should take place each applicant's circumstances vary greatly. Each applicant must keep in mind that the interview will focus on his or her credibility and not the documents presented.

It is generally difficult for young people to present strong ties. In such as cases, consular office may consider applicant's education status/grades, long-range plans, parents' status, prospects in home country, previous travel to other countries etc.

Documents showing that they will return to the home country after their temporary stay in the United States. Thus their stay is temporary. For example, job proof, property proof, bank accounts, family ties etc.
- Proof of property such as House, Shop, Godown etc. Take the original ownership papers.
  Also take the property estimate given by the Chartered Accountant that may include items such as land, flat, jewelery etc. in addition to the real estate property.
- Also get the personal affidavit regarding property. Business should show how much they earned last year. Say that you have old parents you need to take care of. And you have one unmarried son and you need to do arrangements for his arranged marriage after your return. Also describing the nature of the trip and details of the itinerary is helpful.
  The sample affidavit for the Father.
  The sample affidavit for the Mother.
- Latest income tax returns for last 3 years (i.e., Form 16 or Form 2D). Should take originals with them.
- Some bank balance for at least few months before going for visa. Please note that simple bank letters showing simply the bank balance is not acceptable. You have to also take past few months (say 6 months) statements with you, or the pass book.
- The visitor has a residence outside the U.S. that he does not intend on abandoning. This can be shown via deeds to real estate. These help to persuade the consular officer that the visitor has strong ties to his home country and is likely to return there.
- Original documents regarding employment/business/profession with salary/income details, agreement regarding partnership if running business in partnership, company registration certificate if own business, pension book if retired and getting pension.
- Other financial papers (e.g., bank fixed deposits, shares, life insurance policies, bonds, etc.)
- Documents about the family (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificates of any children, etc.)
- If you hold any social or professional designations in India, proof related to that.
- As much as possible, avoid getting affidavit of support from people who own small business such as gas stations, grocery stores or motel. Consular officers believe that these people employ people illegally and may employ you also who is supposed to be going as tourist, and not for work.
- If you are employed, get a letter from an employer showing that your leave is sanction for XX months, and you are expected to join duty back on MM/DD/YYYY.
- If you have traveled to US earlier on any visa and came back to home country on time, show the proof as per stamps in your passport or copies of plane tickets or boarding passes.
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) or Letter and leave sanction letter if the applicant is in Government service or with any of the Armed Forces.
If you are employed in private place, your leave sanction letter.

Sample No Objection Letter
Cover letter highlighting the nature of the visit, reason for travel and other relevant information. Preferably written in bullet points and less than 1 page.
Sample
If you have been to the US earlier and applied for extension of stay, you must present a Form I-797 Extension of Status Approval Notice during your subsequent visa interview.
Family photographs of close family.
If you are employed or have business, your visiting card (business card).
If you are retired and get pension, your pension book.
Air tickets: If they ask for return air ticket, tell them it will be purchased after the visa is issued. Don't show one way air ticket in any case.
Visitor medical insurance: If they ask for medical insurance, you can purchase from this web site itself.