To strengthen diplomatic ties and make international travel easier, the United States has introduced the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). VWP allows visa-free entry to citizens of 41 countries. Under this program, travellers will be eligible to stay in the US for up to 90 days without a visa.
If you want to avail the VWP benefits, you will have to meet the criteria aligned under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). You must get approval in advance to meet this criterion. The main purpose of this visa is to serve short-term tourism and business travel, which can be aligned with B1 and B2 visas.
ESTA has been designed to understand if specific travellers from the VWP countries can enter the US without their visa. ESTA visa USA, however, does not guarantee your entry into the US as the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has the final say in the process.
All travellers must apply for ESTA online, wherein they answer the eligibility questions along with submitting biographical information. It is recommended to apply for ESTA in advance, even before booking your flight tickets.
As of 2025, Indians are not eligible for ESTA. Therefore, if you're planning to travel to the US, you will have to apply for the traditional short stay visa. Before you apply for the visa, you must also purchase your travel insurance online to add an extra layer of security. In case you're facing trouble during the trip, such as baggage loss or medical emergencies, you should be able to overcome it.
The Visa Waiver Program USA is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security, along with the Department of State. The main aim of this visa is to boost short-term travel between all the partner countries of the USA. This program was introduced to simplify the entry process of citizens into the USA while adhering to the security protocols.
With the visa waiver program, citizens from the approved countries can travel to the US for short-term purposes like travel or business. They don't need to apply for a visa unless their stay is extended beyond 90 days. As a part of this program, US citizens can also travel to these partner countries for the same duration. Getting travel insurance USA can be of great help to cover any medical or other emergencies during travel.
The following 41 countries from respective continents are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program USA:
1. Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Brunei, Singapore
2. Europe: France, Germany, United Kingdom, San Marino, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Ireland, Iceland, Hungary, Poland, Netherlands, Malta, Luxembourg, Monaco, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Slovakia
3. Middle East: Qatar, Israel
4. Other: Chile, Andorra
The following documents must be submitted to get a US Waiver Visa
1. e-Passport with an embedded electronic chip that should have a unique international symbol on the cover to be identified.
2. Home address and phone number
3. Valid email address
4. Application fees of USD 21.00.
5. Emergency point of contact with email and phone number.
6. National ID and Personal ID number
7. Global Entry/NEXUS/SENTRI ID number.
The different accepted methods to pay the application fees include PayPal, American Express, MasterCard, VISA and Discover (JCB or Diners Club only). Having travel insurance USA isn’t mandatory for US Visa Waiver program, it is recommended to have one as medical costs in the USA can be very expensive.
As mentioned above, Indian citizens are not eligible to apply for an ESTA visa USA. Therefore, if you've been planning your visit to the USA, know that you can't go visa-free, which is why you must apply for a visa. Depending on the purpose of your visit, you can apply for a specific type of visa.
If you're going to the USA for a specific duration for tourism or to attend an event, you can apply for a short stay visa. Therefore, following the standard procedure, you can apply for a B1 (Business) or a B2 (tourist) at the US consulate or embassy. As of now, the reason for India not being included in the Visa Waiver Program remains unclear. However, it is anticipated that these steps may be taken because of bilateral security evaluations, immigration programs, or even bilateral security concerns.
Even though you're not eligible for an ESTA Visa as an Indian citizen, you can definitely apply for another type of visa. For B1 and B2, you must follow the standard procedure so that you don't have to struggle even in the short term while visiting the USA.
Uncertainty can arise during the trip because of flight delays or cancellations, baggage loss or even medical emergencies. Rather than being stranded in a foreign land, you would need help to tackle these situations. As a result, while planning your trip itself, you must buy travel insurance online. Irrespective of the scenario you're facing, if your insurance provides you coverage for that case, you can avail of that and be out of that situation.
As for the B1 and B2 visas, they serve the following purposes:
This visa is specifically meant for business purposes. For example, if you're visiting the US to attend a conference, consult with your associates or even negotiate a contract, you can apply for this visa.
Planning to visit the US for tourism? This can be your visa. The B2 visa also allows you to visit the US for medical treatment or to meet your friends and family.
This combination visa is usually a mix of B1 and B2 visa. If you're planning to visit the USA for both tourism and business purposes, you should apply for this visa.
Note: These visas do not provide the option to be employed in the United States.
Since you have to undergo the traditional visa process, you must submit the following documents to obtain your U.S. visa:
• A passport with a validity of six months after your stay in the US
• Passport-sized photograph
• Bank statements for the past six months
• Financial records
• Police clearance certificate
• Certificate of birth
• Form 60 or Income Tax of the last three years
• Detailed itinerary of tourism
• Court records (if applicable)
• Application of research (if travelling to the US for research purposes)
• Military records (if applicable)
When you are applying for a B1 visa, make sure that you clearly state your purpose of visit and show ties to your home country. You have to be very clear about the intent of coming back home after the visa expiry. This helps in the approval process. Make sure to submit proper documentation and proof of sufficient financial funds to support your stay. Even if you're planning to stay for a temporary period, be sure to provide consistent statements along with proof of travel insurance for USA to increase your chances of approval.
As an Indian citizen, you will not be eligible for the Visa Waiver Program. However, you can still opt for other visas via a legal route. You must submit all applications to the US Consulate or Embassy to apply for your visa. Make sure that you submit all documents along with your travel insurance for the USA. It provides you with a safety net, thereby allowing you to explore the USA without much stress. Ensure that all the documents are accurate and valid; submitting incorrect or misleading information can eventually lead to visa rejection.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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