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Applying for US visa is easy:-

Fill the Online DS-160 Form.

Pay the fee at the nearest bank

Schedule the appointments for the C1/D Visa interview

Attend the interview

That's it. If you are eligible you'll be granted visa. Now let’s look at each items in detail:-

Since form DS-160 requires to be electronically signed (i.e. clicking on the "Sign Application" box) by the applicant, candidates are required to apply for the US Visa themselves.

An important website for all information requiredd on US Visas re: India, including the C1/D Visa and DS-160 form is: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/

Pls note the following: There are mainly two kinds of visa. Immigrant and Non-immigrant. For example:-

(1) Maritime people need to apply for the US C1/D Visa which comes under nonimmigrant visa (NIV).

Refer:

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/nonimmigrantvisas.html

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/nonimmigrantvisas_shipairlinecrew.html

(2) Determine your Consular District from New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. For e.g., if you are from Kerala, your consular district is Chennai.
Refer: https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/consulardistrictslocation.html

(3) Have your digital photograph ready. The digital photograph needs to be of a particular specification, for e.g., it has to be a .jpg file between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, less than 240kbs, not digitally altered and with white background. For scanned photos please follow below links.
Refer:

http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov/photo_requirements.html

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/frvi_3888.html

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/USPassportDigitalImageRequirements.pdf

(4) Fill the Online DS-160 Form.
(From Feb 2010 you need to fill online DS-160 form which replaces the previous forms like DS-156, DS-157, DS-158.)

You can start filling DS-160 at the following link: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

You need to upload the digital photograph while submitting the form, test the same and then upload.

The form consists of different sections including:
Personal
Address and Phone
Passport
Travel
Travel Companions
Previous U.S. Travel
U.S. Contact
Family
Work / Education / Training
Security and Background

• Each section has set of details to be filled (self explanatory) with explanations/tips on the right side of the page.
• Once you start filling the form, each form is assigned an Application ID. Please note this id for retrieval of incomplete but saved DS-160 Form.
• With each "Next" click the data is saved and the incomplete form can be later retrieved from the same above link.
• Keep your documents handy specially your passport while filling the form.
• Your US Visa Number (if issued earlier) is the red number on the previous issued C1/D Visa (bottom right of visa).
• Before submitting the completed form you will be asked to revise the same and then confirm. In the end a confirmation page with the CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Center) Barcode will be generated.
• You only need to print this confirmation page with the CEAC Barcode.

• If there is still an error in filling DS-160 form, do not panic. Once you have confirmed and submitted the form you cannot edit the same filled form. However, you can always fill a fresh DS-160 form and generate the CEAC Barcode again.
• Please email the confirmation page to your e-mail id also. This will be your backup if ever you lose the hard copy of this confirmation page.
• The form times out after 15-20 minutes. This is done for security reasons, in which an alert box will open and ask you to confirm ‘OK’. To prevent your entered data getting lost, remember to click the ‘Save’ button intermittently.
• While it is possible to fill the form in breaks and save for later recovery, it is recommended that the form is filled in one go, if possible.

Refer:
https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/pdf/DS160InternetGuide.pdf

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/businessfaqs.html

http://travel.state.gov/visa/forms/forms_4401.html

(5) Pay the fee at the nearest bank, as given, that accepts US visa fee payment and get the visa fee receipt in duplicate with the 10-digit barcode number affixed to it.

• The total payment amount includes the visa fee + VFS service charge + Bank Charges.
• Carry the photocopy of the first page of your passport and give your name as given in passport.
• Confirm that the receipt has the 10-digit barcode number affixed to it and is readable as you will need this to schedule the interview appointment for your C1/D Visa.
• Wait for one working day after payment in order to schedule the appointments for the C1/D Visa interview.
• You will be required to submit the Embassy Copy at the Embassy/Consulate, on the day of your interview.
• The fee is non refundable and valid only for one year from the date of payment.

(6) Schedule your appointment for the date of interview. For the C1/D Visa at:

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/ApplnForms/RegularUser.aspx

• The same link is used for cancelling Appointment Date, modifying Courier Address and downloading the Appointment Letter.

• Take a printout of the VFS appointment letter and remember the details submitted as the details will be required to download the letter again the hardcopy/printout is lost.
• You can also check the availability of earliest date for interview at your nearest Consulate from the links given below.

Refer:
https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/ApplnForms/RegularUser.aspx

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/ApplnForms/EarliestDate.aspx

(7) On the date of interview carry the following documents:
• Passport (valid for at least six months beyond your date of interview) as well as previously issued passports;
• Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) - for seafarers only.
• One recent (within the past six months) photograph 50mm X 50mm (2" x 2") with a white background as explained in point (3);
• DS-160 confirmation page with CEAC Barcode as explained in point (4);
• Valid bank visa fee receipt, the Embassy copy as explained in point (5);
• Original VFS appointment letter, the interview appointment letter as explained in point (6);
• Original letter issued by the company (if you are travelling for job purpose) stating the purpose of travel, itinerary, agent’s name and address in US.

(8) Additional info about Mobile/Cell phone:
As advised in the Interview Letter, do not take any electronic devices including mobile phones. However, if you need a mobile phone till the last minute, ask a friend to accompany you till outside the Embassy/Consulate and leave your mobile phone with the friend. Also, it is good to have a friend nearby in case you are missing documents reqd for the C1/D Visa interview and the person could fetch them for you. However, best to check well in advance that you have everything needed for the interview so that you are not caught in a panic situation.

(9) If for some reason, you do not get the option to have your passport delivered at home after your visa interview (for e.g., the courier company does not ship to your address), then you’ll have to select the Hold at Location (HAL) option.

When going to collect your passport, take with you the following documents:
Identity Proof;
VFS Fees Receipt;
A copy of the above two documents (for submitting).

Refer:
https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/typ_faq.html

(10) For a list of Frequently Asked Questions, check the following website:

Refer:
http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov/nonimmigrant_visas/frequently-asked-questions.html

For more info, pls go through the following websites:

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/ (the main website of the US Dept of State for visas for India)

http://travel.state.gov/ (the main website of the US Dept of State)

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_5005.html#howtoapply

http://travel.state.gov/visa/forms/forms_4230.html