Emigrating to the USA from India: Things to Know

With a current GDP of $30.340 trillion, the USA is the largest economy in the world. A large number of tourists visit every year. This isn’t just for exploring the country’s beauty and culture, but also for seeking better career and employment opportunities. Well, one such nationality that ranks second on the list of immigrants is India. 

Many Indians enter the USA every year to seek better opportunities and also for family reunification. So, if you are also one of them, then you will have to start your process by applying for a U.S. visa. However, that is not all that one requires to immigrate to the country. So, individuals need to understand the complete process before they take any step. 

Choosing the Right Visa Type  

The first thing that you will have to understand when immigrating to the USA is the visa. This is your travel permit for the journey and helps you explore, work, or settle in the country with ease. However, picking a visa can be more complicated than it seems, as the country offers different types of visas. Some of the visas that you will be required to choose from are: 

Work Visa Options

The Immigration Department of the USA has designed multiple work visas. For instance:

The H-1B visa falls under the temporary visa category that allows you to work in “specialty occupations,” which require a bachelor’s degree or something of its equivalent. This allows people to seek lawful permanent residency. The applicants for this visa are also allowed to bring their spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21. The H-1B visa initially grants a 3-year stay in the U.S., which can be extended for a maximum of 6 years, after which the visa holder will have to apply for permanent residency. 

The EB-1 visa is specifically for priority workers. Renowned professors, researchers, and executives or managers of multinational companies fall under this category. This stays valid as long as you maintain your status and comply with the immigration laws. 

The L-1 visa is for employees of MNCs transferred to the U.S. branch of their company and will have to continue serving in their role there. This visa allows people to get lawful permanent residency along with their spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old. The initial validity is 3 years and can be extended up to 7 years. 

An O-1 visa is for anyone who has extraordinary abilities in fields like art, athletics, science, or business and is seeking employment in that field. This does not require any specific job offer, rather, it judges the professional abilities and achievements of the applicant. The initial validity is 3 years and comes with a one-year increment.  

EB-2 visa is designed for those professionals with advanced degrees and ‘exceptional ability’. Some applicants for this visa might also qualify for a National Interest Waiver*. The validity of this one isn’t fixed. 

The EB-3 visa is especially for skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience. They should also have a bachelor’s degree or a foreign equivalent of that. The validity of this visa is 10 years, and it is renewable. 

*The National Interest Waiver is designed to waive the general requirements of a job offer and labour certification. 

Study and Education Visa Options

The F-1 visa is the only one of its kind that offers indirect pathways to permanent residence. This is generally a temporary nonimmigrant visa, but the individual who carries out the United States online visa application for this visa can still consider becoming a permanent resident of the U.S. while they are studying in America. The validity of this visa is 5 years and allows multiple entries. Indian students who plan to immigrate to the country will have to convert their F-1 student visa to a Green Card. They will have to do this via an H-1B or L-1 visa.

How to Get a Visa for Immigrating to the USA? 

Getting a US visa is simple, and you are just required to follow the process of applying for a U.S. visa. Depending on the type of visa you get, this can be done in two ways: online and offline. Let us briefly walk through both processes to make things easy for you. 

Online Visa Application

The steps of the online visa application are: 

• Visit the visa application portal and check your eligibility. 
• Complete the form with correct details. 
• Add the scanned copies of necessary documents, like a valid passport (one with at least 2 blank pages and a minimum of 6 months validity beyond travel dates), a recent passport-sized photograph, bank statements to prove financial ability, flight tickets, and documents related to the travel purpose. Other than that, you should check the other visa requirements for the USA.
• Pay the fee for the visa application through a debit or credit card. 
• Wait around 3 to 5 days to get the visa application approved. Then you will receive an approval letter at the email ID that you provided on your application form. 
• Get a few copies of the letter and bring them to the airport during immigration.  

Contact the Helpdesk in case you face any delay. 

Application through Embassy or Consulate 

The steps of the offline application for an American visa through the embassy or consulate are: 

• Visit the embassy or consulate near you. 
• Complete the form with correct details. 
• Add necessary documents, like a valid passport, copies of recent passport-sized photographs, flight tickets, bank statements, and other things required by the Immigration department related to your travel purpose. 
• Make payment.
• Attend the interview if required. 
• Wait 5 to 10 days for the application to get approved. 
• Collect the passport with a sticker visa after a few days. 

Financial Planning for the Move  

Planning your finances is important for migrating to the USA from India. So, start by planning for the following things before you start applying for a U.S. visa.

• Check the cost of living. This should include your cost of food, transportation, and residency, like rent. 
• Open an account with a US bank and transfer some funds in it. This will help you make easy payments when you move to America. 
• Understand the taxation regulations of America and double taxation agreements*.  
• Invest in health insurance for yourself and your family, and understand the average medical costs in America.  

*The double taxation agreements between India and the USA state that if any interest income arises in India, the amount of which belongs to a US resident, then the amount will be taxable in the USA. That being said, the said interest will be liable to tax in India according to the Indian Income Tax Act. 

Finding Employment in the USA  

Finding good employment in the USA isn’t that tough, especially because the country offers multiple employment opportunities to talented individuals. However, you will have to keep a few things in mind which are as important as the visa requirements for the USA. Some of the things that you will have to keep in mind to grab these opportunities are: 

• The best job sectors for Indian immigrants are IT, healthcare, and finance. So, try something there. 
• Network with US-based employers and use job search portals to unveil the best opportunities. 
• Understand the work culture and expectations in American workplaces.  The workplace heavily focuses on individualism, direct communication, and performance-driven growth. It also values initiative, accountability, and open discussions, and promotes collaboration and teamwork. 

Housing and Accommodation

Accommodation plays a major part in this move. Some of the things that you should remember are:   

• Renting is always better than buying a home, especially when you are just starting. This is because the cost of buying a home can be pretty high. 
• The best cities for Indian immigrants based on tech hubs, affordability, and Indian communities are Austin, Atlanta, and Fremont.   

Legal and Immigration Considerations 

Some of the legal requirements that you will have to comply with are: 

• Maintain a legal status and practice visa renewals.  
• Apply for US citizenship to get permanent residency.
• Understand the US immigration policies and keep up with potential changes.  

Feeling confident to immigrate to the USA from India?

Moving your base from India to the USA can be a stressful experience as it brings in many changes. But, you can make it easy by understanding the process and steps for applying for a U.S. visa. This way, you will feel more prepared to move to the country and build your life there in a better way.

Contact the Helpdesk if there are further issues. Other than that, you can also take help from different support groups for Indian immigrants in the USA.