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India’s travel advisory and visa restriction that came into effect on March 13, 2020 has left lakhs of Indian nationals and foreign citizens of Indian origin at a loss, with concerns and queries regarding their travel this month or in April. Many foreign citizens of Indian origin, with or without OCI cards, who are currently in India, are wondering whether they are allowed to travel back. Many Indian nationals abroad are going through news articles and social media posts seeking to know if they are barred from returning to India amid the travel restrictions over COVID19.

VISA AUTHORIZATION FORM. Welcome, you are entitled to a United States B1/B2/C1/D Visa. If you apply, make sure: You’re visiting for a maximum of 6 months You’re traveling exclusively for business, transit or pleasure Please Note: Embassy Visit is Required for Interview. Most travelers need a visa and passport to the United States. Customs and Border Protection officers at the port of entry will collect your visa number to verify your authorization to enter. The number is temporary if you have a nonimmigrant visa (such as a B-2 visitor or F-1 student visa). The B1 B2 visa is a temporary non-immigrant USA visa that allows foreign nationals to enter the U.S.A for a short duration. B1 visa is for business purpose while B2 visa is for pleasure. Sometimes US embassy will give you B1/B2 visa instead of B1 visa. So that you do not need a separate B2 visa. Yes, a single visa either B1 or B2 can be issued, but often they are combined. According to the official ustraveldocs.com: Often, the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2. Now, the proof that single B1 or B2 visas are issued in some cases is the official statistics found on travel.state.gov.

We at Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, are up with a primary list of FAQs on travel to and from India amid the COVID19 visa restrictions and travel ban.

Are US Mission India Posts cancelling immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments?

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Yes, appointments for immigrant and non-immigrant visas are cancelled from March 16, 2020 onward. Visa-stamping appointments will be rescheduled once the US Embassy and consulates in India resume regular consular operations. Interview appointments for all visa types, including H1B, H4, L1, L2, B1, B2, F1, ad F2, stand cancelled from March 16. US visa fees are non-refundable. Your visa interview will be rescheduled once the next slots are available.

My visa will expire by the end of April. I am planning to travel to India this month or early in April. Is there any hurdle if I choose to travel now, as GOI has restricted inbound travel till April 15?

Indian nationals are not restricted from traveling to India. The government of India’s travel advisory issued on March 11 applies to foreign citizens of Indian origin, OCI card holders, green card holders from the US, and foreign tourists in general. If you are on H4, H1B Visa or any other employment visa, you can travel to India even before Indian government’s inbound travel restriction ends on April 15. It is better to travel now, because the situation is volatile and may worse further. Do make sure to check with the nearest Indian mission and airlines before buying flight tickets to India. Please note, you may be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on arrival in India.

Can OCI card holders presently in India travel back to the US or any other country of their residence amid India’s travel and visa restrictions?

Yes, they can. The OCI cards of foreigners, who are currently present in India, remain valid. India’s revised travel advisory for OCI card holders, which came into effect on March 13, suspends their travel to India till April 15, not their travel from India. OCI card holders traveling from India back to their country of residence should check whether they will face quarantine on arrival, and what preparation they need to take for it before boarding flights to their country of citizenship.

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I am traveling to USA from India on March 30. My itinerary includes a stopover in France, which I have to cancel due to the ban on travel from Europe to USA. What route should I consider while rebooking my flight from India to USA?

In current times of the novel coronavirus pandemic, direct flights from India to USA are recommended for the shortest travel time and no stopover hassles. You can choose to fly on Air India or United Airlines or Delta Air Lines if any one of them has direct flights to your destination in the US. The United Kingdom is exempted from Trump’s current ban on travel from Europe. Hence, you can rebook your travel to USA from India via London. Also, any Middle East airline is the best bet to travel via Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Istanbul.

Has Qatar Airways cancelled flights to and from India? Can I book Qatar Airways flights for my US-India round trip via Doha?

Qatar Airways is still operating to and from India. Travelers from India are currently banned from visiting Qatar, but they can transit through Doha while traveling on Qatar Airways flights between India and USA. Passengers from India are not allowed to step outside the transit area at Doha Hamad International Airport. It is strongly recommended that you check with your travel agency or Qatar Airways before booking an itinerary with a transit stopover in Doha.

I need to travel to India with my family in the next few days. I know we can’t enter India as long as the government’s travel advisory continues to suspend the visa-free travel facility for OCI card holders. Will we be denied to board flight? Do airport authorities hold back OCI card holders?

Yes, you will be denied boarding at the port of departure for onward travel to India. Those having compelling reasons to visit India within April 15 are advised to contact the nearest Indian mission or consulate. Besides, the government of India has urged foreign citizens of Indian origin to cancel or postpone non-essential travel to India.

According to an OCI card holder who contacted the Indian Consulate in New York and Atlanta, they are considering three major reasons to allow OCI card holders to visit India: death in the family, serious health issues in the family, and visa validity expiring in few weeks.

Are infants / children who hold foreign passports with or without OCI cards, but parents are Indians, allowed to travel to India?

No. Infants/children with OCI cards are required to get a fresh visa from Indian Mission. The visa-free travel facility is temporarily suspended for OCI card holders.

Are dependents of diplomats and recognized international organization officials allowed to visit India on normal passports?

No.

I have an Air India flight to India in the coming days. Being a foreign citizen, I won’t be allowed to travel to India now. What is Air India’s cancellation policy amid COVID19 travel ban?

Air India is not permitting free cancellation amid India’s travel ban and visa restrictions over the novel coronavirus pandemic. The national carrier of India is allowing one-time free date change for flight rescheduling or travel rebooking between any places in its network. Air India’s one free change applies to all existing bookings for travel till April 30, and new reservations booked till March 31, 2020. Fare difference will apply in case of re-routing and if the same fare level/class is not available at the time of rescheduling or rebooking.

My parents from India came to visit me in the US. I don’t want them to travel back in the current situation. Please let me know the process to extend the visiting visa for USA?

I-539 is the form for non-immigrant visa extension. Visit the USCIS website, download the form I-539, fill it duly and send it to the address mentioned in the instructions. Do make sure to attach a letter explaining the reason for making the visitor visa (non-immigrant) extension request. The USCIS website offers online chat support to help you out. However, consulting an attorney or seeking advice from a visa consultant is recommended these days.

The B1 and B2 visas are for visitors traveling to America who plan to go back to their home country, and are good for short-term visits of up to one year.6 min read

B1 B2 Visa Slots1. What Are the B1 and B2 Visas?
2. What Can You Do With a B1/B2 Visa?
3. What Do I Need to Get a B1/B2 Visa?
4. How Long Does a B1/B2 Visa Last?
5. How Does the B1/B2 Visa Overlap With Other Visas?

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Updated June 28, 2020:

What Are the B1 and B2 Visas?

The B1 and B2 visas are for visitors who travel to America and plan to go back to their home country afterward. They are good for short-term visits of up to one year. Specifically, the B1 visa is for business visits while the B2 visa is for pleasure, tourism, and medical visits. However, since many people wind up doing both, the two visas are often issued together as a joint B1/B2 visa. This means you can visit the country several times on both business trips and vacations if you want, and you won't have to worry about the details. There are no quotas or limits to the number of B1/B2 visas issued every year.

What Can You Do With a B1/B2 Visa?

While you can conduct business with a B1/B2 visa, it's important to remember there are certain things you can't do, since you need other visas to have permission to do them. Here is what you can do with a B1/B2 visa:

  • Hire and fire a staff
  • Perform research
  • Plan out and spend money on investments and purchases
  • Attend business meetings, negotiations, and investment and sales meetings
  • Attend up to 18 hours per week of recreational lessons
  • Bring along dependents like children (only for a B2 status)
  • Attend seminars and conferences without earning college credits
  • Work as a domestic servant for someone else on a B1/B2 visa
  • Visit family, friends, and have fun
  • Get medical care
  • Perform as an amateur entertainer or athlete

On the other hand, you can't:

  • Perform as an entertainer or in professional sports
  • Attend a school or university as a regular student
  • Earn college credits from seminars or conferences
  • Work for gainful employment

That last restriction can be pretty tricky. What it basically means is that you can't work at a job and get paid by a local person or organization. So while you can keep taking checks from the company that sent you to work in America, you can't quit and work at the local Wal-Mart without changing your visa.

Requirements

On the other hand, you can get travel reimbursements and honoraria. An honorarium is what you call it when you get a payment for doing something you would have done for free. This can apply to guest speakers who don't have an upfront fee and to church services for funerals.

You can also visit Canada while you're in America, although you'll need a Canadian visa. You can get one from your nation's embassy in the United States, but it's still easier to get one in your home country if you know you plan to visit. You can then return to America from Canada, but only if you have a multiple-entry U.S. visa. These visas have an M on the stamp, and long-term visas usually have them while short-term visas sometimes don't. Make sure you check before leaving the country.

What Do I Need to Get a B1/B2 Visa?

Qualifying for a B1/B2 visa is easy, at least compared to most other U.S. visas. To get one, you should contact the U.S. embassy in your home country and ask for an application, either in person, through mail, or online. The paperwork isn't too bad, but they will want to know whether you have family members, a home, and a job. This is because they want to know whether you will have a reason to go back home eventually. If you pass, you get a B1/B2 visa for either six months or 10 years, although the second kind doesn't mean you can stay in the U.S. for a decade.

Getting a visa usually involves a face-to-face interview no matter what type you apply for. To prepare for this interview, you should bring along all the documents you can think of, but don't expect to need them all. After all, the immigration officials can reject your application for not having enough documentation, but not for having too much. During the interview, it's important not to lie no matter how it might make you look, because they will check your story later and a lie can get you permanently banned from getting a visa.

Something you don't need for a B1/B2 visa is a sponsor. Other visas need an American business or other U.S. sponsor to petition the government, but you can apply for a B1/B2 yourself. You can even use the same visa to make two business trips for two employers, as long as it isn't tied to your first job and it hasn't expired.

How Long Does a B1/B2 Visa Last?

When you enter the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa, you'll get a passport stamp and an I-94 form, although these days the form is electronic. This form will let you stay up to six months in America from the start of your visit. You can get a six-month extension after that, but the government will want to know why you need to stick around.

On the other hand, you can always go home, come back, and go through Immigration again. For people using the B1/B2 visa for business reasons, immigration officials will usually let you go back as often as you need. However, for non-medical B2 visits, U.S. officials will want you to stay in your home country for around six months if you spent six months in America. It's not a hard rule, but using too many B1/B2 visas is a reason to turn down an application. After all, if you want to immigrate or stay long-term, there are other visas for that.

Something else you can apply for is a B1/B2 visit visa waiver. You must first meet the following conditions:

  • You're a citizen of one of 37 participating countries:
    • Andorra
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Belgium
    • Brunei
    • Czech Republic
    • Denmark
    • Estonia
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Latvia
    • Liechtenstein
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Malta
    • Monaco
    • The Netherlands
    • New Zealand
    • Norway
    • Portugal
    • San Marino
    • Singapore
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • South Korea
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Taiwan
    • United Kingdom
  • You're driving down from Canada or you travel with a participating airline
  • You have a plane ticket that will take you out of the country (aside from Canada again)

If all the above are true, you can apply for a visa waiver through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization operated by Custom and Border Protection. You have to apply from your home country, and the waiver only lasts 90 days. This cuts down on the red tape needed for tourists and visitors who won't be around for long.

However, you can't extend the waiver or convert it into a normal B1/B2 visa, so get a real visa if you plan on a longer stay. Also, this waiver program doesn't apply if you are also a citizen of or have recently visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen.

How Does the B1/B2 Visa Overlap With Other Visas?

The H1B and other work visas allow for full employment within the United States, but there are always more applicants than there are visas. The B1 visa can help companies get around that problem, but only in very specific circumstances.

  • The work must be university-graduate level, so something that qualifies for an H1B visa and demands a bachelor's degree or above. The worker must also have this degree or enough work experience to make up the difference.
  • The worker must be permanently employed and paid by a non-U.S. country, with only an expense account at most from any U.S. company.

A visitor who qualifies can get the B1 in lieu of H1B visa, which comes with extra permissions but needs more paperwork to get. On the plus side, it's much easier to get than a normal H1B.

You can also apply for other visas while you're in the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa. There are as many reasons as there are visas: you found a new job, you married a U.S. citizen, or maybe you want to apply to a university. However, asking for a visa while in the U.S. can earn you some extra attention, so be careful what you do and say.

B1/B2 visas also overlap with the C1 transit visa. The C1 visa is only good if you spend your entire time in the U.S. traveling to a third country, but you'll want a B1/B2 visa if you plan to do anything else along the way. B1/B2 visa waivers also count as an alternative to a C1 visa.

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