Yes, US citizens need a valid visa to travel to India. India does not provide visa-free access to US passport holders, whether their visit is for tourism or business activities.

One of the most convenient visa options is the India e-visa, which can be easily applied through an authorised visa channel.

To apply for an India e-visa from the US, you need the following documents:

• Passport: A scanned copy of your US passport information page clearly showing your photo and personal details. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from arrival and have at least 2 blank pages.

• Visa photo: A passport-size photograph (350 X 350 pixels) taken recently on a white background, looking straight ahead without glasses.

Follow these steps to apply for an India e-visa from the US: 

Step 1: Visit the official India e-visa website and click the "Apply here for e-visa" tab on the homepage.

Step 2: Enter the requested details (like passport type, nationality, etc.) and click on "Continue." For future reference, please note the temporary application ID displayed at the top of your application page. 

Step 3: Fill in your personal information, passport, address, family, profession, and visa details. 

Step 4: The final step of the application form is to upload a copy of your passport and photo. 

Step 5: Pay the India visa fee. Upon a successful payment, you will receive an acknowledgement mail with your permanent application ID. 

Step 6: You will receive the India e-visa via mail once approved. Print a copy to present to the immigration officers upon arrival at the designated port of entry in India.

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Once your India visa is approved, you will receive the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) via mail. It will include your personal information, passport number, visa type, duration of stay and validity period. 

Here is the India e-visa (ETA) sample:

Note: When applying through the government website, you must confirm that under "Check your visa status,” your India ETA status is shown as 'GRANTED’ before starting your journey.

Here’s how you can track your India visa status online:

1. Visit the official e-visa website.

2. Click on the "Check your Visa Status" tab on the homepage.

3. Enter your application ID, passport number and Captcha. 

4. Click on "Advanced search for e-visa only" to view your visa status.

Delays in receiving your visa can occur due to various reasons, such as high application volumes, incomplete documentation, or additional security checks. If you have not received your India e-visa after the standard processing time, here's what you should do:

• Check your email's spam or junk folder to see if you missed any updates.

• If there is no mail, contact the platform's e-visa support team through which you applied.

It is always best to apply for your e-visa well in advance to account for any potential delays and avoid last-minute travel disruptions. 

Avoid the stress of delays with Atlys, which ensures guaranteed delivery of your India e-visa in just 3 days!

Yes, you must print out your e-visa before travelling to India, as presenting a printed copy of the e-visa at the immigration checkpoint is mandatory.

Tip: It’s a good idea to carry multiple printed copies of your e-visa and store a digital copy on your phone for easy access. This ensures you have a backup in case of any loss or issues with the printed version.

It depends on the stage of your application. If you’ve already made the payment, you’ll need to contact the support team of the e-visa service through which you applied for assistance. However, if you haven’t made the payment yet, you can re-fill the application form (provided you haven’t exceeded the limit of 3 attempts).

Note: There is no guarantee that corrections will be made, especially if your application is already under processing. If it takes time, you may need to wait for the decision and reapply accordingly.

Here are a few points you can keep in mind to ensure that your India e-visa application is approved: 

• Submit an error-free application: Carefully complete the visa application form. Ensure that the information in your application matches those on the passport. When applying, have your passport by your side to cross-check and fill in the details. 

• Have a valid passport: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months and has sufficient blank pages. If not, renew your passport before applying. 

• Provide a recent photograph: It is important to submit a recent passport-sized photograph that meets the specific visa photo requirements. Avoid heavy filters to ensure you look the same way as seen in the photograph.

• Check your eligibility: Not all foreign nationals can apply for the India e-visa. For example, if you are a US Green Card holder but hold a passport from a non-e-visa-eligible country (such as Pakistan), your application will be rejected. It's important to understand these criteria before applying.

• Apply for the right visa type: Although the India e-visa is issued for various purposes, like medical, social visits, attending seminars, etc., there are certain activities for which an e-visa is not issued. For example, paid NGO and journalism visits are not covered. Therefore, before applying for the e-visa, ensure that you are applying only for those purposes permitted on the e-visa. 

Note: If you have further questions or doubts, consider consulting visa experts to avoid delays and additional expenses of reapplying if your application gets rejected.

Yes, if your India visa application is rejected, you can reapply. However, it is important to understand the reasons for the rejection and address them in your new application.

Alternatively, you may seek assistance from an authorised visa expert to increase your chances of approval on the second attempt.

Yes, minors must also apply for an India e-visa separately, just like adults. As a parent or legal guardian, ensure your child’s passport is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in India.

No, US citizens do not need a yellow fever vaccination card to enter India. The card is only required by travellers arriving in India within 6 days of departure from any yellow fever-endemic country.

No, with an India e-visa, you can only enter through the following 31 designated airports and 5 seaports: 

• Airports: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa (Dabolim), Goa (Mopa), Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi & Visakhapatnam. 

• Seaports: Cochin, Goa, Mangalore, Chennai and Mumbai seaports. 

Note: You may depart from any of the Indian Immigration Check Posts (ICPs).

Yes. You can enter from any of the 31 designated international airports and 5 seaports despite the entry port you provided on the application form. You may also depart from any of the Indian Immigration Check Posts (ICPs).

No, your India e-visa is not valid throughout the country. It is not valid in certain Protected/Restricted/Cantonment areas (like the states of Manipur and Mizoram), where you would require prior permission from the respective civil authorities to travel.

Yes, US Green Card holders holding passports from e-visa-eligible countries can apply for an India e-visa. They can easily apply online through the government or an authorised visa service’s website. 

Note: If you have a Pakistani passport, you are of Pakistani origin, or your parents or grandparents (either paternal or maternal) were born in Pakistan or were permanently residing there, you cannot apply for an e-visa. You can only apply for an India visa at your nearest Indian Embassy.

No, US citizens are not eligible for an India visa on arrival. To enter India, they must apply for an e-visa or regular paper visa before travelling to the country.

No, the India e-visa cannot be extended or converted to another visa type while you are in India. If you wish to stay longer, you will need to exit the country and apply for a new visa.

If you overstay your India e-visa, there can be serious consequences. Generally, you will face fines or may need clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs to leave the country. Moreover, visa violators are required to apply for an exit permit through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) portal, which can take up to 90 days, and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. 

In the worst case, you might even be jailed for months. Therefore, it’s important to comply with visa regulations to avoid these complications and potential legal issues.

Yes, you can apply for a visa at the Indian Embassy in the US. However, it is a bit complicated and extra work, as:

• You will need additional documents, such as proof of your address and 

• The processing time for a regular paper visa is more than that for an e-visa. 

Thus, it is best to apply for an India e-visa online, as it involves a faster and simpler process.

You may be allowed entry into India on the new passport even if an ETA has been issued on the old passport, provided that you carry both the new and old passport (on which the ETA was issued).

No, you cannot apply for an India visa with only one blank page left in your US passport. The Indian visa authorities require at least two blank pages in your passport for entry/exit stamps. 

You are advised to renew your passport before applying for a visa to ensure that you meet the mandatory passport requirements.

The visa validity period

On the other hand, the duration of stay is determined upon entry by the immigration authorities and is usually stamped in your passport. Typically, the allowed stay duration is 30 days from the date of your entry. 

No, the purpose of your visit, as stated in your e-visa application, cannot be changed after the visa is issued. If your travel purpose changes, you must apply for a new visa that reflects the correct purpose. 

Recommendation: Ensure that you select the correct purpose of the visit when applying for your India e-visa to avoid the need for reapplication.

In cases where the uploaded documents or provided information is unclear, the visa authorities email you to request a re-upload of the data. The mail is usually received within 24 hours of submitting the application.

If you have received a mail to re-upload your data, here's what you can do:

1. Examine the request: Carefully review the email to understand which documents or pieces of information need to be re-uploaded. Check for any specific guidelines or requirements mentioned in the email to ensure you address all the points.

2. Re-upload the data: Visit the official India e-visa website, click on the "Re-upload Data" tab, enter the credentials to log in and provide the updated information or documents.

3. Monitor the status: After re-uploading the documents, check your email and application status regularly to track further updates.

Here's a quick overview of how to apply for an India e-visa from the US through Atlys:

1. Visit Atlys: Start your India visa application on Atlys. 

2. Upload documents: Take a selfie for the photo or upload the photograph and passport copy. 

3. Provide details: Enter the requested personal and passport details. 

4. Make the payment: Review the application, check out, and pay the applicable India visa fees. 

5. Get your visa: While you await your visa approval, you can actively track its status on the Atlys app. Upon approval, Atlys will notify you via e-mail with your India e-visa (ETA) attached. 

Yes, by applying through Atlys, you can get your India e-visa in just 3 days! Just fill out the application, upload the required documents, and pay the express processing fee. Our expedited service ensures you receive your visa quickly, allowing you to make last-minute travel plans easily.

Yes, you can apply for India e-visas for your family or group members in a single application session on Atlys. It streamlines the process and allows you to manage all applications simultaneously. However, each member’s details, including passport information and photographs, must be provided.

Here are the reasons to choose Atlys: 

• Easy visa applications: Our platform is user-friendly, making it accessible even for first-time users. With just a few clicks, you can get the India e-visa from the comfort of your home in the US. 

• Secure: Your personal information is kept safe and encrypted. We do not sell your data to third parties. 

• Great support: We understand the uncertainty and anxiousness that follows after submitting a visa application. Hence, we offer real-time updates on your visa status and expert help if you have any questions. 

• Saves time and money: We provide a one-stop source for all your visa-related queries. This eliminates your need to refer to multiple sources. Additionally, we are a cost-effective alternative to using traditional visa agents, which can be expensive. 

• Wide coverage: Apart from India, we also serve visas to numerous countries for Americans. Such wide coverage allows you to apply for multiple visas at the same time.

No, US citizens do not need a transit visa to travel through India if they remain in the airport's international transit area for a period of 24 hours. A transit visa must be obtained if the waiting period is longer.

The Indian government provide various types of e-visas for US nationals, of which the most common ones are:

• e-Tourist Visa: It is issued for short visits aimed at tourism or sightseeing with a validity of 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years, with multiple entries allowed.

• e-Business Visa: It is issued for exploring and engaging in business opportunities and is typically valid for 1 year with multiple entries.

• e-Medical Visa: It is issued for seeking medical treatment at recognised hospitals or clinics and is valid for 60 days from the date of arrival, with a maximum of three entries.

• e-Medical Attendant Visa: Those accompanying a patient seeking medical treatment in India can apply for this visa. It is valid for the same duration as the medical visa, with a maximum of three entries.

• e-Conference Visa: It is issued for attending conferences or seminars and is typically valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in India.

Note: Please note that an issued e-visa is strictly limited to the activities allowed under that visa. For example, you cannot engage in business activities on a tourist visa. Therefore, you must choose the e-visa that matches your agenda of visiting India.