Immigrant visas are not sought as often by Indians as compared to the non-immigrant visas when visiting the United States. An immigrant visa allows the applicant to make the United States their country of residence. These visas require that the applicant wishing to stay in the United States must have a petition signed by the USCIS and this petition is to be filed either by a qualified relative or a potential employer at a United States USCIS office. Indian applicants are required to file form I-130 by mail with the USCIS office in Chicago. Indian applicants will also be provided instructions on how to carry out the medical examinations and should make the appointments with an embassy panel approved physician only after receiving these instructions.

Indians visiting the United States will be required to carry with them, the following documents :

• If you are involved in technical or scientific fields, your visa application may require administrative processing of approximately four to eight weeks. If you think this requirement will affect you, apply for your visa as early as possible, prepare for your visa interview well in advance and bring to your visa interview the following documents:
• The respective Visa form and fee payment and valid passport
• Regulation sized photographs
• A detailed statement highlighting the nature and purpose of the visit
• Financial records and statements showing sufficient finances to fund the trip and meet expenses incurred during stay
• Invitation letters from sponsoring organizations such as supervisors and employers
• Detailed resume highlighting past and current employers and academic backgrounds
• An itinerary with places that applicant plans on visiting with contact names, addresses, telephone numbers and addresses of any organizations affiliated with the visit
• If the visit is for research purposes, then a description of the practical applications of the research