From parents' graduation visits to business conferences — Study2Migrate handles every type of US visitor visa from our MG Road, Kanuru centre. DS-160 filing, document review, Dropbox eligibility, interview coaching, and slot monitoring. All under one roof.
Most people applying for a US visitor visa actually receive a combined B1/B2 visa that covers both purposes. However, knowing which category applies to your trip is critical for completing your DS-160 accurately and answering your consular officer's questions correctly.
| Category | B1 — Business Visitor | B2 — Tourism / Personal |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Business meetings, conferences, negotiations, training, trade shows | Tourism, family visits, attending graduation, medical treatment, holiday |
| What Is Allowed | Attending meetings with US clients/partners, signing contracts, consulting, short-term training (not employment) | Visiting children/family in the US, sightseeing, attending university events, recovering from medical treatment |
| What Is NOT Allowed | Receiving a US salary, providing paid services, working for a US company as an employee | Working for pay, studying at a US institution for more than 18 hours/week, long-term residence |
| Most Common Use — Vijayawada | IT professionals attending client meetings, exporters attending trade fairs, business owners visiting US branches | Parents visiting children who are on H1B, L1, F1, or Green Card. Attending graduation ceremonies. Medical visits. |
| Visa Issued As | Combined B1/B2 — most applicants receive both categories on a single visa | |
| 2026 MRV Fee | USD $185 ≈ ₹15,500 (non-refundable, paid before appointment) | |
| Typical Validity | 10 years (multiple entry) for most Indian applicants · Maximum stay 6 months per visit | |
| Extension in the US | Extendable up to 6 additional months via Form I-539 filed with USCIS before I-94 expiry | |
| Consulate for Vijayawada | US Consulate General, Hyderabad · VAC document submission: Hyderabad | |
Every year, thousands of families from Vijayawada, Krishna district, and Guntur district send parents to attend their children's graduation ceremonies at US universities. This is the single highest-volume B2 visa application type we handle — and it has its own specific timeline, documentation, and planning requirements.
US university graduation ceremonies fall in May–June (spring commencement) and December (winter commencement). US visa slots at Hyderabad are in extremely high demand during February–April and September–November as families prepare for these events. Applying 3–4 months before the ceremony is too late in most years. Study2Migrate monitors slot availability daily and has successfully secured appointments for peak graduation months — including emergency re-scheduling when slots disappear.
The US Embassy also sees heavier scrutiny of graduation-related applications during peak periods, as consular officers are aware that a small percentage of parents overstay. A well-prepared, honest application with strong ties documentation dramatically improves your outcome.
Contact Study2Migrate. Assess Dropbox eligibility. Begin DS-160 and document gathering.
Pay MRV fee (₹15,500). Monitor and book the earliest available appointment. Peak months fill within hours of slots opening.
Complete DS-160, finalise invitation letter, compile bank statements, property documents, ITR, and host's status documents.
Full interview simulation at our Kanuru centre. Review all documents. Final checklist review before Hyderabad appointment.
Attend your appointment. Study2Migrate is on call throughout the day for any last-minute queries.
One of the most significant changes to the US visa renewal process is the expanded interview waiver programme — commonly known as Dropbox. Under the 2026 rules, a much larger group of Indian applicants can renew their B1/B2 visa without attending an in-person consular interview, dramatically reducing both wait times and travel to Hyderabad.
The key rule: your previous US B1/B2 visa must have been issued within the last 48 months (4 years). Previously, this window was 12 months, then 24 months. The 48-month expansion means that if your visa expired as recently as 4 years ago, you may now qualify to renew without an interview — submitting documents by courier instead.
The single most common reason for B1/B2 visa refusal under Section 214(b) is the consular officer's assessment that the applicant lacks sufficient reason to return to India. For families in Vijayawada, Krishna district, and Guntur district, this assessment is highly fact-specific — and highly winnable with the right documentation. Here is exactly what to prepare.
Immovable property in India is the strongest single tie a consular officer recognises.
Dependants who remain in India while the applicant travels significantly strengthen the case.
An active professional or business presence in India signals intent to return.
Demonstrating financial substance in India shows the applicant's life and wealth are rooted here.
Many families in Krishna and Guntur districts hold agricultural land — this is a highly credible tie that is frequently underused in visa applications.
Supplementary ties that reinforce the applicant's rootedness in the local community.
This is the most common point of failure in self-prepared applications: missing or incorrectly formatted documents. Study2Migrate reviews every document in your file before you travel to Hyderabad. Below is our 2026 checklist — separated for the applicant (parent/traveller) and the US-based host/sponsor.
Document requirements can vary by applicant profile. Study2Migrate provides a personalised checklist after reviewing your specific situation.
The B2 visa interview for parents typically lasts 3–5 minutes. The consular officer's job is to quickly assess intent to return — not to catch you out. Honest, brief, confident answers supported by strong documentation are the formula. Here are the questions most commonly asked of parents at the Hyderabad consulate, and how to approach each one.
There are many consultants offering visa help in Vijayawada. Here is what makes Study2Migrate different — especially for families navigating the US visitor visa process for the first time.
US visa slots at Hyderabad open and close within minutes during graduation season. Our team monitors the appointment portal daily and alerts clients the moment earlier slots become available — we have secured appointments during peak months when families thought it was impossible.
The DS-160 form has 40+ fields — including employment history, travel history, and social media usernames. Errors or inconsistencies cause delays and refusals. We complete and review every DS-160 with the client, cross-checking against passport and previous visa records before submission.
For senior applicants in Vijayawada, Poranki, Benz Circle, and Kanuru who find it difficult to visit our office, we offer home visits for document collection and DS-160 completion. We come to you — no travel required.
A poorly written invitation letter is a common cause of additional questioning at interview. We draft customised, embassy-ready invitation letters for the US host — covering all required elements in the format preferred by the Hyderabad consulate.
We assess whether you qualify for the interview waiver in your first consultation — saving eligible applicants weeks of wait time. For Dropbox applicants, we manage the courier submission process end to end.
After your visa is issued, we advise on I-94 entry rules, authorised period of stay, extension options, and what not to do during your US visit — so your 10-year visa remains valid for every future trip.
We serve families across Vijayawada, Kanuru, Benz Circle, Poranki, Amaravati, Guntur, and all of Krishna and Guntur districts.
MG Road, Kanuru, Vijayawada — open Mon–Sat, 9 AM to 7 PM.
Above Jockey Showroom · MG Road · Kanuru · Vijayawada 520007 · Est. 2016 · 98% Visa Success