Indian Student Visa Application Instructions

In order to study within India, all students are required to obtain a visa. You will not be permitted to enter India without securing a visa in advance, so it is imperative that you complete the visa application process before you depart.

Instructions on how to obtain your visa are listed below.  Please read through this information carefully. These instructions are intended for US citizens.  If you are not a citizen of the United States, please contact your Program Manager for assistance.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that the appropriate visa is obtained for participation in the Contemporary India program.

How to Apply

Step 1
Download and complete the AIIS Student Visa Authorization Form from the Alliance for Global Education website. Return this document to your Program Manager as part of your initial application. Your AIIS visa sponsorship will be based on this information.  For question 15, you must list the consulate that corresponds to the address on your driver's license or a major utility bill.

Upon acceptance to the Alliance program and AIIS’s approval, your AIIS Student Visa Sponsorship Letter will be sent to you via UPS approximately one month prior to your program departure date. You cannot proceed with your student visa application without this letter. Do NOT initiate the online India Visa Application until you have received this UPS package.

Step 2
Complete the online India Visa Application: https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/get-a-visa.html

Click on the “Apply by Mail” button and enter “Student Visa” as your visa type, along with your citizenship and home state information. You will then be taken to a page with a link to the online application (see item 1).

After the online application has been completed, you must print and sign the application.

Step 3
Mail all of your supporting materials to the appropriate Travisa Outsourcing location. The processing of visa applications is jurisdictional, so you must submit your materials to your assigned Travisa office, which is dictated by your home state. Please see addresses below.

It is strongly recommended that you send your supporting materials via a trackable method such as: UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL or registered mail.

The following items must be included: 

1. Online Application: Signed copy
2. Passport: Passport must have a minimum validity of six months from the date of application with at least two blank visa pages. Last 2 amendment pages are not acceptable. Must be the actual passport, NOT A COPY. The visa will be a sticker in your passport.
3. Photographs: Two recent, identical passport-size photographs (black/white or color) depicting front pose against light background.
4. Proof of Address: Applicants must submit a photocopy with proof of residence/address that matches the address on the visa application exactly.  Photocopy of state issued ID (Driver License or ID), or major utility bill (Water, Gas, Electric, Sewage) must be submitted. The following items are not accepted: cell phone bill, credit card statement, bank statement or lease. The address cannot include a P.O. box.  Minor applicants must have a copy of both parents State Issued ID or Passports.
5. Copy of Birth Certificate: Applicants must submit a photocopy of their birth certificate. The original copy is not required.
6. Admission Letter: A letter confirming admission from a recognized institution along with evidence of financial arrangements for stay in India. This is your AIIS Visa Sponsorship Letter provided by your Alliance for Global Education Program Manager.
7. Persons of Indian Origin: (if applicable) Persons of Indian Origin applying for a visa for the first time on any US passport must submit their Indian passport and a completed Renunciation Form (http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/pdf/renunciation.pdf). (US Citizens Only)
8. Dual Citizenship: (if applicable) Applicants who have dual citizenship with the US and another country must apply on their US passport if living in the US.
9. Fees (*approximately $130 including shipping): Payment can be made online with Visa or Mastercard (recommended), or by money order enclosed with the application. A Processing Service Fee of $13.00 will be charged by Travisa Outsourcing per application, per passport. All fees are non refundable. If payment is not paid in full, processing delays will occur. The payment method should be selected when completing the visa application.

*Please note that the shipping fees may vary.

Estimated Processing Time: Applications sent by mail take around 7-9 working/business days to process from the date of receipt. You can check the status of your application at the following site: https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/track-passport

For more information about the visa application process for India, please see Travisa Outsourcing’s website at https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/.

MAKE A COPY OF ALL VISA APPLICATION FORMS AND MATERIALS FOR YOUR RECORDS.