New B1/B2 Visa Categories Appear in DS-160 Forms for Indian Applicants

Multiple Indian applicants on various visa forums are reporting new B1/B2 subcategories appearing in their DS-160 forms during profile creation. These changes were first noticed in late April 2026 and appear to affect applicants in India specifically. The traditional single B1/B2 combined category that Indian travelers have used for decades has been quietly replaced with multiple specific subcategories, creating widespread confusion among applicants and visa consultants. When applying from Mumbai last week (April 26, 2026), applicants saw several new subcategories under the visitor visa section including: B1 - Business Visitor (Meetings/Conferences), B1 - Business Visitor (Contract Negotiation), B2 - Tourism/Leisure, B2 - Medical Treatment, B2 - Visiting Friends/Relatives, and B1/B2 - Combined Business and Tourism. ## No Official Announcement Yet The reason for these changes remains unclear as no official announcement has been made by the U.S. Department of State or Embassy. The U.S. Embassy website doesn't mention anything about these changes. This silence has led to confusion among applicants who are unsure which category to select for their specific travel purposes. A consular officer during a recent B1/B2 interview told an applicant that they've recently made some changes to the categories and the system. He said not all officers are familiar with the new categories yet and that processing might take a few more days due to these changes. The applicant's status is currently "Administrative Processing". ## Widespread Impact on Indian Applicants An update from May 1, 2026: Someone at the Mumbai VAC confirmed they've received multiple inquiries about this. They said the system changes are legitimate but no official guidance has been provided yet about which category to choose. They recommended selecting the category that most closely matches your primary travel purpose. Since late April 2026, Indian B1/B2 visa applicants have been encountering new category options in the DS-160 form that weren't previously available. This unannounced change has led to widespread confusion among applicants and visa consultants alike. ## Current Fee Structure Still Applies Despite the category changes, the visa fees remain the same. For 2026, the U.S. government fees for a B1/B2 visa come in two parts. First is the MRV application fee of USD $185, which you pay before you schedule the interview. Second is the Visa Integrity Fee of USD $250, which is usually paid after approval and before visa issuance. This brings the total cost to approximately ₹41,760 at the current April 1, 2026 Consular Exchange Rate of 96 Indian rupees to 1 dollar. ## Impact on Interview Process Several applicants who had interviews in early May 2026 reported that consular officers asked specific questions related to the category they had selected during DS-160 completion. This suggests the new categories are being actively used in the evaluation process. Some consular officers have reportedly mentioned that they are still familiarizing themselves with the new system. This learning curve could potentially affect processing times and interview experiences. ## What SaathiVisa Recommends Based on current information, we recommend: **Choose carefully**: Applicants are advised to carefully select the category that best matches their travel purpose and ensure all supporting documentation aligns with the selected category. **Document alignment is crucial**: Visa consultants recommend applicants choose the category that most accurately reflects their primary travel purpose and ensure all supporting documentation is aligned with the selected category. Any discrepancy between the selected category and stated travel purpose could potentially lead to additional scrutiny or delays. **Proceed with caution**: Until official clarification is provided, applicants should proceed with caution and consider consulting with immigration attorneys if unsure about category selection. **Apply early**: Given the uncertainty and potential processing delays, start your application process 3-4 months before intended travel. ## Possible Reasons Behind Changes Immigration lawyers suggest this could be an attempt to better categorize applications for processing efficiency or security screening purposes. These changes appear to be part of a pilot program or system update affecting applicants in India, though no official statement has been released. The timing coincides with broader changes to US visa processing, including significant system upgrades since February 2026 to the U.S. visa appointment scheduling system in India (UStraveldocs) which now requires a fully completed and submitted DS-160 — with confirmation barcode — before applicants can update their profile. ## FAQ **Q: Should I wait for official guidance before applying?** A: The absence of official guidance from the U.S. Embassy has created uncertainty, but applicants are encouraged to proceed with their applications while being extra careful about category selection and supporting documentation. **Q: Will this affect my approval chances?** A: Processing times for applicants who selected these new categories are not yet clear, as the change is too recent. However, proper category selection and documentation alignment remain crucial. **Q: Which consulates are affected?** A: Reports indicate changes are visible across all major Indian consulates - Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The lack of official communication has created anxiety among thousands of visa applicants. We'll continue monitoring this situation and update you as soon as official guidance becomes available.