Yes, Indian citizens need a visa to enter the United States. There is no visa-on-arrival facility for Indian passport holders travelling to the US. Hence, you must apply for a visa before travelling, whether visiting for tourism, business, education, or other purposes.

You typically need a B-2 visa for the United States. The B-2 visa is issued for tourism, visiting friends or relatives, or participation in social events or activities. However, you should note that a B-2 visa is purely for the purpose of tourism only and can not be used to engage in the following activities:

• Work;
• Study;
• Paid performances;
• Work related to press, radio, or any other information media;
• Arriving as a crew member of an aircraft or ship; 
• Permanent residence.

Typically, the American government issues a visa that is valid for 10 years. However, you can stay for only a maximum of 6 months in one single visit.

The fee for a B2 (tourist) visa is currently USD 185. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Even if your visa application is rejected, the fees will not be refunded.

After you have given both your biometrics and your visa interview and submitted your documents, typically, the USA government will take anywhere between a few days to two weeks to process your visa. On rare occasions, it may take longer.