There is an international program in which the United States participates called the "Visa Waiver" program. Citizens of countries participating in this program need only their passports to enter and leave other countries participating in the program for short, tourist stays. Unfortunately, India is not one these countries.

The Indian Visa. Image courtesy Travisa Outsourcing, http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com
Fortunately, however, the India Visa process is relatively simple, and if you can bear parting with your passport for a few days--yes, you do have to send your passport away--you'll have a magical sticker about halfway through your passport that will allow you to enter this wondrous land.

Indian Visas from the US are outsourced by the Indian Embassy to a company called Travisa Outsourcing, which has offices in several US cities. Austinites are lucky because one of these offices is located in Houston, causing the process to take less than one week, in most instances. The Travisa website will allow you to submit an application online and print all of your required forms, at which point all you have left to do is send the package and wait.
To get started in the process, you must state the purpose of your visit. Most people fall into the "tourist" or "business" category. Other popular classifications include "student" and "research," given India's large educational sector. Next, you must decide the length of validity you would like for your visa. For tourists, the options are six months, one year, five years and 10 years; businesspeople can choose between one, five or 10 years. It is important to note that, regardless of the length of one's visa, each "stay" in India may only last for six months at a time. Overstaying one's visa is a serious offense and can result in immediate deportation, as well as a number of additional fees. On top of these ones.

Once you have decided upon the type and duration of your visa, it's time to fill out the application. If you don't mind the drive to Houston, you will choose "Apply by Mail," or if you plan to be in the Big H, choose "Apply in Person". Regardless, the process is the same. Choose your visa type, current nationality, nationality at birth, and state of residence. Click OK. The first item on the next page will contain a link to the application itself. Enter your email and continue on in the process. The application will ask standard items such as name, birth date, address, profession, employer, anything a passport application will ask. It will also want to know where in India you plan to travel, the length of your trip, the purpose (more specifically) of your trip, and an address an India, for which you'll typically use the address of your airline's booking office if you have not already reserved any hotels.
Once you complete the online application, it will be submitted to Travisa. It is important to note, however, that you must also print two copies--one for your records and one to send with your passport--yes, you must part with your passport for a few days. But you can track it, so not to worry! Regardless, it is imperative to send your documents overnight; they will be sent back overnight as well. In just a few short days, you will have an Indian visa in your passport, which will allow you to freely transit between the two countries. And believe, you will be asked for your Indian visa every step of the way--check in before boarding, immigration in Mumbai or New Delhi, and at all hotels, tourist attractions and trains within India.

Now, wasn't that easy?