Can I apply for an Indian tourist visa from the USA?

For a straightforward holiday, I would first check the e-Tourist Visa eligibility rather than assuming you need a paper visa.

The official site currently lists the USA as an e-Visa eligible nationality. It also says an e-Tourist Visa can be used for sightseeing and casual visits to friends and relatives.

There are different e-Tourist Visa periods available, including 30-day, one-year, and five-year options, although the applicable option and fee depend on the circumstances and nationality.

Also, don't confuse the e-Arrival Card with a visa. The government site describes the e-Arrival Card as arrival information, not a visa.

I'd check the official site again immediately before applying because visa requirements, fees and procedures can change.

I applied from New Jersey, but I went through the regular visa route rather than e-Visa because of my particular circumstances.

There are two different things that can confuse here: where you're applying from and what type of visa you're applying for.

The regular Indian visa application can be started online, but it isn't completely electronic. After completing the form, applicants generally have to submit the printed application, passport, and supporting documents to the relevant Indian Visa Application Center or Indian Mission.

The e-Tourist Visa is different. The official process is online: application, document upload, payment, and receipt of the Electronic Travel Authorization.

So if your situation is straightforward — U.S. passport, tourism only, eligible nationality, and no special circumstances — I'd at least check whether you qualify for the e-Tourist Visa before going through the regular application process.

Yes, I applied for an Indian e-Tourist Visa from the U.S. last year for a vacation.

I used the official Indian government e-Visa website and did the application entirely online. The official site says nationals of eligible countries can apply for e-Visa, and the USA is included in the eligible-country list.

For tourism, the e-Tourist Visa covers recreation, sightseeing and casual visits to friends or relatives. The application requires your passport information and a recent photograph, and the exact supporting documents depend on the visa type.

One thing I would definitely recommend is checking your passport validity before starting. The current official instructions say the passport should have at least six months' validity when applying for an e-Visa.

I wouldn't rely on random visa websites just because they appear at the top of Google. The government specifically identifies its own Indian Visa Online website as the official e-Visa application site.