Will I be considered a transfer applicant?

I will complete my 12th this year and will apply to US colleges in november because I came to know about SAT and ACT this year only. By the time, I will join another engineering college here (India) and if I get into some good college in US, I will leave the college in India and go to US next year i.e. in 2016.
Thus, my question is, will I be considered a transfer applicant even if I start learning there (US) again from 1st year only?
Will I be disadvantaged because I joined 1 year late after completing my 12th?
Thanks.

If you take classes at another college after high school graduation, you will be considered a transfer. It does not matter if that other school is in a different country.

Are there any pros for a transfer applicant?

Not really? You’ll miss out on a lot of scholarships only offered to first-year students. It may be easier for some schools to get in as a transfer, but only if you do really really well at your other school.