The US Embassy in India has announced new visa appointment rules aimed at reducing wait times. In a statement, the embassy emphasized that these changes are designed to make it easier and quicker for applicants to secure appointments. They also urged applicants to attend their scheduled appointments to ensure the process remains efficient and fair for everyone.
Ongoing Issues with Visa Wait Times
Despite these efforts to address delays, US visa appointment wait times continue to be significantly long for many Indian applicants. Currently, those seeking B1/B2 visitor visas face the following wait times across various consulates:
- Mumbai: 438 calendar days
- Chennai: 479 calendar days
- Delhi: 441 calendar days
- Kolkata: 436 calendar days
Applicants eligible for Interview Waiver Visitor visas are facing shorter wait times, with 21 days in Delhi and 2 days in Kolkata.
For Third Country Nationals—individuals applying for US visas outside of their home country—the wait times remain lengthy, with 388 days in Abu Dhabi and 351 days in Dubai.
In 2023, the US processed a record 1.4 million visas for Indian applicants, achieving a 75% reduction in visitor visa processing times.
