Think again if you believed the line for a US visa couldn't possibly grow any longer. The wait time has increased to over three years for first-time applicants for business (B-1) and tourist (B-2) visas to the US. The global median wait period for a tourist visa (B1/B2) interview appointment, according to the US State Department, is currently less than two months. Since the nation resumed application processing after the pandemic, the wait period for US visas in india has been extraordinarily long as well, and it has only gotten worse.
The current waiting period for B1/B2 candidates who need an interview is 999 days in Mumbai, 994 days in Hyderabad, 961 days in Delhi, 948 days in Chennai, and 904 days in Kolkata, according to the US State Department. For first-time visitor visa applicants or those who are not eligible for an indian drop box application (interview waiver), the waiting period is rapidly approaching three years. Therefore, a first-time B1/B2 applicant could only be able to secure a late 2025 interview date. A top embassy diplomat responded, when asked what candidates facing a nearly 1,000-day interview wait time in india could do, "They should keep applying. They can accelerate their interview without paying any costs once the line starts moving and the wait time decreases.
"For applicants who match the requirements, emergency appointments are available in a few of days. The US State Department stated in a post that it was dedicated to cutting wait times as rapidly as possible. The US has increased the number of applicants eligible for interview waivers, sent drop box cases abroad for adjudication, and hired temporary personnel in an effort to reduce the mounting backlog.
While students receive first priority during the admissions season, skilled professionals, repeat B1/B2 visa applicants (whose visas expired within four years of application and now qualify for interview waiver), and crew are next on the list for expediting drop box cases. Before the interview wait time for B1/B2 starts decreasing, it can take a few months.
The current waiting period for B1/B2 candidates who need an interview is 999 days in Mumbai, 994 days in Hyderabad, 961 days in Delhi, 948 days in Chennai, and 904 days in Kolkata, according to the US State Department. For first-time visitor visa applicants or those who are not eligible for an indian drop box application (interview waiver), the waiting period is rapidly approaching three years. Therefore, a first-time B1/B2 applicant could only be able to secure a late 2025 interview date. A top embassy diplomat responded, when asked what candidates facing a nearly 1,000-day interview wait time in india could do, "They should keep applying. They can accelerate their interview without paying any costs once the line starts moving and the wait time decreases.
"For applicants who match the requirements, emergency appointments are available in a few of days. The US State Department stated in a post that it was dedicated to cutting wait times as rapidly as possible. The US has increased the number of applicants eligible for interview waivers, sent drop box cases abroad for adjudication, and hired temporary personnel in an effort to reduce the mounting backlog.
While students receive first priority during the admissions season, skilled professionals, repeat B1/B2 visa applicants (whose visas expired within four years of application and now qualify for interview waiver), and crew are next on the list for expediting drop box cases. Before the interview wait time for B1/B2 starts decreasing, it can take a few months.
