Indian applicants seeking US visitor visas continue to face lengthy waits, with the latest US State Department data showing next available B-1/B-2 interview appointments stretching to 12 months in Hyderabad, 11.5 months in Mumbai and 10 months in New Delhi.The State Department updated its global visa wait-time data on September 17, with the figures showing significant differences between visitor visa and student visa appointment availability at US consular posts in India.
Hyderabad has longest B-1/B-2 wait
Hyderabad recorded an average B-1/B-2 interview wait of 11.5 months, while the next available appointment was listed at 12 months.Mumbai’s average wait stood at 11 months, with the next available appointment at 11.5 months.At the US Embassy in New Delhi, the average B-1/B-2 wait was 7.5 months, while the next available appointment was listed at 10 months.Chennai recorded an average wait of seven months, with the next available B-1/B-2 appointment at 7.5 months.The figures represent estimates rather than guarantees. The State Department says US embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots, meaning applicants may be able to obtain an earlier date after booking an appointment.Student visa appointments remain much shorterThe situation is considerably different for applicants seeking F, M and J visas.In Chennai, the next available appointment was listed at less than half a month. Hyderabad had a wait of 1.5 months, while Mumbai stood at 2.5 months and New Delhi at two months.
Work visa appointment waits vary
Applicants for petition-based H, L, O, P and Q visas also saw differences across Indian posts.The next available appointment was listed at 1.5 months in Chennai, 5.5 months in Hyderabad, 1.5 months in Mumbai and three months in New Delhi.For Indian H-1B and other employment-based visa applicants, the figures are particularly relevant because the appointment availability varies sharply depending on the consular post.
Mumbai backlog improves, Hyderabad worsens
Compared with the previous month’s data, the picture has shifted in opposite directions at some Indian posts.Mumbai’s B-1/B-2 average wait fell from 14 months in August to 11 months in September, while Hyderabad’s increased from 9.5 months to 11.5 months. New Delhi’s average remained at 7.5 months.The next available B-1/B-2 appointment in Mumbai also improved from 14 months to 11.5 months. Hyderabad, however, increased from 9.5 months to 12 months, while New Delhi’s next available appointment increased from nine months to 10 months.
Why the wait-time figures can change
The State Department cautions that its published appointment estimates do not guarantee that an applicant will have to wait that long. New appointments are regularly added, and applicants who already have an appointment can check the scheduling system and move it to an earlier slot if one becomes available.The department calculates the published waits in 30-day increments, with half-month increments representing 15 days.It also notes that some eligible applicants may qualify for an interview waiver. Wait times for interview-waiver appointments are not included in the published table. Applicants are advised to check the website of the specific US embassy or consulate for current waiver eligibility and instructions.For Indians planning US travel, the latest figures therefore show a sharp distinction between visitor visa demand and student/work visa appointment availability: B-1/B-2 applicants face waits approaching a year at several major Indian posts, while F-1 student appointments remain available considerably sooner.
