US Visitor Visa Wait Times Skyrocket for Indian Applicants

Indian applicants for US visitor visas are facing long waiting times, with some cities experiencing waits of up to 12 months. The data from the US Department of State shows that Hyderabad has the longest wait time at 12 months, followed by Mumbai at 11.5 months and New Delhi at 10 months. Chennai and Kolkata have shorter wait times at 7.5 months and 6.5 months respectively.

For student visas, however, the waiting times are significantly reduced to less than two months in most cities. Chennai has the next available appointment in less than half a month, followed by Hyderabad at 1.5 months. Applicants in New Delhi and Kolkata face a wait of two months, while Mumbai has a 2.5-month wait for the next available F, M or J visa appointment.

The US Department of State's Global Visa Wait Times page was last updated on September 17. The published wait times do not include appointments for applicants who qualify for an interview waiver.