US Embassy in India Offers 250,000 Visa Appointments; Wait Time in Delhi Reduced to One Month amid Pandemic

In a major development for Indian travelers, the United States has made available 250,000 new appointments for nonimmigrant visas.

“Our consular team had a busy weekend!” revealed the United States Embassy in India via social media platform X.

The waiting time for visa appointments in New Delhi has significantly reduced to just over a month from 543 days last week. Kolkata now has a waiting time of 126 days, but cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad still have waiting times exceeding 500 days. As per data from the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, over 150,000 Indians have traveled to the United States until September 2023.

The United States Mission to India achieved a milestone last month by processing one million non-immigrant visa applications for the year. This represents a 20% increase compared to the number of applications processed in 2019.

According to the US Embassy and Consulates in India, over 1.2 million Indians visited the USA last year, establishing one of the most robust travel relationships globally.

“Indians now account for more than 10% of all visa applicants worldwide, with 20% of all student visa applicants and 65% of all H&L-category (employment) visa applicants. The United States welcomes this growth,” stated the Embassy.

Based on the latest data on the US Department of State- Bureau of Consular Affairs website, the current wait times are as follows:

If you are planning to travel to the United States, it is essential to understand the visa application process. The specific type of visa required depends on the purpose of your visit. Whether you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa in categories such as B-, H-1B, H-1B1, H-4, J-1, or J-2 as a domestic employee, H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, or J-1, there is a standardized application process to be followed.

If you previously held a US visa issued at the post in India and are applying for the same class of visa, or if you are a minor applicant under the age of 14 years, or an individual over 80 years of age, you may be eligible for an interview waiver.

The B1 visa is granted for individuals traveling to the United States for business-related purposes, while the B2 visa is designed for tourists, individuals visiting friends and family, those seeking medical treatment, or participating in social events without compensation. Typically, these visas are jointly issued as a B1/B2 visa, allowing the holder to engage in both business and recreational activities during their stay in the US.