Planning A US Trip? Indians May Now Face 12-Month Wait For B-1/B-2 Visa

Indian applicants seeking US visitor visas continue to face long waits for interview appointments, with the latest US State Department data showing delays of up to 12 months at some consular posts.

The State Department updated its global visa wait-time data on September 17. The figures show a wide gap between appointment availability for B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M and J student and exchange visas at US posts across India.

Hyderabad Sees Longest Visitor Visa Wait

The next available B-1/B-2 interview appointment in Hyderabad was listed at 12 months, while the average wait stood at 11.5 months.

In Mumbai, applicants faced an average wait of 11 months, with the next available appointment at 11.5 months.

New Delhi recorded an average B-1/B-2 wait of 7.5 months. However, the next available

appointment was listed at 10 months.

Chennai had the shortest visitor visa wait among the four major Indian posts, with an average of seven months and the next available appointment at 7.5 months.

These figures are estimates and do not guarantee that applicants will have to wait for the stated period. The State Department regularly releases additional appointment slots, allowing some applicants to secure earlier dates after booking an appointment.

Appointment availability for F, M and J visas remains considerably better compared with B-1/B-2 visas.

The next available appointment in Chennai was listed at less than half a month. The wait was two months in New Delhi, 1.5 months in Hyderabad and 2.5 months in Mumbai.

Employment Visa Waits Differ Across Posts

Applicants seeking petition-based H, L, O, P and Q visas also faced varying appointment waits depending on the consular post.

Chennai and Mumbai both had a next available appointment listed at 1.5 months. The wait was three months in New Delhi and 5.5 months in Hyderabad.

For Indian H-1B and other employment-based visa applicants, the differences are particularly significant because appointment availability varies sharply between consular locations.

Mumbai Wait Falls, Hyderabad Sees Increase

The September figures also show notable month-on-month changes at some Indian posts.

Mumbai’s average B-1/B-2 wait dropped from 14 months in August to 11 months in September. Hyderabad, meanwhile, saw its average wait rise from 9.5 months to 11.5 months. New Delhi’s average remained unchanged at 7.5 months.

The next available appointment in Mumbai also improved, falling from 14 months to 11.5 months.

Hyderabad recorded an increase from 9.5 months to 12 months, while New Delhi’s next available appointment rose from nine months to 10 months.

Why Visa Wait Times Keep Changing

The State Department has clarified that its published appointment estimates are not a guarantee of the actual waiting period.

Additional appointments are regularly released. Applicants who already have an appointment can also check the scheduling system and shift to an earlier date if a slot becomes available.

The department calculates the published wait times in 30-day increments, with half-month increments corresponding to 15 days.

Certain eligible applicants may also qualify for an interview waiver. Such appointments are not included in the published wait-time table.

Applicants have been advised to check the website of the relevant US embassy or consulate for the latest interview-waiver eligibility criteria and instructions.

For Indians planning to travel to the US, the latest data highlights the difference in appointment availability across visa categories. While B-1/B-2 applicants face waits nearing a year at several major Indian posts, F-1 student visa appointments remain available considerably sooner.