Planning a holiday to the US may now require considerably more advance preparation for Indian travellers, with appointment queues for B1/B2 visitor visas
stretching close to a year at several American consular posts in India. The latest US Department of State data, updated on September 17, 2026, shows Hyderabad with the longest wait, at 12 months for the next available appointment. Mumbai follows closely, with the next available B1/B2 appointment estimated at 11.5 months, while New Delhi stands at 10 months. Chennai has a wait of 7.5 months and Kolkata 6.5 months. B1/B2 visas cover temporary business and tourism-related travel, including typical holidays and visits to family or friends. Read More: Let's Talk About The 'Cost' Of Your Vacation This World Tourism Day
US Visa Wait Times In India
There has also been movement in the queues compared with the previous month. Data reported for September shows Hyderabad's average B1/B2 wait increasing from 9.5 months in August to 11.5 months, while Mumbai's dropped from 14 months to 11 months. The next available appointment in Hyderabad moved to 12 months, compared with 9.5 months previously.For travellers, that change, of even 15 days, matters a lot. The State Department separates the average wait time from the next available appointment. The first reflects how long applicants typically waited from paying the visa fee to their interview during the previous month. The second is an estimate of when a newly applying traveller may find the next appointment. The situation is notably different for students. Applicants for F, M and J visas currently face much shorter appointment queues. Chennai has a next available appointment in less than half a month, followed by Hyderabad at 1.5 months. Kolkata and New Delhi are at two months, while Mumbai stands at 2.5 months.
Work-related, petition-based categories including H, L, O, P and Q visas also have shorter waits than B1/B2 appointments, although the timelines vary. Hyderabad has the longest wait at 5.5 months, followed by New Delhi at three months. Chennai and Mumbai are at 1.5 months, while Kolkata has a one-month wait.
What This Means For Travellers
For holidaymakers, however, the message is clear: a US trip can no longer be planned around flights and hotels alone. Visa appointment availability needs to be factored into the travel timeline from the very beginning.
There is also some flexibility in the system. The State Department says embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots. Travellers who have already booked an interview can continue checking the appointment system and move to an earlier date if a slot opens up. The published figures are estimates and do not guarantee that an applicant will necessarily wait the full stated period.
The department updates its global visa wait-time information monthly, meaning the situation can change as new appointments are added. For Indians planning a US holiday, checking the latest appointment availability before making firm travel arrangements is therefore particularly important.
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