We have good news for those who have been waiting endlessly to apply for a US visa in India! You no longer have to wait till 2025 as the waiting time for the application has been reduced in most of its consulates in India. This drop came about after the US increased the number of officials issuing visas and opened more diplomatic missions to process these applications faster.
The applications saw a major increase in India as soon as the coronavirus-related travel restrictions were lifted, and those who were applying under B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) categories for the first time had growing concerns over the long waiting period for visa applications.
How long will you have to wait for a US visa appointment?
In an interview, Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services, shared with PTI that the State Department aims at getting one million visas issued this year, which is way above the pre-pandemic number.
She said, “We have increased the number of officers going to India. We have set up arrangements, which is unprecedented, with other embassies in the world like Bangkok to take Indians who are seeking visas. We are opening a new consulate in Hyderabad… and we’re just focused on making sure that we can bring the wait time down in India.”
Attributing to the steps taken by the United States, Stufft mentioned the waiting period for a visitor’s visa interview in India has been reduced by 60 percent this year.
The wait time in US Embassy in New Delhi is 319 calendar days which is the shortest wait for business and tourist visa appointments. The current wait time in Mumbai is 352; in Kolkata, it is 371; and in Chennai, it is 296 calendar days for business and tourist visa appointments.
(Hero and feature image credit: Shutterstock)
Related: Travelling To The USA? You Can Apply For Jobs, Sit For Interviews On Tourist/Business Visa
A post-graduate in journalism and mass communication, Ayushi is a digital writer who has worked with several Indian media organisations, including Times Internet Limited and Zee Media Corporation Limited, in the news, lifestyle and entertainment space. When she's not on her desk, she can be found dancing, trying new restaurants or packing her bags to explore a new destination.
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