Indian applicants seeking US visitor visas continue to face lengthy waits for interview appointments, with Hyderabad recording a 12-month wait for the next available B-1/B-2 slot, according to the latest US State Department data.
The department's Global Visa Wait Times page, updated on September 17, shows significant differences in appointment availability across Indian consular posts and between visa categories. The figures cover interviews required for B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visas, and petition-based H, L, O, P and Q visas.
Hyderabad, Mumbai remain under pressure
Hyderabad has the longest B-1/B-2 wait among the major Indian posts listed in the latest data. The next available interview appointment is estimated at 12 months, while the average wait for applicants who had their interviews in the previous month was 11.5 months.
Mumbai follows with a next available appointment in 11.5 months and an average wait of 11 months. New Delhi's next available appointment is 10 months away, although its average wait was 7.5 months.
Chennai recorded a next available B-1/B-2 appointment in 7.5 months, with an average wait of seven months.
The latest State Department table also includes Kolkata. The city had a next available B-1/B-2 appointment in 6.5 months, with an average wait of six months.
The figures indicate that applicants may encounter substantially different queues depending on the consular post where they seek an interview.
Student and exchange visas available much sooner
The situation is considerably different for applicants seeking F, M and J visas for study and exchange programmes.
Chennai had the next available appointment in less than half a month. The wait was 1.5 months in Hyderabad, two months in New Delhi and 2.5 months in Mumbai. Kolkata recorded a two-month wait.
Petition-based visas, covering H, L, O, P and Q categories, also had shorter waits than B-1/B-2 appointments, although there were notable differences between posts.
The next available appointment was 1.5 months in both Chennai and Mumbai, three months in New Delhi and 5.5 months in Hyderabad. Kolkata recorded a wait of one month.
For Indian applicants seeking H-1B and other employment-related visas, the figures therefore show considerable variation according to the consular location.
Mumbai improves as Hyderabad wait rises
The September data also show that appointment availability can change significantly from one month to the next.
Mumbai's average B-1/B-2 wait fell from 14 months in August to 11 months in September. Its next available appointment also improved, declining from 14 months to 11.5 months.
Hyderabad moved in the opposite direction. Its average wait increased from 9.5 months in August to 11.5 months in September, while the next available appointment moved from 9.5 months to 12 months.
New Delhi's average B-1/B-2 wait remained unchanged at 7.5 months. However, its next available appointment increased from nine months in August to 10 months in September.
Chennai's September figures showed a seven-month average wait and a 7.5-month next available appointment. The latest data also provide a full set of figures for the post after B-1/B-2 appointment availability had not been listed in the previous month's table.
State Department says waits are estimates
The State Department has stressed that its published wait times are estimates and do not guarantee that an applicant will have to wait for the stated period.
US embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots. Applicants who have already booked an interview can also check the scheduling system and move their appointment to an earlier date if a slot becomes available.
The department calculates its published waiting periods in 30-day increments, while half-month figures represent 15-day periods. The calculation includes weekends and holidays when embassies and consulates are closed.
The average B-1/B-2 wait reflects how long applicants typically waited between paying the visa fee and attending their interview in the previous month. The average can differ from the current next available appointment because new slots are regularly added.
Eligible applicants may also qualify for an interview waiver. Wait times for such appointments are not included in the published table, and applicants have been advised to check the relevant US embassy or consulate website for the latest waiver eligibility rules and instructions.
For Indians planning tourism, business trips, family visits, study or employment in the US, the latest figures underline the substantial difference in appointment availability between visa categories and locations. While B-1/B-2 applicants at several Indian posts are facing waits approaching a year, student and exchange visa appointments are generally available considerably sooner.