US visitor visa wait times in India reach up to 12 months

Indian travelers seeking US B-1/B-2 visitor visas for business or tourism are facing significant delays in securing interview appointments. According to the latest US State Department data, wait times vary across major consular posts in India, with Hyderabad reporting the longest delay at 12 months for the next available appointment.

In Mumbai, the next available appointment is estimated at 11.5 months, while New Delhi shows a wait of 10 months. Chennai and Kolkata report shorter queues, with next available appointments at 7.5 months and 6.5 months, respectively.

There is a notable disparity between visitor visa wait times and those for student and exchange visas (F, M, and J). Applicants for student visas face much shorter queues; for instance, Chennai has a next available appointment in less than half a month, and Hyderabad follows at 1.5 months.