Planning a US visa? These Indian cities offer the shortest waiting time

New Delhi: In recent times, Indians planning to visit the United States (US) for study, tourism or work purposes are seeing wide variations on visa appointment times among major consulates across the country. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai report a large number of visitors for visas.

Even as some cities continue to witness shorter waiting times, others continue to experience longer durations. This underlined the importance of checking availability in consulates before appointment scheduling.

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Difference between wait duration among cities

According to Global Visa Wait Times update from the US State Department, the average time for B1/B2 visitor visa interview in New Delhi is 2.5 months, and the next available appointment is nine months away. Similarly, the average time in Kolkata is 2 months, and the next available appointment time is nearly 2.5 months.

Hyderabad shows the wait time of 3.5 months, while the next available time is 4 months. Mumbai and Chennai are among the slow centres, while the average wait time in Mumbai is seven months, the time for further wait time is also around seven Months. In the meantime, Chennai too has a wait time of seven months, while the next available time has not yet been listed.

What applicants must keep in mind while applying

As per the United States, the average wait times of applicants do not guarantee the time of an appointment. Often, the new slots are opened by embassies and consulates. They then advise the applicants to check the scheduling system regularly so as to move to an earlier date. Some applicants can also qualify for interview waivers.

How is wait time measured

The wait time is measured from the date of visa fee payment to the interview date. The months are counted in 30-day blocks. The “average wait time” suggests that past trends, while the “next available appointment” shows that the earliest slots are open.