While US visa wait time for major Indian cities has improved dramatically, Chennai in South India is still struggling with long delays. In recent months, wait times for B1/B2 visitor visa appointments at US consulates across Indian cities have dropped significantly. For thousands of Indians wanting to travel to the US for different reasons, this definitely is a sigh of relief after years of delays.
The wait for Indian cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, has dropped to over 140–156 days. This marks a significant decline from the backlog that once stretched over two years!
While all these cities are rejoicing, one city still is facing delays which is Tamil Nadu’s capital, Chennai. The wait time for a US visitor visa in Chennai still exceeds 400 days. As of now, applicants in Chennai face a daunting 407-day delay, making it the slowest among all US consular locations in India. This has led many to explore alternatives, with some choosing to travel to other cities for their visa appointments in hopes of avoiding longer timelines.
More about B1/B2 visa
The B1/B2 visa allows short-term travel to the US for tourism, family visits, or business purposes. This visa category still remains one of the most-favoured visa types. The trend in travel soon shifted following the reopening of international travel soon after the pandemic. The US saw a surge in visa applications from Indian citizens and in 2023, saw a record-breaking issuance of over one million US visas in India.
Overwhelming demand
The demand for B1/B2 visas is overwhelming. To meet the increasing demand, the US Embassy has made various changes such as increasing the number of staff, hiking interview hours, along with opening up more appointment slots across consulates. The improvements have definitely paid off in most cities, but Chennai is struggling because of an unbelievable high number of applicants.
We all know that a US visitor visa still requires extremely careful preparation, as one silly mistake can cost you a lot of time and money, especially for first-time applicants. They are advised to make sure all their documents are complete and correct. You should be extremely clear of your purpose and bank balance. Also India-US ties play a major role in the visa approval process.
Travel Tip: If you are also planning a trip to the US in near future, book your visa appointment as early as possible. Check availability in cities like Hyderabad or Mumbai, as wait times are much shorter.
The wait for Indian cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, has dropped to over 140–156 days. This marks a significant decline from the backlog that once stretched over two years!
While all these cities are rejoicing, one city still is facing delays which is Tamil Nadu’s capital, Chennai. The wait time for a US visitor visa in Chennai still exceeds 400 days. As of now, applicants in Chennai face a daunting 407-day delay, making it the slowest among all US consular locations in India. This has led many to explore alternatives, with some choosing to travel to other cities for their visa appointments in hopes of avoiding longer timelines.
More about B1/B2 visa
The B1/B2 visa allows short-term travel to the US for tourism, family visits, or business purposes. This visa category still remains one of the most-favoured visa types. The trend in travel soon shifted following the reopening of international travel soon after the pandemic. The US saw a surge in visa applications from Indian citizens and in 2023, saw a record-breaking issuance of over one million US visas in India.
Overwhelming demand
The demand for B1/B2 visas is overwhelming. To meet the increasing demand, the US Embassy has made various changes such as increasing the number of staff, hiking interview hours, along with opening up more appointment slots across consulates. The improvements have definitely paid off in most cities, but Chennai is struggling because of an unbelievable high number of applicants.
We all know that a US visitor visa still requires extremely careful preparation, as one silly mistake can cost you a lot of time and money, especially for first-time applicants. They are advised to make sure all their documents are complete and correct. You should be extremely clear of your purpose and bank balance. Also India-US ties play a major role in the visa approval process.
Travel Tip: If you are also planning a trip to the US in near future, book your visa appointment as early as possible. Check availability in cities like Hyderabad or Mumbai, as wait times are much shorter.
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