Indian applicants seeking US visitor visas continue to face lengthy waits, with the latest US State Department data showing next available B-1/B-2 interview appointments stretching to 12 months in Hyderabad, 11.5 months in Mumbai and 10 months in New Delhi.
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data → seek → Delhi
The State Department updated its global visa wait-time data on September 17, with the figures showing significant differences between visitor visa and student visa appointment availability at US consular posts in India.
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figures → update → India
Hyderabad has longest B-1/B-2 wait
Hyderabad recorded an average B-1/B-2 interview wait of 11.5 months, while the next available appointment was listed at 12 months.
Mumbai's average wait stood at 11 months, with the next available appointment at 11.5 months.
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wait → have → months
At the US Embassy in New Delhi, the average B-1/B-2 wait was 7.5 months, while the next available appointment was listed at 10 months.
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appointment → list → months
Chennai recorded an average wait of seven months, with the next available B-1/B-2 appointment at 7.5 months.
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Chennai → record → months
The figures represent estimates rather than guarantees.
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figures → represent → estimates
The State Department says US embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots, meaning applicants may be able to obtain an earlier date after booking an appointment.
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applicants → say → appointment
Student visa appointments remain much shorter
The situation is considerably different for applicants seeking F, M and J visas.
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situation → remain → visas
In Chennai, the next available appointment was listed at less than half a month.
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appointment → list → month
Hyderabad had a wait of 1.5 months, while Mumbai stood at 2.5 months and New Delhi at two months.
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Mumbai → have → months
Work visa appointment waits vary
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waits → vary → ?
Applicants for petition-based H, L, O, P and Q visas also saw differences across Indian posts.
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Applicants → base → posts
The next available appointment was listed at 1.5 months in Chennai, 5.5 months in Hyderabad, 1.5 months in Mumbai and three months in New Delhi.
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appointment → list → Delhi
For Indian H-1B and other employment-based visa applicants, the figures are particularly relevant because the appointment availability varies sharply depending on the consular post.
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availability → base → post
Mumbai backlog improves, Hyderabad worsens
Compared with the previous month's data, the picture has shifted in opposite directions at some Indian posts.
Mumbai's B-1/B-2 average wait fell from 14 months in August to 11 months in September, while Hyderabad's increased from 9.5 months to 11.5 months.
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Hyderabad → improve → months
New Delhi's average remained at 7.5 months.
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average → remain → months
The next available B-1/B-2 appointment in Mumbai also improved from 14 months to 11.5 months.
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appointment → improve → months
Hyderabad, however, increased from 9.5 months to 12 months, while New Delhi's next available appointment increased from nine months to 10 months.
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appointment → increase → months
Why the wait-time figures can change
The State Department cautions that its published appointment estimates do not guarantee that an applicant will have to wait that long.
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applicant → change → ?
New appointments are regularly added, and applicants who already have an appointment can check the scheduling system and move it to an earlier slot if one becomes available.
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one → add → slot
The department calculates the published waits in 30-day increments, with half-month increments representing 15 days.
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department → calculate → days
It also notes that some eligible applicants may qualify for an interview waiver.
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applicants → note → waiver
Wait times for interview-waiver appointments are not included in the published table.
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times → include → table
Applicants are advised to check the website of the specific US embassy or consulate for current waiver eligibility and instructions.
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Applicants → advise → eligibility
For Indians planning US travel, the latest figures therefore show a sharp distinction between visitor visa demand and student/work visa appointment availability: B-1/B-2 applicants face waits approaching a year at several major Indian posts, while F-1 student appointments remain available considerably sooner.
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appointments → plan → posts
The Aporia
