Long Visa Wait Times and Limited Flights Cripple India-US Travel

The tourism and hospitality sectors of India and the US are grappling with significant challenges, primarily long visa wait times and a limited number of direct flights between the two countries. These issues were highlighted at a recent tourism and hospitality summit organized by both nations.

Visa Wait Times Still Exceed a Year

Despite some improvements, the wait times for US visitor visas in India remain lengthy. Although the peak wait time of 999 days in late 2021 has decreased, applicants still face delays of over a year.

According to the US Department of State, as of Monday, 26th August, the B1/B2 visa interview wait times are:

• 459 days in Chennai
• 372 days in Mumbai
• 461 days in Hyderabad
• 375 days in Kolkata
• 374 days in Delhi

The travel industry continues to push for further reductions in these wait times to facilitate smoother travel between India and the US.

Potential for Growth in India-US Tourism

Travel between India and the US is growing rapidly, but industry experts believe it could expand even further if these challenges were addressed.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary at India’s Union Tourism Ministry, emphasized the untapped potential in tourism between the two countries. He stated that, despite good travel numbers, they have yet to realize their full potential, especially with the rapid growth of the Indian economy.

Calls for Simplified Visa Processes

Billa also called for simplifying the US visa process, noting that while the visas are issued for 10 years, the application process remains “cumbersome and tiresome.”

Record Visa Issuance Amid Challenges

On a positive note, Jonathan M. Heimer, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the US Embassy, highlighted the increased pace of visa application processing. He noted that the embassy has processed 60% more visas with the same resources, issuing over 1.1 million visas in the past year—a record number.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict Limits Flights

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has also impacted flight options between India and the US. Western airlines, including American carriers, have avoided overflying Russian airspace, resulting in longer flight routes and limited direct flight options.

This has restricted the number of non-stop flights offered by United and American Airlines to a single daily flight between Delhi and New York.

Air India Leads India-US Flights

Air India, which overflies Russian airspace, has emerged as the largest operator of non-stop flights between India and the US, offering 51 weekly direct flights to various destinations. The airline plans to expand its network to Los Angeles and Dallas this winter.

Hope for Resolution to Challenges

As the travel industry continues to navigate these challenges, stakeholders hope for a resolution to the visa delays and increased flight options to unlock the potential of India-US tourism fully.

(Source and Inuts from TOI)