Obtaining a US visa has now turned into a nightmare as visa wait times in India have risen to an all-time high of 939 days at the US Consulate in Mumbai, with no appointments available for the next 2.5 years.
This implies that any Indian national applying for a US visa will have to wait until May 2025 to make an appointment for a visitor visa.
However, visa waiting times for student visas have been reduced to as little as 50 days, with only the Hyderabad consulate having longer visa wait times of f405 days for F, M, and J category visas.
Also Read: US Visa: No In-Person Interview, Long Waiting Period Continues And Other Updates
US Visa Wait Times Continue to Soar
Our team has checked the updated visa waiting times for different U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India and found Hyderabad currently has the shortest waiting time (804 days), while Mumbai currently has the longest (939 days).
We also compiled category-specific wait times at all US embassies and consulates in India. Let’s take a look.
US Visa Waiting Times in India
| U.S. Embassy | Visitor Visa | Student/Exchange Visitor Visas | Other Nonimmigrant Visa |
| New Delhi | 914 Calendar Days | 50 Calendar Days | 318 Calendar Days |
| Mumbai | 939 Calendar Days | 49 Calendar Days | 339 Calendar Days |
| Chennai | 900 Calendar Days | 50 Calendar Days | 346 Calendar Days |
| Hyderabad | 804 Calendar Days | 405 Calendar Days | 354 Calendar Days |
| Kolkata | 808 Calendar Days | 50 Calendar Days | 287 Calendar Days |
It is worth noting that the above-mentioned visa waiting times are for non-immigrant visa categories where an in-person interview is required for applicants.
For visa cases where the in-person interview requirement is waived, embassies and consulates may have a separate process. Wait times for those cases are generally shorter. For Mumbai, it is just 7 Calendar Days for visitors, students and other non-immigrant visas.
| U.S. Embassy | Visitor Visa | Student/Exchange Visitor Visas | Other Nonimmigrant Visa |
| New Delhi | 225 Calendar Days | 01 Calendar Days | 310 Calendar Days |
| Mumbai | 07 Calendar Days | 07 Calendar Days | 07 Calendar Days |
| Chennai | 129 Calendar Days | 08 Calendar Days | 313 Calendar Days |
US Visa In-Person Interview Waiver
The in-person interview waiver will apply to travellers applying for F, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, and academic J visas who have previously been issued any type of visa and are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence, according to a notice issued by the US Embassy in India.
This authorization does not apply to applicants who have been previously refused but have not had their refusal waived or overcome.
However, if adjudicating consular officers require additional information from applicants, they may request an in-person interview. Furthermore, applicants for a US visa who renew their visa within 48 months of its expiration remain eligible for an interview waiver.
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