Amid a high volume of visa requests, the US Embassy in India announced on its website that travellers may not be accommodated according to their planned travel dates even if the purpose of the travel is time sensitive.
Citing reduced staffing and pandemic-related disruptions in operations since March 2020, the embassy said that the demand for visas across all categories is high and that wait times may also be longer for most non-immigrant visa appointments at the embassy in New Delhi and the consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
As the embassy resumed processing routine in-person B1 and B2 visa appointments, it said that the Department of State authorised consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain categories of visa applicants- F, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, and academic J visas-until December 31, 2022.
Non-immigrant visa waiting period now exceeds 2 years
Following the easing of Covid travel curbs, Indians may now have to wait longer than two years to get a US visa. In Delhi, the waiting period for Visitor Visas is 833 calendar days, 430 calendar days for Student/Exchange Visitor visas and 390 calendar days for all other non-immigrant visas.
{{/usCountry}}Following the easing of Covid travel curbs, Indians may now have to wait longer than two years to get a US visa. In Delhi, the waiting period for Visitor Visas is 833 calendar days, 430 calendar days for Student/Exchange Visitor visas and 390 calendar days for all other non-immigrant visas.
{{/usCountry}}In Mumbai, the waiting period is 848 calendar days for Visitor visas, 430 calendar days for Student/Exchange Visitor visas and 392 calendar days for all other non-immigrant visas.
In Kolkata, the waiting period is 767 calendar days for Visitor visas, 444 calendar days for Student/Exchange Visitor visas and 360 calendar days for all other non-immigrant visas.