US opens up 2,50,000 visa appointments in India; wait time in Delhi drops to a month for the first time since pandemic

 In a big relief for Indian travelers, the United States opened up 2,50,000 new appointments for non-immigrant visas over the weekend.

"It was a busy weekend for our consular team!," the United States Embassy in India shared on social media platform
The wait time drastically dropped to just over a month in New Delhi from 543 days last week. Kolkata wait time has now dropped to 126 days, but Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad continue to have wait times well over 500 days. According to data from the US Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, over 1,50,000 Indians have travelled to the United States till September 2023.
The United States Mission to India last month hit a milestone of one million non-immigrant visa applications for the year. This marks a 20% increase from the number processed in 2019.

According to the US Embassy and Consulates in India, over 1.2 million Indians visited the USA last year, making it one of the most robust travel relationships in the world.
"Indians now represent over 10% of all visa applicants worldwide, including 20% of all student visa applicants and 65% of all H&L-category (employment) visa applicants. The United States welcomes this growth," a statement from the Embassy said.

According to the latest data on the US Department of State- Bureau of Consular Affairs website, the wait times are now:

New Delhi     37 Calendar Days

Kolkata         126 Calendar Days

Mumbai         322 Calendar Days

Chennai         541 Calendar Days

Hyderabad    511 Calendar Days

If you're planning a trip to the United States, understanding the visa application process is crucial. The type of visa you'll need depends on the purpose of your visit. Whether you're applying for a nonimmigrant visa in categories such as B-, H-1B, H-1B1, H-4, J-1, or J-2 as a domestic employee, H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, or J-1, there's a standard application process to follow.

If you had a previous US visa (issued at the post in India) and you are trying to apply for the same class of visa (or) if you are a minor applicant under the age of 14 years (or), someone who is over 80 years, you may be eligible for an interview waiver.