Reduced US Visa Wait Times for Indians: Latest Updates

Amid the ongoing US visa issues, there’s some positive news for Indian applicants. Several cities, including New Delhi and Chennai, have seen reduced wait times for key visa categories, making interview appointments more accessible.

According to the US State Department, New Delhi now has shorter waiting periods for F, M, and J student visas—from 2 months down to just half a month. Similarly, appointment times for B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas in the city have been halved, dropping from 6.5 months to 3.5 months.

In Chennai, the previous five-month average wait for B-1/B-2 interviews is now marked as “N/A”, a possible sign of changing availability. Appointment times for other required interviews have also been cut down from five to three months.

In Hyderabad, the current wait time for B-1/B-2 visas is around 5 months, while for F, M, J categories it’s 2.5 months, and H, L, O, P, Q categories are seeing a 2-month wait.

Globally, places like Shanghai have seen increases in wait times, with some visa categories like H, L, O, P, and Q jumping from half a month to three months.

The longest wait times for B-1/B-2 visa interviews are still seen in Toronto (16.5 months), San Jose (13 months), Lagos (12.5 months), Merida (11.5 months), and Ottawa (11 months).

The US State Department estimates average wait times based on monthly and half-month intervals, accounting for holidays and weekends. Applicants are encouraged to regularly check for earlier appointments after booking, as new slots are added frequently. This provides a chance to reschedule and reduce waiting periods.

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