US visa time: Chennai leads with longest wait for US business and tourist visas in India

Indian travelers applying for US B1/B2 business and tourist visas are still facing long interview waits, according to the US Department of State’s latest Global Visa Wait Times update. Current figures show applicants in Mumbai and Hyderabad wait about three months on average. In New Delhi, the wait is around four and a half months, Kolkata stands at six months, and Chennai continues to face the longest delay at about eight and a half months.

The waits have shortened compared with earlier this year, when applicants in some cities faced longer than 12 months. But the timelines remain long enough to disrupt business trips, tourism plans, and urgent family visits.

Average wait vs. next available slot

The State Department data tracks two different indicators: the average wait time and the next available appointment. The average reflects how long recent applicants waited between fee payment and their interview. The next available appointment shows the earliest date currently open for booking.

For India, next available slots stand at about five months in Chennai and Hyderabad, five and a half months in Mumbai and New Delhi, and six months in Kolkata.

Why the delays persist
Visa demand from India has surged sharply in recent years, driven by business travel, tourism, and education-related family visits. The US has expanded interview capacity since the pandemic-era backlog, but demand continues to outpace available slots at Indian consulates.

Officials also note that US embassies and consulates worldwide release additional appointments on a rolling basis. Applicants who monitor the scheduling system closely may be able to move their interviews to earlier dates.

Applicants exploring faster routes
Because of the continuing delays, many Indian travelers are looking abroad for quicker interviews. Neighboring countries in the Gulf and Southeast Asia often offer much shorter waits. Recent data showed appointments within one month in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, and Singapore. Kathmandu usually reports about one month, and Bangkok around two months.

For those able to travel, the cost of flying to these locations from India is often outweighed by the time saved. Round-trip flights to Gulf cities typically start between ₹8,000 and ₹12,000, while Kathmandu costs as little as ₹4,000 to ₹7,000.

While wait times have improved compared with the peak backlog of 2022–23, India remains among the busiest countries for US visa processing. The Department of State advises applicants to schedule early, check for new slots regularly, and consider alternative consular posts if urgent travel is necessary.

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