US visa: Some Indian cities offer quicker interview slots; check waiting time for Mumbai, Delhi & others

Indian applicants seeking a US visa may now get interview appointments faster in some cities, according to the latest global visa wait time data released by the US department of state. The data was updated on January 14, 2026, and shows that waiting periods vary widely across Indian consulates and visa categories.

The list, released under the Trump administration, shows both the average wait time and the estimated date of the next available interview appointment.




For visitor visas (B1/B2), Hyderabad and Kolkata currently have an average wait time of about 2.5 months, with the next available appointment in roughly four months. Chennai has a shorter average wait of around 1.5 months, though details on the next available appointment were not listed.

Mumbai continues to see longer delays. While the average wait time there is about 2.5 months, the next available appointment is nearly seven months away. In New Delhi, the average wait is around two months, but applicants may have to wait up to eight months for the next interview slot.

Student visas (F, M and J categories) are moving faster in most cities. Hyderabad and Kolkata show next available appointments in about two months. Mumbai reports a wait of around three months, while New Delhi offers the quickest access, with interviews available in about one month.

For employment-based visas such as H, L, O, P and Q, wait times also differ by city. Hyderabad shows next available appointments in around 2.5 months, while Mumbai has a much shorter wait of about one month. New Delhi has not listed availability for this category, suggesting limited or irregular scheduling.

Overall, while some Indian cities are seeing quicker US visa interview slots, others continue to face long delays, depending on the visa type and location.