This Indian city has a 500-day wait for a US Visa

If you're planning a holiday or business trip to the US and applying through the consulate in Kolkata, be prepared for a significant wait of 499 days. Over the past year, the US has made notable strides in reducing previously high visa wait times, resulting in some improvement. In 2023, 1.4 million visas were processed for Indian applicants, a record high, and wait times for visitor visa appointments were reduced by 75%. However, despite these efforts, long wait times have resurfaced.

B1/B2 visa wait times vary considerably across US consulates in India. Kolkata currently faces the longest wait at 499 days, with Chennai following closely at 486 days. In Mumbai, applicants are waiting 427 days, while Delhi and Hyderabad have slightly longer waits at 432 and 435 days, respectively.

US Consulate Wait Time (B1/B2 Visa)

Kolkata 499 days
Mumbai 427 days
New Delhi 432 days
Chennai 486 days
Hyderabad 435 days
Meanwhile, the wait time for Interview Waiver Visitor visas is much shorter, with only a 14-day wait in Delhi and 13 days in Kolkata.

For those applying for a Third Country National visa, wait times remain long, at 332 days in Abu Dhabi and 289 days in Dubai. A Third Country National visa refers to a visa application processed by a US consulate in a country other than one’s home country.

The B1 visa allows individuals to travel to the US for business, while the B2 visa is for tourists, people visiting friends and family, those seeking medical treatment, or attending social events without compensation. These visas are typically issued together as a B1/B2 visa, allowing the holder to engage in both business and leisure activities during their stay.