{"id":158692,"date":"2026-09-25T05:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T23:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=158692"},"modified":"2026-09-25T03:15:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T21:45:49","slug":"us-visa-delays-hit-indian-travelers-as-visitor-appointments-reach-12-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/25\/us-visa-delays-hit-indian-travelers-as-visitor-appointments-reach-12-months\/","title":{"rendered":"US Visa Delays Hit Indian Travelers as Visitor Appointments Reach 12 Months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DELHI\u2014<\/strong> Indian travelers and visa applicants face widely different waiting periods for U.S. visa appointments depending on the category and consular post they choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest U.S. Department of State data, updated September 17, 2026, shows that B1\/B2 visitor visa applicants could wait up to 12 months for an appointment in Hyderabad, while student and exchange applicants can find appointments considerably sooner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The figures cover five U.S. visa posts in India: Chennai<\/a>, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The State Department lists separate timelines for B1\/B2 visitor visas, F\/M\/J student and exchange visas, petition-based H\/L\/O\/P\/Q categories, and crew and transit visas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"US
Photo- Invest India<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

US Visitor Visa Wait Times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

B1\/B2 visitor visas have the longest appointment waits across all five Indian posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyderabad has the longest next-available appointment at 12 months, followed by Mumbai at 11.5 months, New Delhi at 10 months, Chennai at 7.5 months, and Kolkata at 6.5 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The State Department also provides average B1\/B2 waiting times when the next available appointment is more than three months away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those averages stand at 11.5 months in Hyderabad, 11 months in Mumbai, 7.5 months in New Delhi, 7 months in Chennai and 6 months in Kolkata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These figures are particularly relevant for travelers planning holidays, business trips or family visits to the United States, as securing an interview can become a significant part of the travel-planning timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo- VFS Global<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Student Visa Appointments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The waiting period is substantially shorter for applicants seeking F, M or J visas, which cover student and exchange visitor categories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chennai has the next available appointment in less than half a month, while Hyderabad lists 1.5 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kolkata and New Delhi each show a two-month wait, while Mumbai lists 2.5 months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means applicants in different visa categories can encounter very different appointment timelines even when applying through the same U.S. consular post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: ajay_suresh | Wikimedia Commons\nhttps:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Three_American_passports.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Work Visa Timelines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For petition-based H, L, O, P, and Q visas, Hyderabad has the longest listed wait among the five Indian posts at 5.5 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Delhi follows with three months, while Chennai and Mumbai each list 1.5 months and Kolkata lists one month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The State Department groups these petition-based classifications together, so the figures do not provide separate appointment estimates for individual categories such as H-1B or L-1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The published data also changes as consulates release additional appointment slots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applicants who have already scheduled an interview can continue checking the appointment system and move to an earlier slot if one becomes available, Hindustan Times<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department updates its Global Visa Wait Times information monthly and cautions that the published estimates do not guarantee an appointment within the stated period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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US Targets 60-Day H-1B Visa Grace Period in New Immigration Proposal<\/a><\/blockquote>