Thinking of applying for a US tourist visa this year? Build in a wait of nearly a year in some cities. Fresh US Department of State data shows B1/B2 visitor visa interview backlogs stretching to 9.5 months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, and 7.5 months in New Delhi — with only Kolkata offering anything close to a fast turnaround.
What happened
Data released by the US Department of State on June 18 shows a sharp jump in demand for B1/B2 visitor visa interview appointments across India's consular centres, according to IndianEagle. Current average wait times by city:
- ›Hyderabad and Mumbai: 9.5 months (longest)
- ›New Delhi: 7.5 months
- ›Chennai: 5.5 months
- ›Kolkata: 4 months (shortest)
These figures apply specifically to applicants who need an interview; some travellers qualify for interview waivers and follow a different, usually faster, timeline. Non-tourist categories — crew and transit visas, for instance — generally move faster across all centres, often within a month or less. The State Department updates these estimates monthly, and they represent averages rather than guaranteed appointment dates; additional slots do occasionally open up due to cancellations, so applicants who check the scheduling system frequently can sometimes find earlier openings.
Why it matters
For Indian travellers planning a US trip — whether for tourism, a family visit, or a business trip — the visa interview wait is now frequently the single biggest bottleneck in the entire planning timeline, often longer than saving for the trip itself. Chennai's shorter wait relative to Mumbai and Hyderabad means where you're eligible to apply from can meaningfully change your timeline.
What this means for your trip
If you're planning any US travel for later this year or into 2027 — a wedding, a graduation, a holiday season visit — start your visa application now, not a few months before you intend to travel. Check the official wait times page for your specific consulate before assuming any of the averages above apply to you, and keep checking the appointment system periodically for cancellations, since slots do open up.
Wait times reflect "growing demand for B1/B2 visitor visa appointments," with all figures sourced from the US Department of State and "updated every month." — IndianEagle
The bottom line
A US tourist visa is no longer a same-season formality for many Indian applicants — in the worst-case cities, it's close to a year-long lead time. Anyone with a US trip on the horizon should treat the visa interview as the first thing to book, not the last.
