Is visiting the United States on your mind? Are you thinking of applying for a US visitor visa? Well we have something that you should know. People who want a visitor’s visa for the US might get the appointment in 2024. According to the US State Department website, an Indian citizen who applies for a visitor visa now will only receive an appointment in March or April of 2024.
Kolkata Has The Highest Waiting Time for US Visitor Visa
Applying for a US visitor visa now, will give you an appointment in 2024. Mumbai has lower waiting time as compared to New Delhi. But the highest waiting time is in Kolkata. While in Mumbai the waiting period is 517 days while in New Delhi it is 581 days and the highest waiting period as said is in Kolkata, 587 days. The delay, though, is not limited to the US. Canadian, British, and Schengen state visa applications are all experiencing delays. The 26 European nations that make up the Schengen area no longer use passports and operate under a single, unified visa system.
Also Read: Not Getting Your Schengen Visa? Here’s What You Should Do
Lack Of Staff, Increase In Demand
The overseas missions had sent their employees home during the Covid-19 pandemic. The lack of staff is the main reason behind such long waiting periods for US visitor visas or for that matter any country’s visa. Travel has resumed and ever since then, there has been a visible increase in the application for visas. The increase of applications is dealt by a very small manpower. The US embassy said that it is hiring staff and addressing the staff gap that the pandemic brought in. Additionally, the embassy is giving priority to visas for return travelers and those that are in the country’s best interests. This shows that the people who have applied for visitor visas for the first time are the ones experiencing longer waiting periods. The research says that most nations are now making efforts to speed up the visa application process, particularly for student visas.
Also Read: Visitors From 70 Countries Can Get UAE Visa On Arrival For 180 Days