If a business trip or vacation to the USA is on the cards, then be prepared to wait for almost 500 days to get your visa! According to reports, the visa wait time for Indians planning to visit the US has witnessed a staggering increase with the U.S. consulate in Kolkata taking up 499 days to process B1/B2 visas. Scroll on to learn more about this.
US Visa Wait Time In Kolkata Is Almost 500 Days
According to The Economic Times, the wait time for the B1/B2 visa application process in Kolkata can take 499 days! Despite continued efforts, there has been no relief in visa wait time for Indians in major metropolitan cities. Following closely behind, the processing time in Chennai is 486 days, in Hyderabad the time period is up to 435 days, in Delhi, it is 432, and in Mumbai, the processing time is 427 days.
The US consulate issues B1 visas to individuals travelling to the US for business-related purposes. Whereas, the B2 visa is for tourism. It is usually issued to people travelling for leisure, visiting friends and family, medical treatment, or attending social events. Reportedly, the B1/B2 visa is issued together.
No Relief In Wait Time, Despite Continued Efforts
As per The Economic Times, 1.4 million visas were processed for Indian applicants in 2023. To achieve this record high, the US Consular Team in India was able to reduce the wait time by 75%. Unfortunately, despite several efforts, the issue of long wait times is back.
Reports also suggest that demand for US visas surged across all categories in 2024. Authorities have witnessed a 60% surge in applications compared to the previous year. If you’re seeking an Interview Waiver Visitor visa, then there is some relief for you. In Delhi, the wait for this category is just 14 days, and Kolkata offers a wait time of 13 days.
Also Read: This US Airport Has Employed Llamas & Alpacas To Reduce Passengers’ Travel Stress & Anxiety
We hope this information was helpful to you all.
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