World · India Bureau
US visa wait times surge in India; Hyderabad, Mumbai exceed 12 months
American visa appointment backlogs have reached critical levels across major Indian cities, with Hyderabad and Mumbai applicants facing delays approaching a full year. Delhi continues to process applications comparatively faster, though wait times there exceed ten months.
LSN India ·
Visa appointment delays at United States consulates across India have escalated significantly, reflecting persistent processing challenges that continue to affect thousands of applicants seeking to travel to America for business, tourism, and other purposes.
Data on current wait times reveals a stark disparity among India's major metropolitan areas. Hyderabad and Mumbai have emerged as hotspots for delays, with applicants waiting nearly twelve months for B1/B2 visa appointments—the category covering business and tourist travel. Delhi's consulate, while experiencing considerable backlog, maintains a comparatively shorter timeline of approximately ten months for similar visa categories.
The extended waiting periods underscore the strain on American diplomatic missions in India, where demand for US visas remains exceptionally high. The delays have implications for business travelers, tourists, and students attempting to secure appointments at overwhelmed consulate facilities.
B1/B2 visas represent the most commonly sought classification for temporary visits to the United States. The current appointment backlog suggests that applicants must plan considerably in advance to secure travel dates, potentially disrupting business schedules and travel plans.
The consulates have faced sustained pressure from record visa application volumes, and processing capacity constraints continue to limit the number of appointments available on a monthly basis across Indian missions.