US visa wait time for Indians drop; New Delhi, Chennai lead with shorter available appointments

Indian applicants planning to travel to the United States for study, work, or tourism may encounter different wait times depending on the consulate they choose. According to the US State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times portal, the appointment backlogs for student (F, M, J), work (H, L, O, P, Q), and visitor (B1/B2) visas vary across major Indian cities, including New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, with several locations reporting shorter delays compared with previous months.

Visa wait times drop in New Delhi and Chennai

New Delhi now reports quicker access for students and exchange visitors, with the next available appointment for F, M and J visas at 0.5 months, down from two months earlier. Work-related categories including H, L, O, P and Q visas show a wait of 1 month. Visitor visa seekers face a next appointment timeline of 3.5 months, a drop from 6.5 months.

Chennai reflects shorter delays as well. While the B-1/B-2 average wait is listed as “N/A,” interview-required visas show a next available slot at 3 months, marking an improvement from previous backlogs.


The following table shows the latest reported wait times for visa interviews at US embassies and consulates across India:

City/Post	B1/B2 – Average Wait Time	B1/B2 – Next Available Appointment	F/M/J – Next Available Appointment	H/L/O/P/Q – Next Available Appointment	C/D, C1/D – Next Available Appointment
New Delhi	3.5 months	10 months	0.5 months	NA	<0.5 months
Mumbai (Bombay)	9.5 months	9.5 months	3 months	1 month	1 month
Chennai (Madras)	NA	3 months	2 months	1 month	<0.5 months
Hyderabad	4 months	5 months	2.5 months	2 months	<0.5 months
Kolkata	4.5 months	5 months	2.5 months	NA	NA

The State Department states that wait-time calculations follow 30-day month cycles and include weekends and holidays. It adds that consulates release new appointment slots frequently. Applicants may move to an earlier date by checking the scheduling system regularly. The department also clarifies that average wait times reflect past applications and do not guarantee interview dates.