The wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview at the U.S. embassy / consulates in India was negligible until a few weeks ago. Applicants were able to obtain an interview date within a week or two for most categories of visas at almost any post in India. However, we have recently noticed that there is a significant increase in the wait time for nonimmigrant visa interviews at all consular posts in India. The current wait time ranges from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the consular post.

It is important to remember that conference or business meetings are not considered for expedited appointments, unless one can establish that the business trip could not have been predicted in advance. Students and exchange visitors within 60 days of their start date are eligible for expedited appointments if an interview date is not available within this period.

By way of abundant caution, we urge U.S. nonimmigrant visa applicants in India to plan ahead and apply early for their visas. A related advisory is available on the U.S. embassy’s website. This also warns visa applicants of scams and fraud. More specifically, the notification advises one to be wary of anyone who promises to obtain a visa in exchange for a fee. This update can be found here.