In a recent statement, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken announced plans to increase visa slots by 1 million for applicants, aiming to enhance the processing capacity and reduce backlogs. This expansion is intended to meet the rising travel demands as US prepares for major international events, like the FIFA World Cup, Olympics and rugby championships.
On October 30, 2024, Blinken also stated that the current median wait time for first-time visitor visa interviews has been reduced to less than 60 days, reflecting a 60 per cent improvement from pandemic peaks.
For travellers from India, the situation remains difficult. Current wait times for tourist visas are approximately 300-320 days, varying by U.S. consulate or embassy. While this is an improvement from over 900 days in 2021, the extended processing times still present challenges for many applicants.
The interview wait times for B1/B2 visas in India as on date is tabulated below:
| U.S. Consular Post | Visa Wait Times |
| New Delhi | 94 calendar days |
| Mumbai | 463 calendar days |
| Hyderabad | 437 calendar days |
| Kolkata | 499 calendar days |
| Chennai | 477 calendar days |
Interview waiver wait times for B1/B2 visas in India as on date is tabulated below:
| U.S. Consular Post | Visa Wait Times |
| New Delhi | 214 calendar days |
| Mumbai | NA |
| Hyderabad | NA |
| Kolkata | 122 calendar days |
| Chennai | NA |
Secretary Blinken also stated that about 11.5 million visas were issued in the Fiscal Year 2024, which includes about 8.5 million Visitor visas and a record-setting 24.5 million U.S. passport books and cards were issued in FY 2024, half a million more than in FY 2023, and that passport wait times continue to trend down, currently now at just 4-6 weeks.
This statement can be found here.