Travelers and families across India are facing record-breaking US visa delays, with Chennai now leading the country in wait times for B1/B2 visitor visas. As of July 2025, the situation has become even more challenging, especially for those hoping to visit the United States 🇺🇸 for business, tourism, or family reasons. This update explains what has changed, who is affected, the new rules in place, and what steps you can take if you are caught in this backlog.
Summary of What Changed
The most significant change is the length of time it now takes to get a B1/B2 visitor visa appointment in India. According to the U.S. Department of State, as of May 25, 2025, the wait times for a B1/B2 interview in major Indian cities are:
- Chennai: About 14 months
- Mumbai: About 9.5 months
- New Delhi: About 8 months
- Hyderabad: About 7 months
- Kolkata: About 6 months
Processing Times
VisaVerge.com
Chennai stands out with the longest wait, while Kolkata, though still delayed, offers the shortest timeline among major cities. These numbers reflect the time until the next available interview slot, not the time it takes to process your visa after the interview.
Who Is Affected
These delays impact a wide range of people:
- Tourists and families wanting to visit relatives, attend weddings, or see new grandchildren in the United States 🇺🇸.
- Business travelers needing to attend meetings, conferences, or sign contracts.
- Medical travelers seeking treatment in the United States 🇺🇸.
- Students’ families who wish to attend graduations or help their children settle in.
Anyone applying for a B1/B2 visitor visa from India is affected, but those in Chennai face the longest wait. Even those in other cities must plan for significant delays.
Effective Dates and New Rules
Several new rules and policies have come into effect in 2025 to manage the high demand and reduce misuse of the appointment system:
- Rescheduling Limit: Starting January 1, 2025, you can only reschedule your visa appointment one time. If you need to change your appointment again, you must pay the visa fee again to book a new slot.
- No-Show Penalty: If you miss your scheduled appointment (including interview-waiver or “Dropbox” appointments), you will be blocked from booking a new appointment for 120 days. This rule started in May 2025.
- Interview Waiver (Dropbox) Policy: If you are renewing your visa within four years of its expiry, you may be eligible for the interview waiver process. This means you can submit your documents without an in-person interview. Processing usually takes up to three weeks from the time you drop off your documents.
- DS-160 Form Enforcement: The U.S. consulates are now strictly checking that the DS-160 form is filled out correctly. Mistakes can lead to delays or even rejection.
Why Are There Such Long Delays?
Several factors have caused these record US visa delays:
- Post-pandemic demand: After COVID-19 travel restrictions ended, many more people started applying for US visas, creating a surge in demand.
- Staff shortages: Even though visa operations have fully resumed, the number of staff and available appointments has not kept up with the number of applicants.
- Student visa priority: During peak academic seasons, many appointment slots are set aside for F1 student visa applicants, leaving fewer slots for B1/B2 visitor visas.
- No major government action: So far, there have been no new agreements between India and the United States 🇺🇸 to address the backlog, so applicants must find their own solutions.
How Do These Delays Affect People?
The impact of these delays is being felt in many ways:
- Missed family events: Many people are unable to attend important family occasions, such as weddings, funerals, or graduations.
- Business losses: Entrepreneurs and professionals are missing out on key meetings, deals, and conferences, which can hurt their businesses.
- Emotional and financial stress: The uncertainty and repeated checking for earlier slots cause stress and sometimes extra costs, especially if travel plans must be changed or canceled.
What Can You Do?
If you are planning to apply for a B1/B2 visitor visa from India, here are some practical steps you can take:
- Apply as early as possible: Start your application at least a year before your planned travel date, especially if you are in Chennai or Mumbai.
- Check the appointment portal often: New slots are added regularly. You can reschedule to an earlier date if you find one, but remember you can only do this once without paying the fee again.
- Consider the interview waiver (Dropbox) process: If you are renewing your visa within four years of expiry, check if you qualify for this faster, no-interview option.
- Look at other countries for appointments: Some nearby U.S. embassies and consulates, such as those in Singapore, Colombo, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur, currently have no wait times for B1/B2 interviews. If you can travel to these places, you might get your visa faster.
- Fill out your DS-160 form carefully: Make sure all information is correct and matches your documents. Errors can cause delays or rejections. You can access the official DS-160 form here.
- Do not book travel until your visa is issued: Processing times after the interview can vary, and sometimes extra checks add weeks or months.
Understanding the B1/B2 Visitor Visa
The B1/B2 visa is a combination visa for business (B1) and tourism (B2). Here’s what each part covers:
- B1 Visa: For business visits, such as meetings, conferences, or signing contracts.
- B2 Visa: For tourism, visiting family, getting medical treatment, or other non-paid activities.
Most people receive the B1/B2 visa together, which allows them to do both business and leisure activities during their trip. However, paid work in the United States 🇺🇸 is not allowed on this visa.
Global Comparison and Alternative Options
While Indian cities are facing long waits, some U.S. embassies in other countries have much shorter or even zero wait times for B1/B2 interviews. For example:
- Colombo (Sri Lanka 🇱🇰)
- Singapore 🇸🇬
- Jakarta (Indonesia 🇮🇩)
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia 🇲🇾)
If you have the means to travel, scheduling your interview in one of these cities could be a practical way to avoid the long delays in India. Many Indian applicants are now choosing this option, especially for urgent travel.
Recent Policy Changes: What You Need to Know
Several new policies are now in place to help manage the high demand and reduce misuse of the system:
- One-time rescheduling: You can only reschedule your appointment once. If you need to change it again, you must pay the visa fee again.
- No-show penalty: Missing your appointment means you cannot book a new one for 120 days.
- Dropbox eligibility: If you are renewing your visa within four years, you may not need an interview. Processing usually takes up to three weeks.
- Strict DS-160 checks: Mistakes on your DS-160 form can cause delays or rejection.
What About Pending Applications?
If you already have a pending application or are waiting for your interview date, here’s what you should do:
- Keep checking for earlier slots: Even after booking, you can look for earlier appointments and reschedule once for free.
- Prepare all documents: Make sure your DS-160 is correct and all supporting documents are ready.
- Consider Dropbox if eligible: If your visa expired within the last four years, check if you can use the interview waiver process.
- Stay updated: Regularly check the official U.S. visa website for India for any new announcements or changes. You can find the latest information here.
Expert and Industry Perspectives
Travel industry leaders and visa consultants have confirmed that these are the worst delays seen in years. According to Kapil Jain of Fly Divine Travels and Himanshu Patil of Kesari Tours, not only are wait times at record highs, but rejection rates are also rising. The Travel Agents Federation of India has reported that even urgent family cases are struggling to get timely appointments, and the lack of a predictable system is causing widespread frustration.
The U.S. State Department has acknowledged the backlog and says it is releasing more slots regularly. However, they warn that the average wait times are only estimates and not guarantees. This means your actual wait could be longer or shorter, depending on demand and staffing.
Future Outlook
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix in sight. Unless there is a big increase in staff or major changes to the system, long wait times are expected to continue through the rest of 2025. The U.S. consular system may make more changes to rescheduling and waiver policies to help manage demand and make the process fairer.
These delays could also affect business ties, tourism, and academic exchanges between India and the United States 🇺🇸. Some travelers are already choosing other countries for business or study because of the easier visa process.
Official Resources and Where to Get Help
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always use official government sources:
- Visa Wait Times: Check the latest wait times for all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide on the U.S. Department of State website.
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India: For details on visa types, policies, and appointment booking, visit the official India visa page.
- Appointment Scheduling: Use the U.S. visa portal for India to book or reschedule appointments.
- DS-160 Form: Access and fill out the official DS-160 form here.
Key Reminders and Next Steps
- Apply early: Start your application as soon as possible, especially if you are in Chennai or Mumbai.
- Check for updates: Policies and wait times can change quickly. Always check official sources before making plans.
- Consider all options: Look into Dropbox eligibility, alternative consulates, and nearby countries for faster appointments.
- Be prepared: Double-check your DS-160 and supporting documents to avoid delays.
- Don’t book travel until you have your visa: Processing times can be unpredictable.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these delays are causing real hardship for families, business travelers, and students. While the U.S. government is working to add more slots and improve the process, applicants must stay proactive and flexible.
If you have urgent travel needs or need help with your application, contact the U.S. consulate directly or speak with a trusted visa consultant. Staying informed and prepared is the best way to handle the current US visa delays, especially in Chennai and other major Indian cities.
By following these steps and keeping up with the latest rules, you can improve your chances of getting your B1/B2 visitor visa in time for your planned trip to the United States 🇺🇸.
Learn Today
B1/B2 Visa → A combined US visitor visa for business (B1) and tourism (B2) activities without work authorization.
DS-160 Form → An online nonimmigrant visa application form required for US visa interviews and processing.
Interview Waiver (Dropbox) → A process allowing certain eligible applicants to renew visas without a personal interview.
No-Show Penalty → A 120-day block from booking new visa appointments if an applicant misses a scheduled interview.
Rescheduling Limit → A 2025 policy allowing only one free visa appointment reschedule; additional changes require paying fees again.
This Article in a Nutshell
US B1/B2 visa delays in India hit record highs, with Chennai facing 14-month waits. New rescheduling rules started in 2025. Travelers should apply early, check appointment portals often, and consider alternative consulates in Asia to avoid long waits and ensure timely visa issuance.
— By VisaVerge.com
