(INDIA) India’s U.S. visa applicants face a tougher, slower path starting in September 2025, when the United States 🇺🇸 will require mandatory in-person interviews for nearly all B1/B2 travelers, including children under 14 and adults over 79. At the same time, Indian nationals will be barred from applying for short-term visas in third countries. Together, these two moves will push more people into already busy consulates in India and make early planning essential for any trip to the United States.
What changes starting September 2025
Under the updated rules, Indian applicants for B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas must appear for interviews at U.S. consulates in India, ending many previous interview waivers. Families who counted on mail-in or drop-box renewals should expect in-person visits instead.
The U.S. State Department says the changes aim to tighten security and reduce misuse of the system. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the shift also closes a loophole that let some travelers book faster appointments in places like the UAE or Singapore.
Key elements of the policy change:
– Mandatory interviews: From September 2025, most Indian B1/B2 applicants must appear in person, including young children under 14 and adults over 79.
– India-only filing for short-term visas: The new rules end the Third Country National practice for B1/B2. Travelers must apply in India.
– Strict rescheduling: Since January 2025, applicants receive only one free reschedule of a confirmed appointment; a second reschedule requires a new visa fee payment.
– Backlog pressures: The State Department cites security and staffing needs; wait times remain among the longest worldwide for B1/B2.
These changes close prior workarounds and increase demand on consulates inside India, making timely appointments harder to secure—especially for urgent or last-minute travel.
Appointment wait times (mid-2025 snapshot)
Wait times in India remain long and vary widely by city:
- Mumbai and Hyderabad: about 3 months
- New Delhi: about 4.5 months
- Kolkata: about 6 months
- Chennai: up to 8.5 months
These numbers change weekly, but they show a clear pattern: India’s B1/B2 demand still outpaces supply. Consequences include delayed business meetings, postponed family trips, and difficulty coordinating care or support visits for elderly relatives.
Why waits remain high
Several factors contribute to the delays:
– Leftover pandemic backlogs
– High demand from India’s growing middle class
– Continued, expanded security and identity checks
– Staffing and resource constraints at consulates
The U.S. State Department’s immigrant visa data and the stalled September 2025 Visa Bulletin illustrate strain across parts of the visa system—even though immigrant visas follow a different track from B1/B2.
Impact on travelers and institutions
The rules affect many groups and activities:
- Businesses: Short-notice sales, service calls, or contract talks may be delayed; some companies are shifting regional events away from the U.S.
- Families: University drop-offs, graduations, weddings, or medical visits may be harder to time; elderly relatives must coordinate travel and interviews.
- Diaspora households: B1/B2 visas are a lifeline for short visits—longer waits can mean missed life events.
- Consular services: Crowding at consulates can spill over and strain units serving other visa categories (students, work visas).
U.S. officials maintain that in-country processing and universal interviews improve identity checks and reduce fraud, but that benefit comes with slower processing in the short term.
Practical steps and action plan
The best defense is early action. Experts tracking Indian B1/B2 trends recommend starting months earlier than in past years. Below is a concise plan:
- Complete the online DS-160 application carefully and save the confirmation page.
- Access the form here: DS-160 (CEAC)
- Pay the visa fee and book the first available slot that fits your travel window.
- Consider nearby cities if they show earlier dates.
- Use your single free reschedule wisely.
- If you must change, do it once with confidence rather than making several small shifts.
- Prepare for the interview:
- Bring a valid passport, confirmation pages, fee receipts, a recent photo, and supporting records tied to your travel purpose.
- For business trips:
- Carry company letters, meeting invites, event registrations, and proof of prior U.S. travel if available.
- For tourism:
- Prepare clear travel plans, proof of funds, and ties to India (employment letters, property records).
- Factor in travel time and costs to the consulate city.
- Book refundable travel if possible in case your appointment changes.
- Keep checking official notices for any local changes to document rules or security procedures.
If you face a true emergency (urgent medical treatment, death in the immediate family), you may request an expedited appointment—approval is narrow and depends on supporting proof. Companies should not assume routine business trips qualify as emergencies.
For official guidance on eligibility, documents, and interview basics, see the State Department’s overview: Visitor Visa (B1/B2) overview on travel.state.gov.
Practical tips for smoother processing
- Start early: think in seasons, not weeks. Example timelines:
- Winter events: start in late summer
- Spring trade shows: begin in autumn
- Summer travel: start before the prior year ends
- Keep a clean, consistent case: fill out the DS-160 truthfully and organize work/family records.
- Bring proof of prior U.S. travel when available.
- For employer-sponsored trips, carry letters that explain role, purpose, and who pays.
- Keep passports valid well ahead of planned travel.
Outlook and final takeaways
Experts do not expect quick relief in late 2025. Mandatory in-person interviews and the ban on third-country filing will remain unless the State Department announces changes. Consulates may add staff or open more slots during peaks, but structural demand from India’s large traveler base will persist.
The margin for error has shrunk. With mandatory in-person interviews, India-only filing, and tight rescheduling rules, start early, plan well, and give yourself room to breathe.
No single step will fix wait times overnight, but early starts, correct forms, complete documents, and realistic travel dates can reduce stress and improve the chance of smooth processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Beginning September 2025, the U.S. will mandate in-person interviews for nearly all Indian B1/B2 applicants and prohibit filing short-term visa applications from third countries. The changes end many interview waivers and close appointment workarounds in places like the UAE or Singapore, concentrating demand on Indian consulates. Mid-2025 wait times ranged from about three months in Mumbai and Hyderabad to as long as 8.5 months in Chennai. Causes include pandemic backlogs, growing demand, security checks, and consular resource limits. Practical steps: complete DS-160 correctly, book early in India, use the single free reschedule wisely, assemble complete supporting documents, and prepare for travel to the consulate. Expedited appointments are limited to narrow emergencies. Early planning and careful documentation are essential to reduce the risk of missed travel dates.
