Planning a US holiday this year? You may want to start the paperwork before you even book your flights. US tourist visa wait times India have surged to their longest levels in years, with applicants in Hyderabad and Mumbai now facing an average wait of 9.5 months just to secure a visa interview appointment.
Fresh data released by the US Department of State on June 18 confirms what many travellers have already suspected: getting a B-1/B-2 visitor visa from India has become significantly harder in 2026. For anyone hoping to attend a family wedding, visit relatives, or finally tick the Grand Canyon off their bucket list, the appointment queue—not the flight booking—is now the biggest obstacle.
Quick Highlights : US Tourist Visa Wait Times India
- US tourist visa wait times India have climbed sharply, with Hyderabad and Mumbai both averaging 9.5 months
- New Delhi sits at 7.5 months, Chennai at 5.5 months, and Kolkata at 4 months—the only city to see improvement
- Hyderabad and Mumbai now rank among the longest tourist visa queues globally, behind only cities like Toronto and Ottawa
- Student and employment visa wait times remain far shorter, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 months
- A new $750 expedited pilot programme runs July 1 to December 31, 2026, but it is unclear if any Indian mission will participate
- Published wait times are averages only and do not guarantee individual processing timelines
City-by-City Breakdown of US Tourist Visa Wait Times India
The latest figures paint a stark picture of just how uneven the visa appointment landscape has become across Indian consulates. According to data released on June 18, here is how long applicants are currently waiting for tourist visa interview appointments:
| City | Tourist Visa (B-1/B-2) Wait Time |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad | 9.5 months |
| Mumbai | 9.5 months |
| New Delhi | 7.5 months |
| Chennai | 5.5 months |
| Kolkata | 4 months |
Hyderabad and Mumbai now sit at the top of the list, both averaging 9.5 months—a wait that effectively rules out any kind of spontaneous or short-notice travel to the United States. New Delhi follows closely at 7.5 months, while Chennai offers a somewhat shorter wait of 5.5 months.
Kolkata stands out as the lone exception. It is the only major Indian city where US tourist visa wait times India have actually improved, dropping from roughly four-and-a-half months to four months. Everywhere else, the trend has moved firmly in the wrong direction for travellers.
How India Compares Globally
The scale of the delay becomes even clearer when placed in a global context. Hyderabad and Mumbai now rank among the busiest US visitor visa processing locations anywhere in the world. Only a small number of cities report longer average waits—Toronto leads at 21 months, followed by Ottawa at 14 months, Vancouver at 12 months, and Bogotá at 11 months.
That means Indian applicants in Hyderabad and Mumbai are facing some of the most severe US tourist visa wait times India has ever recorded, placing the country’s two busiest consulates within striking distance of North America’s most backlogged processing centres.
For families planning weddings, milestone celebrations, or simply a long-overdue visit to relatives settled in the US, this level of delay turns what used to be a manageable planning window into a months-long logistical challenge.
Why Tourist Visas Are Lagging While Other Categories Move Faster
Not every visa category is experiencing the same slowdown. The lengthy queues are concentrated almost entirely in the tourist visa segment, while student and employment-based visas continue to move at a noticeably faster pace.
Student visa wait times:
| City | Student Visa Wait Time |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad | 1.5 months |
| Mumbai | 1.5 months |
| New Delhi | 2 months |
Employment-based visa wait times:
| City | Employment Visa Wait Time |
|---|---|
| Mumbai | 1.5 months |
| New Delhi | 2 months |
| Hyderabad | 3.5 months |
This divergence suggests that consular resources are being prioritised toward categories the US considers more time-sensitive or economically significant—students with academic start dates and skilled professionals with employer commitments. Tourist applicants, by contrast, are bearing the brunt of extended US tourist visa wait times India, since leisure and family travel typically carries more scheduling flexibility from a processing standpoint, even though it creates real hardship for travellers with fixed plans like weddings or limited-time family visits.
Can You Get an Earlier Appointment?
Not guaranteed, but not impossible either. The US Department of State is clear that the published figures for US tourist visa wait times India represent averages, not fixed timelines for every individual applicant.
US embassies and consulates regularly release new appointment slots as cancellations or schedule adjustments occur. Applicants who already hold a confirmed booking can log into the visa portal and check for earlier openings, sometimes securing a significantly faster appointment than the published average suggests.
Certain travellers may also qualify for interview waivers, which allow eligible applicants—often those renewing a previous visa under specific conditions—to bypass the in-person interview requirement entirely. These waivers are not reflected in the headline wait-time figures, which is why many applicants continue checking the portal regularly rather than accepting the first available date.
A Faster Visa, For a Price
The US government is preparing to test an alternative path for travellers who cannot afford to wait. Under a new pilot programme running from July 1 to December 31, 2026, certain B-1/B-2 applicants at selected embassies and consulates will be able to pay an additional $750—on top of the standard $185 visa application fee—to receive an interview appointment within 10 business days.
This expedited option could offer meaningful relief for applicants facing time-sensitive travel needs, such as a family medical emergency or an unmissable event. However, a significant unknown remains: the State Department has not yet confirmed which specific embassies and consulates will participate, and it is currently unclear whether any US mission in India will be included in the pilot.
Until that detail is confirmed, Indian travellers cannot rely on this option as a guaranteed solution to current US tourist visa wait times India.
What US Tourist Visa Wait Times India Means for Your 2026 Travel Plans
For anyone with a US trip on the horizon, the practical takeaway is simple: apply far earlier than you think necessary. With Hyderabad and Mumbai both sitting at 9.5 months, an applicant hoping to travel by the end of 2026 may already be cutting it close if they have not yet booked an interview slot.
Booking flights is no longer the first step in planning a US visit from India—securing a visa appointment is. Travellers should monitor the official appointment portal regularly for earlier slots, check their eligibility for interview waivers, and keep an eye on whether the expedited pilot programme extends to Indian consulates once further details are released.
Key Takeaways Of US Tourist Visa Wait Times India
US tourist visa wait times India have reached some of the longest levels recorded, with Hyderabad and Mumbai both averaging 9.5 months and New Delhi following at 7.5 months. Kolkata remains the sole city showing improvement. Student and employment visa categories continue to process far faster, highlighting a clear prioritisation gap. A new $750 expedited pilot programme offers a possible faster route later this year, but its availability in India remains unconfirmed. For now, early planning is the only reliable strategy for travellers hoping to visit the United States in 2026.
FAQs : US Tourist Visa Wait Times India
What are the current US tourist visa wait times India for major cities?
As of June 18, 2026, Hyderabad and Mumbai average 9.5 months, New Delhi 7.5 months, Chennai 5.5 months, and Kolkata 4 months for B-1/B-2 tourist visa interview appointments.
Why are US tourist visa wait times India so much longer than student or work visas?
Tourist visas are experiencing significantly longer delays because consular resources appear prioritised toward time-sensitive categories like student visas, which have academic start dates, and employment visas tied to job commitments. Tourist travel is generally treated as more flexible from a scheduling standpoint.
Is there any way to get a faster US tourist visa appointment from India?
Applicants can check the visa portal regularly for newly released appointment slots, which sometimes open up earlier than the published average. Some travellers may also qualify for interview waivers that bypass the standard wait. A new $750 expedited pilot programme launches July 1, 2026, though its availability at Indian consulates is unconfirmed.
How do US tourist visa wait times India compare globally?
Hyderabad and Mumbai’s 9.5-month wait places them among the longest in the world, though still shorter than Toronto (21 months), Ottawa (14 months), Vancouver (12 months), and Bogotá (11 months).
When does the expedited US visa appointment programme begin?
The pilot programme allowing eligible B-1/B-2 applicants to pay an additional $750 for a 10-business-day appointment runs from July 1 to December 31, 2026. Participating embassies and consulates have not yet been announced.
Source : Times Of India
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