The average wait time for a US visa appointment is 517 days for a visitor visa and 10 days for a student visa.
Mumbai: Everyone is constantly considering a trip to the US or perhaps Europe. More than we realize, Indians look forward to travelling overseas, whether for business, studies, or simply to relax. But are you one of those who have heard of the agonisingly long visa wait times? It’s not just you. The average wait time for a visa appointment at the US consulate in New Delhi is 522 days for tourist visas and 471 days for student visas, according to the US Department of State’s website Travel.State.Gov. The typical wait period for a US visa appointment in Mumbai is 10 days for a student visa and 517 days for a visiting visa.
Moneycontrol reports that there are currently more than 4 lakh candidates waiting for a US visa interview appointment. The situation is the same in countries like Canada, where there is a backlog of over 20 lakh applications. With lengthy visa waiting times for travel to the UK, Schengen visas are also experiencing delays. According to Moneycontrol, “There are no vacancies for visa appointments for countries like France and Iceland.”
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The US embassy is trying to reduce wait times, according to The Times of India. “Attempts are being made to minimise the waiting period by expanding consular employees and prioritising specific types of visas,” an official who spoke with TOI said. The official blamed the delays on the recovery from the Covid epidemic. Other embassies concurred that the wait times were lengthy, but claimed that the increase in applications was directly related to the number of visas issued during the pandemic. A representative for the Canadian high commission was cited as saying, “Despite the pandemic, the Canadian government welcomed over 4 lakh new permanent residents in 2021, of which 32% were Indians.”
People are choosing alternative travel plans as countries deal with the post-pandemic boom in travel, but those who depend on their visa to enter certain countries, such students, continue to be the worst affected.
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