The US Embassy in India has updated its visa appointment procedures, specifically for B-1/B-2 interview waiver appointments in New Delhi. These visas are for short visits to the US, whether for tourism, business, or both.
Applicants can still submit their forms at any of the five Visa Application Centers without charge. Alternatively, they can pay 850 rupees per application to drop off documents at a US Document Dropoff Center in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Cochin, Jalandhar, or Pune.
The Embassy announced that B-1/B-2 interview waiver appointments will now be concentrated in New Delhi to streamline visa processing. Eligible applicants can easily access these appointments in New Delhi, reducing wait times. However, due to this change, fewer interview waiver appointments will be available in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Nonetheless, applicants don’t need to travel to New Delhi unless they’re deemed ineligible for the waiver process later.
The US Consular Team in India processed a record 1.4 million US visas in 2023, leading to a 75% reduction in visitor visa appointment wait times. The Embassy noted a surge in Indian visa applicants, with Indians now making up one-tenth of all US visa applicants worldwide. Visitor visas (B-1/B-2) have seen a significant increase, with wait times dropping from 1,000 days to 250 days nationwide due to improved processes and more staff.
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