Visa interview wait times have decreased for some countries but remain lengthy for others, according to the visa processing agency VFS Global. Post-Covid, the wait for American and some Schengen visa interview slots was long. However, improvements have been made, with waiting periods for some Schengen countries reduced to one week from three to six weeks. American visa slots still have a long wait, but it has decreased from two years to eight to nine months.
The U.S. missions and Schengen countries are adding resources to expedite visa processing. VFS Global anticipates increased visa applications in 2024, particularly for the UK, U.S., Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, China, Japan, and Canada. The agency is also expanding personnel and introducing premium services like “visa at doorstep.” Compared to pre-pandemic levels, India has seen a 93% increase in visa applications in 2023, with Kolkata experiencing a 91% rise. Compared to 2022, the numbers increased by 16% across India and 2% in Kolkata.
Visa Wait Times, Visa Interview, Country-specific Visa, Visa Processing, Immigration Update