New Delhi- Indian applicants seeking expedited visa interview appointments for American visitor B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas now have a unique recourse: the US consulate in Frankfurt. A senior official from the US Embassy in Delhi disclosed that the consulate has, notably, “reserved nonimmigrant visa interview slots exclusively for Indian petitioners.” This extraordinary measure comes in light of the substantial visa interview appointment delays prevailing in India.
As of the most recent data, the waiting period for a B1/B2 visa interview appointment in Indian cities stands at a staggering 441 days in Hyderabad, 486 days in Chennai, 526 days in Delhi, 571 days in Mumbai, and 607 days in Kolkata. In stark contrast, the US State Department reports a mere three-day wait for Frankfurt applicants.
While the backlog for B1/B2 interviews in India swelled to nearly three years last winter, the consulate acknowledges that there remains substantial work to be done to streamline and expedite the process. Concurrently, Indian applicants have encountered technical glitches when scheduling non-immigrant visa interviews via the new online portal. The US Embassy assures that they are actively addressing these technical issues to minimize any inconvenience experienced by applicants.
In an astonishing surge, US missions in India granted close to 880,000 non-immigrant visas in the first half of 2023, a remarkable 46% surge compared to the same pre-pandemic period in 2019. Among the various strategies to mitigate this backlog, Indians were granted the opportunity to apply at US consulates beyond India’s borders, including locations such as Bangkok. However, the precise number of Indian passport holders who have availed themselves of this option remains undisclosed.
A spokesperson for the US Embassy expressed, “India is undeniably a top priority for us. Wait times for initial visitor visa interviews have seen a remarkable 70% reduction since the commencement of the current year. Yet, persistent delays continue to pose a challenge for many families. In response, we are channeling additional resources, including bolstered staffing and remote processing options, to expedite these waiting periods as expeditiously as possible within India.”
During a comprehensive dialogue, the US embassy addressed three critical issues: visa waiting times, technical discrepancies in the new portal, and a surge in student visa applications.
Regarding visa wait times, the embassy spokesperson noted, “In India, nearly all non-immigrant visa categories, except for first-time visitor visa applicants, are now approaching pre-pandemic levels or even lower, with a substantial upsurge in visa issuances across the board. Wait times for travelers exempt from interviews are notably brief.” The US Mission in India has approved over 330,000 petition-based temporary employment visas since the inception of the fiscal year, an impressive 71% increase compared to the same period in 2019.
The spokesperson expressed optimism, saying, “We are pleased to report that our team in India is well on track to process over one million visas this year, marking a significant milestone in our post-pandemic recovery. However, we remain committed to further reducing wait times. We are committed to providing our posts, particularly in India, with the necessary tools, resources, and support to continue diminishing nonimmigrant visa waiting periods.”
Additionally, the spokesperson reminded applicants of the option to secure non-immigrant visa interview appointments outside India where feasible, with special slots set aside for Indian candidates at the Frankfurt consulate.
Turning to technical issues in the visa application portal, the embassy is closely monitoring and addressing reported glitches to ensure seamless access for Indian visa applicants.
Finally, the spokesperson discussed the surge in student visas, highlighting that F and M student visas can now be granted up to 365 days ahead of the program start date. In 2022, US embassies and consulates in India set an all-time record, issuing more than 125,000 student and exchange visitor visas in a single year. India currently ranks as the second-largest source country for US international students, trailing only behind China.
In conclusion, international students contribute substantially to the US economy, generating over $32 billion in revenue and supporting more than 300,000 jobs. The US is on course to issue the highest number of student visas since 2016, signifying the enduring commitment to facilitating educational exchange and fostering global ties.
In this ever-evolving landscape, the Department of State reaffirms its dedication to international education, underscoring the importance of student mobility for diplomacy, innovation, economic prosperity, and national security. The issuance of over 392,000 student visas in the fiscal year 2023 underscores this commitment, bolstering the critical contributions of international students to US campuses and the nation’s economy.