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US visa appointment wait times in India: how to plan
By the DummyTicketDesk desk · Reviewed 22 October 2026
THE QUICK ANSWER
In State Department data reported for September 2026, the wait for a B1/B2 interview was about 12 months at Hyderabad, 11.5 at Mumbai, 10 at New Delhi, 7.5 at Chennai and 6.5 at Kolkata. Check the official wait-times tool before you plan, file the DS-160 early, and choose intended travel dates that fall after a realistic interview date.
The figures, post by post
These waits for a B1/B2 interview were reported from State Department data in September 2026. They are a snapshot, not a forecast. The official wait-times tool on travel.state.gov is the figure to check in the week you book, because waits change.
| Post | B1/B2 interview wait reported, September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad (Consulate) | About 12 months |
| Mumbai (Consulate) | About 11.5 months |
| New Delhi (Embassy) | About 10 months |
| Chennai (Consulate) | About 7.5 months |
| Kolkata (Consulate) | About 6.5 months |
What the wait covers, and what it leaves out
The figure is the wait for the interview appointment. It does not include the time before it, to complete the DS-160 and pay the fee, or the biometrics visit to a Visa Application Centre, usually scheduled at least a day ahead of the interview. Nor does it include the time after a successful interview for the visa to be placed in your passport.
Add those together and the real lead time is longer than the headline. A family hoping to attend a convocation next summer is already short of time if they start in the autumn and their nearest post is Hyderabad or Mumbai.
Two appointments, one decision
Indian applicants attend twice. First, a Visa Application Centre, often called the OFC, takes fingerprints and a photograph; there are no interview questions at that visit. Then a consular officer interviews you at the Embassy in New Delhi or at a Consulate in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata, and decides.
Both are booked through the official US visa scheduling service for India. Use the same passport and the same personal details at both visits as on your DS-160.
Who avoids the interview queue
Only some renewals can skip the interview, under conditions reported from the State Department’s September 2025 update. First-time applicants are interviewed, and age no longer exempts anyone.
| Condition (from 1 October 2025) | What it means |
|---|---|
| Renewing a B1/B2 | Within 12 months of the old visa’s expiry |
| Previous visa | Issued for full validity |
| Age when it was issued | 18 or older |
| Where you apply | Country of nationality or residence |
| Your history | No unresolved refusal, no apparent ineligibility |
Applying from the Gulf
A rule in force since 6 September 2025 requires you to apply where you are a national or a resident. An Indian who lives and works in the UAE can therefore apply there with proof of residence, and the wait at that post may differ from the posts in India. Someone in Dubai on a tourist visa cannot use this route and applies in India.
Compare the figures in the wait-times tool before choosing, and remember that the interview is where you live. Ties for a Gulf resident include the job, residence permit and home there, as well as family in India.
Planning a trip around a long wait
Treat the wait as part of the trip. Work backwards from when you want to travel, and check the wait-times tool again before you settle any date.
| Stage | Timing | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| DS-160 and fee | As soon as you decide to travel | Intended arrival after the likely interview |
| Book appointments | Straight after paying the fee | Take the earliest interview slot you can attend |
| Biometrics at the VAC | Usually a day or more before the interview | Same passport and details as the DS-160 |
| Interview | Months later, depending on the post | Evidence of purpose, ties and who pays |
| Visa issued | After approval | A visa integrity fee may be due |
| Travel plans | The State Department says not to buy tickets until you have a visa | Hotels and leave dates follow the visa you receive |
Where a flight reservation fits
Not at the DS-160 stage. The airline decides how long an unpaid hold lasts, and the interview may be a year away. If an event fixes your dates and you want something concrete in your folder, order the reservation for the interview day itself. On tickets, the State Department’s visitor page is direct: “Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.”
Flight reservation for USA visa
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Reserve nowQuestions people ask
Which US post in India has the shortest B1/B2 wait?
In the September 2026 figures, Kolkata, at about 6.5 months, followed by Chennai at about 7.5. Hyderabad was the longest at about 12 months. The figures move, so check the State Department’s wait-times tool for current numbers before you book.
Does the wait include the biometrics appointment?
No. The biometrics visit at a Visa Application Centre is a separate appointment, usually at least a day before the interview. It takes fingerprints and a photograph and involves no interview, so plan for two trips, possibly to the same city.
Can my parents skip the wait with a dropbox appointment?
Only if they are renewing a B1/B2 that expired within the last 12 months, was issued for full validity when they were 18 or older, and they have no unresolved refusal. Being over 79 no longer qualifies anyone on its own since the September 2025 changes.
I live in Dubai. Should I apply there instead?
You can if you are a UAE resident, under the rule in force since 6 September 2025, with proof of residence. The wait there may be shorter or longer than at Indian posts, so compare both in the wait-times tool before choosing where to book.
When should I buy flights if my interview is a year away?
The State Department advises applicants not to buy tickets until they have a visa, and a year is long enough for fares, plans and rules to change. For the DS-160 itself, an intended arrival date and length of stay are enough.
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