Indian applicants for United States visitor visas are facing agonizingly long waits, with the predicted period to secure an interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi stretching to a staggering 10 months. This revelation came from the Indian government in Parliament, which also highlighted a new, stringent US policy framing every visa decision as a matter of national security.
Government Data Reveals Extensive Delays Across Consulates
In a detailed written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh presented a sobering picture of the visa backlog. The data, current as of November 20, shows the predicted waiting period for a B1/B2 (business or tourist) visa interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi is 10 months.
The situation varies across other US consulates in India but remains severe. For the same B1/B2 category, the wait is 9.5 months in Mumbai, 5 months in Kolkata and Hyderabad, and 3 months in Chennai.
Student Visas Faster, But New Screening Adds Pressure
In contrast to visitor visas, the processing for student (F, M) and exchange visitor (J) visas is significantly quicker, with waits ranging from 0.5 months at the New Delhi embassy to 2-3 months at consulates. However, the Minister pointed to a critical policy shift from Washington that is affecting all categories.
Singh stated that the US Administration has declared "every visa adjudication is a national security decision." This principle means the US will intensively vet applicants to ensure they do not intend to harm American interests and will strictly assess eligibility.
"As part of the follow up measures, the US Administration has expanded screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible," Singh explained. He noted this enhanced scrutiny, announced via notifications in June and December, specifically applies to student (F, M, J) and H-1B work visa applicants and their dependents (H-4), further straining appointment schedules.
Sovereign Policy and Ongoing Government Engagement
The Minister clarified that visa issuance policies fall under the sovereign right of any nation. The US has also reiterated that a US visa is a privilege, not a right.
Despite the challenges, the Indian government assured Parliament it "remains engaged" with US authorities. The goal is to promote secure mobility frameworks that streamline legal travel for Indian students, professionals, tourists, and business visitors.
The disclosed data also outlined waits for other visa categories. For specialized work visas (H, L, O, P, Q), waits at consulates range from 1 month in Mumbai and Chennai to 2 months in Hyderabad, with data unavailable for the Embassy and Kolkata consulate.
