Fresh statistics from the US State Department show that Indian applicants can shave up to half a year off their wait for a B-1/B-2 interview simply by choosing the right consulate. Kolkata currently offers the shortest queue at about four months, while Mumbai and Hyderabad both hover around 9.5 months; New Delhi and Chennai sit in the middle at 7.5 and 5.5 months respectively. The data, published 30 June and analysed by The Economic Times, distinguish between the ‘average wait time’ experienced last month and the ‘next available appointment’ a new applicant would get today. In Mumbai the next slot stretches to 10 months, whereas Kolkata’s next slot mirrors its four-month average. For corporates these disparities are more than academic. Sales teams trying to meet US clients or executives chasing investment roadshows could lose an entire fiscal cycle if they queue in the wrong city. Travel managers are therefore advising staff to check all five Indian posts when scheduling appointments and, where possible, to route applications through Kolkata—even if that means a side trip—to secure earlier dates.
![Where You Apply Matters: US Visitor-Visa Wait Times Now Vary by Six Months Across Indian Cities]()
If you need a quick snapshot of current queues and a one-stop place to organise paperwork, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets travellers compare consulate wait times, assemble the right supporting documents and receive alerts when earlier slots open up, making it easier to decide whether a switch to Kolkata or another post will save precious months.
Student (F/M/J) and petition-based work visas (H/L/O) remain far quicker, with most posts offering interviews within two months. But for the bread-and-butter visitor category, planners should avoid committing to conference dates or customer kick-offs until a confirmed slot is in hand. The State Department stresses that additional appointments are released periodically, and applicants can reschedule for earlier dates. Nevertheless, the divergent queues highlight ongoing staffing and demand imbalances that are likely to persist through the summer travel peak.
If you need a quick snapshot of current queues and a one-stop place to organise paperwork, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets travellers compare consulate wait times, assemble the right supporting documents and receive alerts when earlier slots open up, making it easier to decide whether a switch to Kolkata or another post will save precious months.
Student (F/M/J) and petition-based work visas (H/L/O) remain far quicker, with most posts offering interviews within two months. But for the bread-and-butter visitor category, planners should avoid committing to conference dates or customer kick-offs until a confirmed slot is in hand. The State Department stresses that additional appointments are released periodically, and applicants can reschedule for earlier dates. Nevertheless, the divergent queues highlight ongoing staffing and demand imbalances that are likely to persist through the summer travel peak.
