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News Good News: US Visa Appointment Wait Times Are Down By 75 Percent
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Good News: US Visa Appointment Wait Times Are Down By 75 Percent

The US Embassy and Consulates in India processed 1.4 million visas in 2023, and reduced the US visa appointment wait time by 75 percent.

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By: Yashita Vashishth Published: Jan 30, 2024 12:00 PM IST

Good News: US Visa Appointment Wait Times Are Down By 75 Percent
Image Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

In an unprecedented achievement, the US Consular team in India processed over 140,000 applications, primarily student visas, between September 2022 and October 2023. Despite the surge in visa applications, the US visa appointment wait time has decreased by an impressive 75 percent.

Factors influencing the reduction in US visa wait time

US visa wait time
Image Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock

Indians now represent one-tenth of the global US visa applications, marking a 60 percent increase from 2022. Notably, about 90,000 F1 visas were granted to Indian students during the peak months between September 2022 and October 2023, with the US consulate in Mumbai clearing 31,000 immigrant visa cases delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The acceptance rate of US student visas has soared to 95 percent, indicating a successful year for Indian students aspiring to study overseas. The US has also invested in expanding consular services in India, including a new $340 million facility in Hyderabad and potential consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

The reduction in US visa appointment wait time can be attributed to increased staffing, enhanced efficiency, and innovative technical solutions. The introduction of a new appointment booking platform in July 2023, coupled with investments in staffing and process improvements, led to a decrease in visitor visa appointment wait time from 1,000 to 250 days on average.

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Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai now rank as the top four student visa processing posts globally. Indian students constitute the largest group of international graduate students in the US, comprising over a quarter of the one million foreign students in the country, a statement issued by the US Embassy in India said.

Priority is also given to employment visas, with most petition-based visa applications processed in Chennai and Hyderabad. In 2023, over 3,80,000 employment visas were processed for Indians and their family members.

Moreover, in 2024, a pilot programme will allow eligible H1B visa holders to renew their visas in the US, aimed at assessing the technical and operational capabilities for resuming renewals. The application window for this pilot programme is between January 29 and April 1, 2024, with the possibility of early closure if slots are filled sooner.

(Feature Image Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock)

Related: Visa-Free Travel Is A Boon For Tourists And Destinations Alike

Written By

Yashita Vashishth

Yashita Vashishth

Writer by day, reader by night, Yashita has a flair for all things travel, wellness and food. She has previously worked at Condé Nast India and Times Internet. When not working, you can catch her binge-reading the latest thriller on the block, re-watching Friends, trying a new recipe or hosting her friends.

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