NEW DELHI: Indian applicants renewing their American B1/B2 (business/tourism) visas now face longer wait times as US govt has reverted to its pre-Covid policy on renewals. Travellers can now renew their visas without an in-person interview only if their previous visa is still valid or has expired within the past 12 months.
The US had temporarily extended this eligibility to 48 months in Nov 2022 when B1/B2 visa interview wait times in India had exceeded 999 days – nearly three years. Although wait times have since reduced, they remain lengthy, with current delays exceeding 440 days in New Delhi and Mumbai, 436 in Chennai, 429 in Hyderabad, and 415 in Kolkata.
With more applicants now requiring in-person interviews, the queue is expected to grow further. The US embassy has not announced any “additional” meaure to address the backlog.
Despite record numbers of Indian travellers to US – more than 1.7 million in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels – the travel industry said growth is being held back by two key factors: long visa wait times and limited direct flight options due to US airlines avoiding Russian airspace. India is now the second-largest source of international visitors to the US, after the UK.