Visa appointment wait instances have continued to skyrocket over the previous few months, with some appointment wait instances extending over 800 days – properly over 2 years. With a wait time of over 2 years simply to get an appointment, many are involved about whether or not or not they’ll be capable to receive a customer visa within the close to future to go to household and mates, or journey for work, medical, or different causes.
On September 29, 2022, the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, Don Heflin, held a Fb Stay occasion on the U.S. embassy in New Delhi to reply questions concerning the growing visa appointment wait instances in India. Key points had been mentioned, together with modifications which might be being applied to decrease the visa appointment wait time and whether or not or no more appointments will probably be opening up within the close to future.
Present Visa Appointment Wait Occasions
Key Takeaways
Listed below are the important thing takeaways from the Fb Stay occasion held by the U.S. embassy in New Delhi:
- 82,000 pupil visas had been issued over the summer season of 2022, which implies that extra Indian college students are headed to the U.S. than another nation for the primary time ever.
- On account of COVID-19, solely 50% of the standard quantity of employees had been actively working at U.S. Visa Consulates in India – that is now as much as about 75% and is rising steadily.
- U.S. embassies are aiming to be as much as 100% staffing right now subsequent 12 months. When that is reached, they are going to be capable to deal with much more instances than earlier than the pandemic.
- The issue with visa appointment wait instances is not only in India – it’s presently a worldwide situation drastically as a result of COVID-19 international pandemic.
The U.S. embassy in New Delhi acknowledges the extraordinarily lengthy wait time for a visa appointment, and says that it’s engaged on modifications that may finally assist to deliver wait instances down considerably.
H & L Visas
The principle concern for many with H & L visas is the shortcoming to come back dwelling and see members of the family. H & L dropbox visa appointments presently have a little bit of a shorter wait than B1/B2 visas for first timers. Don Heflin studies that they are going to open up 100,000 new visa appointments for 2023 for H & L visas inside the subsequent few weeks. The U.S. embassy in New Delhi advises those that are ready for an appointment to test their website each few hours for brand spanking new appointments.
The embassies are engaged on getting the wait time down for L1 visas, however it’s suggested to take the closest appointment out there and to maintain checking for brand spanking new appointments to see if an earlier opens up – you’ll be able to all the time transfer up your appointment sooner if one is on the market. In a couple of weeks, many extra L1 visa appointments will probably be out there.
B1/B2 Visas
The present longest wait time for appointments proper now’s for first time B1/B2 candidates. The U.S. embassies in India are working diligently to cut back the wait instances for these classes however opening up new appointments and including extra personnel to their employees.
For charges, an announcement will probably be made quickly, however anybody who paid a price for his or her appointment throughout covid simply must ebook an appointment inside the subsequent 12 months to maintain their cost legitimate. The appointment doesn’t need to be inside the subsequent 12 months, however the act of reserving an appointment must be.
Pupil Visas
Slows will open up for pupil visa appointments for Spring candidates within the first half of October and second half of November. F1/F2 visas appointments will open up on the similar time, whereas J visas will open up individually from F visas and can solely have a small quantity out there every week.
Expedited Appointments
Don Heflin reported throughout their Fb Stay occasion that there have been a ton extra requests for expedited appointments coming by means of, and to be sure you qualify earlier than requesting for expedition. For extra data on the {qualifications} required for an expedited appointment and methods to apply, see here.
Because of the intensive quantity of expedited requests that the U.S. embassies in India are receiving, it is vitally tough for them to be accredited. Even attending household weddings or graduations are being denied at this cut-off date. The one requests which might be sometimes getting accredited are people who require journey to see a dying or hospitalized member of the family, or to attend the funeral of a liked one. B1/B2 dropbox visas usually tend to have their expedited request accredited as a consequence of already having a visa prior.
Safe a Visa Appointment in India for 2023
The largest takeaway from the Fb Stay occasion is that a whole lot of hundreds of appointments for 2023 will probably be opening up inside the subsequent few weeks. The consulate recommends checking their website every single day to test for brand spanking new appointments to snag them as quickly as they change into out there.
NOTE:
It’s endorsed to ebook the earliest appointment you could find within the meantime, after which constantly search for a sooner appointment. Appointments can all the time be moved up if you’ll be able to get a sooner one, and that manner you might be lined for an appointment it doesn’t matter what.
Verify again quickly for an replace on visa wait instances after extra appointments open up all through October and November.