Even with the US reinstating visa services fully, demand for tourist and business (B1/B2) visas still far outweighs available appointment time, leading to significant backlogs for US consulates in India.
Wait Periods Cross a Year in Major Cities
Wait times have reached critical points, ranging from 7.5 to 13.5 months for Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, according to a report by Aviation News. The longest delay is in Chennai, at 13.5 months, which means many people are missing important events.
These extended waits are interrupting journey plans for family events, weddings, business meetings, and even emergencies. Priority appointments are still in short supply, providing little respite even in emergencies.
No Relief for Wedding-Goers or Business Travellers
The report quoted a homemaker attempting to fly to New York to attend a wedding and said the earliest available time slot is only in March next year, long after the wedding.
The same is the case in Delhi and Mumbai, where waiting times have crossed nine months, with prompt access to B1/B2 visa appointments becoming ever more difficult for applicants across the country.
Business travellers are the worst affected. With no definable or systematic approach to appointments, applicants have the hare-brained idea of repeatedly checking the portal without success, rendering travel planning very challenging.
Priority Slots Mostly Reserved for Students in US
General applicants typically wait for a whole year, while authorities reserve a few priority slots mainly for emergency cases and F1 student visa categories.
Faheem Sheikh, Chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India (AP and Telangana), told Aviation News that authorities are allocating most summer priority appointments to F1 student visa applicants preparing for the new academic year in the US.
The US on Monday imposed visa sanctions on owners, executives, and top officials of Indian travel agencies who are allegedly complicit in promoting illegal immigration to the United States.
US Visa Sanctions Part of Crackdown on Smuggling Networks
The State Department said that Mission India’s Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service operate every day throughout the embassy and consulates to identify and target individuals engaged in illegal immigration, human smuggling, and trafficking.
It stated that the US is placing these visa restrictions to break up networks facilitating illegal immigration and will continue taking such actions to dismantle these operations.
Policy Extends Beyond India and Includes Visa Waiver Program
The Department underscored that US immigration policy seeks both to warn foreign nationals of the risks of illegal immigration and to hold liable those who act outside of law, including those who organize illegal entry.
This visa limit policy is international and even extends to those covered by the Visa Waiver Program. On being asked for information regarding the affected travel agencies or individuals, an American embassy official in New Delhi refused to comment on specifics.
