The United States Embassy in India has streamlined the process for B1/B2 interview waivers in New Delhi. Nevertheless, candidates have the option to submit their application forms at no charge at any of the five Visa Application Centers.
On the other hand, for a fee of 850 rupees per application, they can conveniently drop off their documents at any of the US Document Drop-off Centers situated in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Cochin, Jalandhar, or Pune, VisaGuide.World reports.
Through a post on X, former Twitter, the US Embassy in India said that nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas cater to individuals seeking temporary entry into the United States for various purposes such as tourism (B-2 visa category), business (B-1 visa category), or a combination of both (B-1/B-2 visa category).
Planning to book a visitor visa appointment using our convenient interview waiver process? You might notice something new. As part of our continuing effort to streamline visa processing, we’ve consolidated B1/B2 interview waiver appointments in New Delhi going forward.
Visitor Visa Appointments Limited in Major Indian Cities
The Embassy has also pointed out that due to this consolidation, there will be a reduced number of interview waiver appointments for visitor visas in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
According to the same authority, there’s no need to worry, as appointments remain easily accessible in New Delhi for all eligible applicants seeking a visitor visa through the interview waiver process. Travel to New Delhi won’t be necessary unless you are subsequently deemed ineligible to utilize the interview waiver process.
During the “Super Saturday” event on March 9, 2024, the US consular missions in New Delhi and Mumbai collectively processed over 2,500 visa applications.
Simultaneously, the US Embassy in New Delhi conducted interviews for more than 1,000 visitor visa applicants, while the US Consulate in Mumbai managed over 1,500 visa applicants on the same day.
1.4 Million US Visas Processed, Wait Times Reduced by 75% in India
In 2023, the US Consular Team in India achieved a remarkable milestone by processing a total of 1.4 million US visas, marking a historical high and significantly slashing visitor visa appointment wait times by 75 percent.
The US Embassy and Consulates in India proudly announced that Indians now account for one-tenth of all US visa applicants globally. This surge in demand resulted in a remarkable 60 percent increase in visa applications compared to the previous year. The official statement highlighted, “Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world.”
Visitor visas (B1/B2) experienced a notable resurgence, constituting the second-highest number of applications in the US Mission’s history, totaling over 700,000.
Thanks to process enhancements and increased staffing investments, the wait time for visitor visa appointments has been significantly reduced nationwide. What once averaged 1,000 days has now been streamlined to a mere 250 days, with minimal wait times across all visa categories.