Summer travel season lengthens wait times for U.S. visas

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Applicants for United States visas in India may experience wait times of more than 30 days for visa interview appointments.

What does the change mean? The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi expects the increased wait times to continue for the next few months during the summer travel season. The embassy is encouraging individuals to apply early if they plan to travel to the U.S.

• Implementation time frame: Through July.
• Visas / permits affected: All U.S. visas.
• Who is affected: Individuals applying for U.S. visas through a U.S. consulate or the U.S. Embassy in India.
• Impact on processing times: Wait times may be longer than 30 days for visa interview appointments, delaying processing times for visas that require an interview.
• Business impact: Employers and individuals should factor in the increased wait times when planning business schedules.

Background: According to the U.S. Embassy, the nonimmigrant visa workload in India is one of the largest in the world with more than 1 million visas processed a year, and the demand for visas to travel to the U.S. has increased by more than 60 percent in the last five years.

BAL Analysis: Visa applicants in India are encouraged to apply for U.S. visas as early as possible to factor in the increasing wait times during this peak period. Applicants are also reminded to avoid scams that promise faster processing times or guaranteed visas in exchange for a fee.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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