United States visa

United States | Global visa wait times as of July 21

The State Department updated global visa wait times on July 21, 2026.

The average wait times reported do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time. U.S. embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots. Applicants who want an earlier appointment slot after initially scheduling their interview should check back frequently and move their appointment to another slot if available.

July 2026 global visa wait times chart highlights

The following chart highlights selected findings from the latest global visa wait-time data for certain high-volume consular posts.

City/Post Interview required B-1/B-2 visas average wait times Interview required B-1/B-2 visas next available appointment Interview required F, M, J visas next available appointment Interview required petition-based H, L, O, P, Q visas next available appointment
Abuja NA <0.5 months <0.5 months <0.5 months
Addis Ababa NA 3 months 2 months 2.5 months
Beijing NA 2.5 months 4.5 months 3.5 months
Bogota 11 months 9 months 2 months <0.5 months
Chennai (Madras) 7 months NA NA NA
Ciudad Juarez* NA 4 months <0.5 months <0.5 months
Guangzhou 1 month 1 month 1.5 months 2 months
Hermosillo* NA 3 months <0.5 months <0.5 months
Ho Chi Minh City NA 1 month 1 month 1 month
Hyderabad 10 months 10.5 months 4.5 months 5 months
Manila NA <0.5 months 1 month <0.5 months
Mexico City* NA 3.5 months 1 month 1 month
Mumbai (Bombay) 11 months 8.5 months 2.5 months 1.5 months
New Delhi 8 months 8.5 months 2.5 months 1.5 months
Santo Domingo 6 months 9 months <0.5 months <0.5 months
Seoul NA <0.5 months <0.5 months <0.5 months
Shanghai NA 3.5 months 4 months 3 months

*The State Department has launched a pilot program allowing eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants applying at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico to pay an additional fee for an expedited interview appointment to be scheduled within 10 business days, subject to availability. The pilot program launched on July 21, 2026, at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico and is in place through Dec. 31, 2026.

Additional Information: More details on the different visa categories referenced in the table can be found here. Wait times are calculated in months in 30-day increments and half-months in 15-day increments. Average wait times are provided for B-1/B-2 visas only in cases where the next available appointment is more than three months away.

Post-specific instructions are available on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where the applicant schedules their interview. Embassies and consulates may waive the in-person interview requirement for eligible applicants. Wait times for these appointments are not reflected in the visa wait timetables. Please check the individual U.S. embassy or consulate website to find out if a waiver of the in-person interview is available. Interview waiver eligibility was last updated on Sept. 18, 2025, and became effective Oct. 1, 2025.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

Copyright © 2026 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

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