Students will begin applying for study programs, and universities will begin classes again shortly after this Christmas break.
Published: December 7, 2025 7:03 AM IST
Amid increasing demand for international travel, especially for education and business, Indian applicants have long faced extended waiting periods for U.S. visas. In a piece of good news, the United States has now taken steps to ease this pressure. The Trump-led United States has reduced the visa waiting period.
The time to obtain a visa for several categories at the United States Embassy in New Delhi has also been decreased. The visa wait reduction comes just as the demand for student visas and business travel has reached an all-time high, benefiting many students who are preparing for the academic session ahead.
The Global Visa Wait Times website provided by the U.S. Department of State has announced several significant changes to the visa appointment dates for several major cities throughout India, including New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. A substantial change has occurred in New Delhi. The wait time for an F, M, and J visa was two months; the current wait period is only 15 days.
The average wait time for F-1 (student), M-1 (vocational student), and J-1 (exchange visitor) visas has dramatically decreased in New Delhi. This will be very helpful for students who are preparing to start academic sessions shortly, especially those who have strict reporting dates.
The wait time to get a B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) visa in Delhi has gone down from 6.5 months to 3.5 months, as reported by The Times of India. This means that there are now more appointments available for people applying for Business and Tourist visas at the US Embassy/Consulate in India than before. Please remember that this does not represent how long it takes to process B-1/B-2 visas and get an actual visa issued; it simply represents how long it takes to get an appointment.
As India is currently one of the largest sources of US visa applicants worldwide, the decrease in visa wait time is an important change to note. Students will begin applying for study programs, and universities will begin classes again shortly after this Christmas break. A 15-day visa wait time makes it possible for students and others to plan and travel quickly at the last minute.
Although there are cities where the processing of tourist visas (especially B1/B2) is still taking an extended period of time, the delays in processing vary from location to location. As of now, the earliest appointment in Mumbai is 9.5 months out, while Hyderabad currently has a wait time of 5 months before anyone can be scheduled for an appointment. The wait times for student visas remain steady in Kolkata, indicating that the priority is being afforded to the other two categories over tourist visas.
| City | B1/B2 Average Wait | B1/B2 Next Available | F/M/J Next Available | Petition-Based (H,L,O,P,Q) Next Available | Crew & Transit (C,D,C1/D) Next Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 3.5 months | 10 months | 0.5 months | NA | <0.5 months |
| Mumbai (Bombay) | 9.5 months | 9.5 months | 3 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Chennai (Madras) | NA | 3 months | 2 months | 1 month | <0.5 months |
| Hyderabad | 4 months | 5 months | 2.5 months | 2 months | <0.5 months |
| Kolkata | 4.5 months | 5 months | 2.5 months | NA | NA |
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: india.com
