US Embassy Announces New Changes for B-1/B-2 Visa Interview Waivers

Significant modifications to visa appointment procedures, specifically concerning B-1/B-2 interview waiver appointments in New Delhi, have been notified by the US Embassy in India in a recent update. The goal of this action is to expedite the nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visiting visa processing procedure.

What Are B-1/B-2 Visas?

Nonimmigrant visas designated as B-1/B-2 are meant for people who plan to visit the country temporarily for designated reasons. Whereas the B-2 visa is intended for travel or medical care, the B-1 visa is intended for business-related visits, such as conferences or meetings.

Candidates may also choose to apply for a combination of the two visas (B-1/B-2) to fulfill their demands for both business and pleasure travel.

Changes in Procedure

Before, candidates may choose from a variety of places for their B-1/B-2 interview waiver appointments. But these appointments are now only held in New Delhi by the US Embassy. This consolidation is a component of an ongoing initiative to improve the processing time for visas.

How to Submit Applications

There are still five Visa Application Centers where applicants can drop off their application forms for free. For an additional 850 rupees per application, individuals can choose to drop off their documents at any US Document Dropoff Center located in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Cochin, Jalandhar, or Pune.

Assurances from the Embassy

The Embassy promised qualified candidates that appointments for interview waivers would be easily obtained in New Delhi. However, there would only be a small number of interview waiver appointments available in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai for visitor visas as a result of this consolidation.

However, candidates do not have to worry because appointments are still available in New Delhi for those who qualify for the interview waiver procedure.

Minimal Disruption for Applicants

In response to queries regarding further travel, the Embassy made it clear that candidates won’t have to come to New Delhi unless they are ultimately determined to be unable to proceed with the interview waiver procedure.

Record Visa Processing Numbers

The US Consular Team in India processed a record 1.4 million US visas in 2023, a notable rise that highlights the spike in visa processing. Thanks to this accomplishment, the wait periods for appointments for visitor visas have decreased by 75%.

Growing Demand from Indian Applicants

The increasing number of Indian visa applications was highlighted by the Indian embassies and consulates in India. They processed an unprecedented 1.4 million US visas in 2023 alone. All visa classes saw an increase in demand, and one in ten US visa applicants globally are Indian.

Improved Processing Times

The number of applications for visitor visas (B-1/B-2) has increased and now exceeds 700,000. This is the second-highest number of applications in the US Mission’s history. With minimal wait times across all categories, appointment wait times for visitor visas have decreased dramatically from an average of 1,000 days to just 250 days nationwide because of improved procedures and more manpower.

The US Embassy hopes that these modifications will improve the effectiveness and availability of visa services for Indian applicants, making it easier for people who want to travel to the US for a variety of reasons.