Kolkata is your best bet to get a US tourist visa quickly

If you’re planning a visit to the U.S. for a vacation or business trip, the Kolkata consulate is your best option for a quicker visa process, especially when compared to others with wait times of up to 477 days.

Despite introducing significant steps in the last one year to get control over skyrocketing visa wait times, the United States has still not been able to bring it back to normal. Although there has been improvement—which is reflected by the processing of 1.4 million visas for Indians in 2023, an all-time high, and a 75 per cent reduction in visitor visa appointment wait times—the issue persists.

Wait times for B1/B2 visa vary significantly across U.S. consulates in India. In Calcutta, the U.S. consulate offers the shortest visa wait time of 24 calendar days. In contrast, the wait time in Hyderabad is 407 calendar days, while in Delhi, it extends to 386 calendar days. The consulate in Bombay has a wait time of 422 calendar days, and in Chennai, applicants face the longest wait, which is 477 calendar days.

The B1 visa lets individuals travel to the United States for business purposes, while the B2 visa is designed for tourists, those visiting friends and family, and individuals seeking medical treatment or participating in social events without receiving payment. Typically, these visas are issued together as a B1/B2 visa, enabling the holder to engage in both business and leisure activities during their stay in the US.

The estimated wait time to receive a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate and is based on workload and staffing and can vary from week to week. The information provided is an estimate and does not guarantee the availability of an appointment.