Indian travelers hoping to visit the United States on tourist visas are facing dramatically different wait times depending on where they apply, according to newly surfaced data comparing US embassy and consulate appointments across five major cities.
The most striking shift comes from Chennai, where the average wait time dropped from 8.5 months in August to just 2.5 months in September. The next available appointment also improved, moving from 5 months to 3 months — a substantial relief for applicants in southern India.
Hyderabad remains relatively stable, with both average and next available wait times hovering around 3 to 3.5 months. Kolkata, meanwhile, shows only slight improvement, with average wait times decreasing from 6 months to 5.5 months, and appointment availability remaining unchanged.
Mumbai saw a surprising increase in delays. The average wait time rose from 3 months in August to 4.5 months in September, though the next available appointment improved slightly from 5.5 to 5 months.
According to a tweet by Indian Tech and Infra, the wait could be even more.
US Tourist Visa (B1/B2) Wait Times – September 2025
Chennai: Average wait dropped from 8.5 months in August to 2.5 months in September.
New Delhi: Average wait is 3.5 months, but the next available appointment is a staggering 12 months away.
Hyderabad: Stable at 3 months average wait, with next available at 3.5 months.
Mumbai: Average wait increased to 4.5 months, next available at 5 months.
Kolkata: Average and next available both at 5.5 to 6 months.
🚨 US tourist visa wait times at US embassies in India. pic.twitter.com/wD2ph8KkK6
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) October 5, 2025
New Delhi presents the most puzzling trend. While the average wait time dropped from 4.5 to 3.5 months, the next available appointment jumped dramatically from 5.5 months to a staggering 12 months — suggesting a backlog or scheduling bottleneck.
The data highlights how visa processing remains uneven across India, with some cities showing rapid improvements while others face growing delays. For travelers planning US visits, choosing the right consulate could mean the difference between flying this winter or waiting until next year.
H-1B Visa Developments
A $100,000 one-time fee was introduced for new H-1B petitions in September 2025 under President Trump’s immigration reform bill.
A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee now applies to all non-immigrant visa categories, including B1/B2, F/M, J, and H-1B, which pushes total costs for Indian visitor visas to approximately $442 (₹40,000).
The US Congressional Budget Office estimates this new fee could generate $2.7 billion annually, but may reduce tourism by 5.4%, costing the economy $29 billion in lost spending.