US consulates in India aim to issue 800,000 visas in next 12 months
As US visa stamping and issuing of new visas remains a hot button topic for Indians post the pandemic, American mission in India is working to clear some confusion regarding how the visa situation is likely to look like in the coming months.
The US Consulate in Chennai hosted a live Q and A session on Tuesday with Don Heflin, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs for India, answering queries about visa appointments and consulate operations.
Read: US to make 20,000 drop box interview waiver appointments in India (January 7, 2022)
One of the major takeaways from the session for those hoping to book a visa appointment included the news that the US embassy and consulates have a goal to issue about 800,000 visas in the next 12 months.
With this encouraging news comes the update that US missions in India plan to operate at about two-thirds of their capacity for 2022. So, one can still expect some delays.
It was clarified that the consulates cannot as yet work full capacity due to staffing issues, budget, hiring people and other Covid induced restrictions.
It was also made clear that drop box appointments are mandatory and there are no plans for US consulates to go back to walk-in for dropbox like in previous years. The bad news comes in the form of the update that the dropbox slots are maxed out for summer.
Read: US Visa Appointments India: 2022 Updates for F1, B1/B2, H1B, L1 by Head of Consulates (April 19, 2022)
While many hoping for visa stamping dropbox appointments were looking at the window of June-August when schools in the US go on a summer break, it looks like the wait for them would continue as at the moment there are no plans to increase the capacity for summer.
If you are an H or L visa holder, you may get lucky later this year as there are plans to open slots later in September 2022.
However, there is no harm in checking every now and then as they may open some slots as capacity permits.
5 Comments
Keep seeing Visa OFC visa appointment not available.
What’s wrong embassies, are they understaffed or just overbooked?
My visa appointment was cancelled by US consulate due to covid lock down. Now can i reschedule my appointment for B2 visa.
Hi
How long will it take for a student visa. My daughter has got full assistance for her phd program. She is waiting for the other formalities from the university. Please guide us on the above. She has to join the program by 1st week of August 2022.
When start travel visa for usa
The US consulate in Chennai is highly understaffed and impossible for fresh B1/B2 applications to get slots. Moreover this who did biometrics in March 2020 could not attend the consulate interviews due to the lockdown. The visa fee receipts are extended till September 23 but they way things are going I don’t think even in 2023 this will be cleared.
The US Consulate needs to start accepting biometrics at the VAC centres like Bangalore as it is impossible to get biometric and consular interview dates within days of each other. Can you imagine the number of people who have to wait 2-3days after biometric to get a consular interview date? There has to be some serious upgrade to the US consulate approach. Cities like Bangalore generate a humongous quantum of business so what can’t they make things more streamlined.