Why Chennai Is The Only Major Indian City Still Choked With US Visa Delays

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Despite major improvements in US visa wait times across Indian cities, Chennai remains stuck with a staggering 400-day delay, frustrating thousands of applicants.

US Visitor Visa Wait Times Drop in Key Indian Cities but Chennai Faces a Daunting Delay

While the United States has made considerable strides in reducing visitor visa wait times across major Indian cities, Chennai remains an outlier with significantly longer delays. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad have all seen noticeable improvements in processing times for B1/B2 visitor visa appointments.

For Indian travelers eyeing a trip to the US, these shorter wait times come as a welcome development after years of backlog and uncertainty.

Currently, the average wait time in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad for a US visitor visa ranges between 140 and 156 days—far lower than the two-year delays seen in previous years. However, applicants in Chennai are still enduring extensive queues.

In Chennai, securing a B1/B2 visa can take over 400 days, with current wait times hovering around 407 days—the highest among all US consular offices in India. This significant gap has prompted many applicants to book appointments in other cities where processing times are faster.

What is a B1/B2 Visa?

The B1/B2 visa allows foreign nationals to travel to the US temporarily for business (B1) or tourism and family visits (B2). This category remains one of the most sought-after among Indian travelers.

Following the global reopening of travel post-pandemic, interest in visiting the United States has soared. In fact, 2023 marked a record year, with the US Embassy issuing more than one million visas in India alone.

Growing Demand and US Response

As applications surged, the US Embassy introduced several measures to handle the influx—boosting staffing levels, increasing interview hours, and releasing more appointment slots across consulates.

These steps have yielded positive results in several metro cities, yet Chennai continues to experience an overwhelming volume of applicants.

Obtaining a B1/B2 visa requires diligence and accuracy. Minor errors or missing documents can cause setbacks, particularly for first-time travelers. Transparency about travel plans and financial stability remains crucial during the interview process.

Given the evolving nature of India–US travel ties and high demand for visitor visas, travelers are strongly encouraged to book appointments well in advance. With shorter wait times now available in cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad, applicants may consider scheduling their interviews outside of Chennai to avoid extended delays.