Waiting Time for the US Visa to Reduce by the Mid-2023

 logo

Aarushi Jain
Updated on Nov 11, 2022 03:33 PM IST

Waiting times for US visas are predicted to reduce by June 2023. Priority will also be given to H-1B visa holders in the United States who want to visit India for family reunions, followed by first-time applicants.

Waiting Time for the US Visa to Reduce by the Mid-2023

The waiting period for US visas is likely to return to normal by June 2023, while some progress has already been achieved through rule modifications and the opening of 100,000 H and L work visa slots, according to a senior US embassy official on Thursday, November 10, 2022.

Following the issuance of 82,000 student visas for India this year, the aim now is to reduce wait periods for non-immigrant work visas such as the H and L categories, which include the coveted H-1B visas, B-1 business visas, B-2 tourism visas, and visas for shipping.

Before taking up the case of first-time applicants, the US will first focus aggressively on applicants in these categories who use the drop box facility, or those who have already been issued a US visa and are exempt from interviews. The official stated that the effort will be focused on lowering wait times as much as feasible and returning to normalcy by June-July 2023. Priority will also be given to H-1B visa holders in the USA who want to visit India for family reunions, followed by first-time applicants.

Also Read: US Embassy to Open 1 Lakh Slots for H and L Worker Visas; Resume Student Visa Interviews

Unlike other departments of the US State Department, the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which is in charge of issuing visas, is self-funded. Because the Covid-19 outbreak had an impact on visa operations and earnings, the bureau had to scale back. It has been working to increase staffing since visa applications, including those from India, increased dramatically.

The onboarding, training, and deployment of workers overseas will take some time because the government is recovering slowly, but staffing in India is expected to be at 100% by summer 2023, according to the official. The US is also deploying temporary labour and shipping Indian applications to remote places for processing, particularly for individuals who use the drop box option. The 100,000 additional H and L visa slots decreased the wait time, which was more than a year previously, in half. 

Though the US State Department's website for visa appointment wait dates showed a 925-day wait for first-time applicants in New Delhi for B-1 and B-2 visas, the source indicated that the actual time would be less.

According to a US embassy official, India is now Washington's top priority, and there are many applicants in all categories solely in India, admitting that specialists were unprepared for the rate at which demand for visas had increased following the easing of the pandemic. Experts had predicted an increase in demand only in 2025, according to the official.

The US side anticipates that applications for all types of visas in India would climb to around 100,000 per month - or approximately 1.2 million annually - by 2023, making India the second largest for visa operations behind China.

Also Read: US Visa Appointments Open But Applicants Face Significant Wait Time Due To High Demand

Furthermore, due to regulation modifications, more Indians are now eligible for the drop box option to obtain an interview waiver. Those who have held a US student visa that has expired within the last four years, for example, can use the drop box service while applying for a new B-1 or B-2 visa. Students with an expired US visa can also use the drop box under certain conditions.

Want Help in Applying for Your US Visa?

Source: The Hindu

You can share this post!

Admission Open 2024

Related Articles

Aug 18, 2023 04:28 PM IST

How to Apply for Masters in USA?

Aug 03, 2023 01:18 PM IST

Documents Required for TOEFL

Our Study Abroad Offerings

Related Institutes

Planning to study abroad?

Interested in Studying Overseas?

Connect with us and kickstart your learning journey for a rewarding experience!

By proceeding ahead you expressly agree to the CollegeDekhoAbroad Terms of Use & Privacy Policy.