US readies plan to eliminate visa wait time in India

The US is ‘putting every ounce of its energy’ to eliminate the long visa wait time in India, including sending a cadre of consular officers to the country and opening up its other overseas embassies as far away as Germany and Thailand for Indian visa applicants, according to a senior US visa officer.

India was one of the very few countries where applications for US visas saw a major upswing after coronavirus-related travel restrictions were lifted.

There have been growing concerns in India over the long waiting period for first time visa applicants, especially for those applying under B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) categories.

The waiting period of first time B1/B2 visa applicants in India was close to three years in October last year.

“We’re putting every ounce of our energy toward eliminating these (visa) wait times in India,” deputy assistant secretary for Visa Services,…