US nonimmigrant visas to be considerably delayed in India

The US Department of State has announced that nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview appointments would be delayed considerably in summer 2016. Waiting time for visa applicants who fall under H and L categories ranges anywhere between 75 and 100 days. Waiting time for NIV interview appointments at Chennai consulate is 75 days and 93 days at Hyderabad consulate. As of June last week, waiting time is 96 days in Kolkata, 88 days in Mumbai and 100 days at the US Embassy in New Delhi. The waiting times are likely to increase throughout this season as a lot of students will start applying to universities. The National Review quotes the Department of State as saying that it is planning to increase consular positions to reduce the waiting time. Plans are also afoot to open one more US consulate in the country quite soon. Requests for hastening the visa applications processing time will be accepted on humanitarian grounds, which include dire emergencies only. If you are looking to apply for a visa to the US, contact one of Y-Axis’s 19 offices, which are located in major cities across the country.