New Delhi : Renewing a US visa in India has become more challenging, especially for those applying for business and tourist visas (B1/B2). The US government has reverted to its pre-COVID policy, which allows travelers to renew their visas without attending an in-person interview at the embassy or consulate—provided their previous visa Is currently active or has expired in the past year.

Back in November 2022, when the wait time for a B1/B2 visa interview in India had skyrocketed to nearly three years (over 999 days), the US had temporarily extended the eligibility period for dropbox renewals—those that don’t require an interview—from 12 months to 48 months. This move helped reduce wait times significantly, bringing them down to around 440 days in Delhi and Mumbai, 436 in Chennai, 429 in Hyderabad, and 415 in Kolkata.  

However, with the US now cutting the dropbox eligibility window back to 12 months, many more applicants will be required to book in-person interviews, potentially making wait times even longer. When asked if any measures would be taken to address the situation, the US embassy stated that it had no additional updates.  

According to Anil Kalsi, Vice President of the Travel Agents Federation of India, the change has caught many travelers off guard. “People who were counting on easy renewals are now facing delays. Since the new rule was implemented suddenly, travelers had no time to prepare. Right now, even securing an interview appointment requires a long wait,” he explained.  

For those looking to renew their visas, certain applicants may still qualify for an interview waiver. According to the US government’s website, eligibility criteria include :  

– Being a citizen or legal resident of India or Bhutan.  

– Holding a previous US visa in the same category as the one being applied for.  

– Having a prior visa that is still valid or expired within the last 12 months.  

– Having received the most recent visa after the age of 14.  

While travel between India and the US is at an all-time high post-COVID, the travel industry believes it still hasn’t reached its full potential. Two major roadblocks remain: lengthy visa interview wait times and limited direct flights due to US airlines avoiding Russian airspace. Despite these challenges, a record number of Indians visited the US last year, surpassing the 1.76 million who traveled in 2023. India is now the second-largest source of international visitors to the US, following the UK.  

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