US visa interview waits reach 12.5 months in Mumbai in October update

The U.S. State Department refreshed its global visa interview wait times on 21 October 2026, giving travellers a new snapshot of how long they may wait for a nonimmigrant visa appointment at U.S. embassies and consulates. The figures vary widely by post, from under half a month at several locations to more than a year in Mumbai.

Key facts

• Wait-time data updated 21 October 2026.
• Longest waits listed are in India: Mumbai (Bombay) shows a B-1/B-2 average of 12.5 months and a next available appointment of 12 months.
• Several posts report interview appointments in under half a month across all listed visa categories.
• Wait times are counted in months of 30 days and half-months of 15 days.
• A paid expedited B-1/B-2 interview pilot at selected posts runs through 1 December 2026.

What do the latest figures show?

The data covers selected high-volume consular posts. For each post, the figures give the B-1/B-2 average wait time and next available appointment, the next available appointment for F, M and J visas, and the next available appointment for petition-based H, L, O, P and Q visas.

• Mumbai (Bombay): B-1/B-2 average 12.5 months, next available 12 months; F, M, J 4 months; petition-based 2 months.
• New Delhi: B-1/B-2 average 7 months, next available 11 months; F, M, J 3 months; petition-based 3.5 months.
• Hyderabad: B-1/B-2 average and next available 10.5 months; F, M, J 1 month; petition-based 6.5 months.
• Chennai (Madras): B-1/B-2 average and next available 7.5 months; F, M, J 3.5 months; petition-based 2.5 months.
• Mexico City: B-1/B-2 average 6.5 months, next available 4.5 months; F, M, J and petition-based under half a month.
• Bogota: B-1/B-2 average 5.5 months, next available 6.5 months; F, M, J and petition-based under half a month.
• Ciudad Juarez: B-1/B-2 average 5.5 months, next available under half a month; F, M, J and petition-based under half a month.
• Santo Domingo: B-1/B-2 average 4 months, next available 1.5 months; F, M, J and petition-based under half a month.
• Shanghai: B-1/B-2 next available 3.5 months; F, M, J 3.5 months; petition-based 3.5 months.
• Addis Ababa: B-1/B-2 next available 3 months; F, M, J 3 months; petition-based 2.5 months.
• Guangzhou: B-1/B-2 next available 2.5 months; F, M, J 2 months; petition-based 3 months.
• Beijing: B-1/B-2 next available 2 months; F, M, J 4.5 months; petition-based 5.5 months.
• Hermosillo: B-1/B-2 next available 1.5 months; F, M, J under half a month; petition-based 1 month.
• Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Seoul: B-1/B-2, F/M/J and petition-based appointments all under half a month.
• Abuja: no data available for any category.

How should travellers read these numbers?

The State Department notes that the average wait times do not guarantee an applicant will receive an appointment within a given period. U.S. embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots, so applicants who want an earlier interview after booking should check back often and move their appointment if a sooner slot appears.

"NA" means data is not available for that category or location, possibly because of temporary pauses or suspensions at that post. Average wait times are published for B-1/B-2 visas only where the next available appointment is more than three months away.

Can applicants pay for a faster interview?

The State Department launched a nonimmigrant visa expedited appointment pilot program on 21 July 2026, letting eligible B-1/B-2 applicants at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico pay an additional fee for an expedited interview appointment. On 18 August the pilot was extended to five more posts: Mission Canada (the embassy and all consulates), Embassy Bogota, Embassy Guatemala City, Embassy San Jose and Embassy Tegucigalpa. The pilot is in place through 1 December 2026.

Are interview waivers reflected in these waits?

No. Embassies and consulates may waive the in-person interview requirement for eligible applicants, and those appointment waits are not shown in the wait-time tables. Interview waiver eligibility was last updated on 18 September 2025 and took effect on 1 October 2025.

What this means for travellers

Applicants at high-volume posts such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai should plan for long B-1/B-2 waits, while several posts in Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Korea report appointments in under half a month. Because slots are released regularly, booked applicants can keep checking for earlier openings and reschedule if one becomes available.

Post-specific instructions are published on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where the interview is scheduled. The paid expedited appointment pilot is due to end on 1 December 2026; no decision on extending it has been announced.