Hyderabad sees US visa slots availability improve

HYDERABAD: Relief has come for applicants travelling to the United States for education, employment and tourism, as well as those returning to India for visa stamping. Visa appointment availability, which was earlier blocked until 2027, has now improved with reduced waiting periods.

According to the US Department’s global visa status data, student, employment and dependent visa slots are now available within one to three months.

Tourist visas still take up to nine months

However, applicants for tourist visas (B1/B2) continue to face delays in some cities, with waiting periods ranging from three to nine months.

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Current data shows appointment slots are available up to November. Those who secure slots are likely to complete fingerprinting and visa interviews within that period.

Earlier delays caused hardship for applicants

In recent weeks, the lack of visa stamping appointments had caused difficulties. Even those who had booked slots earlier saw them rescheduled by three to six months.

H-1B visa holders, who must renew visas after expiry, faced issues when returning to India for stamping. Many, along with H-4 dependents, struggled to secure slots to return to the US.

Families were affected, with some parents leaving children in the US due to delays. In several cases, weddings were postponed as dependent visas were unavailable. As recently as March this year, data indicated no availability for H-category visas until 2027.