Is Hyderabad the Fastest Route to a US Visa in 2025?

Amidst the ruckus over illegal immigrants, deportation and visa approvals, the US Department of State has updated its global visa appointment wait time estimates, with the changes effective from April 25, 2025. The updates provide both the average wait time for interviews in the previous month and the estimated time until the next available visitor visa appointment.

According to the updates, applying for US visa in Hyderabad city seems to get quick approval, when compared to the other four Visa centres at Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.

A wait time of 7.5 months, the least available, was recorded in Hyderabad and Mumbai centres while the highest of 11.5 months was recorded in Chennai. Similarly, the next available appointment for interview is also available within the least possible duration of 7.5 months at the  Hyderabad centre alone, among the five in the country.

Non-immigrant visa applicants, including those applying for B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism) or B-1/B-2 combination visas, must schedule and attend an in-person interview, unless eligible for an interview waiver. It has been observed that the interview wait times differ by location and depend on factors such as consulate staffing and workload.

New appointment slots are regularly released by the US Embassy in India and its consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. It is advised that the applicants who have already scheduled an interview check the system frequently for any availability of any earlier dates.