NEW DELHI: The US Embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday urged travellers across India to apply early for visas due to heavy demand.
“At this time, applicants across India may wait 30 days or more for a visa interview appointment to become available and the Embassy expects this wait time to continue for at least the next few months. Mission India’s non-immigrant visa workload is one of the largest in the world, processing over a million visas a year. In the last five years, the demand for visas to travel to the United States has increased by over 60 percent,” an embassy release said.
While the US Embassy and four consulates are constantly working to improve services and meet demands, applicants should be aware that summer is a peak travel season and there would be delays in getting visa appointments, the release said. Travellers should apply early to avoid potential delays.
The release also warned applicants to beware of scams and fraud. The only way to get a US visa is through official channels. “Someone can either apply and have an interview at a US Embassy or consulate, or if they have had a visa before and meet certain criteria, they may qualify to have their visa renewed. Anyone claiming they can guarantee a visa in exchange for a fee is attempting to defraud you. Applicants should be smart and apply the right way,” the release said.
Consular sections in the US embassy are currently only able to expedite visa appointments for cases involving genuine emergencies. To request an emergency appointment, one has to contact them at www.ustraveldocs.com, schedule a regular interview appointment and then click “apply for an expedited appointment”.