US Embassy in India introduces new rules to streamline non-immigrant visa appointments
PTC Web Desk: Starting January 1, 2025, Indians aspiring to work or travel to the United States will experience significant relief as the US Embassy in India introduces new rules to streamline non-immigrant visa appointments. This announcement coincides with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) recent overhaul of the H-1B visa process, both of which aim to simplify procedures and reduce wait times.
The new regulations for non-immigrant visa appointments aim to enhance fairness and efficiency. Under the updated system, applicants can reschedule their appointments once without incurring additional fees. However, if they miss the rescheduled appointment or need a second reschedule, they will have to book a new appointment and pay the application fee again.
“To ensure fairness and reduce wait times, we’re making these changes,” the US Embassy in India stated, emphasising the importance of attending scheduled appointments.
Applicants will still have the flexibility to schedule their first visa appointment at the location of their choice. However, the embassy urged individuals to plan carefully, given the extended wait times for appointments.
The embassy's Instagram post reiterated, “Please make sure you can attend on the date you’ve selected. If you need to reschedule for any reason, you can do so once without additional fees. Beyond that, a new application fee will apply.”
Despite efforts to improve efficiency, visa appointment wait times for Indian applicants remain significant.
B1/B2 Visitor Visa Wait Times: 438 days in Mumbai, 479 days in Chennai, 441 days in Delhi, 436 days in Kolkata, and 429 days in Hyderabad.
Student Visa Wait Times: 193 days in Mumbai, 106 days in Chennai, 150 days in Delhi, 143 days in Kolkata, and 115 days in Hyderabad.
In a separate announcement on December 17, the DHS introduced modernised rules for the H-1B visa programme, effective January 17, 2025. The changes aim to streamline the approval process, provide employers with greater flexibility to retain skilled workers, and improve oversight of the programme.
This update is particularly significant for Indians, who account for the largest share of H-1B visa holders. The revamped process is also expected to benefit Indian students in the US on F-1 visas, facilitating smoother transitions to H-1B status.
US companies, heavily reliant on H-1B visas to fill job vacancies in critical fields, welcome the move. These changes will likely strengthen the pathway for skilled Indian professionals and students to contribute to industries like technology, healthcare, and engineering.
- With inputs from agencies
