Hyderabad: Planning a trip to the United States for leisure or work? Be prepared to wait—possibly for over a year. Applicants across Indian metros are facing unprecedented delays in securing appointment slots for B1/B2 (business and tourist) visas, with wait times stretching from several months to more than 13 months in some cities.In Hyderabad, the earliest available appointment is 7.5 months away. Delhi and Mumbai fare worse, with average wait times of 9 and 9.5 months respectively. Chennai tops the list with a staggering delay of 13.5 months—crossing the one-year mark. “I was hoping to travel to the US for my nephew’s wedding in August but the earliest date I’m getting is next March,” said a homemaker. “It’s heartbreaking. We’ve planned the trip for months, and now everything’s up in the air.” For business travellers, the delay is proving to be more than just inconvenient—it’s becoming a financial hurdle.“I had multiple conferences lined up this year, but I have already had to cancel two,” said an entrepreneur from the city. “What’s frustrating is the complete lack of clarity. You keep checking the website, but it’s like a game of chance.” While students and emergency travelers are given limited priority slots, the general applicants looking to visit family, attend events, or explore travel opportunities are left stranded. The prolonged wait times are also affecting those with urgent personal reasons to travel. “My daughter is giving birth in October, and I was hoping to be there for her,” said 65-year-old, from Sindhi Colony. “But the next date is in February. I don’t understand why it’s taking so long.”With summer travel plans already on hold for many, there is growing frustration among applicants who say they feel stuck with no clear solution in sight. “This is usually the time students are given priority. Until appointment timelines improve, we can only wait, and keep refreshing the portals,” said Faheem Sheikh, chairman, Travel Agents Federation of India (AP and Telangana).
