September 30, 2026
A government review found that average wait times for US B1/B2 visitor visas have risen to 201 days globally, compared with 26 days before the pandemic. India faces particularly long delays, though wait times vary significantly by location and change frequently.
The US Government Accountability Office published a report on September 28, 2026, reviewing how the State Department handles visitor visa applications. The worldwide average wait time for a B1/B2 visa interview has risen to 201 days in fiscal year 2025, compared with 26 days in 2019 - nearly eight times longer.
Wait times vary sharply between countries. As of the GAO's 2025 data, India recorded an average of 346 days, Bangladesh 297 days, and Turkey 489 days. In 2019, only two countries had average waits exceeding 90 days; by 2025, that number had grown to 39 countries.
The State Department processed more visitor visas in 2025 (11.7 million) than in 2019 (9.2 million), so higher volume alone does not explain the delays. The GAO identified staffing shortages as a major factor. The number of consular officers processing nonimmigrant visas fell from 1,342 in 2024 to 904 in 2025, due to hiring restrictions and staff departures. India, for example, had about 1.45 million applications handled by 68 officers.
Other factors include pandemic-era backlogs, consular facility capacity, security screening procedures, and outdated IT systems.
The 201-day average does not apply uniformly. Check the State Department's latest appointment availability by specific embassy or consulate before applying - wait times can range from under 15 days to several months and change frequently.
Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries (UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan and others) can apply for ESTA instead of a visa for short tourism or business visits, if eligible.
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