New US Visa Appointment Rules To Cut Wait Time, All Key Details Here

Starting January 1, 2025, the US Embassy in India will implement new regulations for scheduling and rescheduling non-immigrant visa appointments, including for H-1B visas. This initiative is part of an effort to streamline the process and reduce wait times.

As per the records, current wait times for B1/B2 Visas as of December 19, 2024 at various US consulates across India are significantly long, such as Hyderabad (429 days), Kolkata (436 days), Mumbai (438 days), Delhi (441 days), and Chennai (479 days).

New US Visa Appointment Rules

In an official statement, the embassy stated, "To make sure everyone has a fair chance at getting a visa interview appointment and to reduce wait times, we’re making some changes."

Rescheduling 

Under the new rules, applicants can reschedule their visa appointments once without incurring any extra fees. However, if they miss the rescheduled appointment or need to make more than one change, they will need to book a new appointment and pay the applicable fees again. 

Extension Requests 

The new regulations will also enable immigration officials to process extension requests based on prior approvals, which is expected to simplify the process. Additionally, immigration authorities will be granted the ability to perform more frequent compliance checks in the workplace. 

Interview Waiver Programme 

Another important change is that individuals with prior visa applications may be able to skip in-person interviews and instead use their earlier records under the Interview Waiver Programme, making the process faster for applicants.

Appointment Location

You can still schedule your first non-immigrant visa appointment at the location of your choice.

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H-1B Visa Update 

The announcement, shared via the US Embassy's official Instagram post, follows the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) introduction of new measures aimed at modernizing the H-1B visa process, which will help fill critical sector job vacancies more quickly. 

To enhance efficiency and curb potential misuse, the H-1B visa regulations will also be updated, with these changes set to take effect on January 17, 2025. Applicants will now be required to demonstrate that their degree is directly relevant to the job they are applying for, ensuring the program is used properly.

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