Indian applicants for US visas continue to face varying wait times for interview appointments across different cities and visa categories, as of January 14, 2026. While some major cities experience longer delays, certain locations offer comparatively quicker access for specific visa types. For instance, New Delhi currently provides the fastest interview slots for student visas (F, M, J categories), with appointments available in approximately one month. Hyderabad and Kolkata also show relatively quicker access for student visas, with next available appointments in about two months. Regarding visitor visas (B1/B2), Chennai reports a shorter average wait time of around 1.5 months. However, other cities like Hyderabad and Kolkata have average wait times of about 2.5 months for B1/B2 visas, with the next available appointments potentially stretching to four months. Mumbai and New Delhi continue to experience longer delays for visitor visas, with next available appointments sometimes extending up to seven or eight months. For employment-based visas (H, L, O, P, Q), wait times also differ by city. Mumbai shows a shorter wait of about one month for next available appointments, while Hyderabad averages around 2.5 months. Applicants are strongly encouraged to regularly monitor the official US Department of State website, as new appointment slots are frequently released, offering opportunities to reschedule for earlier dates. It is crucial for Indian applicants to note a significant policy change: effective September 2 and October 1, 2025, the US visa interview waiver policy has largely ended for most categories, requiring nearly all applicants to attend in-person interviews, with only limited exceptions. Furthermore, the option to seek faster visa appointments by applying in 'third countries' like Thailand or Singapore is now largely restricted. As of September 9, 2025, the US State Department generally mandates that applicants must book their interviews in their country of citizenship or legal residence, aiming to streamline the process domestically. This means the focus for Indians seeking quicker appointments should primarily be on strategic application within India, leveraging the city-specific variations for their visa type.