US Global Visa Wait Times August 2026: India Faces 14-Month Delays as Expedited Program Expands

WASHINGTON, August 27, 2026 — The U.S. State Department has released global visa wait times as of August 17, 2026, revealing extreme delays at key consular posts in India, Mexico, and Colombia, while expedited appointment programs have expanded to five additional countries.

Mumbai leads with a staggering 14-month wait for B-1/B-2 visa interviews, followed by Bogota at 11 months and Hyderabad at 9.5 months, according to the latest State Department data. Meanwhile, the expedited appointment pilot program has been expanded to include Mission Canada and embassies in Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras through December 1, 2026.

Published: August 27, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team

US visa wait times August 2026: Mumbai 14 months, Bogota 11 months

August 2026 Global Visa Wait Times: Key Highlights

City/Post	B-1/B-2 Avg Wait	B-1/B-2 Next Available	F/M/J Next Available	H/L/O/P/Q Next Available
Mumbai	14 months	14 months	2 months	1.5 months
Bogota	11 months	9 months	1.5 months	< 0.5 months
Hyderabad	9.5 months	9.5 months	1.5 months	4.5 months
New Delhi	7.5 months	9 months	2.5 months	2.5 months
Chennai	7 months	NA	NA	NA
Mexico City	6.5 months	4 months	1 month	1 month
Santo Domingo	6 months	9 months	< 0.5 months	< 0.5 months
Ciudad Juarez	5 months	4.5 months	< 0.5 months	< 0.5 months
Guangzhou	1.5 months	1.5 months	2.5 months	2.5 months

Note: "NA" indicates data is not available, possibly due to temporary pauses or suspensions at that post. Wait times are calculated in 30-day increments for months and 15-day increments for half-months.

Regional Breakdown

India: Longest Delays Worldwide

City	B-1/B-2 Wait	Key Insight
Mumbai	14 months	Longest wait globally
Hyderabad	9.5 months	Second-longest in India
New Delhi	7.5 months	Third-longest in India
Chennai	7 months	Significant backlog

Key Takeaway: India's four consular posts all face waits of 7 months or longer for B-1/B-2 visa interviews, reflecting unprecedented demand.

Latin America: Extended Delays

City	B-1/B-2 Wait	Key Insight
Bogota	11 months	Second-longest globally
Mexico City	6.5 months	Improved from July
Santo Domingo	6 months	Steady demand
Ciudad Juarez	5 months	Shorter than other Mexican posts

Asia: Mixed Picture

City	B-1/B-2 Wait	Key Insight
Guangzhou	1.5 months	Shortest among major Asian posts
Shanghai	NA	No data available
Beijing	NA	No data available
Seoul	NA	< 0.5 months

Africa

City	B-1/B-2 Wait	Key Insight
Addis Ababa	NA	3 months for B-1/B-2 next available

Expedited Appointment Pilot Program Expands

The State Department launched the nonimmigrant visa expedited appointment pilot program on July 21, 2026, allowing eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants to pay an additional fee for an expedited interview appointment.

Phase	Effective Date	Locations
Phase 1	July 21, 2026	U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico
Phase 2	August 18, 2026	Mission Canada (embassy and all consulates), Embassy Bogota, Embassy Guatemala City, Embassy San Jose, Embassy Tegucigalpa
End Date	December 1, 2026	All locations

Post-specific instructions are available on the website of each U.S. embassy or consulate where the applicant schedules their interview.

• September 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin: Family Green Cards Make Big Leaps as Employment-Based Visas Hit Wall

• U.S. State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide for Public Charge Training

• DHS Suggests Significant H-1B Revisions Focusing on Cap Exemptions, Third-Party Placements, and Employer Compliance

Tips for Applicants

1. Check back frequently — Embassies regularly release additional appointment slots

2. Move appointments earlier if slots become available after initial scheduling

3. Check interview waiver eligibility — Waivers are available for eligible applicants (last updated Sept 18, 2025, effective Oct 1, 2025)

4. Plan well in advance — For countries with 6+ month waits, start the process early

5. Check individual embassy websites for post-specific instructions and waiver availability

For the latest immigration updates, visa policy changes, and 2026 developments worldwide, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/category/usa

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