US Global Visa Wait Times September 2026: India Posts Hit 12 Months as Mexico City and Bogota Improve
Updated: 3 minutes ago
WASHINGTON, September 19, 2026 — The State Department released updated global visa wait times on September 17, 2026, showing continued pressure at Indian consular posts while several major posts in Latin America and Asia saw improvements.
Hyderabad now leads with a 12-month wait for B-1/B-2 visa appointments, with Mumbai at 11.5 months and New Delhi at 10 months. However, Bogota improved notably from 9 months to 7 months, and Mexico City dropped from 4 months to 5 months for next available appointments.
September 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 |
Hyderabad | 11.5 months | 12 months | 1.5 months | 5.5 months |
Mumbai | 11 months | 11.5 months | 2.5 months | 1.5 months |
New Delhi | 7.5 months | 10 months | 2 months | 3 months |
Chennai | 7 months | 7.5 months | < 0.5 months | 1.5 months |
Bogota | 8.5 months | 7 months | < 0.5 months | < 0.5 months |
Mexico City | 6.5 months | 5 months | < 0.5 months | 1 month |
Ciudad Juarez | 5.5 months | 4.5 months | 1 month | 1 month |
Santo Domingo | 5.5 months | 9 months | < 0.5 months | < 0.5 months |
Beijing | NA | 4.5 months | 5.5 months | 6 months |
Shanghai | NA | 3.5 months | 1 month | 3.5 months |
Guangzhou | 1.5 months | 2 months | 2.5 months | 2.5 months |
Addis Ababa | 3.5 months | 3 months | 2 months | 2.5 months |
Hermosillo | NA | 1.5 months | < 0.5 months | < 0.5 months |
Seoul | NA | < 0.5 months | < 0.5 months | < 0.5 months |
Ho Chi Minh City | NA | < 0.5 months | < 0.5 months | < 0.5 months |
Manila | NA | < 0.5 months | 1 month | < 0.5 months |
Abuja | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Note: "NA" signifies that data is unavailable, which might be due to temporary pauses or suspensions at that location. Wait times are measured in 30-day increments for full months and 15-day increments for half-months. Average wait times are reported for B-1/B-2 visas only when the next available appointment is over three months away.
Regional Breakdown
India: Persistent Pressure
City | B-1/B-2 Wait | Change from August |
Hyderabad | 12 months | ↑ from 9.5 months |
Mumbai | 11.5 months | ↓ from 14 months |
New Delhi | 10 months | ↑ from 9 months |
Chennai | 7.5 months | ↑ from NA |
Hyderabad's wait time increased significantly, from 9.5 months in August to 12 months in September. Mumbai improved slightly from 14 months to 11.5 months, while New Delhi lengthened from 9 months to 10 months.
Latin America: Mixed Picture
City | B-1/B-2 Wait | Change from August |
Bogota | 7 months | ↓ from 9 months |
Mexico City | 5 months | ↑ from 4 months |
Ciudad Juarez | 4.5 months | Unchanged |
Santo Domingo | 9 months | Unchanged |
Bogota saw the most notable improvement in the region, dropping from 9 months to 7 months for next available appointments.
Asia: Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City Remain Fast
City | B-1/B-2 Next Available |
Seoul | < 0.5 months |
Ho Chi Minh City | < 0.5 months |
Manila | < 0.5 months |
Guangzhou | 2 months |
Shanghai | 3.5 months |
Beijing | 4.5 months |
Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila continue to offer appointments within two weeks.
Expedited Appointment Pilot Program
On July 21, 2026, the State Department launched the expedited appointment pilot program for nonimmigrant visas, allowing eligible B-1/B-2 applicants to pay an additional fee for a quicker interview process.
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 |
Instructions specific to each post can be found on the website of each embassy or consulate.
Interview Waiver Option
Embassies and consulates might allow eligible applicants to skip the in-person interview. The wait times for these appointments are not included in the visa wait time tables.
Applicants should visit the specific U.S. embassy or consulate website to see if an interview waiver is available. Eligibility for the interview waiver was last updated on September 18, 2025, and took effect on October 1, 2025.
Tips for Applicants
Check back frequently — embassies often release more appointment slots
Move your appointment earlier if new slots open up after your initial booking
Check interview waiver eligibility — waivers might allow you to skip the wait entirely
Consider the expedited program if you are applying in Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, or Honduras
Plan well in advance — for locations with waits over 6 months, start the process early
Quick Reference Summary
Region | Longest Wait | Shortest Wait |
India | Hyderabad (12 months) | Chennai (7.5 months) |
Latin America | Santo Domingo (9 months) | Hermosillo (1.5 months) |
Asia | Beijing (4.5 months) | Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila (< 0.5 months) |
Africa | Addis Ababa (3 months) | Addis Ababa (3 months) |
Read Also
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