US Embassy in India Launches Visa Processing Initiative, Reducing Wait Times for First-Time Applicants

The United States (US) embassy in India has introduced a new initiative aimed at expediting the visa application process, offering good news to first-time US visa applicants. As part of this initiative, special visa interviews, known as "Saturday interviews," have been introduced for those necessitating in-person interviews, bolstered by additional staff to streamline the visa process. This development comes in response to the prolonged visa processing delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notably, applicants holding prior US visas are no longer mandated to undergo in-person interviews, as the new initiative will facilitate remote processing of their applications. To further accommodate visa applicants from Mumbai, the consulate in Mumbai has extended its weekday working hours, thereby increasing the availability of visa appointments.

The initiative's benefits extend to a range of visa categories, including student visas, H and L category visas, H-1B visas, B-1 business visas, B-2 tourist visas, and visas for crews of shipping companies and airlines.

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