Indian US Visa Applicants Face Average 346-Day Interview Wait Amid Staffing Shortages
Indian applicants for US non-immigrant visas faced an average wait of 346 days for interview appointments in fiscal year 2025, the longest among major countries examined by the US Government Accountability Office. This delay is attributed to high demand, with 1.45 million applications processed by only 68 consular officers in India, resulting in a workload of over 21,000 applications per officer. Wait times vary by city, with Hyderabad experiencing up to 12 months. Staffing shortages amid rising visa demand have contributed to these extended delays.
First-hand measurement across 5 sources
We measured how 5 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is neutral (48/100). Lens Score 48/100.
Outlets measured: news18, thefinancialexpress, firstpost, economictimes, news18. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (48–50/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
news18 broke this story on 29 Sept, 03:21 am. Other outlets followed.