Kolkata : Long Wait For US Visas & Interviews Reduced By 70% Since Beginning Of 2023
Kolkatans face delays in US visa processing
Kolkata : The festive season is an eagerly anticipated time for many Kolkatans who plan to visit friends and family in the United States. However, this year, a significant number of these plans are in jeopardy for Kolkatans due to prolonged delays in obtaining US visas. As the pandemic continues to cast its shadow, travel agents and visa applicants are finding themselves caught in a frustrating wait that threatens to dash their hopes.
Travel agents have been voicing concerns about these delays since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. While there had been some improvement in the situation, recent times have witnessed a resurgence of delays, leaving many Kolkatans anxious and disappointed.
One businessman, hailing from south Kolkata, applied for a business visa in July. Armed with an invitation from a client in the US for a crucial meeting, he sought an early appointment for the visa interview. Despite receiving initial confirmation of an appointment within three days, technical glitches in the visa website repeatedly prevented him from securing a slot. Despite reaching out to the US consulate, a resolution remained elusive.
Among those affected, a 70-year-old woman residing in Mudiali is facing a pressing issue. With her tourist visa set to expire at the end of August, she initiated the renewal process in July. She expressed her worries, saying, “My travel agent told me that he is unable to get a visa interview appointment. I am not sure whether I will be able to visit my daughter as planned in New Jersey.”
Similarly, a 61-year-old woman from Jadavpur, seeking to renew her tourist visa expired in 2021, is apprehensively awaiting a visa interview appointment to visit her brother in Washington this October. Despite paying the visa fee in July, the lack of an appointment adds uncertainty to her plans.
Travel agents are grappling with frustrated clients and an overloaded helpline number by Kolkatans. While the introduction of a drop box system had initially brought relief, recent delays have dampened its efficacy by Kolkatans. Anil Punjabi, Chairman of the East branch of the Travel Agents Federation of India, shared, “We are facing delays and have been unable to access the website for visa appointments on many days. We are planning to take up the issue with the US consulate.”
Responding to the concerns of Kolkatans, a spokesperson for the US consulate general in Kolkata assured that substantial resources are dedicated to minimizing wait times. “India is a top priority for us. We have dedicated significant resources to lowering appointment wait time in India,” the spokesperson stated.
Kolkata & Challenges faced
“Wait times for first-time visitor visa interviews have been reduced by 70 per cent since the beginning of calendar year 2023,” the spokesperson added. While acknowledging the challenges faced by families due to continued wait times, the US consulate is actively employing additional staffing and remote processing options to expedite the process.
In the grander scheme, Mission India’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Despite the challenges, they have managed to issue 46 per cent more non-immigrant visas through June 2023 compared to the same period in the pre-pandemic financial year of 2019.