If you are an Indian traveller trying to fly to the United States in 2026, you’ve already heard the bad news: USA visa appointment slots in India are booked out for months. With B1/B2 visitor visa wait times stretching from 4 to 10 months across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, getting a slot has become harder than getting the visa itself. This 2026 guide walks you through every working method to book a US visa appointment slot from India — from creating your CGI Federal account to checking earlier-date openings, paying the MRV fee, navigating the new Visa Integrity Fee and finally landing your interview.
Whether you are applying for a tourist visa (B1/B2), student visa (F1), work visa (H1B/L1) or dependent visa, the slot booking process happens through one official portal: ustraveldocs.com (managed by CGI Federal on behalf of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India). This guide is updated for the new 2026 system, including the policy that allows only one free reschedule.
USA Visa Slot Booking — Quick Overview for Indians (2026)
| Step | Where | Time / Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fill DS-160 form | ceac.state.gov | Free, 30–60 mins |
| 2. Create CGI / ustraveldocs profile | ustraveldocs.com | Free, 10 mins |
| 3. Pay MRV visa fee | NEFT / UPI / cards | $185 (~₹15,540) |
| 4. Pay Visa Integrity Fee (new 2026) | Same portal | $250 (~₹21,000) |
| 5. Book biometrics (VAC) | 11 cities in India | Free |
| 6. Book interview (Consulate) | Mumbai / Delhi / Chennai / Hyderabad / Kolkata | Wait 4–10 months |
Where to Book Your USA Visa Slot (Official Portals Only)
There is exactly one official portal for booking US visa appointments from India, and a small number of supporting websites. Anything else is unofficial.
- ustraveldocs.com (managed by CGI Federal) — for scheduling appointments, paying fees, and selecting visa categories
- ceac.state.gov — to fill the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application form
- in.usembassy.gov — official U.S. Embassy and Consulates India website with city-specific instructions
- travel.state.gov — Department of State’s portal for fees, wait times, and policy updates
Warning: Avoid third-party “visa slot” sites that charge fees to book your slot. Only the U.S. Mission and CGI Federal can issue an actual interview slot. For supporting service providers like VFS, refer only to services.vfsglobal.com/usa.
USA Visa Fees in 2026 — What You Will Pay Before Slot Booking
From 1 January 2026, every US visa applicant pays two separate government fees before booking a slot:
| Fee | USD | INR (approx.) | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRV Visa Application Fee | $185 | ₹15,540 | No |
| Visa Integrity Fee (new 2026) | $250 | ₹21,000 | Refundable on visa compliance |
| Total (B1/B2) | $435 | ~₹36,540 | — |
The MRV fee is valid for 365 days from the date of payment. You must book and complete your interview within that window or pay again. Detailed costs and payment options are explained in our pillar guide on USA tourist visa for Indians.
USA Visa Wait Times in India 2026 (City-Wise)
Before you book, set realistic expectations. Here are the April 2026 wait times for B1/B2 visa interview slots as published on travel.state.gov:
| Consulate | B1/B2 Wait Time | F1 Student Visa | H/L Work Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ~7 months | ~30 days | ~3 weeks |
| New Delhi | ~6 months | ~21 days | ~2 weeks |
| Hyderabad | ~5 months | ~15 days | ~2 weeks |
| Chennai | ~4 months | ~21 days | ~2 weeks |
| Kolkata | ~6 months | ~30 days | ~3 weeks |
Key takeaway: Chennai consistently has the shortest B1/B2 queue, while Mumbai has the longest. If you can travel for your interview, switching to a less-busy consulate can save 2–3 months.
Step-by-Step: How to Book a USA Visa Slot from India
Step 1: Complete the DS-160 Form
Go to ceac.state.gov/genniv. Choose your applicant location (e.g., Mumbai, India), then click “Start an Application”. Fill in personal details, travel plans, work history, education, family information and security questions. The form takes 30–60 minutes. Save your Application ID (starts with AA00…) — you’ll need it for slot booking. Upload a passport-style photo with white background, 2×2 inches.
Step 2: Create Your USTravelDocs Profile
- Visit ustraveldocs.com/in/en
- Click “New User?” at the bottom
- Accept the privacy policy
- Enter your email, country (India), language
- Set a strong password (12+ characters, mix of letters/numbers/symbols)
- Verify the email — open the link sent to your inbox
Important: Don’t create multiple accounts. The system blocks duplicate profiles by passport number. If you have an old profile, log in with that one — even if it’s from a previous visa cycle.
Step 3: Enter Personal Details and Visa Class
After login, enter your passport details, contact information and mailing address (this becomes your visa delivery address). Click “Schedule Appointment”. The system will ask:
- Visa type → Nonimmigrant Visa
- State of residence → choose your home state
- Language of interview → English (or Hindi/regional language at most posts)
- Visa category → Tourism & Visit (B1/B2), Student (F/M), Work (H/L), etc.
- Visa class → e.g. B1/B2, H1B, F1, L1
Step 4: Pay the Visa Fees
You will be shown the fee summary — for B1/B2 in 2026, $185 MRV + $250 Visa Integrity Fee. Choose payment method:
- NEFT — generates a deposit slip valid for 2 working days at any Axis Bank branch in India
- UPI — instant payment via PhonePe, GPay, Paytm or BHIM
- Debit / Credit card — Visa, Mastercard accepted (a small convenience fee may apply)
- Demand Draft — drawn in favour of “U.S. Embassy” for the INR equivalent
After payment, you’ll receive a receipt number / CGI reference number. Wait 4 hours for the system to register the payment before going to the next step.
Step 5: Book Two Appointments — Biometrics & Interview
India is one of the few countries where biometrics and the visa interview happen on different days. You will book:
- Visa Application Centre (VAC) appointment — fingerprint and photo capture at one of 11 cities
- Consulate appointment — face-to-face interview at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata
The system shows earliest available dates by city. Pick the earliest one — even if you can’t travel that day, you can reschedule it once.
How to Find Earlier USA Visa Slots in India (2026 Tips)
Once you’ve booked your slot, the next move is to find an earlier date. Slots get released throughout the day as other applicants reschedule. Use these tactics:
- Check daily, multiple times — slots open at random times throughout the day, particularly between 10 AM and 5 PM IST
- Check Mondays and Thursdays — the embassy releases bulk slots after weekly capacity reviews
- Check all cities — open slots may appear in Hyderabad or Kolkata even when Delhi is full
- Use the calendar view on ustraveldocs to see availability for the next 90 days at once
- Check during US business hours (evening IST) — sometimes batch slot releases happen here
- Refresh after every 30 minutes, not faster — the system flags suspicious bot activity and locks accounts
The 2025 reschedule rule: India now allows only one free reschedule. If you switch your appointment date, you cannot do it again without paying a fresh $185 MRV fee. Use your reschedule wisely — only when you’ve spotted a date at least 3 months earlier.
Documents Required Before You Book Your Slot
- ✅ Valid Indian passport (6 months validity beyond intended stay, 2 blank pages)
- ✅ DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- ✅ Recent passport-style photo (2×2 inches, white background, less than 6 months old)
- ✅ MRV fee receipt + Visa Integrity Fee receipt (CGI reference numbers)
- ✅ Old passports (if any) — bring all to the interview
- ✅ Bank statements of last 6 months (for B1/B2)
- ✅ Income Tax Returns of last 3 years
- ✅ Employment letter / business proof
- ✅ Travel itinerary, hotel bookings, return ticket reservations
- ✅ Property documents (to show ties to India)
- ✅ Family photographs and relationship proof (if visiting family)
USA Visa Interview Waivers (Drop Box) — Skip the Slot Race
Some applicants don’t need a slot at all. The Drop Box (Interview Waiver) program lets you skip the in-person interview if you qualify:
- You had a previous US visa in the same category that expired within the last 48 months
- Your previous visa was not refused or cancelled
- You are applying for the same visa class (e.g. B1/B2 → B1/B2)
- You are an Indian citizen and resident
- You don’t fall in the special review categories (under-14, over-79, applicants with diplomatic passports may have separate rules)
If eligible, you only book a Drop Box slot at any VFS centre and submit your passport. Approval typically takes 5–7 working days, far faster than a fresh interview. Read more interview tactics in our USA visa interview tips for Indians guide.
Emergency / Expedited Slots — Are They Available?
Yes, but only for genuine emergencies. After booking your regular interview, log into ustraveldocs and submit an “Emergency Appointment Request” with documentary proof. Acceptable reasons include:
- Death or serious illness of a close family member in the US (need death certificate / hospital records)
- Medical treatment that cannot be delayed (hospital admission letter)
- Urgent business meeting where the company verifies the need
- Student visas — proof of class start date within 60 days
Emergency slot decisions take 2–3 working days. They are granted at consular discretion. Tourism, vacations or weddings do not qualify as emergencies.
Common Mistakes That Block Your Visa Slot
- Wrong DS-160 form number entered on ustraveldocs — the system locks your fee payment
- Paying MRV before completing DS-160 — payment can’t be linked without an active DS-160
- Choosing the wrong consulate — you cannot interview at Mumbai if your DS-160 says Delhi
- Multiple accounts — the system blocks duplicate profiles, locking you out for weeks
- Trying to book slots in different categories simultaneously — only one active appointment per applicant
- Using your reschedule too early — once gone, you must pay $185 again
USA Visa Slot Booking Tips for Indian Students (F1)
Students get priority over tourist visas. F1 wait times are typically 15–30 days. To book successfully:
- Pay the SEVIS fee ($350) at fmjfee.com before booking your slot
- Have your I-20 form from the university — required at the interview
- Apply 120 days or less before your program start date — applications too far in advance get rejected
- Use the Student Visa Slot Surge (May–August) — embassies open extra slots for the academic intake
For more details, see our USA student visa for Indians guide.
USA Visa Slot Booking Tips for H1B and L1 Workers
Work-visa wait times are short — usually 1–3 weeks. To maximise your chances:
- Have your petition approval (I-797) ready before booking
- Choose Hyderabad or Chennai — historically faster for tech workers
- Avoid Mumbai unless you must — capacity is regularly stretched
- If your H1B petition is for a third-party client site, prepare client letters and project details for the interview
What Happens After You Book Your Slot
Once your slot is locked in:
- Print the appointment confirmation page from ustraveldocs
- Print the DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- Print the MRV fee receipt
- Carry your passport, photo, supporting documents and old passports
- On biometrics day, reach the VAC 15 minutes early. The whole process takes 20–30 minutes.
- On interview day, reach the consulate 30 minutes before your slot. Mobile phones, bags and electronics are not allowed inside.
- The interview lasts 2–5 minutes. The officer will tell you the decision verbally on the spot.
Need Help Booking Your US Visa Slot?
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does it take to get a US visa slot in India in 2026?
For B1/B2 tourist visas, current wait times in India range from 4 to 10 months: Mumbai ~7 months, Delhi ~6 months, Hyderabad ~5 months, Chennai ~4 months. F1 student visas are 15–30 days, while H1B/L1 work visas are 1–3 weeks.
2. Can I book a US visa slot without paying the fee?
No. You must pay the $185 MRV fee plus the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee before the system will allow you to schedule your interview. Payments take up to 4 hours to register.
3. How many times can I reschedule my US visa appointment?
Since the 2025 policy change, India allows only one free reschedule. After that, you must pay a fresh $185 MRV fee to change your date again. Use your reschedule wisely — only switch if the new date is at least 3 months earlier.
4. Which Indian city has the fastest US visa slots?
Chennai consistently has the shortest B1/B2 queue (~4 months) followed by Hyderabad (~5 months). Delhi and Kolkata sit at ~6 months, and Mumbai has the longest at ~7 months. For F1 and H/L visas, Hyderabad and Chennai are typically fastest.
5. Can I book a US visa slot in a different city than my home state?
Yes. You can choose any consulate in India regardless of where you live. Many applicants from north India fly to Hyderabad or Chennai for faster slots. Just make sure your DS-160 lists the consulate you actually plan to interview at.
6. Do I need to use third-party slot booking services?
No. ustraveldocs.com is the only official portal. Third-party services that promise “guaranteed slots” are not authorised — they simply check the official portal more frequently. Use them only for tracking, never to make payments.
7. What is the new Visa Integrity Fee for 2026?
From 1 January 2026, the US has introduced a $250 Visa Integrity Fee for most visa categories, including B1/B2. Unlike the MRV fee, this is refundable if the applicant complies with all visa terms (no overstay, returns home as required). It is paid alongside the MRV fee on ustraveldocs.