If you’re waiting a long time for a U.S. visa interview in 2025, you’re not alone. Many applicants around the world are experiencing consular appointment delays. The COVID-19 pandemic created a massive backlog in U.S. visa processing, and while consulates have ramped up efforts, wait times in 2025 are still longer than normal in many places.
In this article, we’ll break down the current visa interview wait times (2025), why delays are happening, and what you can do to cope or expedite your case. We’ll cover both immigrant visa (green card) interview backlogs and nonimmigrant visa appointment delays, with real stats and tips for navigating the process. Let’s dive in.
The Ongoing U.S. Visa Interview Backlog in 2025
The U.S. visa backlog remains a major challenge in 2025. After U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide scaled back operations in 2020-2021, hundreds of thousands of cases piled up waiting for interviews. For perspective, at the start of 2023, there were about 422,954 immigrant visa applicants who were documentarily qualified (all paperwork done) and waiting to be scheduled for an interview.
In that same month, only around 36,000 interviews were scheduled, showing how large the backlog was. Although consular officers are working through these cases, progress is slow – the backlog only shrank slightly over 2022. As one immigration resource noted, some consulates had essentially no backlog by late 2024, while others expected it would take over two years to schedule all the waiting cases. This means your wait time can vary hugely depending on the location.
Is the U.S. visa backlog getting better in 2025?
There are signs of improvement, but delays persist. The Department of State has been hiring staff and claims to be processing visas at 130% of pre-pandemic levels in some categories. They also introduced measures to reduce wait times, which we’ll discuss, and some embassies have cleared their backlogs. However, consular interview delays are still common, especially in high-demand countries. As of late 2025, many U.S. embassies are still dealing with significantly higher interview wait times than before. So while the situation is slowly improving, it hasn’t fully returned to normal yet.
Why Are Consular Interviews Being Delayed?
Several factors have contributed to consular interview delays in 2025. Here are some key reasons for the ongoing slowdowns:
Pandemic Backlog:
The initial suspension or reduction of visa services in 2020 created a huge queue of pending cases. Even after reopening, consulates faced historic backlogs of immigrant visa cases of over 400,000 at NVC in early 2023. Clearing this backlog is taking years, not months, especially for family-sponsored visas.
Limited Consular Capacity:
Many embassies and consulates are still catching up on staffing and resources. There are only so many interviews that consular officers can conduct per day. Some posts operate under local COVID restrictions or have staffing shortages, which limit the number of visa interviews they can do daily. This creates longer wait lines until they can increase capacity.
High Demand in Certain Countries:
Demand for U.S. visas (both tourist visas and immigrant visas) spiked as travel resumed. Countries like India, Mexico, Pakistan, and others saw surges of applications, which outpaced appointment availability. For example, the wait for a visitor visa interview in New Delhi, India, stretched to about 10 months as of November 2025, simply because US visa demand there is extremely high.
Visa Category Prioritization:
Not all cases are equal in timing. U.S. consulates prioritize certain visa categories, like immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and Mission-critical cases. Other categories, such as some family preference visas or tourist visas, might be lower priority, extending their delays. Also, immigrant visas that are subject to annual quotas, family and employment preference categories can only be scheduled when a visa number is available per the Visa Bulletin. If your category is backlogged by visa quotas, you could be documentarily qualified but waiting months or years for your priority date to become current, adding to the delay.
Administrative Processing & Security Checks:
In some cases, even after the interview, additional security checks known as administrative processing can further delay visa issuance. While this doesn’t affect everyone, a small percentage of applicants are told their case needs extra review, which can take weeks or even months. The State Department advises that if your case is in administrative processing, you generally should wait at least 180 days before inquiring about the status. This is another layer that can make the overall timeline longer.
In short, a combination of backlog, limited appointment slots, high application volume, and procedural requirements are behind the consular interview delays. Now, let’s break down how these delays differ between immigrant (green card) visas and nonimmigrant (temporary) visas.
Immigrant vs. Nonimmigrant Visa Delays
| Category | What It Is | Main Cause of Delay | Typical Wait Times (2025) | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigrant Visas (Green Cards) | For permanent residence (family- or employment-based). | Large NVC and consular interview backlogs. | 2–4 months at fast posts; 1+ year at busy posts. | Wait varies by embassy. Some posts still clearing cases from 2021. |
| NVC Interview Backlog | Applicants wait after being “documentarily complete.” | Slow interview scheduling at many consulates. | Backlogs reached 422,000+ cases after 2020. | Some consulates need 2+ years to clear queues. Other posts schedule within 1–2 months. |
| Immediate Relative Visas | Spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen. | High case volume at busy posts. | Often 1–3 months once case is complete. | Not subject to annual caps, so usually prioritized. |
| Family Preference Visas | Siblings, adult children, etc. | Limited visa numbers + local backlog. | Can wait many months to years even when priority date is current. | Two-step delay: visa availability + consular wait. |
| Employment-Based Visas | Work-related immigrant visas (EB categories). | Varies by country and demand. | Sometimes faster than family cases because volume is lower. | EB-5 and others still face uneven delays. |
| NVC Processing | Review of forms and documents. | Minimal delay by 2025. | NVC reviews documents in ~2 weeks. | Main wait is for interview slot, not NVC review. |
| Nonimmigrant Visas | Temporary travel, study, exchange, or work visas. | High demand at busy embassies. | Student/worker visas faster; tourist visas slow. | Each embassy sets its own appointment system. |
| Student/Work Visas (F, J, H, L, O) | For study or employment. | Fewer interviews due to waiver program. | Waits dropped sharply (e.g., Mumbai F-1 from 49 days → 7 days). | Prioritized for economic and academic reasons. |
| Tourist Visas (B1/B2) | For travel or business visits. | Low prioritization + high demand. | Some posts still show 9–10 month waits. | First-time applicants wait longest. |
| K-1 Fiancé Visas | For fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens. | Longer interviews and security steps. | Still slow at high-volume posts. | Some posts improved, others still catching up. |
| Interview Waivers | Skip interview if eligible. | Policy narrowing again in late 2025. | Helped reduce wait times in 2022–2024. | Fewer waivers in 2026 may increase wait times again. |
How Long Are Visa Interview Wait Times by Country?
Visa interview wait times in 2025 vary greatly by country and even by city. The U.S. Department of State publishes estimated wait times for nonimmigrant visa appointments at each consulate, and these show a wide range of delays globally. Below are a few examples of the visa wait time by country (for a B1/B2 visitor visa interview), as of November 2025:
- India (New Delhi & Mumbai): Approximately 9–10 months wait for a tourist visa interview. Student/worker visas are much faster – often a few weeks or less – due to the interview waiver efforts.
- Mexico (Mexico City): Around 10 months wait for B1/B2 appointments. Other consulates in Mexico (e.g., Monterrey) also report high wait times of 9+ months.
- Pakistan (Islamabad/Karachi): Roughly 6–7 months wait for visitor visa interviews. This is better than it was in 2022, but still a significant delay.
- United Kingdom (London): Only about 1.5 months wait for a tourist visa interview. The UK, like many European posts, has largely returned to near-normal wait times.
- Philippines (Manila): Only around 0.5 months (2 weeks) wait for a B1/B2 interview. Manila has made great progress clearing backlogs (it had huge delays in 2021–2022, now greatly reduced).
- Nigeria (Lagos): Approximately 10 months wait for visitor visas in Lagos, showing that some African posts are also seeing long queues.
- Brazil (São Paulo): About 1 month wait in São Paulo, which is quite reasonable – Brazil’s wait times dropped compared to 2022.
The examples above illustrate how consular appointment delays are highly location-dependent. If you’re in a country with a major U.S. visa demand (South Asia, parts of Africa, Mexico), you might face many months of waiting for an interview slot. Meanwhile, in countries where demand is lower, or capacity is higher (Europe, East Asia, etc.), you might get a visa appointment in a matter of days or weeks. Always check the current wait for your specific U.S. Embassy/Consulate, because these times do fluctuate.
How to Check and Handle Your Visa Interview Delay
Facing a delay can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to manage the situation and possibly expedite your visa interview. Here are some tips and resources for applicants dealing with long waits:
1. Check Official Wait Times Regularly:
The U.S. Department of State provides tools to check wait times. For nonimmigrant visas, use the Global Visa Wait Times online tool to find the “next available appointment” for your embassy/consulate (updated monthly). For immigrant visas, refer to the IV Scheduling Status Tool, which shows what date of documentarily complete cases are currently being scheduled at each post. By monitoring these, you can get a realistic sense of how long you might wait and see if things are improving.
2. Stay on Top of Schedule Openings:
U.S. embassies often release additional appointment slots regularly as they adjust capacity. Applicants who already have a later appointment should check back frequently; you may find an earlier slot becomes available and reschedule yourself to that earlier date. This is a common strategy: many people have success by logging into the scheduling system at off-peak hours or checking daily to snag a cancellation or newly added slot. Essentially, persistence can pay off in getting an earlier visa appointment.
3. Consider Expedited Appointments for Urgent Needs:
If you have a true emergency or urgent situation, you can request an expedited visa interview (often called an “emergency appointment”). Each consulate has criteria for this, typically events like a funeral, urgent medical treatment, or a program start date for students. For example, if your F-1 student visa is delayed and your semester start is looming, you may qualify for an expedited appointment due to the school start date being an “unforeseen” deadline. To do this, you must first book the earliest regular appointment you can find, pay the fee, and fill out the DS-160 application.
Then, through the online system or by emailing the consulate, submit an expedited request explaining your emergency with supporting evidence. Be honest and attach proof, e.g., a letter from the university, a doctor’s note or hospital letter, a death certificate for a funeral, etc. Each location’s website (on usembassy.gov) will have instructions for requesting an emergency appointment. Keep in mind, expedited requests are granted at the consular section’s discretion and only for serious situations, travel for tourism, weddings, or routine business meetings usually do not qualify. If approved, you’ll get an earlier date. If not, you’ll have to stick with your original appointment.
4. Take Advantage of Interview Waivers (if Eligible):
As noted earlier, a significant portion of visas are now being issued without in-person interviews when possible. If you are renewing a visa that expired recently generally within the last 48 months, though this eligibility window will tighten to 12 months after 2025 policy changes, check if you can use the Interview Waiver or “dropbox” process. This lets you submit your passport and documents without sitting for an interview, which bypasses the wait entirely.
It’s commonly used for repeat travelers on B1/B2 visas, F-1 students returning from a break, H-1B workers renewing, etc., provided you meet the criteria of no serious immigration violations, previous visa in same category, and other conditions. Interview waivers dramatically cut processing times – often you’ll get a visa back in a few weeks via mail. In 2023, this was hugely expanded 40% of visas issued had no interview. Going forward, the rules are narrowing, so always verify current waiver criteria on the embassy’s site or the State Department announcements. If you qualify, absolutely use it to avoid the long wait for an appointment.
5. Ensure Your Case is “Interview-Ready”:
For immigrant visas, one way to avoid NVC case delays is to make sure you and your petitioner have submitted all required documents correctly. Double-check that DS-260 forms, civil documents (birth/marriage certificates, police clearances), and financial sponsor documents are all provided and meet requirements. Incomplete or missing documents will keep your case at NVC longer and delay when you get in line for an interview.
NVC will not schedule you until your case is documentarily qualified, so respond quickly to any NVC notices for additional items. Basically, don’t be the cause of your own delay, submit everything promptly and accurately. Once you are qualified and waiting, there’s not much to do but be patient, but at least you know you’re in the queue. NVC’s public inquiry form can be used if your case seems to be stuck beyond the normal timeframe, they advise using it if you haven’t gotten a response or update within their published processing times.
6. Follow Up if Delays Become Excessive:
If your case has been documentarily qualified and your category is current, but you’ve heard nothing for a very long time beyond the usual, you have a few options. You or your petitioner in the U.S. can contact the NVC or the consulate to inquire. NVC typically won’t provide an exact timeline, but you can ask if there’s any issue holding your case.
Sometimes, contacting your local congressional representative in the U.S. for assistance can help in extreme delay cases – they can inquire with the State Department on your behalf. This won’t make a visa number available, but if the delay is due to administrative error or something, it might shake loose information. Use these channels judiciously for genuinely long, unexplained delays because a routine wait unfortunately just requires patience.
7. Plan for Possible Delays in Travel:
If you’re applying for a nonimmigrant visa (like B1/B2 for a visit, or F-1 for school, etc.), plan far ahead. Check the wait times before you even apply, so you can set realistic travel plans. It’s generally recommended to apply several months in advance of any planned travel. If wait times are extremely long at your home country’s U.S. Embassy, you could in theory try applying at another U.S. consulate in a different country that has shorter waits (some people did this in 2022).
However, be aware that many consulates limit appointments to local residents, especially with the new rules for immigrant visa processing as of Nov. 1, 2025 requiring applicants to interview in their country of residence or nationality. For tourist visas, third-country appointments are sometimes possible but not guaranteed; always check the specific consulate’s policy. It’s usually best to stick with your local consulate and just apply early.
8. Be Prepared for Post-Interview Steps:
Once you do get to your interview, know that visa issuance isn’t always the same day. In most cases, if approved, you’ll get your passport with visa back within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if your case is selected for administrative processing (as mentioned earlier), that will add an unpredictable delay. Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to expedite that – it’s mostly waiting on security checks.
The key is to attend your interview as scheduled don’t miss it or you’ll have to reschedule into the far future and bring all required documents to avoid 221(g) refusals. If the consulate asks for additional documents, submit them as soon as possible. Basically, you want to avoid any preventable delays on your end, especially after waiting so long for the interview.
9. Coping with the Stress:
Lastly, coping with visa interview delays can be mentally taxing – plans are on hold, life feels in limbo. Stay informed by checking official updates like the monthly visa bulletin for immigrant visa movement and the State Department’s social media for any announcements on visa services. Sometimes knowing you’re not alone, that thousands of others are also waiting, can alleviate some anxiety. Online communities (Facebook groups, forums, etc.) can offer support and updates, but be careful with unofficial advice.
If a delay might cause something like a child to age out (turn 21) or a priority date retrogression, consult an immigration lawyer to understand the Child Status Protection Act or other remedies. In many cases, children may still retain eligibility under CSPA even if they turn 21 during the wait, as long as the visa petition was filed earlier – this is important to look into if relevant.
When Will Visa Interview Wait Times Return to Normal?
Many people are asking: when will visa interview wait times return to normal? The honest answer is it’s gradual and varies by country and visa type. Some places are essentially back to normal now, for example, a number of U.S. consulates report visitor visa waits of just a few days or weeks, which was the norm pre-2020. Others, particularly high-volume posts, may not fully normalize until they work through remaining backlogs and adjust to any new policies.
The U.S. State Department has shown commitment to reducing the backlog. They indefinitely extended the interview waiver policies (albeit with some tightening) to keep processing speed up. They also indicated that U.S. consulates worldwide issued more visas in 2022 than even pre-pandemic in an effort to cut down wait lines. There is progress: the global backlog of immigrant visas is slowly shrinking, and nonimmigrant visa operations have largely ramped back up. We likely won’t see the ultra-long waits of 2021/2022 repeat unless another disruptive event occurs.
That said, 2025 is still a transitional period. The U.S. visa backlog 2025 isn’t completely gone. If you’re stuck in a delay now, use the strategies above and hang in there. The trend is moving in the right direction. By staying proactive, checking for updates, leveraging any chance to expedite or waive interviews, and ensuring your own paperwork is in order – you can position yourself to get your visa as soon as possible.
Legal Help and Next Steps for Consular Interview Delays
Long visa interview waits can feel overwhelming, but your immigration journey does not have to stay stuck. Whether your case is held up at the NVC, delayed in scheduling, or impacted by long consular wait times, the right legal strategy can make a real difference in moving your application forward.
At The Chidolue Law Firm, we help applicants facing consular delays by preparing stronger documentation, responding to consular requests, guiding expedited appointment requests, and stepping in when your case needs a knowledgeable legal advocate. Our team understands embassy procedures, interview backlogs, administrative processing, and what it takes to push a stalled case toward approval.
📞 Call The Chidolue Law Firm today at:
➡ 407-995-6567
➡ 678-325-1037
💬 For WhatsApp inquiries, contact us at:
➡ 404-333-8751
Your visa shouldn’t remain in limbo. Reach out today so we can help you move your case forward with confidence.
