The United States has updated visa appointment wait times as of December 2025. This update matters because the interview waiver policy, also known as Dropbox, has already been removed for temporary workers, F-1 international students, and many other visa categories.
In short, most travellers now need to attend a visa interview to get approval.

What’s Happening With the US Visa Wait Times

The wait times for the US visas are different for each city. Some places saw massive drops, while others now have long delays.

Shorter Wait Times in India

There’s a bit of good news for applicants in India. Data shows that the wait times for student and exchange visas (F, M, and J categories) in New Delhi have dropped sharply, from about two months to just half a month.

• New Delhi: F, M, and J visas dropped from 2 months to about 15 days. For B-1/B-2 (tourist and business visas), interviews dropped from 6.5 months to 3.5 months.
• Chennai (Madras): B-1/B-2 interview waiting time fell from 5 months to around 3 months.

Longer Delays in China and Canada

Not every region saw improvement. Shanghai recorded a sharp increase in wait times for work-related visas (H, L, O, P, Q), which jumped from less than half a month to about three months.

• Shanghai: H, L, O, P and Q visa appointment wait times jumped from less than 15 days to about 3 months.

In Canada, several cities experienced some of the longest delays. For instance:

• Ottawa: 4.5 months
• Quebec City: 4.5 months
• Vancouver: 4 months

Even standard visitor visa interviews (B-1/B-2) in Canada continue to take longer than in most other regions.

• Toronto: 16.5 months
• San Jose: 13 months
• Lagos: 12.5 months
• Merida: 11.5 months
• Ottawa: 11 months

Work Visa Interview Delays in Canada

Canada currently has some of the slowest timelines for work visa interviews:

• Ottawa: 4.5 months
• Quebec: 4.5 months
• Vancouver: 4 months

Overall, for many cities, work visa and student visa wait times are roughly the same as last month. But locations like Canada and China remain slow.

What “Average Wait Time” Really Means

The US State Department also reports an average wait time, but this number does not guarantee a specific appointment date. It mainly shows how long people waited last month from fee payment to their actual interview date.

Sometimes the average wait time looks longer than the currently available appointment. That’s because new interview slots keep opening.

Tips to Get an Earlier Appointment

Many travellers forget this part. It can make a big difference.

• After booking your interview, keep checking the appointment system.
  If someone cancels or a new slot opens, you can move your appointment earlier.
• New slots appear often, including on weekends and holidays.
• Don’t depend only on the average wait time; the next available appointment may be sooner.

Quick Summary

• Dropbox/interview waiver is no longer available for most visas.
• Many travellers now need to appear for an interview.
• Some cities improved; others slowed down significantly.
• Checking the appointment system regularly can help you get a faster date.

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