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B1/B2 and C1/D Non-Immigrant Visas: Appointments Are Back, But Plan Ahead
The good news is that non-immigrant visa processing in India has finally restarted. The US embassies shut down in March 2020 because of the Coronavirus situation, and from late January onwards they have been gradually reopening. For B1/B2 and C1/D visas specifically, the Delhi embassy is currently the most active — it has been open for B1/B2 appointments for roughly 20 to 25 days now. Other embassies such as Chennai and Kolkata are expected to follow in the coming weeks. Based on what my own clients have been experiencing, the Hyderabad embassy is also seeing some appointment availability.
One important thing to keep in mind: the embassies are still operating at limited capacity, not at full strength yet. That means waiting times are longer than you are used to. Where you might previously have booked an appointment a week or two out, right now you should expect to wait up to a month. So please do not leave this to the last minute. Start your preparation and your application process now, and keep a close eye on appointment availability — especially at Delhi and Hyderabad. The US Embassy Facebook page publishes the latest updates as embassies reopen, so that is worth following.
The vaccination passport: something to watch
There is a lot of discussion right now about a vaccination passport — essentially an additional document that could become compulsory before you are allowed to travel to countries like the US. No firm rules are in place yet, but this is very much on the cards. If you are planning to travel to the US in the coming months, I would strongly recommend getting your COVID-19 vaccination as soon as your turn comes. Register on the app, be proactive about getting vaccinated, and keep the documentation ready. It may well become an additional requirement in the visa process.
Three things you can do right now for your B1/B2 visa
First, keep track of appointment slots at the Delhi and Hyderabad embassies. Given the longer waiting times, being proactive here really matters — check regularly so you can grab a date as soon as one comes up.
Second, get your DS-160 ready. This is the six-page application form that the visa officer will have in front of them during your interview. Filling it accurately and completely is critical. Use this waiting period to work through it carefully and make sure it is perfect before your interview date.
Third, prepare for the interview itself. A B1/B2 interview is entirely about how convincing you are — your purpose of visit, your plans while in the US, and your ties to India that demonstrate you will return home. This is not something you can wing on the day. If you would like help customising your answers for your specific situation, you are welcome to book a one-on-one consultation session with me.
F1 Student Visa: Appointments Are Available — Just Don't Wait Until the Last Minute
If you are a student planning to study in the US, the situation is much more straightforward right now. Student visa (F1) processing is active across almost all US embassies in India, and you should be able to get an appointment without too much difficulty at whichever consulate you choose. That said, I always say the same thing to my students: do not push your booking to the last minute. Embassies are still working at limited capacity, so interview slots can fill up faster than you expect. Book your interview date well in advance and give yourself enough time to prepare properly.
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Book a Mock InterviewH1B Visa: A Lot of Moving Parts Right Now
This is the area where the most has been happening over the last few months, and honestly there has been a lot of back and forth. Here is where things stand.
Under Trump, a ban was placed on the issue of new H1B visas, with the stated reason being to protect American jobs and give preference to US citizens. That ban was set to expire on March 31, 2021. When Joe Biden took office, many people expected him to revoke the ban early — but that has not happened. It is now pretty clear the ban will simply run its course and expire on its own on March 31. The big question then becomes: will it be reimposed after that, or will it be done away with entirely? That is still being debated, and we will have to watch the coming weeks closely.
The second major development is the shift from a lottery system to a wage-based system for allocating H1B visas. Trump replaced the old lottery with a system where salary level becomes a factor in granting visas — meaning companies that hire at higher wages get preference. This directly and negatively impacts Indian IT companies like TCS and Infosys, which typically hire employees at lower wage scales for H1B roles. From what is being discussed, it looks like Biden will keep the wage-based system in place rather than reverting to the lottery. So the lottery system, as it was, appears to be going away.
On a more positive note, H1B registration for fiscal year 2021 has already begun. The usual quota of 65,000 H1B visas for regular employees is in place, plus an additional 20,000 visas for people who will be pursuing a master's degree in the US. So the process for 2021 is running. The exact guidelines will become clearer over the next few weeks.
Green Cards and Immigration: The Most Positive Developments
This is where the most encouraging news is. Biden made his pro-immigration stance very clear during his campaign, and some of the first things he did after taking office directly affect Indians waiting for green cards.
Trump had imposed a ban on issuing new green cards entirely — and Biden removed that ban on his very first day in office. He has also removed the per-country quota system for green cards, which is a significant development for Indians. Because India's quota allocation was small relative to demand, Indian applicants faced extremely long waiting times — sometimes decades. Removing the country-based cap directly addresses that backlog.
Additional measures include removing the travel ban on certain Muslim-majority countries and giving priority processing to families that had been separated for extended periods. If you want to go deeper on the specifics of the new immigration reforms, I have covered all of that in detail in a separate article — do check that out.
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