USSD Makes Headway in Cutting Down on Visa Wait Times
02-02-23
Steps taken in recent weeks to reduce visitor visa wait times for travelers to the United States—by up to half in some key markets such as India—mark substantive progress by the U.S. Department of State following months of consistent advocacy from the travel industry.
“By enacting smart and effective policies, the State Department is taking an active role in investing in the travel economy’s recovery,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “State must remain laser focused on solving this critical issue and set clear goals and limits for acceptable wait times.”
Interview wait times for the top 10 inbound visa-requiring markets (excluding China) still exceed 400 days, according to U.S. Travel analysis. However, global average wait times have dropped below 150 days for the first time since 2021.