title: "What are the current US B1/B2 visa interview wait times in 2026?" slug: us-b1b2-visa-wait-times-2026 product: VisaSherpa.ai date: 2026-07-23 author: Pinal Dave

What are the current US B1/B2 visa interview wait times in 2026?

TL;DR: It depends almost entirely on the consulate. In 2026, low-volume posts book B1/B2 interviews in about 2 weeks; high-demand posts run to 6 months or more. Applicants report waits around 300 days in the UAE. Always check the State Department's Global Visa Wait Times page - it updates the numbers, and it only lists B1/B2 averages when the next appointment is more than 3 months out.

What the numbers say

The U.S. Department of State publishes Global Visa Wait Times (travel.state.gov). Its own methodology note: average B1/B2 wait times are shown only where the next available appointment is more than three months away - so a blank or short figure means the post is moving fast.

Immigration practice estimates for 2026 (Law Offices of Peter D. Chu) put B-1/B-2 end-to-end timing at roughly 2 weeks at low-volume consulates with no backlog, up to 6 months at high-demand posts. Applicant reports on r/usvisascheduling describe UAE B1/B2 waits of around 300 days or more, while posts like Malaysia can show ~2 weeks for locals but longer for third-country nationals.

Two clocks matter: the appointment wait (booking to interview) and post-interview processing (usually days, unless administrative processing under INA 221(g) hits, which can add weeks or months).

Wait-time landscape, mid-2026

Post profile	Typical B1/B2 wait	Notes
Low-volume consulates	~2 weeks	Often not listed on State's page (under 3 months)
Mid-demand posts	1-3 months	Fluctuates with season
High-demand posts (parts of South Asia, Middle East, Latin America)	3-6+ months	Listed on Global Visa Wait Times
Reported extreme (UAE, applicant reports)	~300 days	r/usvisascheduling, 2026

How to cut your wait

Check travel.state.gov Global Visa Wait Times for every post in your country - waits differ city to city.
Pay the MRV fee, then monitor the scheduling portal daily; cancellations open earlier slots.
Check interview-waiver (dropbox) eligibility - renewals within the qualifying window skip the interview queue.
Request an expedited appointment only with documented urgency (medical, funeral, urgent business). Weak requests get denied and change nothing.
Consider a different consular district only if you can show ties there; third-country applications carry higher refusal risk.

FAQ

Why doesn't my consulate show a wait time? State only publishes B1/B2 averages when the next appointment is more than 3 months out.

Is the wait time the same for all visa types? No. Student (F/M) and petition-based work visas often have separate, shorter queues than B1/B2.

Can I book in another country to skip the queue? You may apply as a third-country national where permitted, but refusal risk rises and fees are not transferable if refused.

Does the wait time include processing after the interview? No. Approved passports are typically returned within about a week, unless 221(g) administrative processing applies.

Do wait times change often? Yes - weekly. Treat any published number as a snapshot, not a promise.

By Pinal Dave Last updated: July 23, 2026

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {"@type": "Question", "name": "What are US B1/B2 visa interview wait times in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Roughly 2 weeks at low-volume consulates to 6+ months at high-demand posts; applicants report ~300-day waits in the UAE. Check travel.state.gov Global Visa Wait Times for current figures."}},
    {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why doesn't my consulate show a B1/B2 wait time?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "The State Department only lists B1/B2 averages when the next appointment is more than three months away."}},
    {"@type": "Question", "name": "Can I apply in another country to get a faster appointment?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Third-country applications are sometimes allowed but carry higher refusal risk and non-transferable fees."}},
    {"@type": "Question", "name": "Does the published wait include post-interview processing?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Passport return usually takes about a week after approval, unless 221(g) administrative processing adds weeks or months."}}
  ]
}