Consulates of the United States of America in India are facing a staff shortage in proportion to the number of visa applications, and people are advised to apply well in advance for visa, a senior American diplomat said.
“In the last five years, the demand for visashas increased by 80 per cent, while our staffing has remained static. While we have greatly improved efficiency, accommodating visa demand on this scale requires adequate staffing,” Joseph M. Pomper, Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs at U.S. Embassy, New Delhi, told reporters here on Friday.
The average waiting time for getting a visa appointment is about four weeks now. The waiting time earlier used to be about a week or a week and half, Charles E. Luoma-Overstreet, Chief of the Consular Section, U.S. Consulate, Chennai, said. The consulate processes about 1,000 to 1,500 visas a day, he said. “Presently, we are striving to keep interview appointment waiting time within four weeks, though some posts are exceeding that during the busy summer season,” Mr. Pomper said. “Those who had received U.S. visas earlier and have no other issues can make use of the interview waiver programme,” Mr. Pomper said.
Mr. Luoma-Overstreet said Chennai was one of the busiest visa processing centres in India. Out of total of 1.1 million visa applications adjudicated in India last year, Chennai processed 2.8 lakh applications.
Applicants asked to plan ahead and apply early as the demand for visa has gone up by 80 per cent
