The U.S. Department of State has refreshed its Global Visa Wait Times dashboard (last updated January 14, 2026)—and if you’re planning a B1/B2 visitor visa, student visa (F/M/J), or a petition-based work visa (H/L/O/P/Q), this update matters because it shows (1) how long the next appointment may take and (2) in many high-demand locations, how long applicants actually waited recently.
The important thing to understand: US wait times are not universal. They vary dramatically by consulate and by visa category—so planning based on “general estimates” can easily backfire.
What the U.S. Visa Appointments Wait Time Numbers actually mean?
The dashboard of US wait times data uses two different metrics, and applicants often mix them up:
| Wait Time Metric | What It Represents | How Applicants Should Read It |
|---|---|---|
| Next Available Appointment | An estimate of how long you may have to wait to book the next open interview slot at a specific U.S. embassy or consulate. | This is not fixed. New interview slots are added regularly, so the timeline can shorten if you check and reschedule often. |
| Average Wait Time | The typical time applicants waited from visa fee payment to interview date in the previous month. | Shown mainly for B1/B2 visitor visas when appointment backlogs exceed three months. Your actual wait can be shorter or longer depending on slot availability and rescheduling. |
How time is calculated?
The U.S. counts months in 30-day increments and half-months in 15-day increments. This includes weekends and public holidays when embassies are closed.
2026 Reality: 1 City Can Take Weeks, Another Can Take 12–24 Months
This update makes one thing very clear: B1/B2 visitor visa interviews are the biggest bottleneck in many countries, while student and petition-based categories often move faster. To show how wide the range can be, here are examples from the latest published table:
Visitor visa (B1/B2) examples with long queues
- Calgary: next available 24 months
- Toronto: next available 18 months
- Abu Dhabi: next available 16 months
- Ciudad Juarez: next available 15.5 months
- Santo Domingo: next available 16 months
In the same global update, many locations show student or work-related categories as much faster than B1/B2—so always check the correct column for your visa type instead of assuming “everything is delayed.”
Why “Average Wait Time” can be different from “Next Available Appointment”?
This part confuses people, so here’s the clean explanation:
- Next available appointment tells you what the calendar looks like right now.
- Average wait time reflects what people experienced last month (fee paid → interview).
Because consulates frequently release new interview slots, a person who checks often and reschedules may end up waiting less than the average. On the other hand, someone who books once and never checks again may end up waiting longer than the current “next available” estimate.
How to Use This Update to Get an Earlier Appointment?
Step 1: Book first, then monitor regularly
If you see long timelines, don’t freeze. Book the earliest available slot and then check the appointment system regularly to move to an earlier date if new slots open.
Step 2: Watch for interview waivers (when eligible)
Some applicants may qualify for waiver of in-person interview requirements depending on visa type, renewal history, and local rules. These waiver timelines are not shown in the global table—so you must confirm through your specific embassy/consulate instructions.
Step 3: Don’t assume “wait time” equals “visa approval time”
The table is about interview scheduling only. It does not guarantee how quickly a visa will be issued after the interview, and it does not account for additional processing in individual cases.
Step 4: If your situation is urgent, learn the expedite pathway
Many embassies allow expedite requests for urgent, time-sensitive situations. The rules and eligibility differ by location, so follow the exact process described by the embassy/consulate where you’re applying.
Full Dashboard of US Visa Appointment Wait Times: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html.