US mayors call on State Department to lower visitor visa interview wait times
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The mayors noted that the department had reduced visa processing times for other categories, such as students and seasonal workers, however.
A State Department spokesperson said over 90% of visitors to the U.S. “do not need to visit an embassy or consulate overseas for a visa” within a year before their trip.
“For those travelers who do need visas, we are quickly lowering visa interview wait times worldwide,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Embassies and consulates processed 90% of their “pre-pandemic 2019 nonimmigrant visa volume” in the fiscal year 2022, according to the spokesperson. They expect to exceed that in 2023.
How long does it take to get a visitor visa?
Travelers from top inbound markets applying for visitor visas for the first time have to wait around 400 days on average for an interview, according to the U.S. Travel Association, though the length can vary depending on where travelers apply. Mexico, for instance, has an average wait time of 517 days, the organization said, but those applying in Mexico City may wait as long as 675 days, according to the State Department website.
USA TODAY previously reported. The only travelers who are typically exempt come from countries with visa waivers in place, a list that has 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many European nations.
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All others, except those from Canada, need to apply for a tourist visa if they’re coming for leisure or a work or business visa in applicable circumstances.
What impact do long visitor visa wait times have?
The U.S. Travel Association estimated that businesses in the U.S. will miss out on 2.6 million prospective visitors in 2023 as a result of the long wait times, projecting that they would lose $7 billion in spending, following a $5 billion loss in 2022, according to the letter.
“Travel is a business where people follow the path of least resistance, and we’re putting up great barriers right now for visitors to come here,” said Freeman.
Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY