Guide
What wait times measure
The Department of State publishes one table of appointment wait times for all posts, the Global Visa Wait Times page. Every wait-time figure on this site is a reading of that table on a stated date. The Department describes the table in its own words; the passages below are quoted from it.
Two different measures
Next available appointment. For each post and each of four groups of visa classes (visitors B1/B2; students and exchange visitors F, M, J; petition-based workers H, L, O, P, Q; crew and transit C, D, C1/D), the table gives an estimate of how far away the next open interview slot is. The Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner."
Average wait time. For B1/B2 only, and only "in cases where the next available appointment is more than three months away", the table also gives "how long people typically waited for interviews (measured from fee payment to visa interview date) in the previous month." The two can differ: an applicant who moves to an earlier slot waits less than the estimate at the time of booking; one who does not may wait longer.
How the format changed
From late 2022 until the end of 2024 the table gave the next available appointment in calendar days. From 2025 it gives half-month steps ("< 0.5 month", "2.5 months") and adds the B1/B2 average column. The Department explains: "We calculate months in 30-day increments and half months in 15-day increments. This includes weekends and holidays when embassies close." On this site every reading is stored in days (a month as 30 days) so that a post's history can be drawn as one line; the format change is marked on the chart. The Department updates the table monthly.
What the estimates do not cover
- Interview-waiver cases. "Embassies and consulates may waive the in-person interview requirement for eligible applicants. Wait times for these appointments are not reflected in the table."
- Emergency or expedited appointments, which each post handles under its own rules.
- Processing time after the interview.
- Any guarantee. In the Department's words, "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."
Reading the colour bands
This site colours estimates in three bands: under two months, two to six months, and over six months. The bands are a reading aid for comparing posts on one date; they carry no judgement about a post and say nothing about an applicant's own case. Where an applicant may apply is governed by the rules of each post, which are on the post's own website.
History on this site
44 dated readings are held, from 4 Nov 2022 to 1 Jul 2026. Readings from before this site began were taken from the Internet Archive's monthly captures of the Department's page. See the full table and each post's page for its history.