LONG VISA WAIT TIMES ARE A DE FACTO TRAVEL BAN.
The problem
First-time visitor visa applicants in the key markets for U.S. inbound travel are currently facing interview wait times of 400-800 days—a de facto border closure in the way of excessive wait times to receive a visa. The data shows a severe backlog in processing visitor visas is delaying visits to the United States from global travelers in key markets.
$120B
in spending (50%) in 2019 came from countries where a visitor visa is required to enter the United States.
400+ days
days of waiting for first-time visitors from top inbound markets to receive interviews.
63%
of these visitors are from Brazil, India and Mexico — three of the top inbound markets requiring a visitor visa.
Unacceptable long delays in issuing U.S. visitor visas keeps families apart, delays travel to the U.S., and harms American businesses. When visitors have to wait this long, many choose other destinations to visit. This comes at a projected cost to the U.S. economy of nearly $7 billion in traveler spending in 2023 alone.
Rapidly processing U.S. visitor visas is within the Biden administration’s control and should be immediately prioritized so we can welcome more international visitors to America
The solution
To improve U.S. visitor visa processing, the Biden administration should:
- Lower wait times to 21 days in top countries for inbound travel to the U.S. by April 2023.
- By September 31, 2023, reinstate the Executive Order to provide interview appointments for 80% of nonimmigrant U.S. visa applicants within 21 days or less.
- Increase resources in countries with a high volume of applicants and for large events in the U.S. that draw international visitors.
- Extend interview waivers for U.S. nonimmigrant visa renewals and apply waivers more broadly to renewal applicants through 2024.
#TheyWaitWeLose
Make your voice heard. Tell us your story.
Travel visa delay stories from across the globe.
I work for a Miami-based company that organizes trade shows. Back in June 2021, my boss required me to apply for a B1/B2 visa. We were so surprised to find that the waiting time was 18 months! We couldn’t believe it. For pre-pandemic applications, the waiting time was about 1 month, at most. I tried many, many times to reschedule to an earlier date through the US Embassy in Colombia website, I applied for an emergency appointment, and even our CEO wrote to the Florida state representative asking for assistance in expediting the interview date, to no avail. I had my interview last January, and even though there are always a lot of people at the embassy, this time there were a lot more than there used to be.
I work for a Miami-based company that organizes trade shows. Back in June 2021, my boss required me to apply for a B1/B2 visa. We were so surprised to find that the waiting time was 18 months! We couldn’t believe it. For pre-pandemic applications, the waiting time was about 1 month, at most. I tried many, many times to reschedule to an earlier date through the US Embassy in Colombia website, I applied for an emergency appointment, and even our CEO wrote to the Florida state representative asking for assistance in expediting the interview date, to no avail. I had my interview last January, and even though there are always a lot of people at the embassy, this time there were a lot more than there used to be.
I work for a Miami-based company that organizes trade shows. Back in June 2021, my boss required me to apply for a B1/B2 visa. We were so surprised to find that the waiting time was 18 months! We couldn’t believe it. For pre-pandemic applications, the waiting time was about 1 month, at most. I tried many, many times to reschedule to an earlier date through the US Embassy in Colombia website, I applied for an emergency appointment, and even our CEO wrote to the Florida state representative asking for assistance in expediting the interview date, to no avail. I had my interview last January, and even though there are always a lot of people at the embassy, this time there were a lot more than there used to be.
I can’t get colleagues and clients to US based exhibitions that we either attend or produce. Have written numerous times to local congresswoman who refers petition to State department. Nothing gets solved; business is lost.
I can’t get colleagues and clients to US based exhibitions that we either attend or produce. Have written numerous times to local congresswoman who refers petition to State department. Nothing gets solved; business is lost.
I can’t get colleagues and clients to US based exhibitions that we either attend or produce. Have written numerous times to local congresswoman who refers petition to State department. Nothing gets solved; business is lost.
Hello, I am the director of a nonprofit in Mexico City. We accompany and advocate people that grew up undocumented in the United States and because they returned or were deported have been in Mexico. We have a program called Visa Justice, for years we have accompanied folks apply for nonimmigrant visas. Since the beginning of the pandemic we have seen the long waiting times and would like to see if there is any possibility we can talk with someone from here, find maybe ways to collaborate and uplift our work and these demands we have in common. Thank you for reading my text and I hope to hear from you.
Hello, I am the director of a nonprofit in Mexico City. We accompany and advocate people that grew up undocumented in the United States and because they returned or were deported have been in Mexico. We have a program called Visa Justice, for years we have accompanied folks apply for nonimmigrant visas. Since the beginning of the pandemic we have seen the long waiting times and would like to see if there is any possibility we can talk with someone from here, find maybe ways to collaborate and uplift our work and these demands we have in common. Thank you for reading my text and I hope to hear from you.
Hello, I am the director of a nonprofit in Mexico City. We accompany and advocate people that grew up undocumented in the United States and because they returned or were deported have been in Mexico. We have a program called Visa Justice, for years we have accompanied folks apply for nonimmigrant visas. Since the beginning of the pandemic we have seen the long waiting times and would like to see if there is any possibility we can talk with someone from here, find maybe ways to collaborate and uplift our work and these demands we have in common. Thank you for reading my text and I hope to hear from you.
I work for a cruise company with base ports mainly in Florida, for training and experience purposes, the company allows me to travel and use our ships. I requested an appointment to obtain a US visa in August 2022 and they scheduled me for September 2024.
Trabajo para una compañía de cruceros con puertos bases principalmente en la florida, por temas de capacitación y experiencia la compañía me permite viajar para tener la experiencia de conocer los barcos, solicite la cita desde Agosto 2022 y me programaron para septiembre 2024
Trabalho para uma empresa de cruzeiros com portos principalmente na Flórida. Por motivos de treinamento e experiência a empresa me permite viajar para ter a experiência de conhecer os navios, solicitei o agendamento a partir de agosto de 2022 e me agendaram para setembro de 2024.
I’m from Argentina and I had a 10-year visa that expired in 2021. I applied for a visa in April 2021 and they gave me appointment for March 2024. Now after more calls, they gave an appointment for July 2023.
I’m from Argentina and I had a 10-year visa that expired in 2021. I applied for a visa in April 2021 and they gave me appointment for March 2024. Now after more calls, they gave an appointment for July 2023.
I’m from Argentina and I had a 10-year visa that expired in 2021. I applied for a visa in April 2021 and they gave me appointment for March 2024. Now after more calls, they gave an appointment for July 2023.
When global travelers experience excessive wait times for a U.S. visitor visa, they will go elsewhere and the United States misses an opportunity to welcome them.