To help people who need in-person visa interviews, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad will be open on Saturday, December 7. They call this special event “Super Saturday.” On this day, they will use all their resources to conduct as many visa interviews as possible. Earlier this year, the U.S. Mission in India started holding special Saturday interview days to reduce wait times for first-time visa applicants.
In a statement, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India said, “This fourth ‘Super Saturday’ is an innovative way to keep pace with the growing demand for travel between the United States and India. These additional interview days are just one component of a multi-pronged initiative to address the burgeoning demand in India for travel to the United States.”
The U.S. Department of State has also started processing some visa applications remotely for people who have had U.S. visas before. They are increasing the number of consular officers working at the Embassy and Consulates.
Mark McGovern, the Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, said, “This year, we’ve already processed more than one million visas across India, and we are so excited to be here for the fourth ‘Super Saturday.’ But our work isn’t just about the numbers; each visa means a family reunified, a business deal made, a new educational experience, or a tourist visiting America for the first time.”
He added, “The people-to-people ties between the United States and India are stronger than ever, and we certainly understand that so is the demand for visas. That’s why we’re working overtime to keep the momentum going, even if it means coming in on a Saturday. Knowing that we can have that kind of impact makes this job so rewarding.”
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The U.S. Mission to India has prioritized legitimate travel and processed thousands of visas, including record numbers of student and employment visas. For all other visa categories, interview wait times in India are now at pre-pandemic levels or even shorter.
