An Indian B-1 visa applicant with an approved emergency request is in a highly stressful situation. Despite their approved request, it has been impossible to actually find even a single slot.
The applicant took to Reddit to ask for advice, as the last date for booking an emergency slot is nearly past. They have to attend a conference in the US in early November.
The calendar for booking appointments shows that regular slots are available for next year. However, the emergency slots remain unavailable.
The applicant has raised multiple tickets with visa support. However, the support team has been unhelpful.
They have stated that they cannot help with visa slots, as they are on first come, first serve basis.
Experts have stated that a conference is not considered an emergency by the US embassy. While approvals for emergency visas are common, it is nearly impossible to find slots for the same.
Even if the applicant can secure a slot, their visa approval seems to be in doubt. Expedited slots are granted only in cases of medical emergency or for the death of a relative.
They can also be granted for important business meetings. The meeting has to such that missing it will cause immense financial loss for a company.
The applicant is a speaker for the conference, but that may not qualify as an emergency.
This situation shows the extent of the B-1/B-2 crisis in India. In many cities, wait times extend to over a year.
