US Consulate In Kolkata Pilots 3 New B1/B2 Visa Measures for Applicants

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If you are planning to apply for a US B1/B2 visa in India, you may want to consider applying through the US Consulate in Kolkata, and the reason might surprise you.

The consulate is currently running pilot programs that could help eligible applicants get faster visa appointments, especially parents, business travellers, and genuine tourists. In addition to these initiatives, the consulate also appears to be testing new categories for B1/B2 visa applicants.

So, let’s take a closer look at the changes the US Consulate is making and how you could benefit from them.

1. Faster Visa Appointments for Parents

The biggest change is aimed at parents aged 50 and above who are planning to visit their children legally residing in the United States. The US Consulate is offering faster visa interview appointments for eligible applicants.

The new priority system is for:

  • Parents aged 50 or older
  • Those visiting children who legally reside in the United States
  • Applicants with a clear and verified travel purpose
  • Families with established ties to the U.S.

Visa applicants who want to check whether they qualify for the priority appointment programme can verify the eligibility details through the official U.S. visa website: U.S. Travel Docs India.

The move is intended to reduce long wait times for family visitors with genuine travel reasons and strong family connections.

2. Shorter Wait Time for B1/B2 Visa Applicants

Another major development is that the US Consulate in Kolkata is now offering shorter wait times and faster processing for certain genuine business travellers and tourists.

In a social media post, the consulate said the initiative aims to support “American economic priorities” by prioritising travellers who help strengthen business and tourism ties between India and the United States.

This could especially benefit:

  • Individuals travelling for legitimate short-term purposes
  • Frequent business travellers
  • Tourists with strong financial records
  • Applicants with previous international travel history

3. New B1/B2 Categories Appear for Some

The most interesting, though still unconfirmed, change is that some applicants selecting Kolkata as their visa location are reportedly seeing four new sub-categories under the B1/B2 visa section.

Until now, the process was fairly straightforward. Applicants selected the B1/B2 visa category, filled out the DS-160 form, and booked an appointment.

However, some applicants are now seeing four new sub-categories under B1/B2:

  • Business Professionals (conditions apply)
  • Parents Visiting Children with Legal Status (conditions apply)
  • General Tourism & Travel (for applicants with no past refusals)
  • Recent Visa Refusal (within 24 months)

At the moment, there is no official explanation regarding what these “conditions” involve.

No Official Policy Change Yet

While the first two developments have been officially shared by the consulate, there is still no official update regarding the third change. As of now, these pilot programs are limited to the Kolkata consulate and remain part of a trial initiative.

There is no confirmation yet on whether similar programs will be expanded to other US consulates in India.

Travelobiz Take

We think this Kolkata pilot is worth exploring, especially for parents and genuine travellers facing long waits. If expanded nationwide, it could make the US visa process far more practical and efficient.

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