US B1/B2 visa interview waits reach 21 months in Toronto as backlog worsens

The latest State Department figures as of June 18, 2026, show Canadian and Indian consular posts bearing the worst of a global backlog that shows no sign of easing

Travelers trying to book a B1/B2 visitor visa interview at a US consulate are facing some of the longest wait times in recent memory. Toronto tops the list at 21 months, and posts across Canada and India have seen dramatic increases that are making it increasingly difficult for business visitors, tourists, and families to plan trips to the United States, according to the US Department of State's global visa wait times tracker, updated as of June 18, 2026.

The B1/B2 visa covers short-term business travel and tourism, and for nationals who are not eligible for the US Visa Waiver Program or ESTA, it is the standard route into the country. The current bottleneck at key consulates means that for many applicants, the wait to even sit down for an interview now stretches well past a year.

Canada: the worst wait times globally

Canadian consular posts account for some of the most extreme numbers in the entire dataset. Toronto's 21-month wait puts it at or near the top of every global ranking. Ottawa is not far behind at 14 months, and Vancouver stands at 12 months. Even Calgary, at 7.5 months, and Halifax at 2.5 months, reflect a system under heavy pressure.

For Canadian travelers and residents who need a B1/B2 visa, the practical reality is that planning a trip to the US now requires thinking more than a year ahead in some cities.

India: steep month-on-month climbs

Indian posts have experienced some of the sharpest recent increases. Mumbai and Hyderabad both sit at 9.5 months, while New Delhi is at 7.5 months, and Chennai is at 5.5 months. Across most Indian cities, wait times jumped by at least two months compared to the previous reporting period, a roughly 36% increase in a single cycle.

Kolkata was a rare bright spot, ticking down slightly from 4.5 to 4 months, but the overall trajectory across India is clearly heading in the wrong direction for applicants.

Other major posts with long B1/B2 waits

The problem is far from limited to Canada and India. Bogota sits at 11 months, making it the longest wait in Latin America. Dhaka is at 9 months, Tegucigalpa at 8.5 months, and both Lima and San Jose at 7 months. Jerusalem and Melbourne are each at 7.5 months, and Islamabad is at 7 months.

On the other end of the spectrum, many posts in Europe and East Asia continue to operate with minimal friction. Berlin, Seoul, Singapore, and Hong Kong all show waits of under two weeks, offering a stark contrast to the situation in the hardest-hit regions.

How the State Department measures these numbers

The department tracks wait times in full months of 30 days and half-month blocks of 15 days. Published B1/B2 averages only appear for posts where the next open slot is more than three months out, meaning the true number of consulates under pressure is likely higher than the data captures.

What is driving the backlog

The congestion stems from multiple overlapping pressures. Appetite for US visitor and employment visas has not let up since borders reopened after COVID, and many consular offices are still running below full capacity when it comes to staffing. On top of that, certain nationalities face extra layers of security screening that extend processing timelines, and unresolved case volumes from prior years are still clogging the pipeline.

What applicants can do

The State Department has been clear that the published wait time is not a guaranteed appointment window. Fresh appointment windows open up periodically across the system, and the department recommends checking back often, since cancellations and newly added capacity can free up earlier dates without warning. For anyone facing a wait of six months or more, monitoring the booking system regularly could be the difference between making a planned trip and missing it entirely.