The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has introduced two critical tools aimed at improving transparency and predictability in the immigrant and nonimmigrant visa wait times. As of April 29, 2025, these resources are now live and publicly accessible on the DOS website, providing updated information that could assist foreign nationals, U.S.-based sponsors, and immigration counsel in estimating interview timelines.
1. Global Visa Wait Times Tool
This tool offers a monthly snapshot by consular post of:
- The next available visa interview date for select nonimmigrant visa categories
- The average wait time for a B-visa (visitor visa) interview
This information is especially useful for foreign nationals seeking temporary admission for business or tourism purposes and who wish to better anticipate delays at their respective consulates.
Click here to access.
2. Immigrant Visa (IV) Scheduling Status Tool
The more impactful of the two tools, the IV Scheduling Status Tool, allows users to:
- View data by post and visa category
- See the month and year in which recently scheduled immigrant visa cases became documentarily complete
- Estimate how long it may take for their own case to be scheduled, based on a comparative timeline
This tool is updated monthly and reflects ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to provide greater visibility into consular processing times, particularly as visa backlogs continue to affect global applicants.
Limitations of the IV Scheduling Tool
While this tool provides valuable insight, the DOS notes that:
- It cannot guarantee or predict exact interview dates
- Certain categories are not reflected in the IV tool, including:
- Diversity Visas (DV)
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)
- I-601A Provisional Waivers
- Adoption-based visas
These exclusions mean that applicants in those categories must continue to rely on direct updates from the National Visa Center (NVC) or their legal representative.
What This Means for Applicants
For foreign nationals and U.S. petitioners, these tools provide greater clarity on case progress, especially for those awaiting long-delayed interviews. While not a substitute for formal case-specific updates from the NVC or consulate, these resources offer greater predictability in an otherwise opaque process.
At Ahluwalia Law Offices, we recommend clients regularly monitor these tools as part of their visa planning strategy. For personalized case analysis or help understanding your visa timeline, please schedule a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys.
