Latest news with #HimanshuPatil
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
This Indian consulate has the shortest wait time for a US visa right now. It's not Delhi or Mumbai
Visitor visa appointment wait times at the US consulate in Kolkata have eased to six months, the shortest across India. By comparison, wait times for B1/B2 visa interviews remain longer in other major consulates: Delhi at 8 months, Mumbai 9.5 months, Hyderabad 7 months, and Chennai facing the longest wait of 14 months. The B1/B2 visa is used by Indian travelers visiting the United States for short-term business or tourism. These visas are among the most sought-after, and demand surged after the resumption of international travel post-pandemic. At the height of the backlog in 2022 and early 2023, wait times had crossed 800 days in some cities. ALSO READ: US is on track to lose $12 billion in travel revenue in 2025 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Toyota 4Runner Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) MorninJoy Undo This comes amid US visa applicants nationwide, including business and leisure travellers, are facing increasing challenges as wait times exceed a year in some cities, rescheduling becomes difficult, and interviews grow more detailed and stringent. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) ALSO READ: US student visa delays leave Indian applicants in worry Live Events As per new updates on visa changes, from May, if applicants do not appear for their scheduled appointment for the US visa, they will be blocked from booking a new appointment for 120 days, which applies to both interview and interview-waiver appointments. Applicants can reschedule the appointment only once now, effective January 1, 2025, as opposed to twice previously, agents familiar with the matter said. ALSO READ: US grant cuts spur foreign recruitment of American scientists While appointment delays have been there after the Covid-19 pandemic, timelines are now breaching the one-year mark, said Kapil Jain, cofounder and chief executive of Fly Divine Travels. 'Before January, it was taking about 8-9 months to one year for an appointment. You could get it in less than a year. But now that one year timeline is also getting breached. Rejection rates also seem to have gone up, and we know of applicants who got rejected for business and leisure visas despite solid documentation,' he added. Applicants with serious work commitments are flying to Singapore and Thailand for appointments as they are unable to secure appointments on time in India, said Himanshu Patil, director of Kesari Tours and president of the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India. 'We are not hearing of such delays in countries like China where appointments are available in a matter of weeks. Since there is no intervention by the government, we are also helpless. One of my friends flew to Singapore for the visa appointment and thereafter, took a flight for the US from Singapore after getting his visa,' said Patil.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Delays across categories: Wait for US visa now extends to over a year
Live Events It's not just students—US visa seekers across categories, including business and leisure travellers, are facing mounting hurdles as appointment wait times cross a year in some regions, rescheduling gets tougher, and interviews become more detailed and visa appointment availability for some western regions is now stretching to nearly a year and a half or the end of 2026, travel companies and agents familiar with the matter told ET. For North, East and South, this could take around one per new updates on visa changes, from May, if applicants do not appear for their scheduled appointment for the US visa, they will be blocked from booking a new appointment for 120 days, which applies to both interview and interview-waiver appointments. Applicants can reschedule the appointment only once now, effective January 1, 2025, as opposed to twice previously, agents familiar with the matter said.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)While appointment delays have been there after the Covid-19 pandemic, timelines are now breaching the one-year mark, said Kapil Jain, cofounder and chief executive of Fly Divine Travels. 'Before January, it was taking about 8-9 months to one year for an appointment. You could get it in less than a year. But now that one year timeline is also getting breached. Rejection rates also seem to have gone up, and we know of applicants who got rejected for business and leisure visas despite solid documentation,' he with serious work commitments are flying to Singapore and Thailand for appointments as they are unable to secure appointments on time in India, said Himanshu Patil, director of Kesari Tours and president of the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India. 'We are not hearing of such delays in countries like China where appointments are available in a matter of weeks. Since there is no intervention by the government, we are also helpless. One of my friends flew to Singapore for the visa appointment and thereafter, took a flight for the US from Singapore after getting his visa,' said Patil.'New visas are a challenge. Those days have gone when people used to book a US trip with us before the visa and used to fly in a month's time. We are hearing the US government is cracking down on unscrupulous agents, but we are still hearing of cases where people are paying extra to middlemen to secure appointments,' he Nahta, founder and CEO of visa platform Atlys, said there has been a noticeable uptick in how carefully US visa applications are being reviewed in 2025. 'Many travellers have shared that US visa interviews feel more detailed this year, with officers asking sharper questions about travel plans, timelines and intent,' he a post on X in March this year, the US Embassy in India said the consular team in India was cancelling about 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. In another update in May, it stated that the Department of State was taking steps to impose visa restrictions on owners, executives and senior officials of travel agencies based and operating in India for knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the US. The names of the agencies could not be ascertained. Queries sent to CGI that provides visa processing support to US embassies and consulates did not elicit a response till the time of going to press on seems to be a greater scrutiny for US visa appointments, said Kartik Batra, founder of travel services provider Travexo. 'Appointment timelines continue being stretched with appointments available one year down the line. As a result, people who have to travel urgently fall prey to unethical practices. A new visa case for business or leisure travel could take one year or more,' he added.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In solidarity Indian tourists, operators cancel holidays to Turkey, Azerbaijan
Live Events You Might Also Like: Indians call for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan amid escalating tensions with Pakistan (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Many Indians are cancelling planned trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan while some travel operators have suspended tour packages to these countries amid growing boycott calls on social media after they condemned India's ' Operation Sindoor ' strikes on terror infrastructure in these countries had become popular among Indian travellers and the developments will impact bookings, said Himanshu Patil, director at Kesari Tours, and president of Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI). "Travel is my business, but people are right in thinking this way," he said. "It is unfortunate that these countries are siding with Pakistan and going against India."Cox & Kings on Friday said it has decided to "temporarily pause" all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey in keeping with the broader sentiments of its customers and the nation, and in a bid to prioritise traveller safety. "We also advise Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment," said Karan Agarwal, director at Cox & Kings. EaseMyTrip stated on X that it would recommend visiting Turkey and Azerbaijan "only if absolutely necessary."Foreign ministries of Turkey and Azerbaijan had in separate statements on Wednesday condemned India's attacks in Pakistan in the early ours of Wednesday, agreeing with Pakistan's claims that civilians were has maintained that its focused, measured and non-escalatory operation hit terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and that military establishments and civilians were not BoycottTurkeyAzerbaijan was trending on X on Thursday evening with over 12,000 posts."Tourism is a choice. So is dignity," read a widely shared post on social media, while another one stated: "2.4 lakh Indians travelled to Azerbaijan, 3.3 lakh Indians travelled to Turkey in 2024. Why fund Pakistan's allies? Support India's friends-Armenia and Greece!"Siddharth Bakaria, founder of Goa-based holiday rentals platform Goa Villas and Go Homestays, who also offers travel packages including flight bookings for overseas countries, said he has decided to end his partnership with Turkish airlines due to their "unsupportive stance" towards whose firms have 117 listed properties in Goa, has also decided not to offer any accommodation to Turkish citizens. "Pakistan has attacked India several times and most countries are supporting us. On the other hand, Turkey is openly supporting Pakistan. We stand with our country and have decided not to offer any accommodation to Turkish citizens in Goa," he and Azerbaijan had gained considerable traction from India with better air connectivity, marketing and promotions.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Indians call for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan amid escalating tensions with Pakistan
Amid rising tensions, many Indians are boycotting travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan. This follows reports of their support for Pakistan. Travel companies are seeing cancellations. Some businesses are refusing service to Turkish citizens. The hashtag BoycottTurkeyAzerbaijan is trending. Both countries had seen increased Indian tourism due to better connectivity and marketing. The boycott impacts tourism growth in both countries. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Thousands of Indians called for boycotting travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and following reports that the two countries had expressed support for Pakistan."Tourism is a choice. So is dignity", read a widely shared post on social media, while another one stated: '2.4 lakh Indians travelled to Azerbaijan, 3.3 lakh Indians travelled to Turkey in 2024. Why fund Pakistan's allies? Support India's friends-Armenia and Greece!."Himanshu Patil, director, Kesari Tours , and president, Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) said enquiries have started coming in from travellers who are looking at cancelling plans of travelling to the destinations.'Both the countries had become quite popular. The developments are going to impact bookings to the two countries and they should. Travel is my business, but people are right in thinking this way,' said Patil.'Today, the morale of the nation is so high and everyone is standing firmly with our armed forces. If in such a scenario, a country is supporting our enemy, it means they are going against us. I have asked a friend who was supposed to travel to Turkey on May 14 to hold off on her plans. It is unfortunate that these countries are siding with Pakistan and going against India,' he Bakaria, founder of Goa Villas, an online platform that showcases holiday rentals and alternative accommodation options in Goa and has 117 listed properties, said he has decided not to offer any accommodation to Turkish citizens. Bakaria, who is also the founder of Go Homestays and also offers travel packages, including flight bookings for overseas countries said he was officially ending his partnership with Turkish airlines due to their unsupportive stance towards India.'Pakistan has attacked India several times and most countries are supporting us. On the other hand, Turkey is openly supporting Pakistan. We stand with our country and have decided not to offer any accommodation to Turkish citizens in Goa,' he BoycottTurkeyAzerbaijan was trending on X on Thursday evening with over 12,000 posts after reports stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye and Azerbaijan had issued separate statements in support of countries had gained considerable traction from India with better air connectivity, and marketing and promotions. Türkiye Tourism Board stated earlier this year that it welcomed 62.2 million global visitors last year and that the Indian market grew by 20.7%. 'This surge can be attributed to enhanced air connectivity between major Indian cities and Turkish destinations, growing popularity among Indian wedding planners and MICE organisers, and the introduction of specialised Turkish experiences catering to Indian preferences,' the Board had stated and added that 'strategic' marketing initiatives in the Indian market have also played a 'crucial' role in positioning Türkiye as a preferred destination for Indian per reports, in January this year, Azerbaijan saw a considerable increase in the number of Indian visitors, and doubled its number of Indian visitors to 243,000 last year. In January, over 17,000 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan, the highest number recorded for that month compared to previous Indians call for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan amid escalating tensions with Pakistan
