Published on
December 7, 2025
Canada joins the UAE, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and others in facing some of the longest wait times for US tourist visas. These countries are grappling with significant delays due to a high volume of applicants, overwhelming consular services that were not designed to handle such demand. Factors like a large population of non-citizens in Canada, the surge in applications from countries like India, China, and Nigeria, and the prioritization of certain visa types have all contributed to this ongoing challenge. As the wait times for US B-1/B-2 visas reach record highs, travelers in these regions are finding themselves caught in extended processing periods. This article dives into the reasons behind these delays and provides essential insights for applicants navigating this complex situation.
Canada’s Visa Wait Times: A Record-Breaking Struggle
Canada’s consulates in Calgary and Toronto are currently facing some of the longest wait times for US B-1/B-2 tourist visas, and Calgary has taken the global lead with up to 24 months of delays. Toronto isn’t far behind, with an estimated wait time of 17.5 months, one of the longest in North America. Why the long delays? A major contributing factor is the sheer number of non-citizens in Canada—especially international students and foreign workers from countries like India, China, and Nigeria—who all need US visas. The system simply wasn’t designed to handle this influx, leaving consulates overwhelmed and applicants stuck in limbo.
| Location | Wait Time | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary | Up to 24 months | High volume of non-citizens, including international students and workers from India, China, and Nigeria. |
| Toronto | 17.5 months | Similar high demand from foreign nationals living in Canada. |
Abu Dhabi’s Visa Wait: Immigrant Cases Slow Things Down
In the UAE, Abu Dhabi has the longest wait time for US tourist visas, at 14.4 months, significantly longer than nearby Dubai, which has a wait time of under 10 months. The reason for this? Abu Dhabi handles a much higher volume of immigrant visa cases, which are more complex and take longer to process. This results in fewer resources available to process simpler non-immigrant visas, like tourist visas, leading to longer delays for travelers looking to visit the US. While Dubai remains quicker, Abu Dhabi continues to be bogged down by its immigrant visa backlog.
| Location | Wait Time | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 14.4 months | High volume of immigrant visa cases, limiting capacity for non-immigrant visas. |
| Dubai | Under 10 months | Shorter wait due to less strain on consular capacity. |
India’s Mumbai: The Epicenter of Visa Delays
Mumbai has become infamous for its long wait times for US tourist visas, with delays ranging from 9.5 to 11 months. The demand in Western India is enormous, making Mumbai one of the busiest consulates for B-1/B-2 visa applications. However, not all is lost—New Delhi has managed to shorten its wait time to as low as 3.5 months by prioritizing employment and student visas over tourist visas. While this is great news for students and workers, it’s contributing to even longer delays for tourist applicants, especially in Mumbai.
| Location | Wait Time | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 9.5 to 11 months | High demand from Western India, large volume of B-1/B-2 applications. |
| New Delhi | 3.5 months | Priority given to employment and student visa categories. |
Pakistan’s Visa Wait: Improvement, But Still a Wait
In Pakistan, the wait time for US tourist visas has improved significantly, now averaging around 11 months—a considerable drop from the previous peak of 14.5 months. The US Mission in Pakistan has been working hard to ease the pressure by expanding visa processing capacity and offering expedited appointments. Applicants can also schedule interviews at either Islamabad or Karachi, providing some flexibility. Despite these efforts, high demand continues to create long waits, making the visa process still a bit of a waiting game for many.
| Location | Wait Time | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Average | 11 months | Expanded visa processing capacity, introduction of expedited appointments. |
| Islamabad/ Karachi | Flexible appointment scheduling options | High demand for US visas. |
Nigeria’s Lagos: The Visa Capital of West Africa
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, is experiencing a 12.5-month wait time for US tourist visas. This is reflective of the high demand from Nigerians seeking to travel to the US for business, education, and family reunification. As the primary commercial center in the country, Lagos handles an overwhelming number of visa applications. While other African consulates, such as those in Abuja, Nairobi, and Accra, also face delays, Lagos stands out due to the sheer volume of applicants. The demand for visas continues to outpace the consular capacity, resulting in significant processing delays for travelers.
| Location | Wait Time | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Lagos | 12.5 months | High demand for business, education, and family reunification travel. |
| Abuja | Longer wait times | Other posts like Abuja experience delays, but Lagos is the most impacted. |
Canada joins the UAE, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and others in facing some of the longest wait times for US tourist visas. High demand, especially from non-citizens and limited processing capacity, contribute to these record delays.
Conclusion
Canada has joined the UAE, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and other countries in facing the longest wait times for US tourist visas. The surge in demand, particularly from non-citizens, coupled with overwhelmed consular systems, has led to these record-breaking delays. As applicants continue to navigate this backlog, it’s essential for travelers in these regions to plan ahead and stay informed about processing timelines to avoid potential setbacks.
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