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    Embassies and consulates · India · Chennai

    Temporary work visas at Chennai

    As of September 17, 2026, the State Department lists a 1.5 months wait for the next temporary work visa appointment at Chennai, against a median of 15 days. 148 of 184 posts list a shorter wait.

    Source: U.S. Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times · Published 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2026-09-17

    The same wait elsewhere in India

    Petition-based work (H, L, O, P, Q), from the same State Department table. Applicants can usually interview at any post in their country of residence.

    Temporary work visas issued at Chennai

    Chennai issued 3,193 temporary work visas in February 2026, 82% fewer than February 2025 (17,748). 136,864 over the past 12 months (sum of monthly reports, not an official total). The count covers H, L, O, P and Q classes and their dependants.

    Nonimmigrant visas issued at Chennai each month, October 2022 to February 2026. The monthly figures are listed below the chart.010k20k30k2023202420252026
    Monthly figures
    MonthVisas issued
    Feb 20263,193
    Jan 20263,083
    Dec 202510,549
    Nov 202511,537
    Oct 20257,445
    Sep 20257,035
    Aug 20258,337
    Jul 202522,129
    Jun 202520,318
    May 202514,181
    Apr 202514,477
    Mar 202514,580
    Feb 202517,748
    Jan 202520,302
    Dec 202425,436
    Nov 202413,931
    Oct 202415,240
    Sep 202412,105
    Aug 202411,372
    Jul 202417,118
    Jun 202416,390
    May 202420,478
    Apr 202420,736
    Mar 202423,232
    Feb 202419,806
    Jan 202412,789
    Dec 20238,044
    Nov 202313,753
    Oct 20239,000
    Sep 20238,008
    Aug 20239,214
    Jul 202310,150
    Jun 202311,986
    May 202313,978
    Apr 20239,471
    Mar 202319,288
    Feb 202312,629
    Jan 202312,661
    Dec 202212,470
    Nov 202213,682
    Oct 20229,786
    Visa classFeb 2026Feb 2025Past 12 monthsSum of monthly reports, not an official total
    H1BSpecialty occupation worker9869,77861,255
    H4H worker's spouse or child5075,53848,103
    L2Intracompany transferee's spouse or child7801,10913,619
    L1Intracompany transferee7961,08212,113
    P350120914
    O1Person of extraordinary ability4587507
    O32129192
    O24299
    H33029
    P10016
    P41311
    H2BTemporary non-agricultural worker006

    Sources: U.S. Department of State: Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances and U.S. Department of State: Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2022-10/2026-02

    Get an email when the Chennai work visa figure changes

    Petition-based work (H, L, O, P, Q): 1.5 months now

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    What H-1B and Employment Visas applicants report being asked

    These figures come from 315 interview reports that applicants shared publicly, at every post rather than Chennai alone. They describe who chose to report, not every applicant.

    58%

    Employment questions

    In about 185 reports

    41%

    Current employment

    In about 130 reports

    22%

    Identity verification

    In about 70 reports

    Source: Visa Interviews Research release 2026.07.18-us-v1 · Published 2026-07-18 · Coverage 2024-03 to 2026-07Every H-1B and Employment Visas finding →

    Other visas at Chennai

    Where these figures come from

    The State Department publishes each of these separately, on its own schedule. We show each one with its own date and never add figures from one to another.