Applying for a US B1/B2 Visa from Kolkata? Consulate now has 4 appointment categories

The U.S. Consulate in Kolkata has expanded its B1/B2 visa appointment scheduling system by introducing multiple purpose-specific interview categories. Applicants selecting Kolkata as their interview location will now see four separate categories when booking a B1/B2 visa appointment.

Immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth said the change could be linked to a broader policy shift, building on the recently announced 'America First in Family Values' initiative that prioritizes parents aged 50 and above visiting children lawfully residing in the United States. She cautioned that these initiatives may not result in approvals.

The new segmented structure currently appears only when Kolkata is selected as the interview location. Other U.S. consulates in India, including Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, still show the usual single B1/B2 visa category. Attorney Kevin J. Andrews said he suspects it is a pilot program at one of the smaller posts, aligning with the government's broader move toward continuous vetting of all foreign nationals.

The categories include one for 'recent visa refusals,' which has raised questions among applicants. Andrews said triaging appointments in this way creates a kind of credit system where a 214B refusal operates like a bankruptcy to someone applying for a loan. Ananth said the categorization appears intended to improve appointment management by grouping applicants according to travel purpose and recent visa history, but does not alter legal standards for visa issuance.