The US Embassy has announced the issuance of over 2.50
lakh
visas for Indian tourists, skilled workers and students
Los Angeles/ Oct 01, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
IThe US embassy has announced the availability of an additional 2.5 lakh visa appointments for Indian citizens, aimed at facilitating timely interviews and improving the travel process. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in visa applications across all categories, prompting the US to implement measures since late 2021 to reduce interview wait times. Despite these efforts, high demand has resulted in a waiting period exceeding one year for interview-required visitor visas at many US consulates in India, although this marks a significant improvement from the nearly three-year wait seen in late 2021.
This year, a record number of student visas have been issued, marking the fourth consecutive year of record issuance. While the final tally is yet to be confirmed, the number exceeds the 1.4 lakh student visas issued in 2023 — the highest for any country globally at the time. "During our student visa season this summer, we processed record numbers, and all first-time student applicants were able to secure appointments at one of our five consular sections across India," the US Embassy stated on Monday.
The opening of these additional 2.5 lakh visa appointments comes as US missions in India surpassed 10 lakh non-immigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year. In 2024, over 12 lakh Indians traveled to the US, a 35% increase from the same period in 2023. Additionally, 60 lakh Indians currently hold valid non-immigrant visas, with thousands more being issued daily, the embassy added.
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti highlighted the ongoing collaborative efforts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden to enhance and speed up the visa process. "PM Modi and President Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process, and I’m proud to say we have delivered on that promise. Our consular teams at the embassy and four consulates work tirelessly to meet the surging demand," Garcetti said.
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