The US Mission to India has announced the opening of an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. This move is aimed at facilitating timely interviews and meeting the growing demand for US visas.
The newly released slots will help hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants, strengthening the people-to-people ties between the US and India. The US Mission has already surpassed one million nonimmigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year.
Record Numbers in Student Visa Season
During the student visa season this summer, the US processed a record number of applications. All first-time student applicants were able to obtain an appointment at one of the five consular sections around India.
The US Mission is now focused on bringing families together, connecting businesses, and facilitating tourism. Over 1.2 million Indians have traveled to the United States in 2024, marking a 35% increase over the same period in 2023.
At least six million Indians already hold nonimmigrant visas to visit the United States, with thousands more being issued daily. In 2023, the US issued over 1.4 lakh student visas to Indians, setting a record for the third year in a row.
Ambitious Goal to Improve Visa Process
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process. 'I'm proud to say that we have delivered on that promise. Our consular teams at the embassy and four consulates work tirelessly to ensure that we meet the surging demand,' he said.
The embassys efforts have been ongoing, with initiatives such as opening the embassy on Saturdays to interview over 1,000 visitor visa applicants. The increased availability of visa slots is expected to alleviate wait times for applicants.
