The US Embassy in India has achieved a groundbreaking milestone, issuing an unprecedented 90,000 student visas during the summer months of July and August.
Remarkably, this statistic signifies that nearly a quarter of all US student visas granted globally can be traced back to India.
90,000 Student Visas Processed During July and August
The U.S. Embassy India posted on X (formerly Twitter), “The U.S. Mission in India is pleased to announce that we issued a record number – over 90,000 – of student visas this Summer/ in June, July, and August. This summer almost one in four student visas worldwide was issued right here in India! Congratulations and best wishes to all the students who have chosen the United States to make their higher education goals a reality! That’s a wrap! With teamwork and innovation, we ensured that all qualified applicants reached their programs on time.”
Additionally, Eric Garcetti, the United States Ambassador to India, recently shed light on significant improvements in visa processing.
He highlighted a substantial reduction in the wait time for first-time tourist visa interviews, surpassing a 50 percent decrease. Ambassador Garcetti further outlined their ambitious aim for 2023: to process a minimum of one million visas.
Speaking to an audience at IIT Delhi, Garcetti underscored the strides made in visa processing, affirming, “We’re already doing this. We’re currently processing more visas, faster, than the US Mission in India ever has before. We have set a goal for ourselves to process at least a million visas in 2023, and we’re already more than halfway towards reaching that goal.”
India and US’ Collaboration on Efforts To Streamline Visa Application Process
Both India and the United States have collaborated on efforts to streamline the visa application process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a visit to the United States, declared that Indian professionals would no longer be required to leave the country for H-1B visa renewals. This marked the introduction of ‘in-country’ renewable H-1B visas, a pivotal step in fostering closer ties between the nations.
Furthermore, strategic plans were revealed for the establishment of new consulates, showcasing the strengthening diplomatic relations. The United States is slated to open consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India is reciprocating with a new consulate in Seattle this year. The future holds even more promising prospects, with Indian Consulates set to emerge in two additional cities within the United States, demonstrating the commitment of both nations to fortify bilateral ties and facilitate smoother visa processes.
