The US Embassy in India has shattered previous records by granting a staggering 90,000 student visas during the summer months of July and August. This monumental achievement means that nearly one in every four student visas issued globally during this period was provided in India. The announcement was made via the official communication channel of the US Embassy in India, 'X,' (formerly known as Twitter) on a recent Monday.
The US Mission in India expressed its delight, stating, "The US Mission in India is pleased to announce that we issued a record number – over 90,000 – of student visas this summer, spanning June through August. This summer, almost one in four student visas worldwide was issued right here in India!"
In addition to celebrating this remarkable feat, the US Embassy extended its congratulations to the multitude of students who have chosen the United States as the destination to realize their higher education aspirations.
Notably, United States Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, shared encouraging news regarding the reduction of wait times for first-time tourist visa interviews, revealing a significant reduction of more than 50 percent. He also articulated an ambitious goal for 2023: to process a minimum of one million visas.
During a speech at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), Ambassador Garcetti underscored the substantial improvements made in visa processing, emphasizing that the US Mission in India is currently processing visas at an unprecedented pace. Addressing the audience at IIT Delhi, Garcetti proclaimed, "We are already making remarkable progress. We are currently processing visas more expeditiously than at any previous point in the history of the US Mission in India. We have set a target for ourselves to process a minimum of one million visas in 2023, and we are already more than halfway towards achieving that goal."
The United States and India have jointly undertaken numerous initiatives to streamline the visa application process. During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement, eliminating the need for Indian professionals to depart from American soil for H-1B visa renewals. US authorities have committed to introducing 'in-country' renewable H-1B visas as part of a people-to-people initiative designed to simplify the H-1B visa renewal process.
Prime Minister Modi also disclosed plans for the United States to establish new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India reciprocated by announcing the imminent opening of a new consulate in Seattle later this year. Additionally, Indian consulates are set to be established in two more American cities.
In a previous address at the US Embassy in June, US envoy to India Eric Garcetti revealed another astounding statistic, stating, "One out of every five US student visas was issued here in India in 2022. One out of every five in the world, which exceeds the proportion of the Indian population in the global context."
Garcetti further praised the academic excellence displayed by Indian students in the United States over the years, declaring, "So, Indians have not only pursued an education in the United States but have consistently demonstrated their excellence in the United States. We are well on our way to processing the highest number of visa applications in our history," he added with optimism.
Read More:
India-Canada Relations: Tensions Rise Amid OCI Cancellations and Visa Suspensions
Tensions Escalate: Trudeau Reiterates Accusation Against India, Key Points
