In 2024, the United States issued over one million non-immigrant visas to Indian nationals, including a record number of visitor visas, the US mission in India reported. This marks the second consecutive year of such high numbers, highlighting the growing demand among Indians to travel to the US for tourism, business, and education.

The US mission revealed that in the past four years, the number of visitors from India has surged by five times. More than two million Indians traveled to the US in the first 11 months of 2024, a 26% increase compared to the same period in 2023. With over five million Indians already holding non-immigrant visas, the embassy issues thousands of new visas every day.

In addition to non-immigrant visas, the United States issued a large number of immigrant visas, supporting family reunification and the relocation of skilled professionals. Those who received these immigrant visas gained permanent residency upon arriving in the US, further enriching the already thriving Indian community in the country.

In addition to these, the US State Department introduced a pilot program this year that allowed H-1B visa holders to renew their visas within the US. This initiative helped many Indian workers in specialty occupations renew their visas without leaving the country. The program streamlined the process for thousands of applicants, and the Department of State plans to establish a formal US-based renewal program in 2025.

The record-breaking number of student visas issued to Indian nationals was another significant milestone. India emerged as the leading source of international students in the US in 2024, with over 331,000 Indian students enrolled in educational institutions across the country. This is the first time India has held this position since the 2008/2009 academic year. Furthermore, India remained the largest sender of international graduate students to the US for the second consecutive year, with graduate student numbers increasing by 19% to nearly 200,000.

The US mission to India remains committed to fostering strong bilateral relations and providing exceptional consular services. These achievements are a testament to the hard work of the US mission’s staff and the enduring partnership between the United States and India.