US opens 2.5 lakh visa appointments for Indians amid record travel numbers

NEW DELHI:The US embassy here Monday announced the availability of an additional 2.5 lakh visa appointments for Indian citizens to "facilitate timely interviews and streamline the travel process." Post Covid there has been a surge in visa applications - across all categories - and the US has been taking all steps since late 2021 to cut the waiting period for interviews. But the sheer volumes mean a waiting period of over a year for interview required visitor visa in many US missions here -- a sharp improvement of almost 3 years seen in end of 2021.

This year, for instance, a record number of student visas have been issued - for the fourth time in a row. While the exact number is not yet known, it is more than the over 1.4 lakh student visas issued last year — which was the most for any country globally then.
“During our student visa season this (2024) summer, we processed record numbers, and all first-time student applicants were able to obtain an appointment at one of our five consular sections around India,” the US Embassy said Monday.

The 2.5 lakh visa appointments were opened as the US missions in India crossed 10 lakh non-immigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year. Over 12 lakh Indians have travelled to the US in 2024, representing a 35% increase from the same period in 2023. And 60 lakh Indians hold valid non-immigrant visas, with thousands more being issued daily, the embassy said.

Speaking about the collaborative efforts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden to enhance and expedite the visa process, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said: "PM Modi and President Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process and 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.”