New Delhi: The US Embassy in India announced on Monday that it had opened an additional 250,000 visa slots for Indian visitors, including tourists, skilled professionals and students.
“The recently released new slots will help hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants take timely interviews, facilitating the travel which is the backbone of the people-to-people ties that underpin the US-India relationship,” stated the US Mission to India.
It also detailed that the Indian Mission has already surpassed one million non-immigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year.
“During our student visa season this summer, we continued to process record numbers, and all first-time student applicants were able to obtain an appointment at one of our five consular sections around India. We are now focused on bringing families together, connecting businesses, and facilitating tourism,” the statement added.
More than 1.2 million Indians have travelled to the United States year to date in 2024, marking a significant 35 percent increase over the same period in 2023. This growth underscores the increasing popularity of the US as a travel destination for Indian visitors.
According to the US Mission, at least six million Indians already have a non-immigrant visa to visit the United States, and each day, it issues thousands more. These visas include tourist visas, student visas, and work visas, each with its own set of requirements and benefits.
The Embassy on Monday underscored the profound significance of the United States’ partnership with India, emphasising that it is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history. The US Senate’s designation of September 30 as a ‘US-India Partnership Day’ is a testament to the two countries’ significant contributions to each other and a relationship that continues to shape the 21st century.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe 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,” US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said recently.
Last week, during his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the Indian government will open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles.
“Last year, I announced the opening of a new Indian consulate in Seattle. I sought your suggestions for two additional Consulates. India has now decided to open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles,” remarked PM Modi while interacting with the Indian diaspora in New York’s Nassau Coliseum.
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–IANS
