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US opens additional 2.5 lakh visa appointment slots for Indian travelers
According to a statement by the US Embassy in India, the United States has made 2.5 lakh more visa appointments available to Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. As per the reports, these new slots have been announced in a move to facilitate Indian applicants secure timely visa interviews, which will further facilitate their travel, and in turn strengthen the close people-to-people ties between the United States and India.The embassy further stated that for the second consecutive year in 2024, they have already processed over one million non-immigrant visa applications.
This summer, the US consulates in India handled a record number of student visa applications, ensuring that all first-time applicants received confirmed appointments. According to sources, the Embassy is now concentrating on strengthening commercial ties, reuniting families, and promoting tourism.
According to statistics, more than 1.2 million Indians travelled to the United States in 2024 alone, representing a 35% increase over the same period in 2023. Currently, at least six million Indians hold non-immigrant visas for the United States.
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti highlighted the ambitious goal set by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden to improve and expedite the visa process. He emphasized that he is proud to state that they also managed to deliver the promise. He commended the US consular teams at the embassy and four consulates that has been working tirelessly to meet the increasing demand for visas.
If we go by reports, Indian students have become the largest group of international graduate students in the United States, representing over a quarter of the one million foreign students studying there. The United States remains one of the top four study destinations for Indian students, alongside Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In 2023, the US issued more than 140,000 student visas to Indians, more than any other country, marking the third consecutive year of record numbers.
Source: Times Of India
