The US Mission in India has recently announced an additional 250,000 visa appointment slots for Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. This move aims to simplify the visa process, ensure timely interviews, and promote travel, reinforcing the strong relationship between the United States and India.
The US Embassy in New Delhi has reported a major rise in Indian travel to the US in 2024, with over 1.2 million Indians visiting—an increase of 35% compared to 2023. Due to this growing demand, the embassy has taken proactive measures to handle the rising number of visa applicants.
the US Embassy said that, "The US Mission to India has already surpassed one million nonimmigrant 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."
They added, "We are now focused on bringing families together, connecting businesses, and facilitating tourism. At least six million Indians already have a nonimmigrant visa to visit the United States, and each day, the Mission issues thousands more."
US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, praised the consular teams in India, stating, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and speed up the visa process, and I am proud to say we achieved that." He also recognized the hard work of the embassy and consulate teams in handling the increased demand for visas.
The embassy has processed over one million nonimmigrant visa applications for the second year in a row, setting records during the recent student visa season. First-time student applicants could easily get appointments at all five consular offices in India, ensuring their travel plans went smoothly.
Currently, more than six million Indians have nonimmigrant visas, and the US Mission continues to issue thousands of new visas daily.