US issues 1.4 million visas for Indians in 2023, sets record
PTC News Desk: The US Consular Team in India processed a record 1.4 million US visas in 2023, the highest number ever, and reduced visitor visa appointment wait times by 75%.
The US Embassy and Consulates in India reported that Indians now account for one out of every ten US visa applicants worldwide.
According to the statement, "In 2023, the US Embassy and Consulates in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million US visas. Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60 per cent increase in applications compared to 2022. Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world."
Visitor visas (B1/B2) have rebounded to the second-highest number of applications in the US Mission's history, totalling over 7,00,000.
Process improvements and staffing investments have reduced the average appointment wait time for visitor visas from 1,000 to 250 days across the country, with minimal wait times in all categories.
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The US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student visas in 2023, more than any other country in the world, setting a record for the third consecutive year, according to the statement.
Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai are the top four student visa processing centres in the world. As a result, Indian students now account for the largest group of international graduate students in the United States. They account for more than a quarter of the over one million international students studying in the United States.
The US Embassy and Consulates also stated that 'employment visas' are a top priority.
Consular Team India consolidated most petition-based visa processing in Chennai and Hyderabad to increase efficiency, resulting in the processing of over 3,80,000 employment visas for Indians and their families in 2023 and allowing the US Mission to maintain a short appointment wait time.
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