US reduces wait time for visa as India is US ‘number one’ priority

US Visas processing time reduced: As India is United States' number one priority, US Visa officials decreased wait time in visa processing for Indians. 

Adding to the statement, there has been 36 per cent rise in visa processing across the country. 

While addressing a media interaction organised by Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies on Tuesday, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs Julie Stufft said, "India is the number one priority that we are facing right now. We are absolutely committed to getting out of this situation. Anyone in India seeking a visa appointment or visa have to wait for that's not certainly our ideal."

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US officials further added that US have issued 36 per cent more visas than we did before the Covid-19 pandemic in India. And that is a huge percentage of progress.

Meanwhile, US is also set to start the Visa stamping program  domestically within the US for visa renewals, including H-1 and L-1. Visa. The Department of State representative told reporters that initiatives are in place to speed up domestic visa revalidation in certain categories on a pilot basis.

"This fall will be the first that we'll be able to put out a call for applications. The pilot is this summer..and we're gonna be doing it for people in worker status. So that would be H's and L and, and I's," the official added.

US Visa department also focuses on expanding its interview waiver process for some temporary workers, students and academic exchange visitors.

"All the non-visitor time or student-visa have very very low wait times and that's really key. Our H-1B and F student's wait time were just as high almost six months ago and so we brought down the wait time."

Keeping in view the relations between US and India and people-to-people ties between both the nations, India remains the top priority for US.         

The officials said Indian applicants who happen to be travelling for business to another country can go and apply for a US visa. 

Meanwhile, earlier in the month of January US Mission in India also launched the first in a series of special Saturday interview days to reduce wait times for first-time visa applicants. The US Embassy in New Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad all opened consular operations on Saturday to accommodate applicants who require in-person visa interviews.

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The US Department of State has implemented remote processing of interview waiver cases for applicants with previous US visas. According to the statement, dozens of temporary consular officers from Washington and other embassies will arrive in India to increase processing capacity in January-March. 

- ANI

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