Crime Today News
US Visa
In a remarkable feat, the U.S. Consular Team in India achieved an unprecedented milestone in 2023, processing a record-breaking 1.4 million U.S. visas. This remarkable accomplishment not only marks a historic high for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India but also significantly reduces visitor visa appointment wait times by a staggering 75 percent.
The surge in demand for visas across all categories was nothing short of extraordinary, with a remarkable 60 percent increase in applications compared to the previous year. Indians now constitute a significant portion, representing one out of every ten U.S. visa applicants worldwide.
Visitor visas (B1/B2) saw a remarkable rebound, constituting the second-highest number of applications in the U.S. Mission’s history, totaling over 700,000. To meet this overwhelming demand, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates undertook proactive measures including a three-month staffing surge in Mumbai, bolstering permanent staff levels, and implementing innovative technical solutions. These strategic interventions resulted in a drastic reduction in appointment wait times for visitor visas, plummeting from an average of 1,000 days to a mere 250 days nationwide. Wait times across other visa categories have also been minimized, according to a recent press release.
The U.S. consular team in India issued a staggering 140,000 student visas in 2023, setting a record for the third consecutive year and surpassing any other country globally. Major cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai now stand out as the top four student visa processing hubs worldwide. Consequently, Indian students have emerged as the largest group of international graduate students in the United States, constituting over a quarter of the one million-plus foreign students studying in the country.
Recognizing the importance of employment visas, Consular Team India streamlined petition-based visa processing primarily in Chennai and Hyderabad, resulting in the issuance of over 380,000 employment visas for Indians and their families in 2023. This strategic consolidation significantly enhanced efficiency and maintained minimal appointment wait times. Looking ahead to 2024, a pilot program is slated to allow eligible H1B holders to renew their visas within the United States, further expediting the process for this demographic.
The Consulate General in Mumbai achieved a significant milestone by eliminating a backlog of over 31,000 immigrant visa cases, which had been delayed due to the pandemic. Those awaiting scheduling for immigrant visa appointments can now expect to receive one within the standard pre-pandemic appointment window.
Underscoring its commitment to enhancing consular services in India, the U.S. Mission has made substantial investments in infrastructure and personnel. These include the inauguration of a state-of-the-art $340 million facility in Hyderabad in March 2023, the announcement of two new consulates in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, ongoing capital improvements across existing facilities, and the permanent assignment of additional consular officers to India.
As the U.S. continues to strengthen its ties with India, these efforts underscore a commitment to facilitating smoother and more efficient travel and immigration processes, fostering greater collaboration and exchange between the two nations.
