Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
International

US issues record-high 1.4 mn visas to Indians in 2023

Darpan News Desk IANS, 29 Jan, 2024 01:57 PM
  • US issues record-high 1.4 mn visas to Indians in 2023

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) Bringing down the visitor visa appointment wait times by 75 per cent, the US Consular Team in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million US visas in the year 2023.

Stating that the demand across all visa classes was unprecedented -- with a 60 per cent increase in applications compared to 2022 -- the US Embassy and Consulates said on Monday that Indians now represent one out of every 10 US visa applicants around the world.

In addition, visitor visas (B1/B2) rebounded to represent the second-highest number of applications in the US Mission’s history -- over 700,000.

The US Embassy and Consulates said that it met this demand through a three-month staffing surge in Mumbai early in the year, by increased permanent staff levels, and through the employment of innovative technical solutions.

"Process improvements and investments in staffing have brought the appointment wait time for visitor visas down from an average of 1,000 days to only 250 days around the country. Wait times are minimal in all other categories," the statement read.

Last year, the US consular team in India issued over 140,000 student visas -- more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third year in a row.

As of now, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai stand as the top four student visa processing posts in the world.

With these surging numbers, Indian students have become the largest group of international graduate students in the United States and make up more than a quarter of the over one million foreign students studying in the country.

Stating that employment visas remain a top priority, the Embassy stated that in 2024, a pilot program will allow eligible H-1B holders to renew their visas in the United States, further streamlining the process for this group.

Further, Consular Team India consolidated most petition-based visa processing in Chennai and Hyderabad to increase efficiency.

This led to the processing of over 380,000 employment visas for Indians and their family members in 2023 and allowed the US Mission to maintain a minimal appointment wait time.

The Consulate General Mumbai eliminated a queue of over 31,000 immigrant visa cases delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Those who have a pending immigrant visa petition and are ready for scheduling can now obtain an appointment within the standard, pre-pandemic appointment window," the Embassy stated.

MORE International ARTICLES

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to step down next month after 6 yrs in power

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to step down next month after 6 yrs in power
Ardern, who became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was elected Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37, said that the six "challenging" years in the job had taken a toll.

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to step down next month after 6 yrs in power

4 generations of a family killed in 'cartel like execution' in California

4 generations of a family killed in 'cartel like execution' in California
The victims have been identified as Rosa Parraz (72), Eladio Parraz Jr (52), Jennifer Analla (50), Marcos Parraz (19), Elyssa Parraz (16) and Nycholas Parraz (10 months), reports the BBC. The house is located in Goshen, Tulare County.

4 generations of a family killed in 'cartel like execution' in California

Biden forgets how to pronounce Kamala Harris' name!

Biden forgets how to pronounce Kamala Harris' name!
During a speech on Tuesday at a White House celebration for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, Biden said: "As 'CAM-a-la' said, we're all closely monitoring the storms, the floods, the landslides all across California." Biden -- the oldest-ever president at 80 -- is set to launch a 2024 re-election campaign, even as detractors question his 'mental acuity'.

Biden forgets how to pronounce Kamala Harris' name!

UK court sentences Sikh man for drunk-driving

UK court sentences Sikh man for drunk-driving
Police found open cans of alcohol in Sukhpreet Singh's car after he was followed through a Derbyshire town swerving across lanes in November last year.  The Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court heard that Singh, a Pizza Hut worker and a resident of Higher Albert Street, Chesterfield, was driving without a license.

UK court sentences Sikh man for drunk-driving

Man found guilty in death of 5 year-old Indian-American child

Man found guilty in death of 5 year-old Indian-American child
The bullet discharged from a 9-mm handgun when Smith used it to strike the other man. It missed the man but went into the apartment and struck Mya in the head before grazing her mother, the Times reported. Mya was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she battled for three days before being declared dead on March 23.

Man found guilty in death of 5 year-old Indian-American child

Sikh family alleges racial discrimination at Windsor Castle, threatens legal action

Sikh family alleges racial discrimination at Windsor Castle, threatens legal action
Rapinder Kaur, 36, said she, her turban-wearing husband and their two-year-old child were subjected to racial taunts by guards during a visit to the castle last year, The Independent reported.

Sikh family alleges racial discrimination at Windsor Castle, threatens legal action