New Delhi: The US Embassy and consulates in India have achieved an unprecedented feat by granting more than 1,40,000 student visas from October 2022 to September 2023. This landmark achievement highlights a substantial surge in educational migration to the United States.
Additionally, the US Embassy and consulates in India granted more than 600,000 student visas during the fiscal year 2023. This marks the highest number since Fiscal Year 2017.
Between October 2022 and September 2023, the US State Department witnessed an exceptional surge in global nonimmigrant visa issuances, exceeding 10 million. Over 1.2 million Indians visited the US last year, reinforcing India’s status as a significant contributor to US-bound travel.
The State Department’s recent successes in visa issuance were attributed to innovative approaches like expanded interview waivers and simplified renewals for frequent travellers. They also outlined plans to further leverage technology to enhance efficiency, specifically aiming to streamline domestic renewal procedures for specific visa types in the future.
Indians now representing more than 10% of global applicants. Notably, they account for 20% of student visa applications and a staggering 65% of H&L-category (employment) visa requests. This surge in applications emphasises the United States’ open embrace of diverse visa seekers, highlighting their increasing presence in various visa categories.