The U.S. Mission to India issued more than
one million nonimmigrant visas for the second year in a row, including a record
number of visitor visas, underscoring the huge demand of Indians for travel to
the United States for tourism, business, and education.
In the past four years, visitor numbers
from India have increased by five times, and more than two million Indians
traveled to the United States in the first eleven months of 2024, a 26 percent
increase over the same period in 2023. Over five million Indians already
have a nonimmigrant visa to visit the United States and each day the Mission
issues thousands more.
The Department of State completed a
successful pilot program to renew of H-1B visas in the United States this
year. This allowed many specialty occupation workers from India to renew
their visas without leaving the United States. This pilot program
streamlined the renewal process for thousands of applicants, and the Department
of State is working to formally establish a U.S.-based renewal program in 2025.
The U.S. Mission to India issued tens of
thousands of immigrant visas, facilitating legal family reunification and the
migration of skilled professionals. These immigrant visa holders became
permanent residents upon their arrival, adding to the already rich and sizable
Indian diaspora community in the United States.
The U.S. Mission to India also provided
more than 24,000 passports and other consular services to American citizens
living and traveling in India. A new version of the Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program (STEP) debuted in 2024, making it easier for the embassy and
consulates to contact American citizens during emergencies and send them safety
and security alerts.
Increased processing of thousands of
interview waiver-eligible nonimmigrant visa applications each week made it
quicker and easier than ever for Indians to renew their nonimmigrant
visas. By streamlining operations and utilizing global consular resources,
the U.S. Mission has been able to redirect its own resources to focus on
in-person interviews, reducing wait times for all applicants.
More Indian students than ever before now
have U.S. student visas. In 2024, India became the top sender of
international students for the first time since the 2008/2009 academic year
with more than 331,000 students overall studying in the United States.
India also remained the largest sender of international graduate students in
the United States for the second year; Indian graduate student numbers
increased by 19 percent to reach almost 200,000 students.
Many exchange visitors will now be able to
remain in the United States and not need to return home for two years after
completing their programs in the United States, offering them more
opportunities to further their careers and education. The removal of India from
the Exchange Visitors Skills List has provided greater flexibility for these
Indian J-1 nonimmigrant visa holders.
The U.S. Mission to India remains dedicated
to fostering strong bilateral relations and providing exceptional consular
services. These achievements over the past year are a testament to the
hard work and dedication of the Mission’s staff and the enduring partnership
between the United States and India.
(Source: US Embassy in India)
