The US Mission to India has opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers in an effort to reduce the backlog.
As of the announcement on 30 September, over 1.2 million Indians have travelled to the US, a 35% increase from the same period in 2023.
Prior to this announcement, wait times for visa interview appointments had approached 200 days. As of 9 October, average waits for student/exchange visitors have now reduced to 42 days in New Delhi and 66 days in Mumbai, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process and I’m proud to say that we have delivered on that promise,’ said US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti. ‘Our consular teams at the embassy and four consulates work tirelessly to ensure that we meet the surging demand.’
The move is likely to increase the popularity of the US as a choice for Indian students while other countries in the Big Four continue to impose measures reducing the amount of international student visa applications.
CEO and executive director of NAFSA, Dr Fanta Aw has said the US is ‘committed’ to accepting more visa applications:
‘We want to be sure international students who are admitted to institutions in the US are able to get in for appointments and we appreciate the work of Consular Affairs to continue to prioritise students. We however need to do better on reducing visa denials so as not to deter students wanting to come study in the US.’
