New Delhi:
In a significant milestone, the U.S. mission in India has issued over one million nonimmigrant visas for the second consecutive year, highlighting the burgeoning demand for travel to the United States among Indians. This achievement underscores the strong and growing bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in areas such as tourism, business, and education.
The U.S. mission has been at the forefront of streamlining visa processes to meet the increasing demand. A successful pilot program initiated by the State Department has enabled the renewal of H-1B visas within the U.S., benefiting thousands of specialty occupation workers from India who no longer need to leave the country for visa renewals. This pilot is set to be formalized into a full-fledged U.S.-based renewal program in 2025, further simplifying the process for Indian professionals.
In addition to H-1B visas, the mission has also seen a substantial increase in visitor visas. Over the past four years, the number of visitors from India has surged by five times, with more than two million Indians traveling to the U.S. in the first 11 months of 2024 alone, marking a 26% increase from the same period in 2023. Currently, over five million Indians hold nonimmigrant visas, and the mission issues thousands more each day.
The U.S. mission has also issued tens of thousands of immigrant visas, facilitating legal family reunification and the migration of skilled professionals. These immigrant visa holders have become permanent residents upon their arrival, contributing to the vibrant and sizable Indian diaspora community in the U.S.
The mission has 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) introduced in 2024 has improved the embassy’s ability to contact American citizens during emergencies and send them safety and security alerts.
In the realm of education, India has emerged as the top sender of international students to the U.S. for the first time since the 2008/2009 academic year, with over 331,000 students studying in the U.S. in 2024. India also remains the largest sender of international graduate students, with Indian graduate student numbers increasing by 19% to nearly 200,000. The removal of India from the Exchange Visitors Skills List has granted greater flexibility to Indian J-1 nonimmigrant visa holders, allowing them to remain in the U.S. for two years after completing their programs to further their careers and education.
The U.S. mission remains committed to fostering strong bilateral relations and providing exceptional consular services. The achievements of 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.
