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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with the US President Joe Biden, at White House, in Washington. Image: PIB
The US Embassy in India has announced an additional 2.5 lakh visa appointments for Indian citizens, including tourists, skilled workers, and students.
This is to address the surge in visa applications and facilitate travel between the two countries.
The new slots are expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants, allowing them to schedule timely interviews.
The US Embassy in India has already processed over 10 lakh non-immigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year.
During the recent student visa season, the embassy processed a record number of applications, ensuring that all first-time student applicants were able to secure an appointment.
“We are now focused on reuniting families, fostering business connections, and promoting tourism,” an official release said.
Over 10.2 lakh Indians have travelled to the United States so far in 2024, a 35% increase compared to the same period last year.
At least six million Indians currently hold a non-immigrant visa to visit the United States.
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti recently acknowledged the increasing demand for visas and praised the efforts of the embassy's consular teams in meeting the surge.
The US Embassy in India processed over 10 lakh non-immigrant visa applications in 2023, surpassing the total number of cases handled in the previous year.
