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- US to Increase Visa Appointments for Indians
US to Increase Visa Appointments for Indians
In light of the current positive and profitable tie between the U.S. and India, the U.S. has decided to add 250,000 additional visa appointments for Indian citizens as a significant step to enhance bilateral relations further. This measure will facilitate travel for tourism, education, and commerce, foster cultural exchange, augment economic collaboration, and strengthen diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The U.S -India Relationship
- Strategic and Defence relation: Agreements like LEMOA and BECA have strengthened defence ties between the United States and India by enabling the sharing of logistics and geospatial information. The annual '2+2' meeting between the India PM and the President of the U.S. further facilitates coordination on strategic and security measures.
- Economic engagement: Trade between the United States and India exceeded billions in 2021-2022, strengthened by collaboration in infrastructure, technology, and energy.
- Recent Development: Besides including 250,000 new visa appointments, the United States has recently exceeded one million nonimmigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year, indicating a heightened demand for travel and deeper connections between the two countries.
Is the Number of Indians Traveling to the U.S. Increasing?
The number of Indians travelling to the U.S. steadily rises, but complex visa processing has hindered this growth. Prime Minister Modi and President Biden are working to simplify and enhance the visa process.
The data supporting that more Indians are travelling to the US is as follows.
- There was a 35% increase in the number of Indians traveling to the U.S. in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2024, 1.2 million Indian citizens travelled to the United States.
- Currently, at least 6 million Indians hold non-immigrant visas, with thousands more being issued daily.
- Indian nationals comprised the second-highest demographic of visitors to the United States during 2023 summer.
- The United States remains the preferred destination for Indians who want to study abroad.
- In 2023, 163 Indian corporations invested in the United States, totalling $40 billion.
Persistent challenges in the U.S. visa process
Although the visa process has been somewhat simplified, specific challenges still hinder its efficiency.
- Higher demand and processing delays: Applicants face difficulties due to delays caused by the high volume of visa applications.
- Administrative capacity: Consular services must strike a balance between quick processing and stringent security measures due to the increase in United States visa applications.
Policy adjustment: Effective policy implementation and execution need the proper allocation of resources, which can occasionally result in challenging situations.