Washington
The US Mission to India announced on Thursday that it has not only achieved but exceeded its goal of processing one million non-immigrant visa applications in 2023. Highlighting the significance of the US-India partnership, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti emphasized the strong ties between the two countries and expressed the mission’s commitment to facilitating travel between the US and India. The US Ambassador presented the passport to the one millionth visa holder during the announcement. In 2022, over 1.2 million Indians visited the US, making it one of the most robust travel relationships globally. Indian nationals now account for more than 10 percent of all visa applicants worldwide, including 20 percent of student visa applicants and 65 percent of H&L-category (employment) visa applicants. Recognizing the continued high demand for visas, the US Mission has expanded its staffing and made significant capital improvements to its facilities in India, including the inauguration of a new Consulate building in Hyderabad. This achievement reflects the strong people-to-people ties between the United States and India and the growing interest among Indians to visit and study in the US.
