Chicago – February 29, 2024
According to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, the U.S. Department of State (DHS) is working to reduce the wait time for visa appointments for Indians hoping to travel to the United States. The U.S. Embassy in India processed 1.4 million visas in 2023, with wait times decreasing for most visa categories by 75%. The only category that is still experiencing delays in available visa appointments is the B-1/B-2 tourist visa, specifically for first time visitors to the U.S.
“Last year, the Embassy in India processed 1.4 million visas, an explosion of an incredible number…in every category there is no wait time at all except in one area of travel where there is still some wait time and that is people traveling for the first time to the United States for tourism,” said the Bureau’s Assistant Secretary Rena Bitter.
Wait times for student visas improved in 2023, even with increasingly high demand. The U.S. Embassy in India processes a significant number of F-1 student visas, with one in four international students in the U.S. being from India.
In addition to tourist and student visas, the Assistant Secretary also spoke to the importance of supporting Indian workers on H-1B status, and how the State Department’s new H-1B visa renewal pilot program will help ease the immigration process and reduce wait times for many Indian workers in the U.S.
