In an unprecedented achievement, the US Consular team in India processed over 140,000 applications, primarily student visas, between September 2022 and October 2023. Despite the surge in visa applications, the US visa appointment wait time has decreased by an impressive 75 percent.
Factors influencing the reduction in US visa wait time
Indians now represent one-tenth of the global US visa applications, marking a 60 percent increase from 2022. Notably, about 90,000 F1 visas were granted to Indian students during the peak months between September 2022 and October 2023, with the US consulate in Mumbai clearing 31,000 immigrant visa cases delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The acceptance rate of US student visas has soared to 95 percent, indicating a successful year for Indian students aspiring to study overseas. The US has also invested in expanding consular services in India, including a new $340 million facility in Hyderabad and potential consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
The reduction in US visa appointment wait time can be attributed to increased staffing, enhanced efficiency, and innovative technical solutions. The introduction of a new appointment booking platform in July 2023, coupled with investments in staffing and process improvements, led to a decrease in visitor visa appointment wait time from 1,000 to 250 days on average.
Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai now rank as the top four student visa processing posts globally. Indian students constitute the largest group of international graduate students in the US, comprising over a quarter of the one million foreign students in the country, a statement issued by the US Embassy in India said.
Priority is also given to employment visas, with most petition-based visa applications processed in Chennai and Hyderabad. In 2023, over 3,80,000 employment visas were processed for Indians and their family members.
A long-awaited @TravelGov pilot program allowing some H-1B workers to renew their visas in the US–and avoid uncertainty over delays returning from abroad–is set to launch today https://t.co/74RdcrIyQM
— Andrew Kreighbaum (@kreighbaum) January 29, 2024
Moreover, in 2024, a pilot programme will allow eligible H1B visa holders to renew their visas in the US, aimed at assessing the technical and operational capabilities for resuming renewals. The application window for this pilot programme is between January 29 and April 1, 2024, with the possibility of early closure if slots are filled sooner.
(Feature Image Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock)
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