Andhra Pradesh and Telangana applicants to take 56% of US student visas in India in 2023 | India News – Times of India

VISAKHAPATNAM: If India were to supplant China and become the country that sent students to American universities by 2023-24, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had a big role to play. Data from the US Consulate General Hyderabad shows that nearly 56% of Indian students who packed their bags for the US last year were from the two states – with 34% from Telangana and 22% from Andhra.
The number of American students enrolled at Indian institutions has increased by 300% in the past year.
These details were shared by US Consular Chief Rebekah Drame of Hyderabad and Public Affairs Officer Alexander McLaren during a visit to Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. While they have not revealed the exact number of students from Telangana and Andhra, it could be around 1.8 lakh as India sent nearly 3.3 lakh students to the US in 2023.
“The demand for visas in India is insatiable. Last year we processed 1.4 million visas. Although this represents only one-tenth of a percent of the population, it is still an impressive number. No other country (consulate) operating in India has processed as many visas as it has,” Drame said.
The consular chief added, “In the last year and a half, our workforce in Hyderabad has more than doubled. By early 2025, we expect the team to almost triple in size. We are currently processing approximately 1,600 visas per day, and this number is likely to increase to approximately 2,500 in January or February next year – possibly even more after that…’

The Hyderabad Consulate conducted more than 47,000 student visa interviews during the 2024 summer student visa season, up from 35,000 in 2023.
Public affairs officer McLaren cited the US Open Doors report released on Monday, highlighting the sharp increase in the number of Indian students. “This year, India is the number one country sending students to the US. Most Indian students are men pursuing master’s degrees. Expanding enrollment in bachelor’s programs could help diversify the student population,” McLaren said.
Drame flagged other visa measures. “One notable pilot program was the H-1B Domestic Rehabilitation Initiative. Over three months, 10,000 appointments were made available to H-1B holders living in the US, allowing them to renew their visas without having to travel back to India. This was successful and we are confident that Washington will reintroduce it as a regular program next year,” he added.