US Embassy issues record 140,000+ visas to Indian students
In addition to our near-historic total of more than 10.4 million non-immigrant visas issued worldwide, the U.S. has issued nearly eight million visitor visas for business and tourism, more than in any fiscal year since 2016.
New Delhi: The US Embassy and its Consulates in India issued a record of more than 140,000 student visas between October 2022 and September 2023. “Our embassy and consulates in India have issued a record more than 140,000 student visas, the US Department of State announced on Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of State stated, “From October 2022 through September 2023 (Federal Fiscal Year 2023), the Department of State issued a near-record level of nonimmigrant visas worldwide of more than 10 million.”
In addition to our near-historic total of more than 10.4 million non-immigrant visas issued worldwide, the U.S. has issued nearly eight million visitor visas for business and tourism, more than in any fiscal year since 2016.
Preparing Americans for a Global Environment and Attracting Future Leaders from Abroad:
International students at U.S. colleges and universities inject up to $38 billion annually into the U.S. economy. The ministry has issued more than 600,000 student visas, the highest number since FY 2017.
The US embassy and consulates in India have issued a record number of more than 140,000 student visas.
The ministry has issued nearly 40,000 student visas to African students, including more than 9,700 to Nigerian applicants.
Strengthening national and economic security:
In recent years, international visitors have contributed as much as $239 billion in annual spending to the U.S. economy and supported an estimated 9.5 million American jobs.
The country has issued a record 442,000 visas to temporary and seasonal workers, meeting the need for workers in agriculture and other sectors where there are too few American workers available. It contributes to the US economy while addressing the root causes of irregular migration.
The U.S. also provided 590,000 non-immigrant visas to highly skilled workers and executives to work with U.S. experts in some of the nation’s most critical areas, ranging from emerging technology to healthcare.
It has issued nearly 365,000 non-immigrant visas to airline and ship crew members, who are essential to maintaining global transportation and supply chains that support the U.S. and global economies.
American mission to India
Last month, the US Mission in India met and exceeded its goal of processing one million non-immigrant visa applications by 2023. The US Embassy and Consulates in India said in a statement that more than 1.2 million Indians visited the US last year, making it one of the most robust travel relationships in the world.
“Indians now represent more than 10 percent of all visa applicants globally, including 20 percent of all student visa applicants and 65 percent of all H&L category (work) visa applicants. The United States welcomes this growth,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti visited the US mission in the national capital earlier this month to monitor the “unprecedented demand” for US visitor visas among Indians.
The U.S. Embassy said Garcetti was the special guest who helped additional visa applicants on “Super Saturday.”