US Expands Visa Appointments in India to Meet Record Demand
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In response to soaring demand, the US embassy in India has announced an additional 250,000 visa appointments and opened a new processing centre in Manila to streamline global visa wait times. This move comes as more than 1.2 million Indians have travelled to the US in 2024, marking a 35% increase compared to the same period last year.
The expanded appointments are expected to benefit Indian tourists, skilled workers, and students, providing faster processing options. ‘During our student visa season this summer, we continued to process record numbers, and all first-time student applicants were able to secure appointments at one of our five consular sections across India,’ the US embassy stated.
US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, highlighted the collaborative efforts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden to expedite the visa process. ‘India became the number one source of international students in the US for the second consecutive year in 2024,’ he added, reflecting the strong educational and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
As of September 2024, wait times for US visas in India have dropped to 56 days in New Delhi and 70 days in Mumbai, significantly improving from the estimated 245-day wait times in 2022. However, fluctuations remain, and delays in other countries, such as Dhaka, Bangladesh, persist.
To further support visa services, a new Visa Application Centre has been launched in the Philippines with an updated online appointment system, offering streamlined processing for Filipino applicants as well.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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