An Indian-American member of the Presidential Commission for Asian-Americans has expressed strong support for the U.S. Mission in India’s recent decision to open an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. This move aims to alleviate visa appointment wait times, which are crucial for fostering the robust people-to-people ties between the U.S. and India.
Ajay Bhutoria, who serves on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), highlighted that this initiative is a direct outcome of recommendations he submitted to the White House AANHPI commission. He commended U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and his team for their efforts in addressing these pressing wait times.
Bhutoria stated, “The opening of these additional appointments is a significant step forward in supporting Indian travelers, including families and students seeking to visit the U.S.” He acknowledged that while this is a positive development, further work remains necessary to tackle ongoing visa backlogs and improve processing efficiency.
The newly available slots are expected to facilitate timely interviews for hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants, thereby enhancing travel opportunities. This year alone, over 1.2 million Indians have traveled to the U.S., marking a 35% increase compared to 2023.
Ambassador Garcetti emphasized the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden to expedite the visa process. He noted that U.S. consular teams are diligently working to meet the increasing demand for visas.
In 2023, the U.S. issued more than 140,000 student visas to Indian nationals, making it a record year for student visa approvals from India for the third consecutive time. This reflects India’s status as the largest source of international graduate students in the U.S., accounting for over 25% of all foreign students studying there.
