The US Embassy in India has achieved a remarkable milestone this year by surpassing its target, processing over one million non-immigrant visa applications. Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, personally presented the one millionth visa to an Indian couple who were visiting their son at MIT for his graduation ceremony. This achievement signifies the strengthening of ties between the United States and India within the framework of their strategic partnership. It also reflects the growing interest among Indians in traveling to the US following the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the news agency PTI, the recipient of the one millionth non-immigrant visa to the US is Dr. Ranju Singh from Delhi. Her husband was granted the subsequent visa. Ambassador Eric Garcetti warmly welcomed the couple as “Mr. and Mrs. One Million” while issuing their visas. The couple is scheduled to visit the United States in May of the coming year.
Eric Garcetti expressed his joy, saying, “I couldn’t be happier today, happy for India, Indians, and the United States.”
Addressing the achievement, Ambassador Garcetti mentioned, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden had both emphasized the need for faster visa processing. As a result, the Ministry of External Affairs in India approved additional resources, particularly in Hyderabad, to handle visa applications. We made improvements to our systems, worked diligently, and as a result, we successfully processed one million visa applications this year.”
Ambassador Eric Garcetti also emphasized the importance of the partnership between the US and India, calling it one of the United States’ most significant bilateral relationships. He pledged to maintain the current high level of visa processing in the coming months.
Last year, over 1.2 million Indians visited the United States, solidifying this relationship as one of the world’s most substantial in terms of travel. Indians now account for more than 10% of all visa applicants globally, with 20% seeking student visas and 65% applying for H&L-category employment visas.
To meet the surging demand for US visas, the United States has made significant investments in its operations in India. The US Mission has increased its staff to improve visa processing efficiency, enhanced facilities at the US Consulate in Chennai, and officially opened a new Consulate building in Hyderabad
The US Embassy in India has also implemented strategies to enhance efficiency, including extending eligibility for interview waivers and involving staff from around the world in Indian visa processing through remote work. A pilot program is set to be introduced next year, allowing qualified H&L-category employment visa applicants to renew their visas domestically.