The United States embassy in India has announced the availability of an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travelers. These appointments cover skilled workers, tourists, and students. This move is expected to help visa-seekers schedule their interviews more promptly.

Announcement via Social Media

The US embassy made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), stating that it has already surpassed the number of nonimmigrant visa applications for the second year in a row. Currently, around six million Indians hold nonimmigrant US visas, and the US mission issues thousands of visas daily.

Efforts to Expedite Visa Processing

US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, highlighted the collaborative efforts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden to improve the visa process. He praised the embassy and consular teams for working hard to meet the growing demand for visas.

Record Number of Indian Travelers Expected

This year could set a record for the number of Indians traveling to the US. Last year, 1.76 million Indians visited the US, and in the first eight months of this year alone, 1.55 million Indians have already traveled to the US. It is anticipated that this number will surpass last year’s figure by September.

Strengthening India-US Ties

Jonathan M. Heimer, Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs at the US Embassy in Delhi, noted that India has become the second-largest overseas source of international visitors to the US in 2024, reflecting the strong people-to-people ties between the two nations.