In 2023, the US Consular Team in India achieved a historic milestone by processing a record 1.4 million US visas, marking a 60% increase compared to 2022. One-tenth of all global US visa applicants are now from India. Notably, visitor visas (B1/B2) witnessed a resurgence, accounting for over 700,000 applications and reducing appointment wait times from 1,000 to 250 days nationwide.
The US consular team in India also granted over 140,000 student visas in 2023, securing its position as the leading country in this category for the third consecutive year. Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai emerged as the top four global student visa processing posts, making Indian students the largest group of international graduate students in the United States.
The Consular Team India prioritized ’employment visas,’ streamlining processing in Chennai and Hyderabad. This resulted in over 380,000 employment visas processed in 2023, with minimal appointment wait times. A pilot program will allow eligible H1B holders to renew their visas in the United States, enhancing efficiency for this group.
Additionally, Consulate General Mumbai addressed a backlog of over 31,000 immigrant visa cases, enabling those with pending immigrant visa petitions to schedule appointments within standard, pre-pandemic timelines. The US Mission demonstrated its commitment to efficient consular services in India through strategic investments, including a new $340 million facility in Hyderabad, plans for consulates in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, ongoing facility improvements, and increased staffing.
