Over the years, the United States has taken major actions to enhance its worldwide student visa services, particularly in the case of India and the Philippines. The US Embassy in India has introduced another 250,000 appointments for finding a visa for tourists, students and even workers from India as these are becoming more frequent. This step is being executed as the number of Indians who have visited the United States in 2024 has increased to 1.2 million, which is a 35% rise compared to the same period of the previous year.
India has become the US’s top source of overseas students for the second year running. Over 1,40,000 study visas were granted to Indian students in 2023, record numbers are expected in 2024. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to simplify and speed up the visa application process and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti took delight in having delivered on that promise.
Significant advancements have been achieved by the US Department of State in cutting down on visa appointment wait times. In India, wait times have dropped, from 245 days in 2022 to 56 and 70 days, respectively, in Mumbai and New Delhi. However, wait times can vary and are affected by things like the number of employees at US consulates and the percentage of overstaying visas.
India has a surprisingly low percentage of visa overstays (3%), compared to Ghana (18%) and Nigeria (20%), according to data from the US Homeland Security. This demonstrates India’s dedication to following US visa policies.
Additionally, the US has increased its visa offerings in the Philippines. On September 28, it opened a new Visa Application Center including an improved online appointment scheduling system. With 3,818 Filipino students studying in the US as of 2022–2023, this action attempts to support the growing number of Filipino students seeking higher education in the nation.
The US wants to see more American students studying in India as the two countries relations grow. Increased academic cooperation and cross-cultural understanding between the two countries will result from this reciprocal exchange.
The US Embassy is committed to welcome international students and supporting educational interaction, as seen by its efforts to improve student visa services. The US is well-positioned to continue being a top choice for students from around the world with shorter wait times and more efficient procedures.
