1,25,000 student visas issued to Indians by US in 2022 says Ned Price

116

The United States embassy and consulates in India have issued a record-breaking nearly 1,25,000 student visas in the 2022 fiscal year, according to State Department Spokesperson Ned Price. While acknowledging delays in clearing visa backlogs for Indian tourists, Price stated: “Our embassy and consulates in India broke their all-time record for the number of student visas issued in the single fiscal year 2022. We have issued nearly 1,25,000 student visas … We are making every effort to reduce visa interview appointment wait times as quickly as possible.”

Price emphasized the importance of timely visa processing to the US economy and the administration’s goals, and highlighted efforts to speed up the process, including doubling the hiring of foreign service personnel. He noted that visa processing is recovering faster than projected and is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels in the coming years.

A senior US embassy official in New Delhi previously predicted that India will surpass China in the number of visas issued by the US by 2023, ranking second after Mexico. The official also announced the opening of 100,000 slots for H and L worker visas in mid-November, and stated that “India is a number one priority for Washington right now. We have big categories in students, high-tech workers, tourists, and business.”