NEW DELHI: The United States issued over one million non-immigrant visas to Indians for the second year in a row, including a record number of visitor visas.
As per a release by the US mission in the country, India also became the top sender of international students in 2024 — the first time since the 2008/2009 academic year — with over 331,000 students enrolled.
Additionally, India maintained its position as the largest contributor of international graduate students for two consecutive years, with numbers rising by 19 percent to nearly 200,000.
The mission to India further underscored the huge demand of Indians for travel to the US for tourism, business and education, highlighting that in the past four years, visitor numbers from India have increased five-fold, and more than two million Indians traveled to the US in the first eleven months of 2024, a 26 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
Over five million Indians already have a nonimmigrant visa to visit the US and each day the mission issues thousands more, according to the statement released by the US embassy in India.
Domestic renewal of H-1B visas
The state department also successfully implemented a pilot programme for H-1B visa renewals within the United States this year, benefiting numerous Indian specialty occupation workers who could renew their visas without departing the country. The Department aims to formally establish this domestic renewal programme in 2025, following the pilot’s success in simplifying the process for thousands.
The US Mission in India processed numerous immigrant visas, enabling legal family reunions and professional migration. Upon arrival, these visa recipients gained permanent residency status, enriching the substantial Indian diaspora community in America.
Over 24,000 American citizens in India received passports and consular assistance from the US Mission. In 2024, an enhanced version of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) was launched, improving emergency communication and security alert distribution to American citizens, as per the statement.
The processing of interview waiver-eligible nonimmigrant visa applications increased significantly, facilitating easier visa renewals for Indians. Through operational improvements and global resource utilisation, the Mission enhanced its capacity for in-person interviews, resulting in reduced waiting periods.
The removal of India from the Exchange Visitors Skills List has eliminated the two-year home residency requirement for many exchange visitors, providing enhanced opportunities for career advancement and education. This change offers greater flexibility to Indian J-1 nonimmigrant visa holders.
