NEW DELHI: The United States issued over one million non-immigrant visas to Indians for the second year, 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 most significant contributor of international graduate students for two consecutive years, rising by 19 per cent to nearly 200,000.
The mission to India further underscored the massive demand for Indian travel to the US for tourism, business, and education. It highlighted that visitor numbers from India have increased fivefold in the past four years. More than two million Indians travelled to the US in the first eleven months of 2024, a 26 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
According to a statement released by the US embassy in India, over five million Indians already have a nonimmigrant visa to visit the US, and the mission issues thousands more daily.
Domestic renewal of H-1B visas
The State Department also successfully implemented a pilot program for H-1B visa renewals within the United States this year, benefiting numerous Indian speciality occupation workers who could renew their visas without departing the country. The pilot simplified the process for thousands, and the Department formally aims to establish this domestic renewal programme formally in 2025.
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 Indian visa renewals. Through operational improvements and global resource utilisation, the Mission enhanced its capacity for in-person interviews, resulting in reduced waiting periods.
Removing India from the Exchange Visitors Skills List eliminated the two-year home residency requirement for many exchange visitors, enhancing career advancement and education opportunities and offering greater flexibility to Indian J-1 nonimmigrant visa holders.
