June 13th 2024.
New Delhi: The US embassy in India is expecting a rise in the number of Indian students applying for visas in 2024, following a record-breaking year in 2023. Last year, the US consular team issued a whopping 140,000 student visas, setting a record for the third consecutive year. To accommodate this surge in demand, the US Mission in India recently held its eighth annual Student Visa Day, with consular officers from New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai conducting interviews with Indian student visa applicants.
At the US Embassy in Delhi, a long queue of eager students was seen since early morning. This is no surprise as American universities are a top choice for many Indian students. The US consular team is committed to facilitating academic exchange between the two countries, as it is one of their top priorities. The acting Consul General at the US Embassy in New Delhi, Syed Mujtaba Andrabi, shared, "Last year, we issued a record number of student visas, reaching 140,000. This is a record that we are proud of and we will continue to prioritize this area in the coming years." Andrabi also mentioned that on the Student Visa Day, they expected to interview approximately 4,000 students.
The US gives high priority to student visas because they understand the importance of people-to-people ties and the impact they can have on individuals' lives. As US envoy Eric Garcetti stated, "These ties last a lifetime." In 2023, the US Mission in India processed a record 1.4 million visas overall, and India became the number one source of students in higher education in the US, with almost twice the number of students compared to the second-highest country of origin. Garcetti also mentioned that despite the high demand, the US consular team was able to accommodate all the students who needed visas.
The US Embassy released a statement saying that the number of Indian students choosing to study in the US has significantly increased in the past three years. In 2023, they issued more student visas than in 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined. This unprecedented growth reflects the US government's ongoing commitment to prioritizing students and facilitating their travel. In addition, the US Mission met a 400% increase in demand for all other visas between 2021 and 2023.
David Moyer, Cultural and Educational Affairs Counselor at the US Embassy, also shared his thoughts on the projected increase in the number of Indian students seeking higher education in the US. He mentioned that currently, there are about 270,000 Indian students in the US, making up more than a quarter of all international students there. "We are thrilled about the enthusiasm and demand we are seeing for student visas to the US," he added.
Moyer also noted that there are over 4,500 accredited universities in the US for students to choose from, beyond just the Ivy League and other prestigious universities. The US consular team is dedicated to providing support and counseling to help Indian students find the right match for them. Moyer also expressed the desire to see more female applicants looking to US universities. "We welcome and encourage diversity and would like to see more Indian women pursuing higher education in the US," he added.
In conclusion, the US Embassy is committed to supporting and facilitating academic exchange between India and the US. They understand the value and impact of international education and are dedicated to promoting it. As Garcetti stated, "Each student is an ambassador for India, and together we are taking the US-India relationship forward!"
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