The State Department revealed that the US Embassy and Consulates in India issued an unprecedented 140,000 student visas between October 2022 and September 2023. Emphasizing the significant economic impact of international students, the Department highlighted a record-breaking issuance of over 600,000 student visas, the highest since Fiscal Year 2017.
In the peak student visa season of June-August 2023, Indian consular officers granted 95,269 visas in the F, M, and J categories, marking an 18% surge from the previous year. Notably, India surpassed China as the leading source of international graduate students in the US, with a 63% increase to 165,936 graduate students.
The 2023 fiscal year witnessed a near-record issuance of non-immigrant visas globally, exceeding 10 million. The State Department underscored the issuance of almost eight million visitor visas for business and tourism, the highest since 2015. International visitors contributed approximately $239 billion annually to the US economy, supporting an estimated 9.5 million American jobs.
Addressing workforce needs, a record 442,000 visas were issued to temporary and seasonal workers, aiding sectors with a shortage of US workers. Additionally, 590,000 non-immigrant visas were granted to high-skilled workers, while 365,000 visas supported airline and shipping crew members essential for global transportation.
The Department attributed these achievements to innovative solutions, such as expanded interview waiver authorities, streamlining visa renewal for frequent travellers meeting strict security standards. US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, mentioned plans to enhance staff and open new consulates to reduce visa waiting times, anticipating a 10-15% increase in visa issuances from India this year, with recent weeks already witnessing a one-third surge.
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