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U.S. mission to India sets new records in 2024
Record-breaking visa issuances and growing educational ties highlight the strengthening U.S.-India partnership.
File photo of Visa / Courtesy Photo
The U.S. Mission to India has set a new benchmark in 2024, issuing over one million nonimmigrant visas for the second consecutive year, driven by a surge in travel, education, and business exchanges between the two nations.
More than two million Indians visited the United States in the first 11 months of 2024, a 26 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, the Mission said in a statement.
In the past four years, the visitor numbers from India have increased fivefold, and more than five million Indians now hold nonimmigrant visas, with thousands more being issued daily.
In addition, tens of thousands of immigrant visas were issued, supporting family reunifications and skilled professional migration. Indian students also made history in 2024, as India became the top sender of international students to the U.S., with over 331,000 enrolled. Graduate student numbers surged 19 percent, reaching nearly 200,000.
Streamlining Visa Processes
The Mission expedited thousands of visa renewals by expanding interview-waiver eligibility and redirecting resources to reduce wait times for in-person interviews.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of State also introduced a pilot program for H-1B visa renewals, eliminating the need for specialty occupation workers to travel abroad for renewals.
This streamlined process benefitted thousands and is set for formal expansion in 2025, the Mission said.
Educational opportunities at an all-time high
India became the largest source of international students in the U.S. in 2024, surpassing China Over 331,000 Indian students are currently studying In the U.S., with graduate student numbers rising by 19 percent to nearly 200,000.
In a further impetus to bilateral collaboration, Indian exchange visitors can now stay in the U.S. for up to two years after completing their programs. This change, following India’s removal from the Exchange Visitors Skills List, allows J-1 visa holders to advance their careers and education, the Mission stated.
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