US issued over 1 million nonimmigrant visas to Indians for second straight year

The US Mission in India on Friday said it issued more than one million nonimmigrant visas for the second year in a row, including a record number of visitor visas, underscoring the huge demand of Indians for travel to the United States.

In the past four years, visitor numbers from India have increased by five times, and more than two million Indians travelled to the United States in the first eleven months of 2024, a 26 percent increase over the same period in 2023, read a statement issued by the US Embassy in India.

“Over five million Indians already have a nonimmigrant visa to visit the United States and each day the Mission issues thousands more,” the statement said.

The embassy said the US Department of State completed a successful pilot program to renew H-1B visas in the United States this year.

This allowed many speciality occupation workers from India to renew their visas without leaving the United States.

“This pilot program streamlined the renewal process for thousands of applicants, and the Department of State is working to formally establish a US-based renewal program in 2025,” the statement said.

The US Mission to India issued tens of thousands of immigrant visas, facilitating legal family reunification and the migration of skilled professionals.

“These immigrant visa holders became permanent residents upon their arrival, adding to the already rich and sizable Indian diaspora community in the United States,” the statement said.

The US Mission to India also provided more than 24,000 passports and other consular services to American citizens living and travelling in India.

The embassy said a new version of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) debuted in 2024, making it easier for the embassy and consulates to contact American citizens during emergencies and send them safety and security alerts.

“Increased processing of thousands of interview waiver-eligible nonimmigrant visa applications each week made it quicker and easier than ever for Indians to renew their nonimmigrant visas,” the statement said.

By streamlining operations and utilising global consular resources, the U.S. Mission has been able to redirect its own resources to focus on in-person interviews, reducing wait times for all applicants.

More Indian students than ever before now have US student visas.

In 2024, India became the top sender of international students for the first time since the 2008/2009 academic year with more than 331,000 students overall studying in the United States, the embassy said in the statement.

India also remained the largest sender of international graduate students in the United States for the second year; Indian graduate student numbers increased by 19 percent to reach almost 200,000 students, it said.

“Many exchange visitors will now be able to remain in the United States and not need to return home for two years after completing their programs in the United States, offering them more opportunities to further their careers and education,” the statement said.

“The removal of India from the Exchange Visitors Skills List has provided greater flexibility for these Indian J-1 nonimmigrant visa holders,” the statement said.