The US Embassy and its consulates in India have set a historic milestone by granting a record-breaking number of over 140,000 student visas between October 2022 and September 2023. The US State Department made the announcement on Tuesday, stating, “Our embassy and consulates in India have issued an all-time record of more than 140,000 student visas.”
The US State Department reported, “During the 2023 federal fiscal year, spanning from October 2022 to September 2023, the Department of State achieved a near-record issuance of nonimmigrant visas, surpassing 10 million globally.”
In addition to the remarkable total of over 10.4 million nonimmigrant visas granted worldwide, the US set a noteworthy milestone by issuing nearly eight million visitor visas for business and tourism, marking the highest figure since 2016.
With a focus on global preparedness and the attraction of future leaders from abroad, international students contribute substantially to the US economy, injecting up to $38 billion annually. During this period, the Department issued over 600,000 student visas, marking the highest number since the fiscal year 2017.
Specifically in India, the US embassy and consulates reached an unprecedented achievement by issuing a record-breaking number of over 140,000 student visas.
The Department granted close to 40,000 student visas to African students, with over 9,700 visas specifically allocated to Nigerian applicants.
In the realm of national and economic security, international visitors have played a pivotal role, contributing up to $239 billion in annual spending to the U.S. economy and supporting an estimated 9.5 million American jobs.
A record-breaking 442,000 visas were issued to temporary and seasonal workers, addressing crucial needs in sectors like agriculture, where a shortage of U.S. workers exists. This not only boosts the American economy but also tackles the root causes of irregular migration.
Furthermore, the US issued 590,000 nonimmigrant visas to high-skilled workers and executives, fostering collaboration with American experts in critical fields such as emerging technology and healthcare.
An additional 365,000 nonimmigrant visas were issued to airline and shipping crew members, essential for maintaining global transportation and the supply chains vital to both the U.S. and global economies.
Turning to the US Mission to India, it recently surpassed its target of processing one million non-immigrant visa applications in 2023. The US Embassy and Consulates in India highlighted that over 1.2 million Indians visited the U.S. last year, establishing one of the world’s strongest travel relationships.
The statement also noted that Indians now constitute over 10% of all visa applicants worldwide, with 20% seeking student visas and 65% applying for H&L-category (employment) visas. The United States embraces this growth.
Recently, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti visited the national capital to oversee the “unprecedented demand” for US visitor visas among Indians. The US Embassy reported that Garcetti played a special role as a guest on ‘Super Saturday,’ assisting the surge of visa applicants.
