After COVID-induced delays, US taps into high demand from Indian students

The US diplomatic mission in New Delhi along with consulates in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad issued over 82,000 Indian student visas in May and June this year. 

Indian students had received the highest number of US student visas as compared to any other country, including China. Moreover, in order to enhance academic relations between the USA and India, a US Department of Commerce education trade mission visited India against the backdrop of a big backlog in visa processing. 

After the worries over visa processing delays had gripped a large number of Indian students last month, the US Consulate in Mumbai put out assurances saying that this summer a majority of student visa applicants would be able to sit in the interview before their academic programme starts. Further, the consulate claimed that it was working to reduce visa wait times for millions of individuals, including students.

Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs Don Heflin said that International student mobility is central to US diplomacy. He added that the contribution of Indian students is bigger than in any other country.

Indian students contribute to about 20 per cent of the international student population in the United States. There were 167,582 Indian students in the United States as of the 2020-2021 academic year. 

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