Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
9th Oct 2024

US moves to ease visa processing backlog in India

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • The US Mission to India has significantly expanded its visa processing capacity in the country with the addition of 250,000 visa appointments
  • The move appears to have already had an important impact on posted wait times for visa interview appointments for Indian applicants

The United States Mission to India announced recently that US diplomatic posts in the country have opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. US immigration officials report processing "record numbers" of applicants at the country's five consular offices in India so far this year.

As of 30 September, more than 1.2 million Indians have travelled to the United States year to date in 2024, representing a 35% increase over the same period in 2023. The US Mission adds that, "At least six million Indians already have a non-immigrant visa to visit the United States, and each day, the Mission issues thousands more."

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process and I’m proud to say that we have delivered on that promise," said US Ambassador Eric Garcetti. "Our consular teams at the embassy and four consulates work tirelessly to ensure that we meet the surging demand.”

Needless to say, this will be important development for Indian students hoping to study in the United States, and for easing the well-documented backlog for study visa applicants. Prior to the September announcement, wait times for visa interview appointments in India had approached (or exceeded) 200 days. The latest posted wait times for F-visa interview appointments (as of 9 October 2024) have been considerably reduced, with average waits indicated as 42 days for applications lodged via New Delhi and 66 days for those filed in Mumbai.

The situation has been so serious this year that it has been a focus point for lobbying by the U.S. for Success Coalition, which has been urging Congress to take action to reduce the backlog in key markets in the Global South, notably in India and Africa.

“Yes indeed our advocacy is helping to move the needle," says Dr Fanta Aw, the CEO and executive director of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. "We want to be sure international students who are admitted to institutions in the US are able to get in for appointments and we appreciate the work of Consular Affairs to continue to prioritise students. We however need to do better on reducing visa denials so as not to deter students wanting to come study in the US. NAFSA and the U.S. for Success Coalition is committed to working with the State Department on this important issue.”

The move also sharpens the attractiveness of the US to Indian students, at a time when changing policy settings in Canada and the Australia are already triggering a shift in demand.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • US Office of Management and Budget grants budget reprieve to key exchange programmes Read More
  • Canada: How is study permit processing taking shape this year? Read More
  • UK study visa grants strengthening in first half of 2025 Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

US Office of Management and Budget grants budget reprieve to key exchange programmes In a highly unusual intervention in an area of Congressional authority, the US Office of Management and Budget...
Read more
Canada: How is study permit processing taking shape this year? There are two important and recurring themes in our conversations with education agents over the last few months...
Read more
UK study visa grants strengthening in first half of 2025 A 21 August 2025 data release from the UK Home Office shows that student visa grants were up...
Read more
Asian destinations show their strength in latest ranking of student cities The QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings were released last month, and, for the first time ever, Seoul...
Read more
Many foreign students want to stay in Germany but need more help with the transition to life after study Early findings from an extensive survey of international students in Germany finds that two-thirds would like to stay...
Read more
How post-study work rights can make or break the return on investment for study abroad The following is a guest post contributed by Tim O’Brien and Claire Clifford from INTO University Partnerships, where...
Read more
Australia prioritises amendments to ESOS Act in legislative agenda The Australian government has signalled that amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 are back...
Read more
UK’s stiffening compliance regime already having an impact on international student recruitment It would be fair to say that compliance is top of mind for international educators in the United...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links