US Assistant Secretary announces expedited visa issuance for Indian visitors

The United States is actively streamlining the visa issuance process for Indian visitors, with Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of the US Bureau of Consular Affairs, affirming this commitment.

Bitter noted that in the preceding year, the US significantly reduced the processing time for visitor visas by 75%, reflecting a concerted effort to facilitate travel for Indian nationals.

In a recent interview, Bitter underscored the surge in Indian travelers to the US, citing the disposal of approximately 140,000 visa applications by the embassy in India last year alone, indicative of the substantial demand.

Addressing the persistent issue of waiting times, particularly notable for first-time visitors, Bitter emphasized the ongoing endeavors to expedite visa processing, highlighting the aforementioned 75% reduction achieved since the previous year as evidence of tangible progress.

Emphasizing the significance of fostering robust bilateral ties between India and the US, Bitter emphasized the pivotal role of people-to-people connections, business ventures, and familial bonds in underpinning this relationship.

Furthermore, Bitter highlighted additional benefits pertaining to the H-1B visa category, revealing the initiation of a pilot program enabling Indian residents in the US to renew their visas domestically, thereby eliminating the need for international travel, with the program slated to conclude in February.

The proactive measures have yielded promising results, with Indian embassies reporting a remarkable 34% increase in the issuance of H-1B visas last year, marking a historic high.