The number of applications received by the US Embassy in India for student visas has skyrocketed. On the eighth annual Student Visa Day on Thursday, the embassy's Indian consular team interviewed 3,900 applicants for student visas. In 2023, the US Mission in India issued more student visas than the total number of student visas issued during the three years of 2018, 2019 and 2020.
According to the US Consulate, 1.40 lakh people from India were granted US student visas last year. Currently, every fourth student in the US is Indian. According to the US Embassy, a consular team in India interviewed 3,900 student visa applicants on June 13, 2024. Mission India demonstrates our strong commitment to higher education in the US and the growing academic ties between the US and India by organizing robust programming for India Student Visa Day.
This unprecedented growth reflects the US government's commitment to prioritise students and facilitate their travel. Demand for all other visas also increased by 400 per cent between 2021 and 2023. The increase in student visa applications is a testament to Indian students' attraction to US education. The US's strong educational system, research opportunities, and global network attract students from around the world.
Despite economic challenges and security concerns, the number of Indian students in the US has nearly tripled in the past decade. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said the applicants are brand ambassadors of India and are advancing India-US relations. Each international student on every US campus represents a tremendous achievement of years of study and hard work towards academic excellence. US embassies and consulates in India expect a steady increase in student visa applicants.