The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, recently took part in interviewing over 1,000 guest visa applicants at the US Embassy, kicking off the first of four “Super Saturday” visa processing events for 2024. Garcetti stressed the importance of the US-India partnership, emphasizing the connections formed through work, travel, and study in the United States.
On March 9, 2024, the US Embassy in New Delhi opened its doors for interviews, with Ambassador Garcetti actively supporting and assisting in the fingerprint verification process.
Ambassador Garcetti expressed the commitment to streamline the visa process and strengthen people-to-people connections. The US Mission in India has increased staffing and introduced technological innovations to meet the surging demand, resulting in a record-high processing of visas.
In 2023, the US Embassy and Consulates in India processed 1.4 million US visas, with a notable 60% increase in applications across all visa categories compared to 2022.
One in ten international visa applicants for the US is of Indian origin. The statement highlighted a significant reduction in nationwide appointment wait times for visitor visas, from an average of 1,000 days to just 250 days. These improvements are credited to process upgrades and increased personnel, leading to the shortest wait times across all visa categories.
US Ambassador, Visa Interviews, Diplomatic Engagement, Consular Services