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The number of US Visas issued for business and tourism to Indians has gone up by 81 per cent over visas issued five years ago and in all categories, the number of visas topped one million mark last year.
If the current trends are any indication and India-US efforts to boost bilateral business links and tourism in 2017, the number is likely to get bigger, according to a top ranked US Consular Affairs Official.
Michele Thoren Bond, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, said the growth in visas has come through across different categories, including student, business and tourists.
Addressing a media conference here, she said the growth in issue of visas over the years is a vivid reflection of the people to people interface between the two countries. This can only get further strengthened as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama have decided to consider 2017 as the year of tourism to encourage travel and tourists.
Referring to the H1B and L1 category visas which are meant for US jobs and highly killed professionals, she said Indian applicants have garnered 72 per cent of the H1B visas and 30 per cent of L1 visas issued.
Asked about the issue relating to concerns expressed by Indian companies on increase in the Visa fee, she said it was matter dealt by the US Congress.
Mentioning that US has become a most sought after destination for Indian students, she said that over 1,32, 000 students were pursuing studies in the US and last year about 60,000 students were issued visas.
Referring to Hyderabad consulate, Bond said Hyderabad has emerged as the fifth highest number of visa issuance centre in the world for students. There are about 200 US visa issuing centres in the world and Hyderabad ranked fifth among them for students. This only reflects the growing interest among Indian students to pursue higher education in the US, she explained.
Asked about some of the recent instances where some Indian students were deported, she said that that might be one off incident and efforts are on to work closely with the Homeland Security Services.
She said the new consular centre with 52 counters as against 16 now in Hyderabad will be ready by 2020.
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