There’s a excellent news for folks because the wait time for a US customer’s visa interview shall be reduced by 60 per cent. This important discount will be attributed to the elevated variety of officers in addition to the opening of different diplomatic missions to course of these functions, as part of the federal government’s a number of steps taken in direction of it.

Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Providers stated that the purpose of the State Division is to get to 1 million visas issued this yr. This quantity, is above than the pre-pandemic quantity.
Numerous Steps Taken by Authorities to Cut back the Wait time
Talking on the assorted measures, she stated that “We’ve got elevated the variety of officers going to India. We’ve got arrange preparations, which is unprecedented, with different embassies on the planet like Bangkok to take Indians who’re searching for visas. We’re opening a brand new consulate in Hyderabad… and we’re simply targeted on ensuring that we are able to deliver the wait time down in India”.
She stated that Frankfurt, London and Abu Dhabi have taken lots of Indian residents who’re searching for visas. “We’ve got requested these missions to take Indians as in the event that they have been from their very own host nation. Particularly in locations like Bangkok the place there is no such thing as a visa required for Indians and it’s a comparatively quick flight. Clearly this isn’t superb. We would like Indians to have the ability to apply in India, and that’s the place we’ll get to”.
She stated that greater than 100 US diplomatic missions have been issuing visas to Indians and on account of all these efforts, the customer visa interview wait time has decreased by 60 per cent simply within the final couple of months. It is a results of all of the work that we’ve put into ensuring that Indians who want to journey to the US can achieve this.
She additionally stated that the “visa manufacturing in India is 40 per cent increased than it was earlier than the pandemic” and asserted that the State Division was working arduous to deliver down the wait time.
She stated that within the month of February the US had the very best on-record manufacturing of visas in India. “Our crew there may be working very arduous they usually’re nicely on their method to conducting the 1 million visa purpose”.
As per the State Division official stated they’re engaged on different sorts of visas together with, scholar visas.
Distant Processing, No Want of Applicant to Go to Embassy/Consulate
Talking of the distant processing and no want of applicant being current within the flesh, she stated that “As a result of we now have been in a position to increase interview waivers, that means fewer Indians want to come back to the embassy or consulate for an interview, we are able to course of that with out seeing the applicant. That has helped us tremendously as a result of we now have had consular officers in dozens of nations who’re truly remotely processing these Indian visas”.
She stated that this has made it attainable for individuals who don’t want an interview, those that have travelled to the US earlier than, to get their visa in a document time of lower than two weeks, she stated.
Calling it as a world effort, she stated that “It truly is a world effort. As a result of we now have such robust ties with India and the connection between our two nations implies that the classes of visas are the very best in India.. college students, tech staff, and crew members. It’s a excessive cultural, instructional and work relationship between our nations,” Stufft stated.
She stated anybody who has to journey to the US urgently for any type of humanitarian matter, these circumstances will probably be expedited. “However make your appointment, discover the place that you may go in India or exterior of India the place it’s attainable. And bear with us as we deliver these wait occasions down. We’re very excited to be hitting data each month with the variety of visas that we’re issuing in India,” she stated.
Stufft additionally stated that State Division could be very enthusiastic about launching a pilot mission on home renewal of visas quickly.
Below this, holders of sure work visa classes who’re dwelling in the US can apply for visa renewal with out leaving the US. “What this implies specifically for a lot of tech staff from India is that individuals wouldn’t have to return to India or one other put up on the planet to use for his or her visa,” Stufft stated.
“That’s very thrilling for all of us. It is going to take time. We’re build up that operation from zero. That’s one thing that we now have not executed for a number of a long time at this level. This can have massive advantages for Indians who’re dwelling and dealing in America,” she added.