The ready interval for issuance of US visas is predicted to see a major drop by the summer time of 2023 and the variety of visa functions is projected to achieve round 1.2 million, a senior US embassy official mentioned on Thursday.
“India is the number one priority for Washington (for issuing visas). Our aim is to bring the situation to pre-Covid-19 level by the middle of next year,” the official mentioned.
India has been one of many only a few international locations that noticed an enormous leap in functions for US visas after the coronavirus-related journey restrictions have been lifted.
The official mentioned the US is taking a number of initiatives, together with hiring extra personnel and increasing “drop box” amenities, to deal with the lengthy wait instances for visas.
There is a plan to subject round one lakh visas each month.
The official mentioned that the US has already recognized H (H1B) and L class visas for Indians as its precedence and not too long ago round 100,000 slots have been issued for these wishing to resume visas. Were.
The ready time for some classes has been decreased to round 9 months from the sooner 450 days.
The official mentioned that the ready time for B1, B2 (Business and Tourism) visas can also be being decreased from round 9 months.
The official additionally mentioned that India is predicted to maneuver from the present quantity three to second by way of variety of visas being issued by the US.
At current, Mexico and China are forward of India.
The US will initially give attention to candidates utilizing the “drop box” function.
The official mentioned that precedence can also be being given to chop down the ready time for the visas of scholars, particularly for many who are on the lookout for renewal of their visas.
The strategy of making use of for renewal of US visa with out visa interview is named drop field facility.
Broadly talking, candidates who’ve held a US visa inside a interval of the final 4 years are eligible for the drop field facility.
The US has issued about 82,000 visas previously yr.
New Delhi has been taking on the difficulty of lengthy ready instances for US visas with Washington.
“We are looking at 11 to 1.2 million visa applications for Indians by next summer,” the official mentioned.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
