Huge Leap: Two Million Indians Traveled To US In 2024
NEW DELHI, (ANI) – The United States has issued over one million non-immigrant visas to Indians for the second consecutive year, including a record number of visitor visas. This highlights the strong demand for travel to the U.S. for tourism, business, and education.
In the last four years, the number of visitors from India has surged fivefold, with over two million Indians traveling to the U.S. in the first eleven months of 2024. This marks a 26% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India.
The U.S. Embassy in India confirmed that more than five million Indians now hold non-immigrant visas, and thousands more are issued each day. In addition, a successful pilot program launched this year allowed many specialty occupation workers from India to renew their H-1B visas without leaving the U.S. This program streamlined the renewal process for thousands of applicants, and the U.S. Department of State is working on creating a formal U.S.-based renewal program by 2025.
The U.S. Mission to India also issued tens of thousands of immigrant visas, enabling legal family reunification and the migration of skilled professionals. These visa holders became permanent residents upon arrival, further enriching the Indian diaspora in the U.S.
Additionally, the U.S. Mission provided over 24,000 passports and consular services to American citizens living and traveling in India. A new version of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) was introduced in 2024, enhancing communication with U.S. citizens in emergencies and providing safety alerts.
The processing of non-immigrant visa applications has also become more efficient, with thousands of interview-waiver eligible applications being processed each week. This has made it easier for Indians to renew their visas, while focusing more resources on in-person interviews to reduce wait times for all applicants.
The number of Indian students with U.S. student visas has also reached an all-time high. Many exchange visitors can now remain in the U.S. for two years after completing their programs, offering more opportunities to advance their careers and education. The removal of India from the Exchange Visitors Skills List has further increased flexibility for Indian J-1 visa holders.
The U.S. Mission to India expressed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and providing excellent consular services. The statement concluded, “These accomplishments reflect the hard work and dedication of the Mission’s staff and the enduring partnership between the United States and India.”
