New Delhi, Nov 20: In a significant development, the United States is intensifying its visa issuance process in India, with additional staff being deployed at its Hyderabad consulate and plans underway to open new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, according to Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to New Delhi.
Garcetti shared, “Additional personnel have already joined the Hyderabad consulate, and arrangements are being made to establish new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.”
During his visit to Ahmedabad to witness the India-Australia World Cup cricket final on Sunday, Garcetti personally inspected the premises earmarked for the upcoming consulate in the city.
Highlighting the efforts to address the backlog, Garcetti noted a notable 33% increase in the number of US visas issued in India in recent weeks. He emphasized that the waiting time for visas, particularly for students and tourists, has significantly decreased, ranging from six months to a year, depending on the application office.
While acknowledging that delays were partly due to the surge in applicants, Garcetti assured that the US is dedicated to expediting visa issuance for Indian nationals. He attributed similar challenges to other large countries like Brazil and Mexico.
