US Mission issues 82,000 visas to Indian students in 2022

HYDERABAD: The U.S. Mission in India has issued a record-breaking 82,000 student visas in 2022 to date. Indian students received more U.S. student visas than any other country.

The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and four consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai prioritised the processing of student visa applications from May to August to ensure that as many qualified students as possible made it to their programmes of study on time for scheduled start dates.

Charge d'Affaires Patricia Lacina hailed the U.S. Mission in India's achievement, commenting, "We are happy to see so many students were able to receive visas and reach their universities after the delays caused in previous years by the COVID-19 pandemic. We issued over 82,000 student visas this summer alone, more than in any previous year. This shows that the United States remains for most Indian families the most sought-after country for higher education. It also highlights the important contributions Indian students make to both our countries as they build life-long connections with American peers to maintain and grow international partnerships, working collectively to address current and future global challenges."

Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs Don Heflin said, "We are thrilled to have done our part to help Indian students pursue a top-notch education. Hopefully, there are a lot of happy students and parents out there. International student mobility is central to U.S. diplomacy, and nowhere is the contribution of students bigger than in India. Here's wishing this year's group of students the best of luck in their studies!"

According to the Open Doors report published in 2021, 167,582 students from India were enrolled in American universities for the academic year 2020–2021, making up approximately 20 percent of all international students.

The United States has remained open and welcoming to international students throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic.  In 2020, the U.S. government and U.S. higher-education institutions implemented measures to safely welcome international students in person, online, and via hybrid learning methods, guaranteeing that opportunities and resources to international students remained robust.

Students interested in studying in the United States should download the EducationUSA India app, which is free for iOS and Android devices. The app provides the most up-to-date information about the college application process with the click of a button and is a quick and easy first step in planning higher education in the United States.