Higher than in any previous years, US missions in India have issued 82,000 student visas so far in 2022. Indian students received more American student visas than students from any other country.
The embassy said that to ensure that as many qualified students as possible made it to their programmes of study on time for scheduled start dates, the processing of student visa applications from May to August was prioritized by the US embassy in New Delhi and the consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
The senior-most US diplomat in India, Patricia Lacina, said in charge d’affaires that, “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. “
She also said, “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.”
Lacina said, “This 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.”
Don Heflin, the minister counsellor for consular affairs, said, “International student mobility is central to US diplomacy, and nowhere is the contribution of students bigger than in India.”
The “Open Doors” report in 2021 showed that there were 1,67,582 students from India during the 2020–21 academic year. Indian students comprise nearly 20% of all international students in the US. Students seeking assistance with studying in the US can download the EducationUSA India app, which provides the latest information about the college application process and helps plan for higher education in the US.