The US Embassy in India has seen a significant increase in tourist visa adjudications this year according to recent remarks by a senior embassy official. In Fiscal Year 2023, the embassy adjudicated over 700,000 tourist visa applications, an 185 per cent increase from the previous year.
Highlighting the immense scale of operations, the consulate officer revealed that the US embassy, along with its four consulates, constitutes the second-largest consular operation globally, following Mexico. With a total staff of almost 350, the embassy’s workforce has expanded significantly, indicating a concerted effort to manage the increasing demand for visa services.
“We had over 700,000 adjudications in 2023 representing a remarkable 185 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Moreover, India ranks as the largest source of work and student visas globally, further underscoring US’s significance in the visa landscape,” the officer stated while speaking at the New York City Tourism + Conventions India Sales Mission.
This makes it the highest single year volume for tourist visas ever processed in India. The official noted they expect the volume to surpass the previous record of 745,000 applications set in 2018.
“I think this year we might actually surpass that we hit records and everything else we do,” the officer said.
While tourist visas make up over 50 per cent of the embassy’s total visa workload, the official stressed they prioritise other visa categories like work and student visas as per US law. However, they have increased staffing levels by over a third to handle the growing demand.
In terms of overall tourist numbers, Indonesia welcomed a staggering 11.67 million visitors in 2023, almost double the number in 2022. Bali alone received 5.23 million visitors, accounting for nearly half of Indonesia’s total tourism arrivals. To boost arrivals from India, plans for Vistara direct flights from Bombay and strengthening Delhi departures are in the pipeline.
To address the surge in demand, the embassy has implemented measures to enhance efficiency and reduce wait times. Despite technical challenges, such as the transition to a new appointment system, efforts to streamline the process have yielded positive results. Notably, wait times have decreased by 75 per cent over the past year, with further improvements expected in the future.”Our wait times have dropped by 75 per cent in the last year. There were over 1000 days in December of 2022 and now they range low to hundreds to around four now,” he stated.
One significant change involves preventing the hoarding of appointment slots by visa travel agents, ensuring fair access to all applicants. This has contributed to a more equitable distribution of appointments and reduced instances of exploitation.
However, the officer acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by India’s vast population and the corresponding demand for visas. While the embassy remains committed to addressing these challenges, resource limitations necessitate a strategic approach to managing visa operations effectively.
