India Is The "Number One" Priority, And Visa Wait Time Has Been Cut. US

Visa officials in the United States have said that India is their top priority and that visa processing has increased by about 36% nationwide. Julie Stufft, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, spoke at an event by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies, "India is the most important thing we have to do right now. We are completely determined to get out of this mess. Anyone in India who wants a visa or visa appointment must wait. That's not our ideal situation ".

The visa official also said the country would start stamping H-1 and L-1 visa renewals in the US this winter as part of the Visa Stamping Program.

"We will be able to call for applications for the first time this fall. The pilot will happen this summer, and it will be for people with worker status. That would be H's, L's, and I's, "he or she went on to say.

The officials said that Indian applicants going to another country for business could apply for a US visa. Countries like Thailand and Germany were used as examples. We've asked other US embassies to accept visa applications from people who want to go to India ".

Also, the officials said that the Department of State has set up a way for people with a US visa to skip the interview process. The statement says that in March, dozens of temporary consular officers from Washington and other embassies will come to India to help with processing.

Last month, the US Mission in India held the first special interview days on Saturdays to cut down on wait times for people who want to get a visa for the first time.

On Saturday, the US embassy and consulates in several Indian cities, including Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, opened their doors for in-person visa interviews.