As a result of the pandemic and the resulting slowdown in services, wait times for a visa at embassies in India have seen historic highs. However, as announced by the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, Mr. Arun Venkataraman, efforts to double staff are underway to address the ongoing wait times. Potential candidates include diplomatic spouses.

Once the economies of India and the U.S. reopened, a surge in demand was seen, as anticipated. U.S. embassies and consulates in India continue to address the resurgence of demand. Progress has been made to date, with more H-1B and L visas issued in 2022 than in pre-pandemic 2019. In addition, meaningful progress is seen in issuing student visas.

In addition, the issuance of regular business visas needs attention. The wait time for these visas, used when individuals go to India for short trips to address business issues, continues to see delays. India and the U.S. have the opportunity to expand their partnership when it comes to their joint economic efforts.

An upcoming visit by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in March 2023 will highlight the possibilities. Ms. Raimondo’s visit includes a group of top CEOs of American companies. The visit is seen as a real opportunity to significantly enhance the ongoing economic relationship. The bilateral trade target of $500 billing is moving in the right direction. In 2022, the bilateral trade topped $160 billion.

If you have questions about visa issuance at Indian embassies and consulates or any other immigration-related issue, please contact us. We actively monitor ongoing updates to ensure our clients get the proper guidance.