Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: The USA is set to create a record by issuing over 10 lakh visas to Indians in 2023, an official said on Friday, adding the Biden administration will process all of the student visas for Indians whose school starts this fall.
According to the media reports, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said they are also prioritizing work visas, viz., H-1B and L visas, the most sought-after by IT professionals from India.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows American companies to hire foreign workers in skill-based occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Most technology companies depend on this visa to hire thousands of employees each year from India, China, and other countries.
Several Indians had expressed concern over the long waiting period for first-time visa applicants, especially for those applying under B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) categories.
India is now number two in the world in terms of international students coming to the United States.
“Wait times at some of the US consular sections in India for these visas are now below 60 days. We will prioritize visas for workers, as this is vital for both the American and the Indian economies,” Lu said.
For some of the petition-based non-immigrant work visa categories, the US plans to restart domestic visa renewal for applicants who meet the requirements, including their physical presence in the United States. “We plan to run a pilot this year. This would eliminate the need for these applicants to travel abroad to renew their visas,” he said.
About those Indian IT professionals carrying the H-1B visas but losing their jobs, Lu clarified the Department of Homeland Security recently put out some new information specifically for these workers on what they must do to readjust their status.
Over a million people fly back and forth between the two countries each year.
He said over 100,000 Americans are now living in India as well.