New Delhi/Chandigarh: The US Mission in India has opened an additional 2.5 lakh visa appointment slots, benefiting tourists, skilled workers, and students, officials announced on Monday. The new appointments are expected to ease the backlog and facilitate smoother travel for Indian applicants.
Ajay Bhutoria, a member of the US Presidential Commission for Asian-Americans, welcomed the decision, stating that it will help improve people-to-people connections between the US and India.
“This step is the result of one of my earlier recommendations to the White House AANHPI commission,” Bhutoria said.
He also praised the efforts of US Ambassador Eric Garcetti and the US Embassy in India for addressing long visa wait times.
“This is the direct result of one of my recommendations submitted earlier on the White House AANHPI commission,” he said.
“I am grateful to the US Embassy in India, particularly (US) Ambassador (to India) Eric Garcetti, for their dedicated efforts in addressing visa appointment wait times. The recent opening of 2,50,000 (2.5 lakh) additional appointments is a significant step forward in supporting Indian travellers, including families and students, seeking to visit the US. While this achievement reflects the positive impact of my recommendations to the White House AANHPI commission, we must recognise that more work remains (to be done),” he added.
