In a recent announcement, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, stated that the Biden administration has set a target of issuing more than one million visas to Indians in 2023. Lu assured that the US is working hard to reduce long wait times and backlogs for visa applications. The US Consulate in Hyderabad has already taken measures to reduce wait times for visa appointments, such as adding more counters, introducing special "surge" days for students, and extending drop box facilities to all categories of visa applicants.
Lu further stated that the US is prioritizing work visas, particularly H-1B and L visas, which are in high demand by IT professionals from India. He added that the Biden administration is committed to processing all student visas for Indians whose schools start this fall. Lu also mentioned that the US plans to restart domestic visa renewal for applicants who meet certain requirements, including being physically present in the US.
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India is now the second-largest source of international students coming to the US, and concerns have been growing over the long wait times for visa applications, especially for first-time applicants under B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) categories. Lu noted that wait times for H-1B and L visas at some consular sections in India are now below 60 days.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise, and it is crucial for technology companies to hire employees from countries like India and China. Lu acknowledged that some Indian IT professionals on H-1B visas have lost their jobs, but he noted that the Department of Homeland Security has recently put out new information on what these workers can do to readjust their status.