US Embassy expects to issue 14 per cent more visas for Indians each year

The US is expecting nearly 14 per cent annual increase in visa applications from the country following implementation of streamlining of the application process as part of President Barack Obama's strategy to boost tourism from emerging countries like India and China.

"We expect 14 per cent year-on-year growth in visa processed between now and 2020. We expect visa application process to reach 2.1 million by year 2020," Minister-Counsellor for Consular Affairs in the US Embassy, James W Herman told reporters here.

The US consular team in India processed close to 700,000 visa applications in 2011, said James W. Herman, minister-counsellor for consular affairs at the US embassy here. He said there will be increase in all the visa categories but the maximum growth would be in the tourist visa segment.

Between 2001 and 2008, the number of US visas issued to Indians registered a growth of around 4 per cent. "In 2009 it declined a bit and in the last two years it has regained the previous growth momentum," the US diplomat said.

Herman said in a bid to simplify and quicken the visa process, the US embassy in India has increased the number of staff by over 60 per cent in the last five years, opened two new consulates and introduced a number of innovative measures.

The US opened a new consulate in Mumbai last year. A consulate in Hyderabad was opened in 2009.

Last week, Obama had signed an Executive Order to make it easier for foreign travellers to visit the US and directed agencies throughout the US government to design a programme to make it easier for tourists to visit America.

Asked whether there is any shift in President Obama's policy towards issuing visa to foreigners, the diplomat said: "There is as such no change in US visa policy. We are just streamlining and improving the things."

Almost 3 million strong Indian diaspora live in the United States.

Herman said increasing the number of travellers will help boost business and economic ties between the two countries.

The diplomat said 97 per cent of visas are processed within 24 hours, and the wait time for visa appointments is currently 10 days or less.