Hyderabad’s US consulate issues fifth highest number of student visas in the world

The US consulate general in Hyderabad grants the largest number of student visas in the country and the fifth highest number of student visas across the world, said Michele Bond, US assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, on 26 August. There are said to be more than 200 US embassies and consulates in the world.

Bond, speaking to media in Hyderabad, said that a large number of Indian students were enrolled in American universities and that they made up for the second largest chunk of students in the US with more than 132,000 members. Visas were granted to about 60,000 Indian students by the US missions in India in 2015 with a huge number being given by the US consulate general located in this southern Indian city, according to data. Though verified figures were not released, Bond was quoted by the Times of India as terming the US consulate general in Hyderabad ‘a winner.’

Indians are issued a majority of the 138,000 H1-B visas sanctioned each year across the world, Bond said. In fact, Indians, on an average, are granted 70 percent of H1-B visas. In 2016, Indians topped it by receiving about 72 percent of the total number of H1-B visas issued, she added.

She said that the level of interest in visas remains strong as ever despite the increase in fee. Besides students, many Indian travellers were entering the US shores on tourist and short-term business visas.

When posed a question on Muslims being screened when they enter the US as Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, had suggested, Bond responded by saying there was no discrimination while issuing visas to members of that community and each application would be carefully and fairly reviewed. She said that they were also concentrating on ensuring they wherever in India anybody applies, the visas would be issued after being judged against the same standard which is being applied all over the world. She said that there was no discrimination, no bias in the way they adjudicated visa applications.

On the issues of some students being deported earlier this year from US airports, though they had valid visas, she implied that it was due to a communication gap between the US embassies or consulates that issue visas and the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). She concluded by saying that they were working very hard to make sure that they would be coordinating with DHS and that they were screening students and every applicant in order that all issues are sorted out that could prevent the students from being admitted to the US.

If you are planning to visit the US, approach Y-Axis to avail proper guidance and assistance to file for a visa from one of our 19 offices in India.