Chennai: Eight lakh US visas are likely to be issued in 12 months in India, Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs in the US Embassy Donald L Heflin has said.
During a live chat on the page of the US Consulate General in Chennai, Heflin said, ‘8,00,000 visas are projected to be issued in the next 12 months. We opened a lot of slots for processing the visas. We think of eventually meeting the demand of H and L visas.’
Asked about the total number of visas issued before the outbreak of Covid-19, he said 1.2 million visas were issued.
Stating that issuance of student visas was restored to pre-pandemic levels last summer itself with the issuance of 62,000 visas, he said the embassy was hoping to surpass this number this summer.
Similarly, he said three lakh āHā and āLā category visas were likely to be issued in the next 12 months, which he said would adequately meet the demand.
He also announced the opening up of visa interview and drop box (categories that are exempt from interviews) slots across India for H and L visa categories. B-1 and B-2 visitor visa interview slots, for first time applicants, are going to be opened on 1 September this year, he said.
To a question on the consulate setting up a dedicated helpline to address queries raised by visa applicants, the Minister Counselor said all the consulates already have a dedicated phone number as well as an e-mail address which visa applicants can contact for assistance with their appointments.