US Envoy to India Aims to Reduce Visa Wait Times, Addresses Green Card Backlog Issue

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In a significant development, the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, revealed President Joe Biden’s directive to decrease visa waiting times during an interaction. He highlighted the unprecedented nature of the president’s instruction, emphasizing its importance in addressing visa-related concerns in India.

Garcetti acknowledged the legislative aspect of the green card backlog issue, attributing it to limits set by Congress on legal immigration, green cards, and citizenship. Despite this challenge, he noted a substantial improvement, with a 75% reduction in visa waiting times due to increased visa adjudications.

Speaking to ANI, Garcetti said, “Now, part of this is a legislative problem that Congress will have to address on the whether it’s the number of legal immigrants, the number of green cards, or the number of people who can become citizens. There’s just limits on that. Like any country, I’m sure there’s limits here, too.”

However, despite this progress, Garcetti acknowledged the lingering issue of a 250-day waiting period, which President Biden has urged him to address. This directive underscores the administration’s commitment to streamlining visa processes and addressing concerns raised by Indian applicants.

Garcetti added, “Where the 250 is still a long way. It is, and too high for me. The president said, Eric, I want you to bring down visa wait times in India. I think it’s probably the first time a President ever said that to an ambassador in any country.”

Furthermore, Garcetti highlighted India’s significant contribution to US visa applications, particularly in categories such as student visas and H1Bs. He commended India’s responsiveness and expressed the administration’s commitment to further improving visa services.

“We actually are very responsive. It’s a huge priority for me, for the president. But the rest of the countries are like, wait a second, that isn’t even proportionate to the large population of Indians when they have a quarter of the student visas, when they have the largest group of H1Bs by far.”

The US Embassy’s recent release revealed a record influx of Indian students pursuing higher education in the United States, reflecting the strong educational ties between the two nations. Additionally, discussions about opening new consulates in Bangalore and Ahmedabad underscore the administration’s efforts to enhance diplomatic relations and facilitate smoother visa processes.

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