Student Visa Day-Welcoming Students to the United States

Mumbai

The U.S. Embassy in Delhi, and Consulates General in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, opened their doors on May 28 to over 4,000 Indian students who applied for visas to pursue education in the United States. U.S. Ambassador Richard R. Verma in Delhi and Consuls General throughout India congratulated the day’s applicants as they joined the growing ranks of Indian students who choose to study in the United States.

In the 2013-2014 academic year, nearly 103,000 Indian students were enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education, making them the second largest group of foreign students in the United States after China. U.S. student visa applications are up 60 percent across India this year.

“Indian students are a great asset to United States universities and colleges. Both countries benefit greatly when our students study and learn together,” Ambassador Verma said.

The U.S. Embassy and the Consulates treated Student Visa Day applicants to an informative morning in a festive, collegiate atmosphere. Consular staff members dressed in their school colors. Some Consulates played music—from college songs to pop music. In Mumbai, representatives from partners, including the United States-India Educational Foundation, the Indo-American Education Society, the American Library, and recent U.S. graduates, were present to answer questions from students about life as a student in the United States.

“It has been an honor to meet India’s future leaders today at Student Visa Day. I am continually impressed by the caliber of Indian students that I meet, and amazed by what they contribute to both India and the world,” Ambassador Verma remarked after talking with student visa applicants in Delhi.

Student Visa Day is an annual event in U.S. Mission India, which is excited to help qualified Indian students reach their educational goals by choosing to pursue an education in the United States.