‘Do not speculate about the future’: The US is gearing up for another major year for student visas in 2024

Ahead of the release of the Open Doors Report (ODR) by the US, giving out the number of international students and the rising domination of Indian students in American universities, Adelle Gillen, Education and Cultural attaché, US Embassy, addresses the anxiety over student visas and OPT amid a change in government leadership and victory of Donald Trump as the new President. Excerpts of the interview:
With President Donald Trump’s victory, greater impact is expected on the visa policies. Indian students are anxious about the speculations on the introduction of shorter student visas and changes in OPT after course completion. Would that impact the admission process in India?
We cannot speculate about future policies. As of now, the visa application and admissions process remains the same.
In the year 2022-23, the ODR revealed an increase in the number of international students from India to the United States by 35%, resulting in an all-time high of 268,923 students. OPT and temporary work visa was attributed to the rise. Do you agree with it?
We are proud that a record number of Indian students have chosen to pursue their academic dreams in the United States. American and Indian students studying and researching together build the foundation for the United States and India to meet the challenges of today and the future. This is part of our larger commitment to further the bilateral relationship, and the month of November is all about USIndiaFWD for Education. Students are a priority, and the US remains the number one destination for higher education for most Indian students which is why the demand for student visas has skyrocketed in the past three years. Last year, we issued more visas than in 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined and the top four student visa processing posts in the world were all right here in India. We are looking forward to another big year for student visas in 2024.
Consular Team India isn’t resting as we are constantly looking for ways to improve and streamline visa services. We have expanded our use of remote processing – renewing applicants can get an appointment in just a few days. We have consolidated several visa classes to processing hubs to take advantage of processing efficiencies.
What are the new initiatives introduced by the US Embassy and EducationUSA to increase awareness about courses, scholarships and visa processes to guide the Indian students?
The US Embassy is committed to empowering Indian students by expanding access to information on US educational opportunities, scholarships, and the visa process. EducationUSA, a US Department of State-funded programme, promotes access to US higher education for students around the world, including in India, through a range of tailored initiatives and resources.
The recently launched EducationUSA India website (educationusa.in) is part of our ongoing efforts to make it easier for students across India to explore the possibilities of studying in the United States. The website serves as a comprehensive resource, offering students, parents, and counsellors access to essential information on higher education in the United States. This year, EducationUSA held fairs across eight cities in India, bringing several US university representatives directly to Indian students and their families. These fairs offered invaluable, face-to-face interactions with admissions officers, helping students gain insights into US education and explore a variety of programmes and scholarships. The US Embassy and EducationUSA also hosted pre-departure orientations and special visa sessions to better prepare students for their journey to the United States, ensuring they have guidance on everything from campus life to visa requirements.
In addition, the ‘Ask an Advisor’ sessions, held every Wednesday at the American Center in New Delhi, allow students to walk in and speak directly with EducationUSA advisors, addressing their questions and helping them make informed decisions. We have also expanded our outreach through virtual workshops and interactive sessions covering scholarship applications, standardised test preparation, and visa procedures. Our efforts include collaborating with local universities and high schools to reach students in both metropolitan and regional areas, providing them with targeted guidance on US education pathways. These initiatives reflect our commitment to supporting Indian students’ aspirations, fostering a vibrant academic exchange, and strengthening the enduring educational ties between our two countries.
The US Mission to India opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. Does it highlight the importance of Indians travelling to the US and the strength of India-US ties?
In the past four years, visitor numbers from India have increased 425% and in 2023 surpassed pre-pandemic travel levels for the first time. We estimate that over 5 million Indians already have a non-immigrant visa to visit the United States and each day we issue thousands more. Consular Team India issued over 1 million non-immigrant visas in CY 2023, including over 600,000 visitor visas for business and tourism. This strong upward trajectory in travel reflects the deep, broad and growing ties between the people of the United States and India.
The US has been a strong promoter of having more women in leadership roles and academia. Do you plan special campaigns/initiatives to encourage more female students to visit the US for higher education?
The US Mission in India is deeply committed to empowering women and promoting gender equality in higher education. Supporting women in pursuing advanced degrees and leadership roles is a priority, as we believe diverse leadership and perspectives are essential to fostering innovation and building stronger communities. To encourage Indian women to explore educational opportunities in the US, we’ve developed specific outreach and mentorship programmes focused on women’s leadership in academia and professional fields. One of our key initiatives is the 2024 WiSci (Women in Science) South Asia Girls’ STEAM Camp, which brings together young women from South Asia to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) through hands-on learning and leadership training. This programme not only provides essential skills in STEAM fields but also encourages participants to consider advanced studies in these areas, including opportunities in the US.
The US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment also plays a crucial role in our efforts to support Indian women’s academic and professional growth. By fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, the Alliance connects women entrepreneurs and professionals with resources and opportunities for economic advancement, further encouraging them to pursue leadership roles through higher education.
EducationUSA complements these efforts with dedicated advising sessions and workshops for female students, guiding them on scholarship opportunities—including those specifically designed for women—and pathways to STEM, business, and leadership programmes. Through partnerships with US universities, alumni, and Indian educational institutions, we host webinars, mentoring events, and panel discussions where accomplished women share their experiences, inspiring the next generation of Indian women leaders. Our programmes highlight Fulbright scholarships, as well as exchange opportunities focused on supporting women scholars and professionals, helping them thrive both academically and professionally.
The US Mission remains dedicated to advancing gender equality in education and supporting Indian women in reaching their academic and career aspirations. We look forward to seeing even more Indian women contribute to and benefit from the US-India educational exchange programmes.
The US has offered funding for as many as 11 AI projects and 6 quantum projects for joint research and development. How can similar collaborations be increased to address critical challenges for societal impact?
The United States and India share a longstanding relationship in the field of education with many exchange programmes and joint collaborations in research and institutional tie-ups. This deep-rooted educational partnership through exchanges and collaborative research, was bolstered by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi’s vision for an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem advancing space, AI, quantum computing, and wireless communications.
The awards you are referring to are only last year’s tranche from one of our many bilateral cooperation mechanisms, the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF), which has supported more than 60 joint projects applying critical technology to the pressing issues of our day. The United States has a long history of supporting and cooperating with Indian science and technology innovation through dozens of partnerships – and millions of dollars in research funding – between Indian institutions and US universities and federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, USAID, the State Department, NASA, the Department of Energy, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and many more. Indian research and development in critical technologies supported by the United States government have made a global impact with applications that address the whole range of pressing global challenges our peoples face in tandem.