Visa applications to US may touch 500,000 mark
Visa applications to the US and issuances by the consular offices are rising at a rapid pace.
By TNN |
KOLKATA: Visa applications to the US and issuances by the consular offices are rising at a rapid pace. While over 3.5 lakh visas were issued last year, the number of applications being processed this year is tipped to touch 5 lakh. Of these, around 80% are slated to be approved. Kolkata and the east is of course clocking a taller growth rate. Compared to around 20% overall rate of growth yearly, Kolkata’s US consular hub is registering 20-30% rise in visa applications and approvals.
“US visas okayed in India is the third largest in the world after China and Mexico. At this rate of growth, it has every possibility of climbing to the second largest slot worldwide in time. India could well overtake China in the next 2-3 years,” Mr Paul M. Fermoile, consul in the Kolkata office of the US consulate said. Giving a break-up of the visa applications, Mr Fermoile said 49% centered on tourists, around 30% who were going for jobs, 8-11% came from students and the rest from segments like crew members working in ships. Kolkata’s consul general Henry V. Jardine said: “The Kolkata office processed 24,000-plus visas last year. This year, we are expecting 28,000-29,000 visas to be vetted. By 2011, Kolkata is projected to process about 50,000 visas. The percentage of approvals in Kolkata are also higher at about 89%. We are increasing capacity in the consular space and stepping up staffing and facilities.” The consular staffers overseeing visa operations, who have been raised to three now are poised to double to six in the coming four years or so. The wait-period for a visa has also been cut from 145 days to just a couple of days.
The heftiest visa traffic revolved around the Chennai consular office, followed by Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
“US visas okayed in India is the third largest in the world after China and Mexico. At this rate of growth, it has every possibility of climbing to the second largest slot worldwide in time. India could well overtake China in the next 2-3 years,” Mr Paul M. Fermoile, consul in the Kolkata office of the US consulate said. Giving a break-up of the visa applications, Mr Fermoile said 49% centered on tourists, around 30% who were going for jobs, 8-11% came from students and the rest from segments like crew members working in ships. Kolkata’s consul general Henry V. Jardine said: “The Kolkata office processed 24,000-plus visas last year. This year, we are expecting 28,000-29,000 visas to be vetted. By 2011, Kolkata is projected to process about 50,000 visas. The percentage of approvals in Kolkata are also higher at about 89%. We are increasing capacity in the consular space and stepping up staffing and facilities.” The consular staffers overseeing visa operations, who have been raised to three now are poised to double to six in the coming four years or so. The wait-period for a visa has also been cut from 145 days to just a couple of days.
The heftiest visa traffic revolved around the Chennai consular office, followed by Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
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