US state department says 'visa issue top priority'

The visa issue is a top priority for Washington, the US State Department said ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four-day state visit from June 21 to 24.

The department claimed its consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India even as long delays in visa appointments and processing of visas for the US ever since the Covid-19 pandemic has become a sticking point in the Indo-USA ties.

"With respect to visas, our consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India, including in those visa categories that are key to the bilateral relationship," state department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington.


"This is a top priority for our government. We know that there is more work that we can do, and we are working hard to do it," he said in response to a question on what India can expect from the US on diplomacy, immigration and visa issues ahead of Modi's visit.

About the prime minister's engagements during his visit, Miller said he did not "want to get ahead of the White House, who will be hosting Prime Minister Modi". "They'll be making further announcements about the visit in the coming days...," he said.

He said secretary of state Antony Blinken is looking forward to seeing Modi and other members of the Indian delegation.