US embassy to resume routine tourist visa appointments from September

The US embassy has said that it would resume routine in-person tourist visa appointments from September.

"The US Mission to India is pleased to announce that we are resuming routine in-person tourist visa appointments in September 2022. Previously scheduled placeholders have now been cancelled," it tweeted.
"Applicants whose placeholder appointments were cancelled may now reenter the scheduling system to book regular appointments. Appointments have been opened through 2023," it added.
India had emerged as the fifth largest source country for international visitors to the US in 2021 — up five places from 2019.


The US received almost 2.2 crore international visitors last year, down 72% from 2019. India was the third largest overseas source country (not sharing a land border with the US) with 4.3 lakh visitors from here, next only to Colombia (10.6 lakh) and UK (4.6 lakh), according to US department of commerce data.

In terms of spending by overseas visitors (not including airfares) in America, Indians were the third highest. The commerce department’s data shows US travel and tourism-related exports in 2021 was at $81 billion. Of this, Mexico accounted for $11.7 billion, China at $9 billion and India at $5.8 billion.