US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Rena Bitter, arrived in India on February 20 to engage with embassy and consulate colleagues in Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi. During her week-long visit, she will also be visiting Doha to observe the work of US consular teams. She will visit facilities in Chennai and Mumbai and lead a delegation in a bilateral consular dialogue with counterparts in New Delhi. The Assistant Secretary’s trip highlights the US’s commitment to the protection of US citizens overseas and the facilitation of legitimate travel and immigration to the US. Her visit follows a year of record-breaking visa issuances in the country, with Indians now representing one out of every 10 US visa applicants around the world. The US Embassy and Consulates in India processed 1.4 million visas during 2023 and appointment wait time dropped by 75 per cent, according to the US Embassy.
Verma’s India visit is part of a three-nation tour from February 18-23, which will also cover Maldives and Sri Lanka in an attempt to strengthen the country’s cooperation with each of these key Indo-Pacific partners.
“Our consular operations in India and Qatar bolster the critical people-to-people and economic ties the US shares with these vital partners,” the statement said. “The Assistant Secretary’s trip highlights our sustained commitment to the protection of US citizens overseas and the facilitation of legitimate travel and immigration to the US.”
“The Assistant Secretary’s trip highlights our sustained commitment to the protection of US citizens overseas and the facilitation of legitimate travel and immigration to the US.”
The US Embassy and Consulates in India processed 1.4 million visas during 2023 and appointment wait time dropped by 75 per cent, according to the US Embassy.
Verma’s India visit is part of a three-nation tour from February 18-23, which will also cover Maldives and Sri Lanka in an attempt to strengthen the country’s cooperation with each of these key Indo-Pacific partners.
