The United States will open two consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad while India will set up one mission in Seattle to boost people-to-people relationships, said a senior White House official on Thursday. The US issued a record 1,25,000 visas to Indian students last year, the official added. Indian students are set to become the largest foreign student community in the United States with a 20 per cent increase last year alone, said the senior administration official as per a PTI report.
“The United States intends to open new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. India is likewise welcoming the 2023 opening of its consulate in Seattle and look forward to also announcing a new consulate in the United States,” the official said.
As per the report, the US Department of State is going to launch a pilot to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain petition-based temporary work visas later this year, including for Indian nationals with the intent to implement this for an expanded pool, the official said.
Currently, India has five consulates in the US in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta, apart from the embassy in Washington.
The US embassy in New Delhi is one of the largest US diplomatic missions in the world. The embassy coordinates the activities of four consulates — in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad – ensuring that the US-India relationship is strong throughout the country, according to the information on its website.
The development comes amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US. During his 3-day visit to the US, Modi met President Joe Biden and will meet Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
He also participated in the International Yoga Day event at the United Nations headquarters on June 21.