U.S. on track to issue more than a million visas to Indians this year: official

U.S. official Donald Lu says that they are also prioritising work visas — H-1B’s and L visas, the most sought-after by IT professionals from India

The U.S. is on track to issue more than a million visas to Indians this year, a senior official has said, assuring that the Biden administration is committed this summer to make sure it processes all of the student visas for Indians whose school starts this fall.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu also told PTI in an interview this week that they are also prioritising work visas: H-1B’s and L visas, the most sought-after by IT professionals from India.

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The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

“We are on track to issue more than a million visas this year. This is a record for us along with a record number of student visas and immigrant visas,” Mr. Lu said.

Mr. Lu said the U.S. is committed this summer to make sure it processes all of the student visas for Indians whose school starts this fall.