CHENNAI: If you are a student preparing to study in the United States this coming year, Thursday, May 28 was a great day to apply for your visa at the U.S. Consulate General Chennai. With students – and only students – filling the visa lobby all day, the Consulate processed over 1,000 student visas in a fun, collegiate atmosphere on this special Student Visa Day. Advisors from EducationUSA were on hand for pre-departure information and tips on living in the United States in an interactive trivia gameshow format. In addition, students had the opportunity to meet visa officers and listen to their experiences studying in the United States. Over music, snacks, and cake, students met other Indian students headed to the same college or region of the United States to study, an important asset when you are going to a new country.
“Education drives economic growth in both the United States and India. I am thrilled to meet so many young students headed to America as the next step in their educational careers,” said U.S. Consul General Phillip Min. “Perhaps next time, these inspiring students will meet in boardrooms, laboratories, or even on the space station.”
In the 2013-2014 academic year, the number of Indian students studying in the United States grew to almost 103,000, making them the second largest group of foreign students in the United States. The growth trends are continuing with student visa applications up 60 percent across India this year. Since May of 2014, the consular section at U.S. Consulate General of Chennai has processed over 25,000 student visas.
“I’m interested in mixing with American culture and the international students,” said Rohan of Chennai, a visa applicant headed to the University of Colorado to study business. “It was very surprising and relaxing coming in and seeing the waiting room all decorated. It was fun!” added Shankar, another applicant who took advantage of Student Visa Day activities.
Student Visa Day was held across India as the U.S. Embassy New Delhi and Consulates General in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai as well as Chennai opened their doors to Indian student visa applicants, providing information and resources to students as they prepare for their studies in America. Student Visa Day is an annual event in U.S. Mission India, which is excited to help qualified Indian students reach their educational goals by choosing to pursue an education in the United States.
Student Visa Day
FACTSHEET
Thousands of bright, ambitious students from India choose U.S. higher educational institutions for their academic excellence, cutting-edge technology, extensive support services for international students, generous funding opportunities, wide variety of educational options, flexible curricula and hands-on training and work experience (OPT and CPT) opportunities.
There are nearly 9,000 colleges, universities, and vocational schools in the United States that are certified to enroll international students. The United States welcomes international students, recognizing the way they enrich our classrooms and our communities. Currently, there are over 886,000 international students studying in the United States, an 8% increase over the prior year. The nearly 103,000 Indian students represent the second largest foreign nationality studying in the United States. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India congratulate all of Indian students who will receive their visas today!
Sampling of destination colleges and universities for today’s applicants:
- Purdue University
- The University Of Vermont
- Columbia University
- American University
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- Michigan State University
- Lehigh University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Southern California
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Texas A&M University
- Babson College
- University of Florida
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Columbia University
- Everett Community College
- Harvard University
Indian Student Facts
- Last year Indian students in the United States contributed $3.3 billion to the U.S. economy.
- The nearly 103,000 Indian students in the United States are more than double the number of students 15 years ago.
- Student visa applications across India increased 60 percent last year.
- Over the last 12 months, student visa applications doubled at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India, especially in Mumbai and Hyderabad, the two busiest posts for students.
- Prospective Indian students submitted more than 90,000 visa applications in the last 12 months.
- Consular officers approve the vast majority of student visa applications.
- 78% of Indian students opt to study Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
- Engineering is the most popular major, followed by computer science.
