US to open consulates in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad

The US will open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad while India will establish a mission in Seattle to boost people-to-people relationships, a senior White House official said on Thursday (June 22).

The official said the US issued a record 125,000 visas to Indian students last year. Indian students are set to become the largest foreign student community in the United States with a 20 per cent increase last year alone, the senior administration official said.

“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.

Also read: PM Modi at White House: ‘Strong people-to-people real engine of Indo-US ties’

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.

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.

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Meanwhile, Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said one of the biggest takeaways from PM Modi’s visit to the US is the announcement of an American consulate in Bengaluru.

“Bengaluru has greatly benefited from PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s leadership. He has been extremely sensitive & responsive to our needs. One of the biggest takeaways from his visit is the announcement of a US Consulate in Bengaluru,” he tweeted.

Bengaluru has greatly benefited from PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's leadership. He has been extremely sensitive & responsive to our needs.

One of the biggest takeaways from his visit is the announcement of a US Consulate in Bengaluru.

Thread on our efforts in making this happen.… https://t.co/z6xjvHjdno pic.twitter.com/GuK5sXswy3

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) June 22, 2023

(With agency inputs)