United States Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Thursday said that Indian students are a great asset to universities in his country.
The United States Embassy in Delhi, and Consulates General in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, opened their doors on Thursday to over 4,000 Indian students who applied for visas to pursue education in the United States.
Ambassador Verma, and Consuls General throughout India congratulated the day's applicants as they joined the growing ranks of Indian students who choose to study in the United States.
"Indian students are a great asset to United States universities and colleges. Both countries benefit greatly when our students study and learn together," said Verma.
The U.S. Embassy and the Consulates treated Student Visa Day applicants to an informative morning in a festive, collegiate atmosphere. Consular staff members dressed in their school colors. Some Consulates played music - from college songs to pop music.
Representatives from partners, including the United States-India Educational Foundation, the American Library, and recent U.S. graduates, were present to answers questions from students about life as a student in the United States.
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"It has been an honor to meet India's future leaders today at Student Visa Day. I am continually impressed by the caliber of Indian students that I meet, and amazed by what they contribute to both India and the world," Verma added.
In the 2013-2014 academic year, nearly 103,000 Indian students were enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education, making them the second largest group of foreign students in the United States after
China. U.S. student visa applications are up 60 percent across India this year.
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.