KOLKATA: A large portion of Indian students flying to the United States for higher education in 2024 are from the Northeast.
Revealing this during the 8th Annual Student Visa Day on Thursday, Kolkata Consul General Melinda Pavek said that thousands of students from the region would be part of the largest delegation of Indian students to the country this year.
“Kudos to each of you embarking on this exciting journey toward higher education in the United States. Your acceptance into U.S. universities is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and academic excellence. You will be joining over one million international students enrolled in US higher education institutions, and more than a quarter of them are from India,” she said.
Echoing Pavek, Minister-Counsellor for Consular Affairs, Russel Brown said, “This year, Indian students are poised to become the largest group of international students in the United States, and we are excited to welcome student visa applicants throughout the season.”
The US Mission to India’s Consular Team interviewed more than 3,900 student visa applicants across the country during the daylong event.
At the US Consulate in Kolkata, more than 100 students and their families participated in the activities.
They also met with educational experts from EducationUSA, a US Department of State network of student advising centres, and spoke with consulate officials about what to expect when studying in the States.
Sharing his best wishes with the Indian student delegation, Ambassador Eric Garcetti said, “Every student is an ambassador for India.”
“Like those who went before, today’s Indian students also represent tremendous potential. The knowledge you will unlock; the new skills and opportunities you will experience; the relationships you will build – are worth the investment. Together we are taking the US-India relationship forward!” he added.
The United States remains the No. 1 higher education destination for Indian students, with studies showing 69% of Indian students prefer a U.S. education to any other destination.
Indian students preparing to travel to the United States can learn about the student visa process by visiting – bit.ly/EdUSAIndiaPDO24.
