US Consulate Kolkata celebrates 'Student Visa Day' today

The US Consulate here today issued visas to a host of Indian students enrolled for higher studies in different universitities in the USA.
Speaking on the occasion of the "Student Visa Day", the US Consul General in Kolkata Craig Hall welcomed more Indian students to study in the United States and strengthen economic and educational tie-ups between India and USA.
Congratulating the Indian students Hall said, "There are approximately 1,66,000 Indian students in the United Sates, second only to China. Every sixth international student is from India. 60 per cent of Indian students are at the graduate level and 75 per cent are in the STEM fields. This number of students has grown dramatically as two years ago it was roughly 1,00,000."

"As a US diplomat, this increase in Indian students studying in the US brings me great hope. When we study together -- we learn together, we work together and we prosper together. This is especially true in the context of our two countries, where Indian and American students have worked together to create breakthroughs in science, start new businesses and bring our countries closer together," he said.
EducationUSA, a part of the worldwide programme administered by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), provided information to the students on thier upcoming pre-departure orientation session.
Indian students currently studying in the US were also present to offer tips and guidance on student life in the US.

The US Embassy in New Delhi and Consulates General in Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai also celebrated "Student Visa Day" today.
"Student Visa Day" is an annual event organised by the US Mission to India to celebrate the people-to-people educational ties that are the bedrock of the US-India bilateral relationship.