'5 lakh apply, only 55,000 get visa'

Nearly five lakh Indians aspire to fly to the US every year, but the US government issues only about 55,000 visas due to a lack of adequate manpower and infrastructure, US transport secretary Norman Y Mineta said here on Friday.

"We are overwhelmed at the number of people requesting visas to the US. About 55,000 visas are issued, while there are nearly four-five lakh requests," he told reporters here on the sidelines of an interactive meet organised by the Bangalore chapter of American Chamber of Commerce & Industry.