US safe to study in, assures envoy amid university protests
The United States is a safe country and “cares deeply” for the well-being of Indian students, US ambassador Eric Garcetti said on Friday against the backdrop of the death of nearly half a dozen Indian and Indian-origin students in the US this year.
He said the challenge of reducing visa backlogs was taken on by the US in the context of President Joe Biden’s directive to reduce time for Indian applicants, and that he’s proud of the work done in a year to reduce the wait time for US visas by three-quarters.
The US envoy made the remarks focusing on the welfare of Indian students and the visa process during separate interviews with PTI and ANI. Garcetti assured the parents of students that “their children are our children” when they are in the US.
The US remains a preferred destination for higher studies among Indians, but a string of deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students has triggered concern.
“We want parents to know that their children are our children when they are in the US. And there is a wealth of resources that can help students prepare... whether it is mental health...and resources for being far away for home, parents and families,” he told PTI.
While asserting that the US is a “safe country”, Garcetti said students studying abroad should familiarise themselves with local conditions, have a network of trusted friends, and know what to do in a dangerous situation or in the event of mental health issues.
Garcetti said foreign students should know campus security and local law enforcement personnel are available for their safety, while recalling his own experience of personal safety as a student.
“The US is a safe country and there are a lot of resources to help students feel protected. But if they don’t reach out, we might not know about the incidents before it is too late,” he added.
Last year, the US issued more than 140,000 visas to Indian students, more than any other country and setting a record for the third consecutive year. “With a record number, we are going to see these tragic incidents statistically...and external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said there is no evidence of any connection[or] of any targeting of Indian students. So this is really about common sense...so that you can have the best experience possible,” he said.
Garcetti told ANI he was very proud of the work done by the US to reduce the visa wait time by three-quarters and to have no visa wait time in any categories except for first-time tourist visas.
He said Biden told him to bring down the visa wait time in India, adding it was the first instance of a US ambassador being told to look into this issue. He said the green card backlog is partly a legislative problem that the US Congress will have to address.