Over 80,000 Indian students in US now

In 2006 alone, nearly 24,622 Indian students received US visas and have been accepted by American universities.

Indian students, numbering over 80,000, on Friday, constitute the largest number of foreign students in the United States.

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In the US fiscal 2006 alone, 24,622 Indian students received US visas, a whopping rise of 32 per cent from the previous fiscal, US consul general Peter Kaestner said at a press conference in New Delhi on Friday.

He said the US does not have a cap on student visas and students accepted by American universities will always get the visa. Even now, when there is a huge backlog of US visa applicants in India, Kaestner said that students do not face problems in getting a visa.

Asked how long will it take for a student, who has been accepted by an American university, to get a visa interview if he or she applies for it today, Kaestner said, "Tomorrow."