NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 25, 2004

: You are a student and you really want to go to the US. But you're hedging your bets and applying to universities in other countries because you're not sure whether US visa clearances, the SEVIS or Mantis systems or just plain delays, will cost you an academic year. Relax.

The US State Department on Monday said that it had put legitimate arrivals on the fast track. The results are showing.

According to the US Commerce Department, international arrivals for June 2004 increased by 16 per cent over the same period last year.

Student visas issuances have increased 11.2 per cent, while non-immigrant visas have increased by 14.6 per cent. Students and exchange visitors now enjoy expedited interviews.

A statement from the State Department said that only 2.2 per cent of visas required inter-agency clearances in Washington. These have not only caused huge delays, but they are also some of the most publicised visa delays by the US authorities.

The State Department has promised to have inter-agency clearances wrapped up in less than a month. For this, the US government said, it had invested $1 million in automation equipment, while 350 consular staff had also been added in the past couple of years.