The construction of Asia's largest United States consulate is nearing completion in Hyderabad, India and is set to open in the first half of 2023.
The new office, located in Nanakramguda, will replace the current consulate located in Begumpet. The new consulate has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 2429 crore and covers an area of 12.2 acres in the Financial District. The new building will feature 54 visa interview windows and is expected to recruit more staff in Hyderabad by the second half of 2023.
This new consulate has been welcomed by the US Consul General in Hyderabad, Jennifer Larson, who has described the building as "truly beautiful."
The consulate has seen a surge in student visa applications in recent times and the US Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones, has made it a priority to ensure that students receive their visas on time. In 2021, the consulate issued over 18600 student visas, a 23% increase from the previous year.
The Visa Application Centre at the consulate has also been shifted to the Lower Concourse near HITEC City Metro Station in Madhapur. The current consulate, located at Paigah Palace in Chiran Fort Lane in Begumpet, was established in 2009 and was the first US diplomatic office to open in India after independence.
