The US is expecting nearly 14 per cent annual increase in visa applications from India . Minister-Counsellor for Consular Affairs in the US Embassy in New Delhi , James W Herman told reporters on Friday that visa application process is being expected to reach 2.1 million by 2020, mainly in tourist sector.

He said , this is happening following implementation of streamlining of the application process as part of President Barack Obama's strategy to boost tourism from emerging countries like India and China .

Last week, President Obama had signed an Executive Order to make it easier for foreign travellers to visit the US and directed agencies throughout the US government to design a programme to make it easier for tourists to visit America .

According to US Embassy Consular fact sheet of the last five years, the US mission increased staffing by over sixty per cent and opened two new consulates in Hyderabad in 2009 and Mumbai in 2011.