Consular Dialogue helps in reinforcing strong people-to-people ties and strengthening cooperation on issues of mutual interest
India and the US discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the areas of extradition, mobility of students and professionals, safe and legal migration, protection of vulnerable women and children and enabling smooth travel of their respective nationals.

This discussion took place during the 11th bilateral Consular Dialogue between India and US took place in New Delhi on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
 
The Dialogue reinforced the strong people-to-people ties and cooperation that both countries share across consular issues of mutual interest, the MEA said.

At the Dialogue, while the Indian delegation was led by Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Joint Secretary (CPV) in the Ministry of External Affairs, the US delegation was led by Ambassador Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of State.

Both sides welcomed the launch of a pilot in the US to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain categories of visas as proactive steps toward strengthening robust connections between people of the two countries. Both sides agreed to hold the next Consular Dialogue in the US next year.
 
The Dialogue took place close on the heels of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma met EAM S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, and Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri in New Delhi, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said here on Thursday.

Tweeting about his meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma on X, Jaishankar said, “Always good to meet US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma. Discussed our deepening cooperation and global and regional issues of mutual interest.”

The former US Ambassador to India was on an official visit to India from February 19 to 21.  Verma’s meetings explored opportunities to strengthen US-India cooperation and people-to-people ties to ensure a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Miller said. He also met with Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to discuss further expanding trade and economic ties between the US and India.