[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When United States Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster met Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru, the chief minister told him that the US should open its consulate in Bengaluru at the earliest, to facilitate granting of visas to the citizens of Karnataka state. The US has
consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai, but not in Bengaluru.
The Chief Minister’s Office stated that Kumaraswamy has assured Juster infrastructure, including land, building and all other important amenities to enable the US to establish a consulate here. Though Bengaluru has the highest number of American companies, the city does not have a US Consulate office yet.
Talking about the warm and long-standing relations between Karnataka and the US, Kumaraswamy also told Juster that many Kannadigas were working in the US and many people from across Karnataka visit the US as tourists. A consulate in Bengaluru, with facilities to process and issue visas would help the people of Karnataka save time, energy and cost. Currently, most of them have to go to Chennai or Hyderabad for visa interviews and collecting their passports or travel documents in person.
In response to Kumaraswamy’s plea, Juster assured that he would forward Karnataka’s request to the US Administration for establishing a consulate in Bengaluru soon. He told Kumaraswamy that about 370 US companies run their operations from Bengaluru, contributing greatly to Karnataka’s economy. However, they encounter infrastructure problems in this city that need to be addressed urgently. Kumaraswamy directed the officials concerned to meet the heads of US firms and resolve the issues at the earliest.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
