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He said that the US and India have expanded commercial ties now with more than 20 billion in investments. “20 billion in investments from Indian companies in the United States,” he said and also highlighted a security partnership through military exercises in the Indo-Pacific. A slow or unpredictable consular process can get in the way of the very exchanges, such as business visits, investment trips, and partnership meetings, that are building those ties. To remove the friction, a smarter scheduling system is needed. “An orderly and a secure consular system is vital to solidifying this important relationship,” Rubio said. The tool is built around a single prioritisation principle: applicants who strengthen ties with the United States get earlier access to scheduling. In practice, that means business professionals, the people flying into close deals, sign agreements, expand operations, or represent Indian companies investing in American markets.