The US diplomatic mission in India recently conducted its annual nationwide student visa day, during which consular officers from various cities such as New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai interviewed nearly 3,500 Indian student visa applicants.
Brendan Mullarkey, the acting minister counsellor for consular affairs in India, stated that a record-breaking number of 125,000 Indians were granted US student visas last year, surpassing any other nationality. He further mentioned that one out of every five student visas issued globally was given to Indian students in the previous year.
Mullarkey also expressed that this year they plan to interview even more students than ever before. According to data released by the US Embassy, there are currently over 200,000 Indian students studying at academic institutions in the United States, accounting for more than 20% of the total international student population.
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However, the unavailability of interview dates for F-1 student visas has become a concern for many Indian students. Students should book the earliest available appointment slots, even if they are for next year, as they can later expedite the interview process with their current university offer letter.
Applying early for US student visas will be ideal as the rules allow applicants to apply within the preceding 365 days before their academic program start date. However, international students are only permitted to enter the US on their student visa within the 30-day period prior to their academic program start date.
In preparation for the academic year, the US Embassy and consulates in India typically open a significant number of student visa appointments. Last year, they announced a focus on student visa applications and reduced availability for other categories, especially for first-time travellers on B visas.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, which has received considerable interest from Indian students, expects approximately 325 Indian students to join this year based on previous enrollment rates. The university conducts information sessions for Indian students twice a week and has not encountered significant complaints regarding difficulties in finding visa interview slots. A spokesperson for the university advised students to continue checking for newly opened slots.
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The US Mission in India anticipates issuing a record number of student visas this year due to high demand. Experts acknowledge that there will be delays as authorities scale their systems to accommodate the increasing number of students. Students planning to study in the US must pay their SEVIS fee and have their DS-160 forms ready to avoid delays when visa interview slots become available.
Source: Times of India
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