After months of promising quicker processing times and different programmes offered, the US has announced the start of student visa processing for the Fall season. Through a tweet published by the US Consulate General in Hyderabad, it was announced that the US mission to India will be starting the first batch of appointments for the upcoming season in mid-May.
The US mission urged the students to prepare their appointments, assuring them that more appointments may be released later in the season. Over the past few months, the US embassy and its consulate offices have been promising to fastrack the student and work visas and have announced measures to ensure the same.
In fact, an official from the US embassy also made a statement assuring the applicants of the Biden administration’s commitment towards making sure all Indian students receive their visas for the fall season.
Also Read: USA To Issue Over a Million Student and Work Visas to Indians in 2023
Previously, the US announced the extension of the visa interview waiver programme for select visa applicants till 31 December 2023. According to media reports, several different visa programmes including professors, student researchers, both short-term and long as well as specialist applicants who are eligible for the programme will be able to waive the need for an in-person interview.
The programme has been designed in a manner that gives consular officers the authority to waive the visa interview requirement for select first-time applicants and renewal cases. Applicants renewing their visas, who were issued any visa type and have never been refused a visa would become eligible for the US visa interview waiver programme, provided they also present no apparent or potential ineligibility.
Also Read: USA Extends In-Person Visa Interview Waiver to Include More Indian Applicants
According to media reports, first-time F, M and academic J applicants may also be eligible for the waiver programme provided they are citizens of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Additionally, these candidates will also need to ensure that they do not possess any apparent or potential ineligibility and have been to the US prior to submitting their applications.
Recently, the US also announced that candidates renewing their visa in the same category within 48 months of the expiration of their previous visa will also be able to avail of the US visa interview waiver programme.
The US State Department, however, urged the students to check the websites of the respective consulate offices, stating that the consular officers could still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis.
Source: Economic Times
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