12/06/2021
US embassy will start processing student visas from Monday
In what is a big relief for Indian students planning to join colleges in the US, the US Embassy has announced that starting June 14, Monday, the US Embassy and consulates in India will open "tens of thousands" of visa interview slots for Indian students who are planning to join courses at universities and colleges in America in the Fall 2021 session starting August-September this year. Students have been advised to visit the US embassy website to schedule their visa appointments.
"Student visas remain a top priority for the US mission to India and we are making every attempt to facilitate student travel in time for the fall semester. As such, on June 14, 2021, we will open limited July and August student visa appointments at posts across India. Indian students applying for F1, J1, M1 and their dependent visas should login to our website and start booking their interview slots. They will be allowed to travel to the US up to 30 days before the start of their courses," said Don Heflin, minister counsellor for consular affairs, US Embassy, in an interaction with students on a social networking page on Thursday. The US embassy is looking at issuing the same number of student visas in India in 2021 as the summer and fall of 2019. While thousands of visa interview slots will be opened up in June some slots will also be reserved to be made available in July and August. However, parents of students who wanted to accompany them to the US on visitors visas would not be granted visa interviews or allowed to travel at present, Heflin announced.
"Prior to your visa interview, please review your I-20 programme start date. Students beginning a new programme with a programme start date on or after August 1 may travel to the United States up to 30 days prior to the programme start date and do not need to submit a request for a national interest exception. Continuing students may also resume their programs on or after August 1, and travel 30 days before their programme resumption date. We are unable to approve expedite requests for Fall 2021 students with scheduled appointments in July or August. If your appointment date may result in a potentially late start, please reach out to your school to discuss options," the US embassy spokesperson said.
On April 30, US President Joe Biden had signed the Presidential Proclamation 10199 suspending most non-immigrant travel from India. In light of the travel suspension and due to the current pandemic situation in India, most other routine non-immigrant visa appointments at the US Embassy New Delhi and the consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai remain extremely limited. However, few emergency visa appointments in certain categories are being accommodated.