The US Embassy in India has opened appointments for students who need to arrive at their campuses by mid-August.
Students who have applied for visa categories F, M and J and have an I-20 can book their interview slots. Consulates will be for interviews taking place after August 14, the embassy tweeted.
Student visa appointments are available on our website. If you have an I-20, don’t wait! Future F, M, and J appoint… https://t.co/Cfqm3Kfsfx
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) 1656070201000
In May, the US opened the first tranche of interview slots, for dates in June and the first half of July 2022.
Last year, the US Embassy in Delhi and the consulates in India had opened student visa interviews on June 14, because of the Covid pandemic situation, with many students who were planning to join US universities having already received their student I-20 documents from US universities and waiting for the interviews.
This year, having opened student visa interviews earlier, the US officials hope to issue more student visas than the record number of 62,000 issued last year to students joining US universities in the autumn of 2021.
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Last month, the US Embassy told students not to panic if they are unable to book a visa appointment in the first tranche.
“If you don’t get an appointment in this tranche, don’t panic. We will be focusing on students for the months of June, July and August and will open slots for the rest of July and the first half of August later,” the announcement assured.
In a relief for applicants, the US Embassy has also eased the earlier announced stand of not giving a second chance for visa interviews to student visa applicants who had been refused visas earlier.
“If you have a prior refusal, watch for open appointments in the second half of August when you’ll have a second chance at the interview,” the announcement has clarified.
ET Online
