The United States is all set to begin processing student visa applications for the Fall session, announcing that the first batch of visa appointments will be open by mid-May.
“Attention students! In mid-May, the U.S. Mission to India will open the first batch of appointments for the upcoming student visa season. Additional appointments will be released later in the season. Prepare for your appointments and stay tuned for more student visa related announcements!” the US Consulate General in Hyderabad said in a tweet.
Wait times for visa appointments have been making news, but the United States has announced measures to prioritise and process student and work visas.
An Embassy official, last week assured that the Biden administration is committed to making sure it processes all the student visas for Indians applying for the fall session.
The United States has also extended until December 31, 2023, the visa waiver program for in-person interviews for certain students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists (F, M, and academic J visa applicants) who meet certain conditions, including that they are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence.
Under this program, consular officers can waive the visa interview requirement for certain first-time and renewing F, M, and academic J applicants who were previously issued any type of visa, and who have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility.
In-person interviews can also be waived for certain first-time F, M, and academic J applicants who are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), provided they have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility and have previously traveled to the United States using an authorization obtained via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) .Applicants renewing a visa in the same classification within 48 months of the prior visa’s expiration are also eligible for interview waiver.
“Consular officers may still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis, taking into account local conditions. We encourage applicants to check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about this development, as well as current operating status and services,” the US State Department said.
