The United States Of America is among the preferred destinations for Indian students to pursue further studies. The country hosts some prestigious universities where upgraded courses are offered. And if you want admission to these universities, you will need to apply for a visa. The US Consulate has announced the beginning of the Fall Session for US visa applications for Indian students.
US Visa Application To Begin From 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… pic.twitter.com/buDOeRmf64
— U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad (@USAndHyderabad) April 28, 2023
The initial batch of appointments will be made available in mid-May. At this point, the US Consulate will start processing student visa applications for the upcoming Autumn Session. This news was tweeted by the US Consulate General in Hyderabad. It further stated that more appointments will be announced later in this season. Students are requested to keep checking back for more announcements and get ready for appointments.
Last year, the US consulates in India processed nearly 1.25 lakh student visa applications. This summer, the nation plans to boost visa interview appointments for students from India by 30%. The State Department stated in February that the ‘F’ and ‘M’ categories of student visas can now be awarded up to a year in advance, providing much-needed relief for students.
Also Read: No More Long Visa Wait Time As Addressing Visa Issue Is A Top Priority For US Visa Officials
Time Taken For The Application Process
Prior to this time, international students may only apply 120 days before the beginning of their course of study. Now, they have 365 days to submit their application. The State Department’s announcement of a fee increase for student visas coincides with the development. The cost of NIVs that are not petition-based, such as student and exchange visitor visas, will rise from $160 to $185 (or ₹15,140 for Indian citizens) as of May 30.
The length of time it takes to process a US visa varies on the kind of visa you are asking for. The processing time for a US visa application is 3 to 5 weeks. The applicant may receive a favourable response to their application following processing, and the consulate will provide the document. The delivery of the visa may require an additional two working days.
Also Read: Looking For US Visa Renewal? You Might Get To Ditch The In-Person Interview!
However, with innumerable visa applications by Indian students, the process takes a long time.
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