May 18, 2023: When will the first round of visa appointments be available? For more information, keep reading.
The US is prepared to start processing student visa applications for the autumn term. The U.S. Mission in India will start accepting appointments for the first round of the 2019 student visa season in mid-May. Later in the season, more appointments will be announced.
The US Consulate General in Hyderabad announced in a tweet, "Get ready for your appointments and stay tuned for more news relating to student visas."
Although the United States has announced measures to prioritise and process student and work visas, visa appointment waiting periods have been in the news recently.
An embassy representative confirmed last week that the Biden administration is committed to processing all student visa applications from Indian applicants for the next fall semester.
The three different student visas in the US are:
The F visa, also known as the Academic Student Visa, is designed for individuals who want to attend an accredited academic institution such as a college, university, high school, or seminary in the United States. It is intended for students participating in traditional academic programs. |
The M visa, or Vocational Student Visa, is for those who wish to pursue non-academic programs that focus on vocational or technical skills. These programs are typically shorter in duration and specialize in areas like cooking, design, or programming. |
The J visa, referred to as the Exchange Visitor's visa, encompasses various programs and is open to several groups of individuals. These include professors, research assistants, students, teachers, interns, nannies, and camp counselors. It facilitates exchange programs and cultural exchanges between the United States and other countries. |
The visa waiver programme for in-person interviews has been extended by the United States until December 31, 2023, for certain students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists (applicants for F, M, and academic J visas).
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Department of State (DOS) both offer visa waiver programmes (VWP) to applicants who have previously received any type of visa, have never had a visa refusal, and have no visible or potential visa ineligibilities.
A few first-time F, M, and academic J applicants who are citizens or nationals of a nation that takes part in the VWP may also be excluded from having an in-person interview as long as they have no evident or potential grounds for disqualification and have already visited the US with permission obtained through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
A waiver of the interview is also available to applicants’ renewing visas in the same classification within 48 months after the end of the prior visa.
In individual cases, taking into consideration the particulars of the local situation, consular staff may, however, demand an in-person interview.
For additional information, it is recommended that the applicants visit the websites of the relevant embassy or consulate, according to the US State Department.