No more long waits: US opens thousands of slots for this visa type across Indian cities

The US Embassy in India has announced that thousands of student visa appointment slots are available throughout its consulates, which is a major step for Indian students hoping to study in the United States. The goal of this program is to expedite visa processing in advance of the next school year.According to the US Embassy, these appointments are accessible across all US consulates in India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The embassy has provided a link directing applicants to a webpage that displays visa appointment availability by country. This move is in line with the embassy's efforts to streamline the visa process and ensure that students can commence their studies in the US without delays.US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti made the statement after stressing the importance of student visas. The United States is committed to accepting more applications from Indian students and recognizes the lasting value of people-to-people interactions, he stated.The demand for US education among Indian students remains robust. In 2023, the US consular team in India issued over 140,000 student visas, more than any other country, marking a record for the third consecutive year. Additionally, the broader US Mission in India processed a record 1.4 million visas in the same year.Read more: Delhi: Flight delays expected to drop as key runway reopens at Delhi AirportPrior to submitting an application for a student visa, candidates must be accepted into a US university that has been approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which will then issue a Form I-20. Students then need to make an appointment on the official US Travel Docs website, fill out the DS-160 form, and pay the SEVIS charge.The US Embassy advises students to avoid third-party agents and rely solely on official channels for information and appointment scheduling. This approach ensures transparency and reduces the risk of misinformation.Read more: The Big 5 of India: Where to spot the elephant, tiger, leopard, rhino, and gaurIndian students are urged to move quickly to reserve their appointments and get the required paperwork ready as soon as these visa slots become available. The US Embassy's proactive action demonstrates its dedication to promoting educational exchanges and enhancing India-United States bilateral ties.