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 emphasized the significance of student visas, stating that the United States is dedicated to increasing the number of applications it receives from Indian students and values the enduring importance of people-to-people connections.The interest in US education among Indian students continues to thrive. In 2023, US consular offices in India issued over 140,000 student visas—more than any other country—setting a new record for the third year in a row. Overall, the US Mission in India processed a record-breaking 1.4 million visas that year.Read More: Indian e-passport launch: Here's what travellers need to knowBefore applying for a student visa, applicants must first secure admission to a U.S. university accredited by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which will provide them with a Form I-20. After receiving this form, students must schedule an appointment through the official U.S. Travel Docs website, complete the DS-160 form, and pay the SEVIS fee.The US Embassy urges students to steer clear of third-party agents and use only official sources for information and appointment bookings. This helps maintain transparency and minimizes the chances of receiving incorrect or misleading information.Read more: The Big 5 of India: Where to spot the elephant, tiger, leopard, rhino, and gaurIndian students are encouraged to promptly book their appointments and prepare the necessary documents as soon as visa slots open. The proactive approach by the US Embassy highlights its commitment to fostering educational exchange and strengthening India–US bilateral relations.