In a Facebook question and answer session on the US Embassy in India’s page on Friday, April 28, 2023, the officer answering questions announced that student visa appointments will be available to schedule on the consulate website mid-May. These mid-May appointments will take place starting June 1, 2023.
It has been increasingly difficult for students to schedule their in-person visa interview, with many missing their school start dates and having to push back their enrollment due to no visa appointment being available.
The US Embassy in India officer recommends that if your start date is approaching, it is in your best interest to delay or defer your start date until you have a student visa appointment secured and scheduled.
Additional Student Visa Appointments Opening Late Summer
Following the first batch of open student visa appointments in mid-May, later summer appointments will follow a few weeks later. If you’re waiting for your chance to schedule a visa appointment for your student visa, be sure that you are checking the consulate’s website constantly towards the middle of May. They have not given a specific date on when appointments will be released, only that they will be available in the middle of the month.
Refused F1 Visa Appointment Slots
If you are a previously refused F1 visa applicant waiting for an appointment, the US Embassy in India reports that interviews won’t be available for previously refused F1 visa applicants until late August with those appointments opening up a few weeks in advance – likely late July or early August.
Fee Increase Beginning May 30, 2023
If you haven’t yet paid for your application fee for your student visa, note that the fee for certain non-immigrant visas, including student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from $160 to $185 starting on May 30, 2023. If you pay for your application fee prior to May 30, 2023, you can pay $160 only and will not be charged any additional fees.
Visa Fee Validity Notice
If you paid for your non-immigrant visa application fee on or after October 1, 2022, your payment is valid for 365 days from the date of your payment receipt. You have to schedule your in-person interview within this 365-day period in order for your payment to remain valid. However, the appointment itself does not have to occur within the 365 days – it just has to be scheduled within this time frame.
Alternative Options: Interview Waiver Processing
If you are having trouble securing an in-person interview appointment, you may want to look into whether or not you qualify for the interview waiver program. Interview waiver processing is available to student visa applicants who were previously issued any type of visa if they are applying for a visa in their country of residence/nationality. Additionally, if you previously had a visa with “clearance received” or “department authorization” listed, you may also qualify for an interview waiver.
Looking for more information regarding how to apply for a US student visa? Check out our in-depth how-to guide. If you are one of the many Indian students waiting for a visa appointment, be sure to check the consulate’s website diligently starting next week to check for available appointments. Good luck!
