The US to open 100,000 visa appointment slots, and resume student visa interviews in November
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The US government office and consulates in India will start student visa interviews in mid-November, Don Heflin, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, US Embassy said on Thursday.
The United States will also open 100,000 slots throughout the next few weeks for candidates for H and L specialist visas, particularly for dropbox cases.
This would be particularly for first-time candidates.
“There are individuals in the United States on an H or L visa who haven’t had the option to return home to visit families since Coronavirus began, we feel for them,” Heflin said.
The embassy also declared it would be taking special measures to cut down wait times for B1/B2 visas. Which are used by tourists and business people, over the next few months. These visas have a current wait time of over 800 days.
For students, the embassy will be conducting interviews beginning from mid-November till the end of December. The first half of the appointment slots will open in mid-October and the rest around mid-November.
The US to resume student visa interviews in November
The slots apply for F visas, and M J visas will be given an important line, it was declared.
“We will be able to go back to 100 percent staffing by this time one year from now”. Heflin said while addressing the backlog, adding the government offices and departments will be able to process more visas than ever by 2023.
Travel plans of thousands of Indians have been hit by a backlog for important categories of US visas. Including B-1/B-2 visitor visas and H-1B and H-4 work permit visas. However, the good news for Indian students is that, with valid F-1 student visas. Traveling back to the US after visiting India or some other nation, is simple and does not require any additional visa stamp or interview.
[November 2022 Visa Buletin]
After a two-year stop, the United States finally opened up interview slots for new visa candidates.
“Visa appointments are currently open for all categories! But because of high demand, wait times remain significant,” the US Embassy in India tweeted.
The waiting period for Indians looking to get a visitor visa to the US has gone up to 800 days. As indicated by the site of the US State Department. The waiting period is almost 400 days for student/exchange visitor visas and other non-immigrant visas.
