US student visa delays leave Indian applicants in worry

Many Indian students bound for higher education in the US, for May intake, are still waiting for F1 visa interview appointments. Despite a recent release of thousands of additional visa slots by the US consulate, most of these were booked within minutes. Students in Hyderabad are particularly affected as wait times for interviews stretch beyond two months, as per a report by The Times of India.

Hyderabad has the longest wait time at 75 days. In other cities, the delays are also significant — over 60 days in Kolkata and New Delhi, and about 45 days in Chennai.

“I have to reach by the first week of June, but here I am, not even getting dates. My consultants also don't have much idea. I've already received my I20. I'm clueless at this point as to what to do next,” said Randheer K to TOI, a data science master's student from Hyderabad.

Mahendra B, who is also planning to pursue a master’s in data science in New York, also told TOI “Chennai has a waiting period of a little over a month, but when they open slots, it's just five or ten at a time, usually for the next day. It's impossible to catch them. I've been waiting for over two months now. I don't know how I'll manage to reach it on time.”

Local consultancies in Hyderabad have confirmed the delays, noting that although slot shortages are common, students typically manage to secure appointments at least a month before departure. This year, many are entering their departure window without any confirmed interview.

“Even we do not have much details. In fact, the ones who are receiving the slot, most visas are being rejected. January intake was the worst for us, and this does not look any different. Over 300 students scheduled to leave by June are waiting for the visa slots,” said Arvind Manduva to TOI, from a registered consultancy.

Sahas Yuvaraj, from another Hyderabad-based consultancy, urged students to begin the process much earlier. “Students should start applying at least six months before to avoid last-minute rush. The situation is very different now from earlier. There are multiple levels of scrutiny and it will only increase,” he told TOI.

The Travel Agents Federation of India (AP and Telangana) also flagged operational issues. “Between May and August, only student visas are usually processed, but this time even F1 slots are scarce and the waiting periods are long. The immigration authorities have 52 counters, but only 50% of them are operational. That means fewer people to process the growing number of applicants,” said Abdul Majid Faheem, chairman of the federation to TOI.

As the start of the academic term nears, students continue to wait, hoping that new slots will open in time for them to travel.