Students have reported difficulties with the online system for scheduling visa interviews, exacerbating the issue
The American Council on Education (ACE) and other educational organizations have urged the U.S. Department of State to address long delays in student visa processing at U.S. consulates in India.
With a 35 percent increase in Indian student enrollments for the 2022-2023 school year and more expected in 2024-2025, the delays pose a significant problem.
Indian students constituted a quarter of all international students in the U.S. last year, and the delays in visa processing could impact future enrollments
Visa interviews are now scheduled 100-200 days in advance, potentially causing students to miss the start of their academic programs.
ACE President Ted Mitchell stressed the need for the State Department and U.S. embassies in India to manage the surge in visa applications effectively.
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