Indian students aspiring to study in the United States are encountering unprecedented difficulties as delays in visa processing continue to mount. The issuance of student visas has become increasingly fraught, with some universities withholding I-20 forms even as they set September 15 as a deadline for completing admissions — leaving students in a state of considerable uncertainty.
According to a Delhi-based consultancy operator, approximately 70,000 students who have already received I-20 letters from their respective universities are yet to secure visa appointment slots. Students further report that even when interview slots are granted, visas are frequently being denied over minor technicalities.
India sends an estimated 3.20 lakh travelers to the US annually, of whom roughly 1.90 lakh (as reported) are students pursuing education abroad. With the American academic Fall season beginning in September and university admissions commencing as early as August, students typically begin their visa preparations up to six months in advance.
The Root of the Problem
Prospective students are granted entry into the US on an F-1 visa, which first requires an admission letter from a university — and it is at this stage that complications typically begin. Over the past two years, the US government has significantly tightened oversight of universities, introducing a wide array of new regulations. Institutions have been warned of strict consequences should they admit a student without adequate background verification, or if a student is subsequently found to have ties to groups the US considers hostile or anti-social. Compounding this, the post-graduation grace period allowing students to remain in the US has been shortened from 60 days to 30.
Additionally, four-year PhD programs now require supplementary approvals, along with assurances that the doctoral candidate will complete their studies within the stipulated timeframe. Consequently, universities have grown more cautious, issuing I-20 documents only after exhaustive review of a student’s records — a development that has become a significant bottleneck in the visa process and is simultaneously affecting university admission rates.
Visa Interviews Under Intense Scrutiny
Securing a student visa has grown markedly more challenging. Immigration authorities are now reviewing applicants’ social media activity spanning up to five years, in some cases examining even routine public posts. Previously, students could remain in the US for a period after completing their studies under Optional Practical Training (OPT) arrangements facilitated by universities; however, institutions have grown reluctant to offer this given a new rule holding them accountable for any actions taken by a student post-graduation.
As a result, universities are increasingly withdrawing such support. Visa processing has also slowed considerably due to more rigorous scrutiny of applicants’ financial documentation. Officers are now examining, in depth, the source of funds shown in bank accounts intended to cover tuition and living expenses through the grace period — and visas are being denied in some cases simply on the grounds that a candidate’s interview responses were deemed unsatisfactory.
“We’ve Submitted Everything, Yet the Letter Hasn’t Arrived”
“I have been trying for a year to pursue my Master’s degree in the US. I applied for my visa, but the university still hasn’t issued my I-20 letter. When I emailed them, they said the review was still ongoing. The academic year begins in September, and unless I travel by August, I won’t be able to make the necessary arrangements there.”
— Visam Pallavi, Hyderabad
“They Ask for New Information Every Day”
“I received my letter from the US university, but immigration officials are demanding a different document each day. I was asked to explain even ordinary social media posts. They wanted details of funds credited to my bank account and information — including bank statements — about the individuals who lent me money. Those who lent me the money are now anxious themselves. We’re left wondering whether we’ll actually be able to travel to the US at all.”
— Mohammed Shareef, Warangal