Revised US Visa Rules for Indian Students Come into Effect, Check Details

The US Embassy clarified that applicants who have erroneously used an incorrect passport number to create a profile or schedule an appointment should rectify this by either creating a new profile with accurate passport information or by updating an existing profile with the correct details.

The US Embassy has made a few changes to the visa application process for Indian students, which comes into effect from November 27. The revised US student visa rules will be uniformly applied across all Embassies and Consulates located in various cities in India.

The students preparing to pursue their education in the United States under the F, M, and J visa categories should review the new changes to the application process.

The US Embassy recently announced the changes to the student visa application process ‘to prevent fraud and abuse of the appointment system’.

All applicants for F, M, and J student visa categories are mandated to utilise their passport information while creating a profile and scheduling their visa appointments, the Embassy said.

The US Embassy warned that applicants who use incorrect passport information to create a profile or book an appointment will face rejection at the Visa Application Centers (VAC). Such applicants will witness the cancellation of their appointments, resulting in the forfeiture of the visa fee.

For individuals seeking F or M visas, attendance at an institution or programme certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is a prerequisite. Those pursuing a J visa must secure sponsorship from an organisation approved by the Department of State.

Furthermore, the US Embassy clarified that applicants who have erroneously used an incorrect passport number to create a profile or schedule an appointment should rectify this by either creating a new profile with accurate passport information or by updating an existing profile with the correct details.

However, this correction process will come with a fee if the previous profile carried inaccurate passport information.

In situations where an old passport is lost or stolen, the US Embassy stipulates that a photocopy or alternative evidence of the old passport number must be presented during the visa appointment at the VAC.

In a related development, the US Ambassador affirmed the commitment to expedite visa issuance from India by increasing staff and inaugurating new consulates. Notably, new consulates are slated to be established in Ahmedabad, with one recently inaugurated in Hyderabad.

Highlighting the surge in visa applications, the US Embassy earlier this month disclosed that the India team processed a record number of visa applications in 2023, surpassing all previous years.