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Time of India
27-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Students Late for Class as US Visas Fall Behind
Live Events Many Indian students who have newly taken admission at American universities are unlikely to commence studies on time this Fall because of unusually long delays in visa processing despite the US recently lifting the pause on visa to study abroad consultants, the delay and a steep rise in visa rejections could cause a 70–80% drop in Indian student arrivals in the US for the upcoming semester compared with last year. The Fall semester starts mostly in September and some in late August. Students usually depart for colleges in August.A US Embassy spokesperson said consular officers are to conduct comprehensive and thorough vetting, including of online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications. This is under a new guidance. Interview slots for student visas (F-1, J-1, M-1) were not available in mid-March 2025. 'We do not issue a visa until an applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the consular officer adjudicating the case that he or she is eligible to receive a visa under US law,' the spokesperson said in response to ET's emailed queries. 'We will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the US, and that he or she has credibly established his or her eligibility for the visa sought, including that the applicant intends to engage in activities consistent with the terms of admission.' Several US consulates had also temporarily halted visa interview appointments for new students in late May and much of disruptions have caused a huge backlog in visa processing. Introduction of expanded social media vetting protocols as part of the standard visa review process added to the delays, said experts.'For some cities like Ahmedabad, it has been even worse (than other cities), leaving many unsure about their Fall 2025 plans,' said Collegify cofounder Adarsh Khandelwal. 'Even after the visa services resumed last month, appointment availability still remains erratic, with slots vanishing within seconds and wait times stretching up to 60 days in metros,' he said.'F1 visa processing is significantly delayed this year and if this does not quickly come on track, a lot of students will have to skip an entire year,' said Rajneesh Pathak, founder of Global North Residency and Citizenship. 'Most students are worried about not being able to join their course this year and losing fees and a year.'The US Embassy has urged early applications, warning that more processing time may be required. 'We acknowledge that the additional time required to conduct online presence vetting of all F, M, and J applicants may impact appointment availability in those categories,' the spokesperson disruption was primarily due to operational adjustments, including system updates and introduction of the social media vetting protocols, said ApplyBoard's US head Lindsey Lopez.'However, given the high demand and recent backlogs, students may continue to experience longer wait times and delays in securing interview slots,' said Lopez.
Economic Times
27-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Visa delays may derail plans of thousands of Indian students heading to US this Fall, warn consultants
New Delhi: Many Indian students who have newly taken admission at American universities are unlikely to commence studies on time this Fall because of unusually long delays in visa processing despite the US recently lifting the pause on visa to study abroad consultants, the delay and a steep rise in visa rejections could cause a 70-80% drop in Indian student arrivals in the US for the upcoming semester compared with last year. The Fall semester starts mostly in September and some in late August. Students usually depart for colleges in August. A US Embassy spokesperson said consular officers are to conduct comprehensive and thorough vetting, including of online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications. This is under a new guidance. Interview slots for student visas (F-1, J-1, M-1) were not available in mid-March 2025. "We do not issue a visa until an applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the consular officer adjudicating the case that he or she is eligible to receive a visa under US law," the spokesperson said in response to ET's emailed queries. "We will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the US, and that he or she has credibly established his or her eligibility for the visa sought, including that the applicant intends to engage in activities consistent with the terms of admission." Several US consulates had also temporarily halted visa interview appointments for new students in late May and much of June. Fear of losing fees The disruptions have caused a huge backlog in visa processing. Introduction of expanded social media vetting protocols as part of the standard visa review process added to the delays, said experts. 'For some cities like Ahmedabad, it has been even worse (than other cities), leaving many unsure about their Fall 2025 plans,' said Collegify cofounder Adarsh Khandelwal. 'Even after the visa services resumed last month, appointment availability still remains erratic, with slots vanishing within seconds and wait times stretching up to 60 days in metros,' he said. 'F1 visa processing is significantly delayed this year and if this does not quickly come on track, a lot of students will have to skip an entire year,' said Rajneesh Pathak, founder of Global North Residency and Citizenship. 'Most students are worried about not being able to join their course this year and losing fees and a year.' The US Embassy has urged early applications, warning that more processing time may be required. 'We acknowledge that the additional time required to conduct online presence vetting of all F, M, and J applicants may impact appointment availability in those categories,' the spokesperson disruption was primarily due to operational adjustments, including system updates and introduction of the social media vetting protocols, said ApplyBoard's US head Lindsey Lopez.'However, given the high demand and recent backlogs, students may continue to experience longer wait times and delays in securing interview slots,' said Lopez.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-Canada diplomatic reset boosts student confidence
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in NRI 1. Harvard and Trump administration resume talks to resolve ongoing feud Reset in diplomatic relations between India and Canada has restored confidence among Indian students and parents, with most study-abroad platforms expecting a 20-30% increase in admissions in Canadian colleges this latest improvement in bilateral ties comes as a huge relief for students who had to stall their Canada study plans for more than a year. It also marks a blessing for those who had shortlisted the US as their only overseas study option but were forced to consider other destinations due to stricter visa and immigration rules adopted by the Donald Trump administration earlier this Sharma, a Delhi-based student, who had deferred her Fall 2024 offer from the University of Toronto due to visa uncertainty is now busy packing her bags. 'Following the improved bilateral climate, she reactivated her application and is now headed to study Computer Science this Fall,' said Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder, Collegify, a study-abroad platform that helped with the admission.'Since the easing of tensions, we have observed a 31% increase in active Canadian applications for the Fall 2025 intake,' said permit approvals for Canada from India plunged 42% to 131,000 in 2023 from 226,000 in the year before, according to IRCC/Immigration, Refugees And Citizenship Canada/ data. Approvals fell a further 31% in Q1 2025 to 30,640 permits but experts predict a recovery in the coming Group, a study-abroad consulting firm, saw a 10-12% drop in Indian students' interest in Canadian academic institutions due to the diplomatic standoff, said founder Sanjay Laul.'There's a growing sense that it's getting harder to navigate the visa process for the US. Even students with strong academic profiles are facing unpredictability,' said Laul, adding that the current scenario is turning Canada a more attractive destination for Indian visa policies introduced by Canada and tighter measures taken by the Trump government especially on limiting foreign student enrolment had cast a cloud of doubt and uncertainty, according to Atul Verma, co-founder, Masterclass Space.'The signal of improving diplomatic ties between India and Canada comes as a welcome whiff of fresh air,' he current trends are all positive as there is an increase in student confidence and positive sentiment, noted Piyush Kumar, regional director, South Asia, IDP Education.'Canada has consistently remained a preferred destination, and this renewed engagement will contribute positively to students' plans for future intake,' said said IDP continues to see strong interest from Indian students in traditional English-speaking countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-Pakistan tensions make many rethink study-abroad plans
Amidst heightened India-Pakistan tensions, the education-abroad market initially faced uncertainty as parents reconsidered plans due to safety and financial concerns. While the ceasefire offers some relief, anxieties persist, prompting families to weigh alternative options. Experts advise against hasty decisions, emphasizing long-term aspirations and financial preparedness, though some consultants foresee limited impact on study abroad numbers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The education-abroad market may see a hit in the short term as many parents and students are reconsidering their foreign study plans due to concerns over safety, travel and even finance amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, said experts. They don't expect the ceasefire that the two countries announced on Saturday to immediately alter the sentiment. Education consultants have been flooded with queries over the past few days from people considering study-abroad options. With a ceasefire in place, the apprehensions may ease a bit but not disappear until normalcy is restored, they said."While the ceasefire brings temporary relief, uncertainty still prevails. Over the past 72 hours, we've seen a surge in queries—families are increasingly asking whether to proceed with study-abroad plans or explore alternative options,' said Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify, a college-admissions they said, many parents were reconsidering study-abroad plans for their children due to worries about the potential financial hit as a fallout of the conflict.A businessman from a tier-2 city, whose daughter was set to go abroad this year, has instead decided to send her to an Indian university because his income was 'not guaranteed anymore' and consider a master's degree abroad depending on the situation then. However, with the ceasefire in place, these plans may shift again, he told advises against making hasty decisions. 'Our advice to students and families is not to abandon long-term aspirations because of short-term disruptions. Plan smartly and build financial buffers,' said people may now wait for more clarity before making a decision, said education consultants.'Until the conflict is completely resolved there could be short-term dips in study abroad applications, particularly among economically vulnerable families,' said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits Travel disruptions and economic strain could make studying abroad less affordable, he parents may also see studying abroad as a way to ensure their children's safety and protection from any future disruptions in India, said conflicts may have an impact on people's earnings and their capability to pay, according to Kamlesh Vyas, partner, Deloitte India. "We may have situations where parents can no longer afford foreign education (in case things worsen),' he with the ceasefire in place, some students who have firmed up plans to study abroad are advancing their travel some consultants, like study abroad platform Career Mosaic, do not see any significant impact on the number of Indian students planning to study abroad. 'While students are aware of the geopolitical situation, they continue to prioritise their long-term academic and career objectives,' said Career Mosaic founder Abhijit are largely sticking to their plans, he said, adding: 'In case tensions rise, we anticipate the impact on India's study abroad market would be limited and temporary.'The real impact of this on Indian students wanting to go abroad would only be visible in the coming weeks and months, said experts.
