- Before, I-20 forms could only be granted 4-6 months prior to the start of the term.
- Visa interviews could only be booked up to 120 days beforehand.
- Students can only enter the US on a visa 30 days before to the commencement of their programme.
International students who want to study in the US will now be able to apply for an F-1 visa up to 365 days before the start of their academic semester, according to an update from the US Department of State. Before, I-20 forms could only be granted 4-6 months prior to the start of the term, and visa interviews could only be booked up to 120 days beforehand.
International students now have more time to get ready and apply for their visas thanks to the change. However, students can only enter the US on a visa 30 days before to the commencement of their programme. American colleges are now able to accept and issue I-20 forms 12–14 months before the start of term.
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“Now that F and M student visas can be issued up to 365 days before the I-20 programme start date, students have extra time to submit a visa application. More than 30 days before to the commencement of their programme, students are still not permitted to enter the country on a student visa “said the US Department of State.
This comes as a US visa official stated that India is the US’s top priority for visas, adding that there has been an increase of about 36% in visa processing since the outbreak.
According to Julie Stufft, the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services: “The most important issue we are now dealing with is India. We firmly intend to leave this predicament behind. It’s not ideal for someone in India seeking a visa to have to wait for an appointment or a visa.”
“Compared to before the Covid epidemic in India, we have issued 36% more visas so far this year. And that represents a significant amount of development,” the official continued.
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