The Visa Appointment Service of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has provided additional guidance for Indian students on applying for an emergency student visa appointment .

Background

One of the primary obstacles faced by Indian students is the lack of regular visa appointment slots, especially during off-peak seasons. Typically, the bulk of visa appointments are opened around June and July, aligning with program start dates in the Fall semester. Similarly, a smaller window is opened in November and December for students commencing their studies in January.

Limited Availability of Emergency Appointments

Appointment slots for student visas are very limited beyond these conventional visa processing periods. This poses a significant challenge for applicants intending to commence their programs during off-cycle start dates. This is compounded by the fact that emergency appointment requests are generally only entertained under exceptional circumstances.

Prior to requesting an emergency appointment, prospective students who are unable to schedule an appointment before their start date should consult with their university and consider deferred enrollment for the following semester. It may help to include evidence that the student attempted to defer admission prior to raising a request for an emergency appointment. It should be noted that emergency appointments are not available to applicants who have been refused a student visa in the past year.

The essential documentation for requesting an emergency appointment is the Original Form I-20 or DS-2019 indicating start date of program within 60 days. More information is available here.

Conclusion

The option of emergency appointments serves as a vital lifeline for student visa applicants however, it is important to remember that such emergency appointments for student and exchange visitors are made available only on a case-by-case and is limited to students who are able to establish exceptional circumstances.