The U.S. Embassy in India in a notification today has reiterated that student visas remain a top priority for the U.S. Mission to India. This updates also indicates that the posts in India are making every attempt to facilitate students to travel to the United States in time for their fall semester.

On June 14, 2021 the U.S. missions in India will open limited student visa appointments at posts across India for the month of July and August, 2021. 

With the current travel restrictions, students beginning a new program with a program start date on or after August 1 may travel to the United States up to 30 days prior to the program start date. Such students do not need to submit a request for a national interest exception.  Similarly, continuing students may also resume their programs on or after August 1, 2021 and travel 30 days before their program resumption date.  

This news notification also clarifies that posts are unable to approve expedite requests for Fall 2021 for students with scheduled appointments in July or August, 2021. Students who already have an appointment date in July or August 2021 and believe this may result in a potentially late start, should reach out to their respective school to discuss options.

This update can be found here.