Indian Students Face Stricter Visa Rules as US Tightens Policies
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Indian students planning to study in the United States are facing tougher challenges after the US government enforced stricter visa application rules, rolled back pandemic-era flexibilities, and moved towards significant regulatory changes. These measures have created additional uncertainty, with students confronting higher costs, longer waits, and more complex procedures.
One of the most impactful decisions is the ban on third-country visa applications. Effective September 2025, Indian students applying for study, work, or visitor visas can no longer submit applications outside their home country. The move ends a practice that previously allowed students to bypass heavy backlogs in India by securing slots in countries such as Singapore or Germany. With this option gone, applicants are now confined to US consulates in India, where waiting times range from over three months in Mumbai and Hyderabad to nine months in Chennai.
The US has also eliminated most visa interview waivers, meaning nearly all applicants, including children and seniors must now attend in-person interviews. This has added to the already stretched appointment schedules across Indian consulates, raising concerns for students who must align approvals with university start dates.
Further changes are on the horizon. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed replacing the long-standing “duration of status” system with fixed-term student visas capped at four years. Extensions would require additional fees, paperwork, and biometric checks, creating more hurdles for PhD candidates and those on Optional Practical Training.
Education consultants in India report that approval rates have already dipped, with some cities such as Ahmedabad recording fewer than half of applicants receiving visas. Students missing the current cycle risk losing an academic year, while others are exploring alternative destinations such as Canada, Germany, or the UK.
For the more than 330,000 Indian students currently in the United States, the tightening rules underscore growing scrutiny and the consequences of non-compliance. Even minor breaches of visa conditions could result in deportation or permanent bans, adding another layer of anxiety to an already difficult process.
The new US policies mark a turning point for Indian families investing heavily in overseas education, reshaping how future cohorts pursue academic and career opportunities abroad.
Source: TIMES OF INDIA
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