The US Embassy in New Delhi is still interviewing students for student visas for those who have already been scheduled, even though the US Secretary of State just ordered that new F-1 visa processing be halted. With a constant flow of students showing up for their planned interviews, the embassy is operating as usual.
All US embassies and consulates throughout the world were directed by the internal directive earlier this week to temporarily halt the processing of new student visas until the Department of State released revised rules for social media screening of student visa applicants. For those with earlier planned appointments, however, student visa interviews are proceeding without interruption, according to authorities at the New Delhi consulate.
Visa interviews that are now taking place are those that were scheduled two to three months ago as well as those that were scheduled more than six months ago, according to an embassy official. The embassy cannot guarantee availability for students applying at this time, the source said. The official portal is the only way to check. An appointment will be set up in the upcoming months if the online application is approved.
During the busiest time of year for US F-1 student visa applications for fall admissions, which usually happens between May and August, the embassy usually processes more than 1,500 visa appointments per day. With the exception of a little increase in November and December for spring admission applications, numbers fall by 300-400 per day outside of this window.
Industry participants are expecting the new social media vetting criteria to be announced in a few weeks, and they are cautiously hopeful about the situation. “We expect the new guidelines to be released soon, and students will still have more than two months to secure visa appointments, as most US institutions begin their fall intake in the second half of August,” said a source.
Nearly 75% of applicants for admission in the fall of 2025, according to experts, have already booked appointments. However, the temporary suspension may have an impact on the remaining 25%, many of whom intended to apply in the upcoming weeks.
Those students might have to postpone their plans or wait until October or November to reapply if the US government doesn’t release updated instructions in the coming month or two. Students won’t need to reapply to colleges, just for a new F-1 visa because admission letters from US universities are fortunately valid for up to a year.
Parallel policy changes, such as the proposed elimination of the well-liked Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which is a major source of interest from students heading to the US, add to the uncertainty surrounding the visa freeze. The US’s long-term appeal as a top study abroad destination has come under scrutiny due to these changing policies.
India continues to show strong interest in spite of these obstacles. According to the Open Doors Report, India surpassed China to become the greatest source of international students in FY24, sending 331,602 students to the US, a 23% increase from the year before. Currently, 29% of all overseas students studying in the US are Indian.
Students and industry stakeholders are anxiously awaiting clarification on the new rules and their possible effects on future admissions as the situation develops. While new applicants wait for more information, the US Embassy in New Delhi will continue to interview students for student visas for those who have already been scheduled.
