American universities anticipate a significant drop in Indian students this fall due to visa appointment freezes and increased rejection rates. Students are facing uncertainty and exploring alternative countries like Germany as visa slots remain scarce. The US Consulate General in Hyderabad assures that slots have resumed, but heightened scrutiny is causing anxiety and application withdrawals.

HYDERABAD: With less than two weeks to go for the fall semester to begin, American universities could well see a 70% drop in Indian students this year, thanks to the ongoing freeze in visa appointment slots and a sudden spike in visa rejection rates.

“By this time usually, most students are done with their visa interviews and are preparing to fly. This year, we’re still refreshing the portal every day hoping for a slot to open. It’s the worst in years,” said Sanjeev Rai from Hyderabad Overseas Consultant.

While US authorities earlier assured that more visa slots would be released in phases, the lack of clarity is leaving students on the edge. Ankit Jain from Window Overseas Education Consultancy said: “Even when a few slots opened midweek, those who managed to book haven’t received confirmation.”

He added tat it was possible the US authorities were testing the system. “There’s no logical reason to open a handful of slots without confirming bookings,” he said.

Meanwhile, application withdrawals are simultaneously continuing.

Students are increasingly exploring other options. “I really could not wait. I might just lose out on a year. It looks like a dead end at this point, hence I decided to withdraw my application,” said a 23-year-old from the city, who is now exploring Germany for a master’s in automotive engineering.

“If slots aren’t released in the next few days, thousands of dreams will be shattered. We are seeing about an 80% drop. We’re getting panic calls every day from students and their parents,” said Arvind Manduva from I20 Fever consultancy.

Adding to the anxiety, students who applied as early as March and secured interview appointments are now reporting an unusually high rejection rate. “Many students who usually would have had smooth approvals are being turned away. Their social media was also clean. The only reason that everyone seems to be receiving is 214B,” Jain added.
Rejections spike under 214B

214B typically means the applicant didn’t demonstrate sufficient ties to the home country to prove he or she would return after the temporary visit. India has been one of the largest senders of international students to the US, with over 3.3 lakh students flying out last year – the highest for the first time, surpassing China.

“Many students who have been preparing for months are seeing their dream crash. However, what the US authorities are doing is not new. The rules, vetting, and scrutiny were in place for years; it is just effectively implemented now. This will filter out applicants,” said Ravi Lothumalla from US Admission, an immigration consulting firm in Dallas, Texas.

However, the US Consulate General in Hyderabad has shared that slots have resumed and has advised to check the embassy or consulate website for appointment availability. “We’re working to fully vet visa applicants to ensure they do not intend to harm America or our interests, and that they credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms of their admission. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and to anticipate additional processing time for these visa categories,” said a spokesperson from the US Consulate General Hyderabad.

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