US Embassies and Consulates Prioritized Student Visas Worldwide

Posted November 17, 2021

American colleges are still the top choice for Indian students, according to USIEF Educational Advisor Bhavna Jolly. The United States is committed to international education and always welcomes Indian students. Throughout the summer, US embassies and consulates prioritized student visas. International students were spared from the US Presidential Proclamation restricting entry to those who had spent 14 days in India before entering the US. Thus, Indian students might apply for visas and come to the US. It was a busy summer for us. This reveals that Indian students seeking higher education abroad choose the US.

Universities in the US have taken many steps to boost recruiting and information access:

Several institutions have boosted their participation in virtual recruitment events, including job fairs and information sessions.
Universities provide students and families with virtual video appointments and information using popular messaging services like WhatsApp.
Colleges are now offering virtual reality campus tours so prospective students may see dorm rooms, classrooms, libraries, sports and recreation facilities, and parts of campus social life.
Several institutions reduced standardized test requirements to make applying easier.
For essays, students might examine their personal experiences with Covid-19, its impact, and their recovery. This will enable students to expand their applications.
Due to school closures and exam postponements in India, universities allow students more time to submit transcripts and paperwork.

Are students worried about the next wave or just concerned about online education? How will the US address them?

Answer: Whether studying in India or abroad, students and families in India are concerned about their physical health and safety. Students and parents want to know about Covid-19 prevention, testing on college campuses and the help students receive if they test positive. Throughout the pandemic, universities have supported this goal. To keep students safe, they set up on-campus vaccination clinics, Covid testing, and quarantine facilities. Many universities also have newly designed COVID-19 helplines to assist returning students.

The UK government has eased its tight visa regulations in recent years, benefiting them. Is it considering loosening post-work visa requirements for international students?

Answer: International students demand a high return on investment from US universities. For international students, the US offers practical training possibilities as part of the student visa process. These options are unique to American higher education. Internships can last up to a year within the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) degree program. Optional Practical Training allows students to work for up to a year following graduation (OPT). There are even more options for STEM graduates. These students can do OPT for three years.

Students from India contributed $44 billion to the US economy. How will the US increase this?

Answer: In addition to their academic achievements, international students benefit US communities and the economy. Global collaboration helps students, scholars, and educators. Americans value Indian students’ intellect and culture. Last year, the US mission created an Education USA student advising facility at Y-Axis. In India, Education USA today has eight centers: Delhi (Mumbai), Ahmedabad (Kolkata), Chennai, Bangalore. These centers provide reliable, comprehensive, and up-to-date information about authorized postsecondary institutions in the US. Our free mobile app, Education USA India, keeps you up to date on studying in America. We will keep working to inform students and parents about US higher education.

Any scholarship or tuition charge reduction programs?

Answer: The US has about 4,500 approved higher education institutions, each with its own admissions policies. Students can research each university’s admissions requirements. Universities worldwide have altered their admittance policies to reflect the pandemic’s challenges. Many institutions forgo application fees and keep tuition, housing, and fees flat. For students to apply and accept admission offers, several universities have extended application deadlines. Several colleges also allow students to defer their education to a future semester/year if they want an in-person intensive educational experience. Whatever your need, Education USA is a fantastic place to start for scholarship and financial information.