US visa applicants from India have had some relief as wait times have recently been reduced by around 50%. However, the wait time for visa appointments for B1 and B2 visas, which are for temporary business and tourism purposes in the US respectively, still remains long.
Indian students have been restricted from studying at certain Australian universities due to fraudulent visa applications. The surge in non-genuine students has caused concern among authorities and raised questions about the impact on Australia's international education market.
The United States is looking to expand the number of visa interview appointments for Indian students by 30% this summer. Last year, US consulates processed almost 1.25 lakh visa applications for students in India, and the US aims to increase this number further.
Japan has announced a new streamlined process for the issuance of highly qualified professional visas to foreign employees. The move is expected to benefit both foreign employees and students seeking to work or study in Japan.
A Recent Rise in Non-Immigration Visa (NIV) Fees: Impact on Indian Students - Indian students aspiring to study in the US are facing an additional financial burden as the US government recently announced an increase in non-immigration visa (NIV) fees, including those for students.
The US Department of State has announced an increase in the visa fee for US tourist/business and student/exchange visitor visas from May 30, 2023
The US is seeing a significant decline in the wait time for visitor visa interviews in India, thanks to increased officials and new diplomatic missions. More than 100 US diplomatic missions are issuing visas to Indians, and Frankfurt, London, and Abu Dhabi are taking many Indian citizens seeking visas.
The rejection of applications from students hailing from Punjab and Haryana by Australian universities and vocational course providers and the deportation of over 700 Indian students by Canadian authorities have been making headlines recently.
The students had applied for study visas through Education Migration Services in Jalandhar, which had charged each student more than Rs 16 lakh. The fraud came to light when the students applied for permanent residency in Canada, and the documents came under scrutiny.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has expanded premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions. Online filing of Form I-907 is now available, providing a more streamlined immigration experience for international students.