US Visa for Students: Embassy Says Students Must use Their Passport Details for Visa Slots

US Visa for Students: The United States (US) Embassy in India has announced a new rule for student visa applicants to prevent fraud and abuse in the appointment system. The US Consulate in India will implement the policy change across the country starting November 27, 2023.

As part of the new rule, all F, M and J student visa applicants are asked to use their passport information when creating a profile and scheduling their visa appointment. Applicants for an F or M must be enrolled in a school or program certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Applicants who have created a profile or booked an appointment using an incorrect passport number will not be accepted at the Visa Application Center (VAC). It said their appointments would be canceled and visa fees waived.

Any applicant who has created a profile or booked an appointment using an incorrect passport number must either create a new profile containing the correct passport information or access an existing profile containing the correct passport information to book an appointment.

However, this will require payment of a new visa fee receipt if the old receipt is linked to a profile with incorrect passport information.

Applicants who have recently renewed their passport, or have obtained a new passport after the old passport was lost or stolen, can bring a photocopy or other proof of the old passport number and are allowed to proceed with their appointment. Will be allowed, the US Embassy in India announced.

In 2023, the US Embassy had announced an unprecedented increase in the number of visa applications processed, surpassing all previous years. For the third consecutive year, the United States has recorded a large increase in the number of Indian students choosing higher education in the country.

The Open Doors Report (ODR) revealed a 35% increase in the inflow of international students from India to the United States, resulting in the highest ever enrollment of 2,68,923 students in the academic year 2022-23.

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