The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, May 29 – India has expressed hope that the United States will consider visa applications of Indian students based on merit, ensuring they can join their academic programmes on time. This comes amid reports that the US has paused scheduling new interviews for international students under the F, M, and J visa categories.
Responding to a question at a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen reports suggesting the US government’s updated guidance regarding student and exchange visitor visa applicants. The welfare of Indian students abroad remains of utmost priority to the Government of India.”
He added, “While we acknowledge that the issuance of visas is a sovereign function, we hope that the applications of Indian students will be considered on merit, and that they will be able to join their academic programs on time.”
Jaiswal also pointed out that there are other visa categories still being issued, and emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereign domain of such processes.
Highlighting the scale of Indian student presence in the US, the spokesperson said, “In 2023-24, around 330,000 Indian students were in the United States. For updated figures, one may refer to the official websites of the US Government.”
The remarks come as the US reportedly considers tightening its visa scrutiny process, including enhanced checks on social media activity for applicants.
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