The peak season for US F-1 student visa applications related to fall admissions is generally between May and August. On Friday, it was business as usual at the US Embassy in New Delhi, with a steady stream of students arriving for their visa interviews.
The embassy’s operations were in contrast with an internal directive issued earlier this week by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, temporarily suspending the processing of new student visas worldwide. According to an internal cable, all US embassies and consulates were instructed to pause new F-1 visa appointments until the Department of State issues updated guidelines for expanded social media vetting of student visa applicants.
Officials at the New Delhi mission told FE that student visa interviews are continuing uninterrupted — at least for those with previously scheduled appointments.
“Visa interviews currently being held include both past appointments (issued over six months ago) and relatively recent ones (scheduled two to three months ago),” an embassy official said. “However, we cannot guarantee availability for students applying now. The only way to check is through the official portal (www.ustraveldocs.com). If the application is accepted online, an appointment will be scheduled in the coming months.”
The official noted that between May and July — the height of the fall admission cycle — the embassy typically handles over 1,500 visa appointments per day. Outside of this window, numbers drop by 300–400 daily, except during a smaller uptick in November and December for spring intake applicants.
Industry stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic. Study-abroad platforms anticipate that the situation will stabilise well before the current admission cycle concludes.
“We expect the new social media vetting guidelines to be released in a couple of weeks,” said Piyush Kumar, regional director (South Asia, Canada, LATAM) at IDP Education. “Students will still have more than two months to secure visa appointments, as most US institutions begin their fall intake in the second half of August.”
Experts estimate that nearly 75% of students applying for fall 2025 admissions have already secured appointments. The remaining 25% — many of whom planned to apply in the coming weeks — are at risk of being impacted by the temporary pause.
“If the US government doesn’t issue revised guidelines within the next month or two, those students may have to defer their plans or wait until October–November to reapply,” said the head of a prominent study abroad platform, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Fortunately, admission letters issued by US universities remain valid for up to a year, so students won’t have to reapply to colleges — only for a new F-1 visa.”
The F-1 visa is the most commonly issued visa category for international students pursuing academic programmes in the US.
The uncertainty surrounding the visa pause is compounded by parallel policy developments, including a proposed termination of the popular Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme — a key driver of US-bound student interest. These evolving measures have raised concerns about the long-term attractiveness of the US as a top destination for international students.
Despite these challenges, interest from India remains robust. In FY24, India sent 331,602 students to the US — a 23% increase over the previous year — surpassing China to become the largest source of international students, according to the Open Doors Report.
Indian students now make up 29% of the total international student population in the US.