US visa appointment slots disappear: Indian students face last-minute uncertainty before fall intake

Thousands of Indian students , particularly from Ahmedabad, are currently facing significant challenges in securing US student visa interview appointments. Since mid-March 2025, visa slots have abruptly disappeared, leaving many aspiring students in a state of uncertainty and stress.

As the Fall 2025 academic intake draws closer, anxiety is mounting among students who have secured admissions to US universities, but now face uncertainty over their ability to obtain the required visa in time.

During the January intake season earlier this year, the visa process proceeded without major hiccups, with students easily finding interview slots. However, things have changed drastically for those applying for the Fall semester. According to multiple education consultants, appointments for April were mostly booked by mid-March, and since then, no new slots have been made available for May or beyond. This disruption in scheduling has impacted hundreds of students each day who are trying to secure a slot, only to be disappointed repeatedly.


Experts believe the shortage may be linked to recent system upgrades implemented by the US Embassy. These upgrades, intended to block misuse and unauthorised access to visa appointment systems, might have also inadvertently disrupted the regular release of genuine appointment slots. The move comes after concerns that some applicants had been using bots or third-party services to secure early slots unfairly.

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While there is no official statement explaining the pause in visa appointments, the silence has only added to the confusion. Education consultants say that even the agencies usually in touch with the embassy have not received any clarity about when new slots will open up. Students who have invested time, effort, and substantial amounts of money into securing their university admissions are now unsure whether they will be able to begin classes on time.

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With visa interview wait times increasing and deadlines for university enrolment approaching, some students are now considering deferring their admission by a semester. This could lead to financial loss and emotional distress for families who have already made travel and accommodation plans.

This sudden visa fiasco has thrown a cloud over the otherwise strong relationship between India and the US with Indian students being one of the largest international groups filling up US campuses. If these visa delays continue, both countries might find their academic exchange program in need of some serious course of action. The need of the hour is transparency and timely communication.

Students and consultants alike are hoping the US Embassy to issue an official clarification and announce when the next batch of student visa appointments will be released. Proactive actions by authorities could help reduce anxiety and rebuild confidence in the visa application process, as thousands of careers are at stake.

Until then, the students remain in limbo, constantly checking appointment portals and hoping for an update that might allow them to pursue their academic dreams in the US this fall.