- Thirty U.S. senators are urging more interview slots for Indian students facing critical Fall 2026 deadlines.
- Wait times in India currently range from one hundred fifty to three hundred days for non-priority categories.
- F-one visa issuance plummeted sixty-two percent in 2025, heightening fears of lost seats and economic impact.
Thirty U.S. senators pressed the State Department on Aug. 11 to open more student visa interview slots as Indian applicants raced against the Fall 2026 semester clock. The lawmakers said some embassies and consulates had no timely appointments left for students. The calendar is tight.
Led by Senator Alex Padilla, D-CA, the group said the shortage had already started to shut people out. Padilla wrote:
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"Specifically, we are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates. This only exacerbates uncertainty about whether students' visas will be processed in time for them to travel to the United States to begin their studies."
He sent that warning Aug. 11.
Indian students are feeling the squeeze first. In New Delhi and Mumbai, first-time interview waits in non-priority categories are running between 150 and 300 days, which can swallow the busiest booking window for students. Late August is close. Students who miss it may not reach campus on time. Some could lose seats.
The number of F-1 visas issued to Indian students also fell sharply last year. Data from the Center for Immigration Studies show 22,149 visas were issued between May and August 2025, down 62% from 58,694 in the same period in 2024. The slide was steep. It set the backdrop for this summer's scramble.
Processing slowed before the latest plea
Consular posts in India have also been moving more slowly since December 2025, when mandatory social media screening and continuous vetting began to add time to the process. The queue is longer. On Aug. 10, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the broader vetting push:
"A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. the State Department will continue to identify, investigate, and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who threaten the safety of the American people."
That position has not eased the line.
A DHS final rule published on July 17, 2026, also ended the long-running Duration of Status framework. Starting September 15, students will be admitted for a fixed period, typically capped at 4 years, and will have to seek extensions with USCIS. Another step now sits in the path. Paperwork will follow.
The pressure reaches beyond campuses
The senators said the delays could push students toward Canada or the UK and weaken U.S. competitiveness. They also pointed to international students' approximately $43 billion annually contribution to the U.S. economy. The seats go fast. The losses do, too.
Thousands of Indian students have already paid tuition and SEVIS fees, and some now face deferring to Spring 2027 or losing their seats altogether if they cannot secure an interview before late August. The semester does not wait. Neither do consular calendars.
