America, sort out the student visa problem

The world may have opened up much more for Indians pursuing higher studies abroad than before, but the US continues to be their preferred destination. In 2022-23, the US issued over 1.4 lakh student visas in India, more than in any other country. A major jump is expected. A US visa appointment is, indeed, at premium, as students applying at the US Consulate in Hyderabad found out to their chagrin when 10,000 appointment slots were booked in five minutes. The demand-supply mismatch is unusually high in Hyderabad, a relatively new centre that saw exponential rise in applications in the Oct 2022-Sep 2023 cycle.

It would be instructive to know the reasons behind the surge, and the courses attracting students in record numbers. This could provide some guidance for those driving this growth in demand. The US, on its part, needs to plan better, ensuring that its consular arrangements have the capacity to handle the y-o-y growth. Proposed offices in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru should help. The US recognises that students are an important component of its bilateral relationship with India. Joe Biden asked US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti to expedite student visas. So, policy-wise, we’re fine. Processing-wise, we have hiccups.

Changes in regulations for international students in Britain and Canada regarding intake numbers, ability to work off-campus, visas and employment options for accompanying family members, and concerns about safety makes the US an even more attractive destination. However, delays and uncertainties could propel Indian students to seek out different destinations, especially as many non-English-speaking countries are going out of their way to better their ‘ease of onboarding international students’ index.