Study abroad in US: Priority to student applications for Fall 2021

As per sources, the US Embassy in New Delhi is prioritising student visa applications, thereby taking steps for ensuring that students from India could make it to the US in time for the commencement of Fall 2021.

In the US, the Fall semester begins August-September each year.

How many semesters are there in the US Education system?   There are a total of 3 semesters in the US Education system. Majority of the universities in the US follow a tri-semester system that has Fall, Spring and Summer. Each semester runs for about 4 months.
Fall	Starts somewhere around mid-August or early September.   The academic year begins with Fall.   Most new intake of students is done during this semester.
Spring	Begins in January.   Whilemost of the US universities admit new students during Spring, the intake is comparatively lesser than the Fall intake.   Also referred to as the Winter semester.
Summer	Somewhere around the beginning of June. The shortest of the 3 semesters, Summer lasts for around 2 months. Very few universities in the US have intakes for Summer.

Consular sections throughout India – the US Embassy in New Delhi and the 4 consulates in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai – are open for appointments in all non-immigrant US visa categories. This includes US student visas.

As per the official website of the US Embassy and Consulates in India, “Consular sections across India are currently processing of all nonimmigrant visa categories, including student visas, H1-B, H-4, L-1, L-2, C1/D, and B1/B2 visas.  Our capacity is limited to maintain the safety of our customers and staff.”

As of now, visa appointments are open throughout the summer for US student visa applicants.

Additional appointments are being offered on a regular basis as well.

Students looking at study abroad in the US will have to apply for either an F-1 or M-1 nonimmigrant status.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zujQMqF8Kt8

Generally, foreign students pursuing academic studies in the US are classified as F-1 immigrants. Those pursuing vocational or non-academic studies, on the other hand, are regarded as M-1 nonimmigrants.

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RELATED How to apply for a Student Visa of the US?

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Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible in order to secure a visa appointment well in time. Do keep in mind that you cannot apply more than 120 days before your program start date.

A valid I-20 form will be required at the time of the US student visaapplication.

What is Form I-20?

All F and M students in the US will require a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.   An international student is issued a Form I-20 from their Designated School Official [DSO], verifying their acceptance into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program [SEVP]-certified school.

According to the US Embassy, there were currently no entry restrictions for Indian students holding an F-1 visa for the US, or for their parents holding US tourist visas.

Students actively enrolled at a US university as on March 9, 2020, subsequently taking courses online from overseas, can now re-enter the US, even if their educational institution in the US is fully providingdistance learning.

Foreign students beginning their courses fully online with US universities, on the other hand, do not require a US visa. In keeping with the present rules, a student is required to have at least 1 face-to-face course in order to be eligible for being granted a US student visa.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to the USA, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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