US Student Visa Update: Visas To Be Granted A Year in Advance

Long wait times for visa interview appointments had made it nearly impossible to get visas for the United States. The US government has implemented a number of initiatives to enhance the procedure and get rid of bottlenecks.

In a bid to get ahead of visa processing times, the US State Department has stated that F and M student visas can now be issued up to 365 days in advance, which means that students can apply for the visa much earlier than before.

The US Department of State announced the news with immediate effect. However, the latest stipulation has yet to be updated on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

Previously, students worldwide were permitted to apply for a student visa only 120 days before their program started in the US. However, with the new revision of the rules, they will now be permitted to apply for F and M student visas up to a year in advance.

F and M student visas can now be issued up to 365 days in advance of the I-20 program start date, allowing more time for students to apply for a visa. Students are still not allowed to enter the U.S. on a student visa more than 30 days before their program start date. pic.twitter.com/jHUaNZYkE8
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) February 21, 2023

While the US State Department has decided to make such a change, the same has stressed that international students obtaining a US student visa will still be subject to the same rules regarding the entry date. This means that students who obtain the visa in advance will not be permitted to enter the US until they are within 30 days of the beginning of their university program.

“Students are still not allowed to enter the U.S. on a student visa more than 30 days before their program start date,”
The US State Department

The same explained that the decision to make such a change was taken to clear the backlogs and allow students, as well as the authorities of the country, to plan in advance.

The F1 Visa is a student visa that is granted to international students who wish to pursue their studies in the US from elementary school to university and graduate school.

On the other hand, the M1 Visa is for international students who wish to enroll in vocational studies such as cooking classes, mechanical classes, technical courses, etc.

Top Study Destination

The US continues to remain one of the most popular study destinations, receiving a high number of students from countries worldwide every year.

According to reports, despite countries in Europe offering plenty of study opportunities, over 67,900 European students chose to pursue their studies in the US in the 2021/22 academic year.

Data provided by the IIE’s annual Open Doors Report show that the United Kingdom (10,292 students), Germany (8,550), Turkey, which lies partly in Europe (8,67), Spain (8,165), France (7,751), and Italy (5,695) sent the most students to the US in 2021/22.

Other countries such as Greece, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland also sent thousands of students to the US to pursue their degrees.

Many students from other countries decide to go to the US to pursue their studies each year too. China and India continue to remain the two countries with the most students in the US.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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