This year, International Student planning to study in the United States should be aware of a few policy changes. These modifications include the ability to pay higher visa application fees, new consular guidance, and the extension of an in-person interview waiver.
Important Takeaways:
US student visa processing fees could be raised by 53%.
International student visa applications are granted with greater discretion by US Consular Officers.
To improve processing times, in-person interviews for student visa applications have been waived for 2022.
According to the US State Department, there is a proposal to raise application fees for F, M, and J visas—the types of visas required by students to study in the US. Students must currently pay US$160. If the proposal is approved, the new rate will be $245, a 53 percent increase. The increase is intended to reflect better visa processing.
While international students may have to pay higher visa application fees, a new directive for US Consulates allows these officials to be a little more flexible in accepting or denying student visa applications, ensuring that the new visa conditions do not harm International Education in US.
Previously, Consular Officers made decisions about students based on residency requirements. This assesses how strong an international student's ties to their home country are. Factors include whether or not they own property, their civil status (married or unmarried), and whether or not they have work or employment opportunities back home. These, it was claimed, indicated whether they intended to leave the United States immediately after finishing their studies or stay and seek better employment opportunities.
The new policy will evaluate a student's visa application based on current circumstances rather than potential future intentions. This means that higher student visa acceptance rates are possible, which is great news for International Education.
Finally, the State Department is expanding the ability of US Consular Officers to waive in-person interviews for student visa applications. F, M, and J visa applicants may not be required to attend an in-person interview until 2022. This is, of course, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the country's circumstances.
The move is intended to shorten visa application processing times, and it will encourage more international education in the United States.
Overall, the most recent US State Department policies are intended to help improve student visa application processing. This essentially means that in the coming years, more international students may be granted visas and permitted to study in the United States.