Student visas once worked their charm as a magnet prompting Indian nationals to make the non-immigrant leap to the United States for their higher studies. However, the picture of even lawful temporary stay in America has been distorted in light of the Donald Trump government’s incessant crackdown. In the past few months, the Republican-led administration has doubled down on additional security checks for student visa applicants.
Strict student visa screening protocols
As of June 18, crucial introductions to the vetting process demand applicants for F, M and J-type student visas to make their social media handles public and list their SNS usernames for each platform used in the last five years.
Inevitably, the enhanced security checks in this arena are bound to take up more time than they once used to while the previous protocols were in place. Addressing that very perturbing issue of the hour, the Indian Government’s Ministry of External Affairs replied to questions tackling US student visa issues.
Student visa appointments, US Embassy processing capacity addressed
Pushing out an official release, MEA’s Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh answered Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji’s queries on the same.
In light of the mounting security measures, several representations from Indian students and their families also raised concerns about potential student visa backlog and delays. The Ministry of External Affairs eventually acted as a channel, sharing these worries both with the US Embassy in New Delhi and the US Department of States.
“Additional security requirements for student visas have further reduced the capacity of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India to process visas,” the US side has since replied. “However, student visa appointments are now open.”
Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and… pic.twitter.com/ZiSewKYNbt
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 26, 2025
Meanwhile, the US Embassy is on its path to opening a limited quota of additional student visa appointments through the end of August, especially since the new academic year starts late August or early September in the US.
To further quell uncertainty in this domain, the US Embassy has even affirmed it is working on a “student visa face sheet with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).”
The US counterparts have additionally set up a “software-based solution” to prioritise the J-1 physician category appointments. As a result, many Indian students who previously faced difficulty landing appointment slots under this type of visa, have now been able to bag appointments, said the Indian government.
Just yesterday, the US Embassy India’s official X page walked applicants through how to schedule their US visa appointment in a video explainer.
It’s #VisaFriday and this week, we’re walking you through how to schedule your U.S. visa appointment. Whether you’re applying for the first time or just need a refresher, this video breaks it all down. Watch the full video at https://t.co/5Bv9ebaqeT for all your scheduling… pic.twitter.com/st15GcKXhR
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) July 25, 2025
Given the current state of things, the US authorities are particularly focussing on using all available information in its visa screening and vetting process to rule out applicants who may pose a threat to nation security in America.
Not only has the processing capacity slowed down, the visa issuance rate has also significantly plummeted. The number of student visas issued by the Trump government dropped by 15% globally in the first half of FY 2025 (Oct-March). Meanwhile, India specifically faced a reported slump of 43.5% as compared to the same period in 2024.