The American dream just hit a pothole—and this one’s not easy to dodge. Thousands of Indian students planning to head to the US this summer have found their visa appointments mysteriously wiped off the map.
While the January intake went smoothly, with students comfortably booking interview slots in advance, the last 20–25 days have been a different story. Since mid-March, visa appointments have disappeared, leaving students and consultants alike in a constant loop of refreshing the portal and refreshing their hopes.
According to travel insiders, students who booked in February or early March got April slots without much drama. But now? May has no available dates. Students have their university admissions and I-20 forms in hand, but no clear path to schedule visa interviews—just a growing sense of anxiety.
It was pointed out that the post-election period last year saw one of the smoothest visa seasons in recent memory, especially for those enrolling in January. Unfortunately, that ease is now missing, and nerves are running high.
One possible reason? A national newspaper, citing industry sources, has reported that the recent crackdown by the US Embassy in India had had an impact. The system is reportedly being upgraded to shut down loopholes exploited by bots. There is a concerted effort to put in place a fair system. While there’s been no official confirmation, it’s suspected that student visa slots have been temporarily pulled during this cleanup operation.
Though the intention is to make the system fairer for genuine applicants, the lack of communication has only added to the stress. With refusal rates already high in recent years, students now face the double whammy of tight timelines and total uncertainty.
The appointment blackout has now lasted nearly three weeks. Consultants report that since March 10, the student visa portal has shown no available slots—none at all. If this continues, many students risk missing their Fall 2025 intake deadlines.
There’s also concern over shifting US immigration policies following the recent government change. This, coupled with the current silence around visa slot availability, has only heightened students’ worries. Education consultants say they’ve seen a sharp spike in students walking in with the same pressing question: When will the slots return?
Until then, the US visa portal remains a ghost town—and students, unfortunately, are stuck in the waiting room of their American dream. As of now, there is no clarity on when the next slots for appointments will open, making the wait seem even longer.
