Visa delays in the United States are becoming a growing concern, especially for international students. It’s common knowledge that long processing time disrupts academic schedules, leading to uncertainty faced by students, impacting their mental well-being and financial stability.
Now, a report released by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has highlighted that India students comprise 50% of the cases among international students pertaining to visa delays in the US. India currently accounts for the largest share of international students in the United States, with 3.32 lakh enrolled during the 2023–24 academic year. Among them, approximately 97,556 students—around 29%—are participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows recent graduates to gain temporary work experience in the US.
A news report, citing AILA’s April 17 policy brief, claims that students, attorneys, and university employees submitted reports of as many as 327 cases of cancelled visas or closed SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records. Of these, almost half were Indian nationals, and 14% were Chinese. South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh feature among the other impacted nations.
Unclear and inconsistent reasons behind SEVIS terminations and visa revocations point to a troubling pattern, leaving many students suddenly trapped in legal and academic uncertainty, the AILA determined.
Students were flagged after minor interactions with law enforcement, such as parking violations or minor speeding offenses. In the majority of instances, no charges were filed, or the cases were eventually dismissed. Just two of the reported incidents were linked to political activism.
