US Student Visa appointments vanish, leaving Indian aspirants in limbo for Fall 2025 intake

The road to the American dream has hit an unexpected roadblock for thousands of Ahmedabad-based students hoping to begin their higher education in the US this fall. Over the past three weeks, visa interview appointments for student visas have suddenly gone off the radar, sparking widespread concern among aspirants and visa consultants alike.

Unlike the January 2025 intake, which saw a relatively smooth visa process, students targeting the Fall 2025 semester are facing a frustrating blackout. According to local visa consultants, slots that were readily available until early March have now disappeared entirely.

“Students who booked appointments in February or early March received slots for April. But now, there are no dates available at all for May,” said Maulin Joshi, a city-based visa consultant. “They have admission offers and I-20 forms in hand, but the uncertainty around visa interview scheduling is causing immense stress,” according to TOI.

The disruption appears to have started around March 10. “Since then, we’ve been checking the portal daily — it’s been blank for student visa slots,” said Bhavin Thaker, another consultant. “If this continues, many students might miss their Fall 2025 intake.” 

Industry insiders point to a recent crackdown by the US embassy aimed at curbing misuse of the visa appointment system. “The embassy is upgrading its systems to prevent illegal booking methods. That could be one of the reasons for the current blackout,” said Janak Nayak, an immigration consultant to TOI.

Adding to the uncertainty is the lack of official communication from the US embassy and growing anxiety over shifting immigration policies under the new US administration. “Last year, visa refusals were high despite availability of appointments. This year, students are battling both policy confusion and unavailability,” said Ritesh Desai, a consultant who has seen a surge in student walk-ins seeking clarity. 

With timelines tightening and travel plans hanging by a thread, students and consultants alike are calling for urgent intervention and clarity on when appointments will resume.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-us-student-visa-appointments-vanish-leaving-indian-aspirants-in-limbo-for-fall-2025-intake-3812723/