International students taking up studies in the United States can now apply for their visa much sooner, the U.S. State Department has announced.
Effective immediately, students can submit their visa application up to 365 days prior to their program start date. Previously, students could only begin the visa process 120 days in advance.
However, a longstanding limitation continues to apply: Holders of an approved student visa may still only enter the U.S. 30 days prior to commencing classes.
The expanded application period is expected to smooth the application process and enable students as well as schools to plan further in advance. With international student enrollments surging back to pre-pandemic levels, countries including the U.S., Canada, and Australia are facing visa application backlogs.
For more details on U.S. student visa requirements, including current wait times, visit the website of the U.S. State Department.
