No F-1 visa slot in India? Students can try other countries-but it's risky

Thousands of Indian students with US college admissions are still waiting for F-1 visa slots. Some are exploring third-country appointments, but the process is far from simple

Are you among the thousands of Indian students who’ve secured admission to US universities but are now stuck without an F-1 visa appointment—while orientation dates loom just two weeks away?

 

If yes, there is a possible, though complicated, workaround: Applying for your visa in a nearby country—commonly referred to as a “third country” route.

 

Looking beyond India for a visa appointment

 

“Many late admit students are struggling, and the demand for slots is far outpacing supply,” Mary Gogoi, head of admissions at eduVelocity Global told Business Standard.

 

“In such a case, they can explore visa appointments in nearby countries,” she added. But Gogoi also warned that applying in a third country may involve extra steps and potential delays.

 

 

“Each consulate or embassy has different procedures and timelines for visa applications. Before you finalise your travel plans, consult the US Department of State to make sure they accept third-country visa applications, find the specific procedures, and see how long it will take to obtain a visa appointment. But do your research, choose the country carefully, and only proceed if no slots open in India,” said Gogoi.

 

Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Canada and Latin America at IDP Education, added, “It’s important to note that they may be asked to explain why they chose to apply from a country other than their home country. This could lead to additional scrutiny during the interview process.”

 

“Therefore, while it is an option, it is not recommended unless absolutely necessary. Students are advised to continue monitoring the appointment availability in India over the next couple of weeks. If timelines are flexible, they may consider deferring their admission,” he told Business Standard.

 

Step-by-step: How the process works

 

Kumar explained the steps involved in applying for an F-1 visa from a third country:

 

• Begin with filling out the DS-160 form online, including details of all social media accounts (which must be public)

• Submit the form and log in to the US visa portal

• Pay the SEVIS fee and the visa application fee

• Use the information from the I-20 form to book two appointments—biometrics at the Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC), and the visa interview

• Ideally, schedule both appointments together

 

Risks of the third-country option

 

“One of the primary challenges of applying from another country is that many locations may also have limited or no appointment slots available,” said Kumar.

 

“Additionally, applying from outside one’s home country could result in more detailed questioning during the visa interview. It is important for students to assess these factors carefully and seek guidance from authorised advisors to make an informed decision,” he said.

 

Why are visa slots hard to get this year?

 

Several overlapping reasons have created a bottleneck:

 

• High demand for the August semester

• Limited consular staff and appointment availability

• Extra vetting, including checks on social media activity

 

Siddharth Iyer, chief operating officer at OneStep Global, advised students to remain cautious. “What’s important right now is for students to stay disciplined in how they engage: avoid falling for misinformation, keep checking official portals consistently, and maintain a direct line with their university’s in-country staff or representatives,” he told Business Standard.

 

“If the current situation doesn’t ease in the coming days, we may see more institutions proactively step in with bridging solutions but clarity on that will only come closer to the course start window,” Iyer added.

 

What are universities doing to help?

 

Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Gradding.com, said most US colleges do try to support students stuck in visa limbo.

 

“They might request students to postpone their admissions by a semester or an academic year while keeping their acceptance intact,” she told Business Standard. “Some colleges even correspond directly with US consulates for urgent cases or issue new I-20 forms.