KATHMANDU: In an effort to reduce lengthy wait times for U.S. visa appointments, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will begin offering new student visa appointment slots on a monthly basis tomorrow. Starting on September 4, the first of these slots will be available. The effort aims to shorten the long wait times, which presently total almost 10 months, for both student and visiting visas. The Embassy had only sometimes added more spaces in the past; this regular monthly offering is a novelty for the organization. To meet the increased demand, the Embassy has also started holding visa interviews on Sundays.
The Embassy's overall strategy to prevent students from losing out on their education due to delayed visas includes the additional appointment times. These enhancements are expected to help students who plan to start their studies in the United States in 2025, starting in September. The program is a response to a sharp spike in the number of Nepali applications for student visas to the United States, which resulted in record-breaking visa issuance.
With 1,788 students and 63 dependents awarded visas in July, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs reported a record high in the number of Nepali students receiving U.S. student visas. This brings the total for the first ten months of the current fiscal year to 10,988. The Embassy's new strategy attempts to better manage this increased demand. The surge in visa issuance highlights Nepali students' growing interest in pursuing education in the United States.
.jpg)
.jpg)
