The United States is all set to begin processing student visa applications in mid-May. The US consulates processed nearly 1.25 lakh visa applications of students in India last year. The country intends to increase visa interview appointments for Indian students by 30% this summer. The US Consul General in Mumbai, Mike Hankey, said that there would be a rise in student interview appointments this year. Earlier, the US announced a plan to hike student visa interviews by 30% this summer. Beginning May 30, the fees for non-petition-based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from $160 to $185 (Rs 15,140 for Indians).
The US Consulate General Hyderabad tweeted, “Attention students! In mid-May, the U.S. Mission to India will open the first batch of appointments for the upcoming student visa season. Additional appointments will be released later in the season. Prepare for your appointments and stay tuned for more students visa-related announcements!”
The US government has also granted a select number of students, professors, research associates, experts, and others an extension to the visa waiver programme for in-person interviews through December 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, Indians who are interested in pursuing their American dream of permanent residency and green cards through the EB-5 visa may end up paying an additional fee of $120,000 (98 lakh), which is in addition to the existing minimum fee of $800,000 (6.53 crore). This new fee would be in addition to the existing minimum fee of $800,000 (6.53 crore).
The Union Budget suggests that any outbound remittances, for reasons other than medical treatment and education, would incur a total tax collected at source (TCS) of 20% on the full amount, which would be an increase from the present TCS of 5%. This would apply to any outward remittances that are not for medical treatment or education.
“This increase is planned to take effect on July 1, 2023, and it will result in a large increase to the initial amount necessary for investments by Indians under the EB-5 programme. According to Nicholas A. Mastroianni, III, President and Chief Marketing Officer of U.S. Immigration Fund (USIF), a Florida-based EB-5 visa firm approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this could result in an additional $120,000, or 15%, in taxes for EB-5 investors on top of the existing fee of $800,000.