The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will open new student visa appointment slots tomorrow, November 5, starting at 8 a.m. This initiative, which began in September, aims to address long wait times for visa appointments by introducing a regular monthly schedule.
Since September, the embassy has been opening new appointment slots for visitor and student visas each month. For March 2025 appointments, the new slots will be available tomorrow. This system replaces the previous occasional openings without a fixed schedule, making the process more efficient. The embassy also conducts visa interviews on Sundays to meet high demand.
Currently, the average waiting period for visitor and student visa appointments is about ten months. This long wait can cause issues like missed semesters for students, prompting the embassy to shorten the timeline. The new system will benefit prospective students aiming to study in the U.S. in 2025 by providing additional appointment slots.
The demand for U.S. student visas among Nepali applicants has surged, with record numbers of approved visas. In fiscal year 2024, 13,524 Nepalis received U.S. student visas, along with additional F-2 visas for dependents.
Monthly visa issuance has varied, with July 2024 seeing the highest number of student visas issued. In the first nine months of fiscal year 2024, June set a record with 1,700 student visas and 76 dependents granted visas. The first three months of fiscal year 2024 saw 2,896 Nepali students receiving U.S. visas.
In comparison, fiscal year 2023 saw 6,203 Nepali students receiving U.S. student visas, meaning the 2024 count more than doubled. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 10,220 Nepali students and exchange visitors entered the U.S. during fiscal year 2023.
As the number of Nepali students in the U.S. increases, there is growing concern about the mental health challenges and pressures these students face due to academic demands and financial stress.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
