Universities don't automatically cancel your admission when your visa is delayed. Here's what you can do to make your waiting period worthwhile.
Waiting for your US student visa can be stressful, particularly if you have secured a scholarship and your plans to start college abroad are just around the corner.
While most visa applications are processed smoothly, sometimes there can be delays or rejections.
How you respond in such situations can make a big difference to your academic timeline.
Divya Nair/Rediff spoke to international career counsellors to understand what you can do if your visa is delayed or denied after you have received a scholarship.
Reasons why your US student visa may be denied
According to Richa Seth, an international career counsellor with 20 years of experience, there may be various reasons why your student visa may be denied or delayed.
The top reasons could be:
- Inadequate proof for financial documents
- Poor or lack of strong ties to the home country (Section 214(b))
- Inconsistent or weak interview answers
- Invalid, inaccurate or incomplete documentation
- Incomplete or inaccurate academic record
- Unclear or questionable academic intentions
- Previous violations or criminal history
- Suspicious or false social media activity
There is also Section 221(g) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which refers to a temporary refusal or hold on a visa application.
However, Seth explains why Section 221 (g) is not an outright denial: "It could possibly also mean that the visa officer could not make a final decision on your application at that moment because something was inadequate and your application is currently under review."
What to do if your US student visa is delayed or denied
Every scholarship comes with its own terms and conditions and visa delays or denials can sometimes put those benefits at risk, warns Seth. "If you find yourself in such a situation, it's important to act quickly and communicate with both your university and the scholarship provider."
"Students must contact the university to check whether they can help you defer admission or extend the reporting date. In case of a denial, it is important to understand the reason and conditions cited by the embassy.
"Next, you can find ways to fix the issue and then reapply by submitting a new visa application and paying the fee again.
"If the visa is delayed, closely monitor the estimated processing times for your specific embassy and seek the university's advice on how you can proceed further," says Seth.
When a US student visa is denied under section 214(b), there's no formal appeal process, explains rediffGURU Dr Karan Gupta.
"You can reapply only if you have something new to offer -- stronger financials, clearer ties to your home country or a better-articulated academic plan. Students stuck in 221(g) administrative processing should know there's no fixed timeline; it can take weeks or even months."
The key is to stay in regular contact with your university and have a deferral plan ready in case your visa isn't cleared before classes begin.
"If you miss your start date, your DSO (designated school official) may be required to cancel your SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record within 30 days," says Dr Gupta.
The solution is to request a new I-20 (a certificate of eligibility for non-immigrants issued by a US school or university) with the next available intake before that deadline passes.
Don't worry, as universities don't automatically cancel your admission when your visa is delayed, comforts Dr Gupta.
"What matters is communication. You can ask for an official deferral and confirm whether your scholarship can be carried forward."
How soon can you reapply?
If there is no change in your documents or situation, reapplying too soon is not going to help.
"You need to show changed circumstances -- either fresh documentation, updated funding or new academic clarity," says Dr Gupta.
For scholarship recipients, timing is everything. "If your visa delay pushes you past your reporting window, you can request a written scholarship extension before the term lapses. If you have received a scholarship, you must maintain good grades or else your scholarship will be withdrawn too," he adds.
As lakhs of students continue to look at the US for higher education opportunities, the competition is going to get tougher.
Good grades and a strong academic record alone will not suffice.
In the current situation, in order to make your case stronger, "applicants must have a strong, consistent profile and show that they're genuinely interested in studying in the US -- and not settling there -- by building a solid academic profile and clear post-study plans back home," sums up Seth.
- You can ask Dr Karan Gupta your visa-related questions HERE.
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