US student visa rejections soar for Telangana & Andhra applicants, highest in 20 years

Over half of the student visa applications from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are being denied by US authorities, as per 'study abroad' consultants in Hyderabad. This marks the highest rejection rate in 20 years, with even students admitted to Ivy League universities facing refusals.

This comes at a time when the two Telugu-speaking states were sending more students to the US than any other state in the country.

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"January intake was the worst season for us. The upcoming summer intake is showing similar trends," said Arvind Manduva from I20 Fever, a registered study abroad consultancy.

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US visa officials are no longer providing reasons for rejections. However, after reviewing denied applications, consultancies believe minor discrepancies in personal details, education history, or supporting documents may be the cause. Previously, such issues were often overlooked if key documents were in order, but stricter scrutiny appears to be in place ahead of Trump 2.0.

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A recent US govt report revealed that in the 2023-24 academic year, 6.79 lakh F-1 visa applications were filed. Of these, 2.79 lakh, or 41%, were rejected. Indian students accounted for a significant portion of these denials

"While the number of students considering studying abroad remains steady, many are now hesitant. They are looking at alternative destinations, such as UK and Germany. Within UK, the traditional preference for London is changing, with Wales and Scotland emerging as preferred destinations," said Sahas Yuvraj from Way2 Abroad Consultancy.

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Students overstaying their visas has also contributed to fewer visa approvals.

"In 2023 around 7,000 Indian students overstayed their visas in the US (7,081, according to the US department of homeland security's report to Congress for fiscal year 2023). Many of them struggled to find employment, which made it impossible for them to maintain their visa status, leading to them remaining in the country illegally. The US is now taking strict measures to filter out potential overstays," explained Chirandeep Patnaik of Lemma One Consultancy.

Although students are looking at alternative destinations away from the US, many remain apprehensive due to visa restrictions and political instability in other countries.

"It feels like international students are being discouraged from applying. I was excited about studying abroad, but now, my enthusiasm has faded," said a BTech student set to graduate in May.

"The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. The number of Indian students in the United States grew significantly in the 2023-2024 academic year. India is now the number one sender of international students to the United States," a statement issued by the US consulate said.

(With TOI inputs)