'Students hit visa jackpot for US in pandemic year'

AHMEDABAD: Meshvi Patel, a student from Gujarat whose student visa application for higher studies in the US was rejected five times in the past, put the Covid-19 pandemic blues firmly behind her when she was granted a visa to pursue MS in accounting at the University of New Haven this year.


“My dream to study in the US finally came true. There could not have been a better way to beat the pandemic blues,” said Meshvi.


Interestingly this year, Uncle Sam has been extra-generous in doling out student visas, say local overseas education consultants who concede that more than 95% of their student visa applications have been granted.


“This has been a record year with visa success at over 95%. This is the highest success rate witnessed in any season in the past decade. Almost all our students have got visas,” says Kavita Parikh, an overseas visa consultant in the city which caters to 650-700 students each year.


Hemant Agarwal, another student visa consultant said that between 2015 and 2020, he recorded a 40% visa success rate which has zoomed to more than 90% this year.


"It has been a great year for students aspiring to study in the US," said Agarwal who said they have also seen a jump in the volume of students headed to the US this time.

Foreign varsities calling students
Overseas visa consultant Maulin Joshi said they have witnessed students who were rejected three, five and even seven times getting lucky this year. "As Australia and New Zealand remain closed for foreign students, the volume of students headed to the US has risen substantially. It is a win-win," said Joshi.


Experts peg the high student visa success rate during the current pandemic year as a result of efforts to put back on track the economy of US universities derailed by Covid-19 in 2020. "International students contribute $ 45 billion to the US economy. Indian and Chinese students are the largest contingents and hence are vital," says Parikh.


Experts said that an Indian student spends an average Rs 25-30 lakh each in the US during the course of their studies.


Pankaj Bohra, president of the Western Regional Council of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), said there is the focus to revive the arrival of foreign students back on the US campuses. "A significant jump has been witnessed in granting student visas for the US this year which has benefitted local students," said Bohra.