(Our Bureau, June 14) The US mission in India is giving top priority to student visas and is “actively working” to accommodate as many student visa applicants as possible in July and August, said Don Heflin, the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs. Starting today, visa application slots for the next two months are being opened up for students with acceptance letters from US universities. Further, Helfin told PTI that US-bound students do not need to produce any COVID-19 vaccination proof. But a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of one’s flight departure time is a mandatory requirement. There has been considerable anxiety among students bound to the US given that US consular services across the country had come to a standstill due to pandemic regulations. Moreover, some US universities have been asking students that have taken Covaxin or Covishield jabs to get themselves re-vaccinated.
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