KATHMANDU, Sept 3: The US Embassy in Kathmandu has announced the addition of new student visa appointment slots monthly, starting September 4, 2024.

According to the US Embassy’s Facebook page, these new slots will be available on a designated day each month, with the first set to open on September 4. This initiative is part of the Embassy's ongoing efforts to reduce the long wait times commonly associated with US visa appointments.

Previously, the Embassy has occasionally added extra appointment slots, but this is the first time it will do so consistently each month. In response to the high demand, the Embassy has also conducted visa interviews on Sundays, typically non-working days.

Securing an appointment for visitor or student visas at the US Embassy in Kathmandu can take up to 10 months. To help students avoid delays in starting their studies, the Embassy is implementing this new strategy to shorten wait times.

Students planning to begin their studies in the US in 2025 will benefit from these additional appointment slots starting in September.

There has been a significant increase in the number of Nepali applicants for US student visas, leading to a historic high in visa issuance. In July, the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs reported a record-breaking number of Nepali students receiving US student visas, with a total of 1,788 students and 63 dependents granted visas.

This brings the total number of Nepali students who have received US student visas in the first 10 months of this fiscal year to 10,988. This follows a record set in June, when 1,700 students and 76 dependents received visas.