Washington: In a bid to expedite the student visa process, the US has reduced its wait period globally to less than 15 days, and said the prospective students could apply for the country's visa up to four months before the start of the academic session.
"Worldwide, the maximum wait for a student visa appointment is fewer than 15 days. Foreign students can apply for their visas up to 120 days before their academic programs begin. We always encourage all visa applicants to apply early," the US State Department said in a statement on Monday.
The US recognised that foreign students brought with them tremendous intellectual, social, and economic benefits, the State Department said in a statement on the occasion of International Education Week, adding that as part of the efforts, the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs gave student visa appointments special priority.
"At home and abroad, students continue to seek international education to gain the skills, the contacts, and the experience necessary to succeed in the global marketplace," it said.
"The consistent growth in international enrollments in the United States attests to the universally recognized pre-eminence of the country's higher education system," the state department said.
International education grew by nearly nine per cent during the 2010-11 academic year, and foreign students studying in the United States brought $ 21.3 billion into the domestic economy, it said.
"Most importantly, educational exchanges foster mutual understanding, respect, and goodwill between Americans and people around the world," it said.
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