Panic spreads in India as F-1 visa slots disappear within minutes, experts ask students to be patient
After several months of no show, the US started releasing visa slots for F-1 students, but the slots are disappearing within minutes, leaving students panicking and worried about whether they will be able to get it before American schools and colleges start their academic sessions this autumn. Like the H-1B, there was several months of inactivity for F-1 student visas after social media scrutiny began in December 2025. Now visa slots are being issued in installments and slots are being booked within minutes.As per the latest update, a huge amount of slots were released on May 15 for June-July dates, which is important for autumn but they disappeared immediately.
Checklist for F-1 Slot Booking
- Do not check the portal frequently as this will get you ‘access limit’ block for 24-72 hours
- Do not switch between Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad consultations as it leads to immediate session ban.
- Prepare everything (DS-160, I-20, etc.) in advance so that you can book immediately when the slot appears.
What happens at an F-1 visa interview?
Career coach Pritesh Jagani explains how F1 interviews have changed in 2026 in his latest social media video. He said he spoke to visa officers and understood that the interview officer figures out in the first 5 minutes of the conversation whether a student should be granted a visa or not. There are no right or wrong answers, but the officials try to know how much interest the student has in the course and the school they have chosen and whether they are somehow trying to get inside the US and have someone else choose the course and school on their behalf.
- Expect technical questions about courses, application process and fees.
- A visa officer may ask about your reasoning behind choosing a specific school/university to understand if you have chosen it.
- They can check if you know which city your university is in, which airport to land at – just to find out how involved you were in the process.