F-1 visa slots disappear in minutes due to new vetting process, causing panic; Expert questions offer advice to students
After months of inactivity, U.S. begins releasing visa F-1 student quota. However, these spots disappear within minutes, leading to panic and anxiety among students over whether they will be able to secure a spot before the start of this fall academic session at U.S. educational institutions.
Similar to H-1B During the visa process, F was inactive for a long time-1 Student visa numbers have continued to increase since social media scrutiny was introduced in December 2025. Currently, visa quotas are being released in batches and are filling up almost immediately.
According to the latest update, June and July dates had a large number of vacancies available on May 15, which is crucial for the fall semester, but these vacancies end immediately.
F-1 Class Booking Checklist
Avoid checking the portal too frequently as this may result in a 24-72 hour “limited access” restriction.
Do not switch between consultants in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad as this may result in immediate session throttling.
Make sure you have all the necessary documentation (DS-160, I-20, etc.) ready in advance so you can reserve your spot as soon as it becomes available.
What happens during the F-1 visa interview?
Career coach Pritesh Jagani detailed the changes to F-1 interviews starting in 2026 in his recent social media video. He mentioned that he spoke with visa officers and learned that they can decide whether a student should get a visa within the first five minutes of the discussion. There is no clear right or wrong response. However, officials aim to gauge the student’s genuine interest in the chosen program and institution and to determine that the student is not simply trying to enter the United States without making a personal commitment to the chosen program and institution.
Be prepared to receive technical inquiries about the course, application process and associated fees.
The visa officer may ask you about your reasons for choosing a particular school or university to evaluate your decision-making process.
They may also verify your knowledge of the city where your university is located and the arrival airport you will use, solely to assess your involvement in the application process.
