As previously reported by The PIE News, the government announcement – effective as of September 6 – said international students should schedule interviews at their local US embassy or consulate, or face an increased risk of having their visa rejected.
While third-country appointments are not outrightly banned, “applicants who scheduled nonimmigrant interviews at a US embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa”, the department warned.
Amid a backdrop of unprecedented US visa challenges, the announcement further narrows the path for prospective students, with stakeholders highlighting the disproportionate impact on students from certain regions, as well as the immediate ripple effects for students currently abroad.
“Students in Europe or North America can easily secure visa dates, while African students face systemic disadvantages, further widening the global equity gap in access to international education,” Bimpe Femi-Oyewo, CEO of Edward Consulting, Nigeria, told The PIE.
“Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya already face extremely long appointment backlogs, ranging from 100 to over 500 days. Previously, students could secure faster slots in neighbouring countries… but that option is now gone,” said Femi-Oyewo.
“This further proves my point that talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t,” she added.
As of the latest State Department data, students and exchange visitors seeking appointments in Abuja, Nigeria, must wait for eight-and-a-half months before obtaining an interview – the longest wait time of any consulate or embassy, though they fluctuate monthly.
Other destinations that frequently see some of the longest visa interview wait times include Accra, Ghana and Karachi, Pakistan. With students unable to make appointments elsewhere, stakeholders expect bottlenecks to worsen.
“The US embassy and consulate infrastructure in many African countries is overstretched compared to demand,” said Femi-Oyewo, pointing to Nigeria – whose one embassy and one consulate serve over 200 million people.
“The policy effectively steers students back to their home countries, even when home posts are severely backlogged,” said Blumberg, warning that such lengthy wait times would “collide with academic calendars and force hard choices about enrolment, research and travel”.
Femi-Oyewo echoed concerns about students missing program start dates or being forced to defer their studies. In the worst cases, students could miss out on competitive scholarships that many families depend on, she warned.
Talent is universal but opportunity isn’t
Bimpe Femi-Oyewo, Edward Consulting
Blumberg raised additional concerns about international students who are currently abroad, for whom “the ripple effects are immediate”.
“A student studying abroad who needs a new visa mid-program now faces uncertainty over whether their temporary location counts as ‘residence’, and conference travel becomes risky if a new stamp is needed to return,” he warned.
For study abroad and conference scenarios, Blumberg is counselling “earlier planning, checking the official wait-time tool before travel, and – if timing is tight – adjusting itineraries to route through the home post”.
Following months of policy turbulence under the Trump administration, early forecasts have warned of international enrolments falling by up to 40% this semester, largely due to the State Department’s near month-long suspension on visa interviews, among other hostile policies.
Anecdotal reports have highlighted a particularly challenging environment in India – the US’s largest source market – with many students unable to make it to campus in time for this semester.
“Stepping back, this clarification lands alongside other headwinds – shorter visa validity and single-entry visas for many nationalities, and separate DHS proposals that could end ‘duration of status’ – making US study more complicated and less predictable.
“The cumulative message to international students is not helpful for US competitiveness,” said Blumberg, advising students to apply in their home country where possible.
“Where a third-country appointment is unavoidable, we advise students to expect longer queues, bring clear proof of residence if applying where they live, and build travel plans that do not depend on a quick third-country appointment,” he added.
In addition, Femi-Oyewo said students should monitor appointments closely, checking for cancellations or newly released slots, especially during off-peak hours.
With many US institutions offering deferrals and online options. “It may be wiser to negotiate deferrals upfront rather than risk losing both admission and scholarships after unsuccessful attempts,” she added.
