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F1, J1, and M1 Student Visas: When slots will open and what to do right now
If you are waiting for a student visa slot, here is the pattern the embassy confirmed they will follow: slots will open in two bulk releases. The first batch will open somewhere between the 10th and 15th of October, and the second batch between the 10th and 15th of November. This is the same pattern they used for the Fall 2022 intake, and it is exactly what I predicted when I covered the Spring 2023 prep earlier. So the wait is nearly over — but you need to be ready before the slots drop. Make sure your DS-160 form is filled, your visa fee is paid, and you are actively monitoring the system so you can grab a slot the moment it appears.
If you have a prior rejection
For applicants who have had a previous visa rejection, the embassy confirmed that your slots will open after both bulk releases are completed — which means you can expect availability to appear sometime towards the end of November. I know waiting longer when you already have a rejection feels frustrating. But here is the truth: these slots did open for people with rejections during the Fall 2022 intake, and they will open again. Use this time to focus intensely on your preparation. Do not spend your energy worrying about slot availability — spend it making sure that when you do sit across from that visa officer, you are ready.
H1B and L1 Visas: 100,000 slots being released in October
If you are applying for an H1B, L1A, or L1B visa, life is about to get significantly easier. The embassy announced that they are releasing 100,000 slots for HML category visas in the month of October. These appointments will be spread out over the following two to three months, but you will be able to book and secure your slot in October itself. Start from the very first week of October — fill your DS-160, pay your fee, and monitor the system closely. Do not wait until you think the slots are available; track the system proactively so you do not miss the window.
Three important changes coming to the CEAC visa booking portal
This section matters for every visa category, because changes to the booking system affect how you manage your appointment once you have it. The embassy shared three updates that are all being implemented in October.
1. Fewer reschedules allowed
Currently, once you book a visa appointment, the system allows you to reschedule it up to four times. That is being reduced by one. Going forward, you will only be able to reschedule your appointment three times. This means you should be more deliberate when you book — do not grab a slot just to hold your place if you know you will need to move it multiple times.
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Book a Mock Interview2. Placeholder appointments are being removed
A placeholder is essentially a dummy appointment that some applicants book in order to use it as leverage when requesting an emergency or expedited appointment. The embassy stated that they are doing away with placeholders entirely. Every appointment you see in the system from now on is a real interview appointment — not a placeholder that will be cancelled later. I will be honest: this is a little hard to fully accept at face value right now, because the system currently shows appointments as far out as 2024. Whether those are genuine interview slots remains to be seen, but that is the official position.
3. Dropbox applicants can now request an in-person appointment
If you qualify for a Dropbox renewal, you currently have no way to speed up the process — and a standard Dropbox typically takes four to six weeks. The embassy announced a new feature that changes this. Even if you qualify for a Dropbox, you will now be able to request an in-person appointment instead, meet with a visa officer directly, and get your visa processed faster. This is a meaningful change if you are on a tight timeline.
B1/B2 Visitor Visas and J Visas: What the embassy said
For B1/B2 applicants, the embassy did not announce a specific slot release or a clear timeline. Their stated priority right now is HML visas first, followed by B1/B2. That said, over the past two months I have seen a significant and consistent increase in B1/B2 appointments being released into the system. Interviews are being conducted almost daily for this category. So the strategy here is straightforward: track the system closely, and book whatever date you can get — whether that is in 2022, 2023, or even 2024. Once you have a date booked, it becomes much easier to reschedule to an earlier slot when one opens up.
J visa applicants: weekly slot releases coming
If you are applying for a J visa, there is genuinely good news here. The embassy shared that they are giving J visas greater priority in the coming year and plan to release slots on a weekly basis — rather than the unpredictable bulk or ad hoc openings we have seen before. A consistent weekly release makes it significantly easier to monitor the system and secure your appointment.
When will visa wait times return to normal?
This is one of the most common questions I hear, and the embassy addressed it directly. As of now, the embassy is operating at 75% capacity — not yet at full strength. In the coming months, they plan to bring on more consular officers and grow the team, with the goal of returning to normal functioning — meaning reasonable wait times similar to the pre-COVID era — within the next one year. Whether that timeline holds remains to be seen. But I can tell you that over the past few months, we have already seen much better movement across all visa categories: F1, H1B, B1/B2, J, and others. If you are planning to travel to the U.S. in the next year, now is a genuinely good time to start your visa process. The next two to three months in particular are where I expect the most traction and the best chance of securing an appointment.
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