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New Delhi:

The US mission in India is “actively working” to accommodate as many candidates for pupil visas as doable in July and August, and facilitating their respectable journey stays considered one of its high priorities, a senior US diplomat mentioned Sunday.

Don Heflin, the Counseling Minister for Consular Affairs on the US embassy, ​​additionally mentioned that college students sure for america won’t require any proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter the nation. They’ll want a detrimental report of your COVID-19 check taken inside 72 hours of your departure.

There was rising nervousness amongst a substantial variety of Indian college students aspiring to fly to the US for larger schooling in gentle of sure restrictions on acquiring visa appointments as a result of coronavirus pandemic.

The embassy will start granting visa interview slots for Indian college students beginning Monday.

“We acknowledge the stress and nervousness this has triggered for college students and their households, and we’re actively working to accommodate as many pupil visa candidates as doable in July and August. Facilitate respectable pupil journey to america. it stays one of many high priorities of the US Mission to India, “Heflin advised PTI in an interview.

The official was requested about rising uncertainty amongst Indian college students eager to journey to america, which had imposed new journey restrictions in Might.

“College students returning to tutorial packages that resume on or after August 1 could journey to america as much as 30 days earlier than this system resumes. No nationwide curiosity exception is required on this scenario,” he mentioned.

“We suggest that persevering with college students focus on their particular resumption plans with their respective faculties to develop a journey schedule,” Heflin mentioned.

Nationwide Curiosity Exceptions (NIE) permit journey to the US for folks whose entry is taken into account to be within the nationwide curiosity.

“We intend to start two intensive months of interviewing pupil visa candidates on July 1. We’ll plan to open as many appointments as we will safely accommodate, primarily based on native pandemic situations throughout India,” Heflin mentioned.

“Pupil visa candidates don’t want an expedited appointment to schedule their visa interview. On June 14, we are going to open the July and August appointments for college students,” he added.

When requested in regards to the vaccination-related arrests, the official mentioned proof of vaccination just isn’t required to enter america.

“Please word that proof of a detrimental COVID-19 check end result, taken inside 72 hours of your flight departure, is required to board a flight and to enter america.

“Whereas proof of immunization just isn’t required to enter america, particular person faculties or establishments could set their very own necessities. The US instructional system operates independently of the federal authorities, and college students ought to inquire as carefully along with your host establishment to make sure compliance with particular person vaccination necessities, “he added.

Heflin mentioned there are greater than 4,500 accredited universities within the US that function autonomously, and the coverage adopted by one faculty for its college students and instructing group might not be the identical as for one more.

When requested if an exception can be thought of for a father or mother who needs to accompany a pupil heading to america, the official mentioned dad and mom touring to the nation, in that case, shall be categorized as vacationers.

“Vacationer journey continues to be prohibited pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10199,” he mentioned.

In gentle of the rise in COVID-19 infections in India, President Joe Biden licensed a journey ban for sure non-immigrants from India beneath a presidential proclamation that went into impact on Might 4.

“Presidential Proclamation 10199 solely applies to non-citizens who’ve been bodily current in India inside the 14 days previous to their software to enter america. The US Embassy and Consulates don’t present recommendation on the planning particular journeys, “the official mentioned. .

He was requested if a pupil can fly to a different nation to use for a US pupil visa and stay in quarantine there for 14 days earlier than coming into the US.

“Please word that F and M visa holders touring from India will be capable to enter the US inside 30 days of a brand new program begin date or program resume date that’s 1 August or later. Which means some college students shall be eligible to journey as of July 2. No nationwide curiosity exception is required in these circumstances, “he mentioned.

Heflin mentioned that pupil visa candidates with a canceled appointment might want to make a brand new appointment and that new pupil visa appointments shall be obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation.

When requested if the dependents of somebody who has a legitimate H1B visa are thought of for the NIE exemption, he mentioned that these folks, who’ve outlined journey plans and might show their qualification for a NIE, can contact the embassy or the consulate.

He mentioned that nonimmigrant visa holders, together with those that have H1-B and who are usually not topic to Presidential Proclamation 10199 primarily based on their household relationship with a U.S. citizen or an LPR (lawful everlasting resident) partner or minor youngster single don’t want a NIE.

“Such vacationers should convey proof of the qualifying relationship to current to airline officers when initiating a visit to america,” he mentioned.

Requested if the speedy members of the family of a US citizen can acquire an expedited visa if the US citizen plans to journey quickly, Heflin mentioned appointments for the expedited visa are awarded primarily based on the aim of the applicant’s journey.

“Visa candidates who’ve an pressing have to journey to the US, for instance to obtain life-saving medical therapy, can request an expedited visa appointment …

“Candidates requesting an expedited appointment should additionally current proof that they aren’t topic to Presidential Proclamation 10199 or could qualify for a nationwide curiosity exception to those journey restrictions,” he mentioned.

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is posted from a syndicated feed.)

Rome:

A senior official on the European Medicines Company stated it is perhaps price abandoning the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for all age teams the place options can be found, in an interview printed Sunday.

Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccine technique on the EMA, additionally instructed the Italian newspaper La Stampa that the Johnson & Johnson jab ought to ideally be used for these over 60 years of age.

Each, known as viral vector vaccines, are licensed for everybody over the age of 18, however have been affected by experiences of uncommon blood clots. The EU has additionally licensed two mRNA vaccines, Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna.

Italy on Saturday restricted AstraZeneca vaccinations to folks 60 and older as a consequence of considerations about elevated well being dangers for the very younger.

When requested whether or not it might not be higher to ban AstraZeneca even for these over 60, Cavaleri stated: “Sure, and it’s an possibility that many nations, comparable to France and Germany, are contemplating in gentle of the elevated availability of mRNA vaccines. .

“Nevertheless, the incidences had been very uncommon and after the primary dose. It’s true that there’s much less information on the second dose, however within the UK (the vaccination program) is doing nicely.”

He added: “Amongst younger folks, the dangers of illness lower, and the message for them is perhaps to make use of mRNA vaccines preferentially, however the alternative is left to the person states.”

He famous that the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine has “fewer issues than AstraZeneca,” though it famous that it had been used much less.

“With one dose it’s helpful for some classes which are tough to entry, however it’s nonetheless an adenovirus (vaccine) and it’s preferable to order it for these over 60 years previous,” he stated.

Messenger RNA genetic know-how trains the physique to breed spike proteins, just like these discovered within the coronavirus. When uncovered to the precise virus later, the physique acknowledges spike proteins and may combat them.

Viral vector vaccines like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson use a genetically modified model of an adenovirus that causes the widespread chilly as a “vector” to ship genetic directions to human cells.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is posted from a syndicated feed.)