For Columbia MSBA, which deadline should I target as an Indian applicant to get enough time for the U.S. visa process?

Question

Mansih K · Accepted Answer

If you&rsquo;re applying from India, the earlier you secure admission, the smoother your visa process will be.
&bull; Priority deadline: January 15 &mdash; results by late March, allowing 3+ months for visa paperwork and scheduling. &bull; Regular deadline: February 15 &mdash; results by late April, leaving less buffer before the August intake. &bull; Early admits get first access to housing options and orientation slots, which can fill up quickly. &bull; Visa interview wait times in Indian consulates can exceed 6&ndash;8 weeks in summer, so the extra month from applying early makes a big difference. &bull; Applying in January also means you can arrange finances and documentation without last-minute stress.
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T Mehta · Answer

For Columbia&rsquo;s MSBA, Indian applicants aiming for enough time to complete the U.S. visa process should target the priority deadline of January 15. Decisions for priority applicants are typically released in late March, giving several months to handle I-20 issuance, visa appointments, and travel planning.
If you apply for the regular February 15 deadline, decisions may not arrive until late April. While that still leaves some time for the visa process, it can be tight &mdash; especially given long wait times for visa interview slots in India during peak months (June&ndash;July). Applying by January 15 also improves your chances for merit scholarships, as Columbia allocates many awards early in the cycle.