MUMBAI: November may be over a month away but for Avnika Sarkar whose daughter left for Cornell University, preparations for what must be bought and packed started as early as Tuesday.
With the United States relaxing the travel ban in November for air travelers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, parents are planning their maiden trip to campuses where their wards have recently started classes. The frenzy to fly out to the USA is higher among parents of freshmen who have gone for their undergraduate education.
“My daughter completed her first year online from home. But flew out in February and is now in the second year. But as soon as the travel ban is lifted, we are leaving for the US to be with her,” said Sarkar. The White House said on Monday that it was easing the tough pandemic-related restrictions that started early last year. While a precise start date for the new rules is not out, the White House stated that they would be eased from “early November”; many details of the new policy are still being decided.
“The US Consulate must resume B1, B2 visa applications so that parents who want to visit their children can do so. Many students would be graduating in December and parents will definitely not want to miss being a part of their convocation,” said international education counsellor Karan Gupta.
