After India’s request, US grants emergency visa interview to father of student in coma after California accident
New Delhi: The United States has scheduled an emergency visa interview for the father of Nilam Shinde, a 35-year-old Indian student who remains in a coma following a road accident in California on February 14, NDTV reported.
According to sources cited by NDTV on Thursday, the interview is set for 9 am on Friday.
Earlier, NDTV reported that India's External Affairs Ministry's Americas Division had reached out to the US government regarding the matter.
Although medical emergency visas are typically processed quickly, sources indicated uncertainty over the cause of the delay in this case.
Shinde, a student at California State University, sustained severe injuries, including multiple fractures, after being hit from behind by a four-wheeler.
Her family applied for a visa two days later, but the application remained pending.
Her uncle, Kadam Shinde, told NDTV that the earliest available appointment was initially for next year.
Her family stated that she suffered fractures in both arms and legs and underwent emergency brain surgery, for which hospital authorities had to provide consent.
Since the operation, she has been in a coma, according to reports.
In a statement dated February 16, the university confirmed that Shinde "is in critical condition with an uncertain prognosis and is receiving care in the Intensive Care Unit."
The university also urged the issuance of travel permits for her family, emphasizing that her father needed to assist UC Davis Medical Centre’s care team with medical decisions.
"Ms Shinde is not able to communicate due to the nature of her injuries and because she is currently intubated, on life support," the statement read.
According to NDTV's sources, the US does grant emergency visas for cases involving severely ill or deceased family members.
The process requires a doctor's written request to expedite visa interview appointments in the applicant’s home country.
However, there are limited slots available for such expedited applications.
The case gained wider attention after NCP MP Supriya Sule highlighted the family's struggle.
"This is an alarming issue. We need to get together and resolve it," she told NDTV, urging the External Affairs Ministry to intervene.
Since then, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office has reached out to Shinde’s family.
Meanwhile, local authorities are investigating the accident, and the driver involved has been taken into custody.
However, given her medical condition, legal challenges have arisen regarding the filing of a case without a blood relative present.
Shinde, a Master of Science student, has been in the US for four years.
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