Recognizing COVID-19's Effect on F1 Visa Slots. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on many facets of life around the world, including student visas and international education. Effective planning for Fall 2024 applicants requसट्टा किंग गेम्सires an awareness of how COVID-19 continues to impact F1 visa slots. Travel restrictions & difficulties obtaining a visa. A large backlog in visa processing times resulted from the closure or restricted operations of numerous embassies and consulates during the peak of the pandemic. Even though a lot of these offices have reopened, it's possible that they're still running at a reduced capacity or following health regulations that could impact the availability of appointments.