US Embassy cancels 2,000 visa appointments in India over fraud, cracks cown on bots and agents

Applicants have been paying hefty fees to secure earlier slots through unofficial means

March 27, 2025

Zero-tolerance policy enforced as embassy targets scheduling system abuse

The US Embassy in India announced the cancellation of over 2,000 visa appointments after detecting fraudulent activities involving bots and unauthorized agents. According to an official statement, the embassy identified “major violations” in its appointment scheduling system and suspended scheduling privileges for the associated accounts.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy stated:

“Consular Team India is cancelling about 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. We have zero tolerance for agents and fixers who violate our scheduling policies. Effective immediately, we are cancelling these appointments and suspending the associated accounts’ scheduling privileges.”

The embassy reiterated its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its visa process, saying it would continue its anti-fraud efforts and strictly enforce its zero-tolerance policy.

Bots and agents exploiting the visa appointment system

For years, visa applicants in India have reported difficulties securing timely interview slots due to high demand and long wait times—especially for B1/B2 (business/visitor) and student visas. This situation has led many to rely on agents who allegedly use bots to block appointments and later resell them at inflated rates.

Applicants often end up paying agents between Rs.30,000 to Rs.35,000 per person to obtain a faster slot, despite the embassy’s clear warnings against such practices.

One anonymous applicant shared,

“We tried to get a visa interview for our child to join an American university last fall but couldn’t find a suitable date. After paying an agent Rs.30,000, we secured a slot in time.”

Such manipulations result in the artificial unavailability of appointments for genuine applicants trying to book directly through the official system.

Long-term visa challenges and government response

At the height of the visa backlog in 2023, wait times for B1/B2 visa interviews stretched close to 999 days. In response, the US Embassy opened additional appointment slots at its consulates in Frankfurt and Bangkok for Indian applicants.

India had previously raised concerns about excessive visa delays with US officials 2–3 years ago, prompting a series of corrective actions by the US to reduce waiting times.

With the embassy now taking firm action against the misuse of scheduling systems, there is renewed hope that the situation will improve for genuine applicants seeking timely visa appointments.

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