US Embassy Cancels 2,000 Visa Appointments Over Bot Fraud

Due to concerns over fraudulent activities, the US Embassy in India has taken a decisive step by canceling 2,000 visa appointments. This action comes in response to the detection of bot activities manipulating the scheduling system, as shared in a recent statement on X. The embassy emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards any interference in their scheduling process, stating, "The consular team in India is canceling 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. We will not tolerate agents or fixers who interfere with our scheduling procedures. We are suspending scheduling privileges for associated accounts in addition to canceling these appointments. Our efforts to combat fraud will continue, and such actions will not be tolerated."

The use of bots by travel agents to secure visa appointments has become a prevalent issue, particularly for those seeking US business, visitor, B1, B2, and student visas. These agents offer their services to expedite the appointment process, charging individuals between INR 30,000 and INR 35,000. One individual recounted to an English newspaper how he paid an agent INR 30,000 to quickly obtain a visa appointment for his son, who was planning to study in the US, highlighting the challenges faced by applicants attempting to secure appointments on their own.

In light of the significant delays encountered by visa applicants, with wait times for B1 and B2 appointments reaching up to 999 days in 2023, the US opened additional appointment slots in cities like Frankfurt and Bangkok to accommodate Indian applicants. This move was part of broader efforts to manage the long wait times, a concern that the Indian government had raised with the US nearly three years ago. The US government took these concerns to heart, working to reduce wait times and now focusing on curbing the misuse of bots in the appointment process