Visa Fraud Crackdown: US Cancels 2,000 Fake Bookings

The U.S. Embassy in India has canceled approximately 2,000 visa appointments that were fraudulently booked using automated bots. This action targets agents who exploit the visa scheduling system by employing bots to reserve appointment slots, which they then sell to applicants for fees ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 per person.

Such practices have contributed to extended wait times for visa appointments, with some applicants facing delays of over six months. By canceling these bot-booked appointments and suspending the associated accounts' scheduling privileges, the U.S. Embassy aims to enhance the fairness and efficiency of the visa application process.

This crackdown is part of broader efforts to combat fraudulent activities and reduce visa processing delays. For instance, in November 2023, the U.S. Embassy implemented a policy requiring all F, M, and J student visa applicants to use their own passport information when creating profiles and scheduling appointments. Appointments booked with incorrect passport numbers were subject to immediate cancellation to prevent fraud and abuse of the appointment system. ​

Additionally, the U.S. has introduced new regulations to streamline non-immigrant visa appointments, effective January 1, 2025. Applicants are now permitted to reschedule their appointments once without incurring additional fees. However, missing the rescheduled appointment or needing to reschedule a second time requires booking a new appointment and paying the application fee again. These measures aim to reduce wait times and improve the overall efficiency of the visa application process for Indian applicants.