US Visa Fraud Crackdown: 2,000 Bot-Booked Appointments Canceled – What It Means for Students and Parents
2,000 Bot-Booked Student Visa Appointments Canceled
In a dramatic and decisive move, the United States under the Trump government has cracked down on automated bots that have been manipulating visa appointment slots in India. For years, thousands of students and families have struggled with unreasonably long wait times for visa interviews, while agents and fixers have been gaming the system—charging desperate applicants anywhere between ₹30,000-₹35,000 per person to secure a timely appointment. But not anymore.
On Wednesday, the US Embassy in India took to X (formerly Twitter) with a firm declaration: "Consular Team India is canceling 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 canceling these appointments and suspending the associated accounts’ scheduling privileges.”
A Step Towards Fairness – But At What Cost?
This move has sparked a wave of emotions among students and parents alike. For some, it is a victory for ethical applicants—a long-overdue action that restores fairness in the visa scheduling process. For others, it is a sudden setback—with 2,000 applicants now left in limbo, scrambling to find new visa interview slots.
A concerned parent shared their ordeal with Student Central:
SC: “How did you try to secure a visa interview for your child?”
Parent: “We tried everything. Every day, we logged in multiple times, refreshing, hoping for an appointment. But there were none. No matter how early we woke up or how many hours we spent, the slots disappeared before we could even see them.”
SC: “So, what did you do?”
Parent: “We had no choice. Our child had to join an American university last fall. We paid an agent ₹38000. Within days, we had the appointment.”
SC: “Do you feel this crackdown is fair?”
Parent: Pauses. “I understand why they did it. Bots should not decide who gets a visa and who doesn’t. But my heart breaks for the students who now have their appointments canceled. What happens to them?”
The Bigger Picture: Can This Move Help Everyone?
The USA visa interview process has been a frustrating ordeal, especially for B1/B2 and student visa applicants. The waiting time for a B1/B2 appointment stretches over six months, while students bound for universities in the USA often find themselves with little time to navigate delays. Agents, using bots, have monopolized the system—leaving ethical applicants at a disadvantage.
However, the US government has made efforts to address these concerns. In 2023, when the B1/B2 wait time hit a shocking 999 days, Indian applicants were permitted to book visa interviews in Frankfurt and Bangkok to ease the backlog. Since then, pressure from the Indian government and the Indian-American community has pushed US officials to introduce reforms aimed at reducing visa delays.
With this latest crackdown, there is hope that visa processing times will improve, allowing genuine applicants to access the system without resorting to illegal shortcuts.
What Happens Next?
The US government has assured that anti-fraud efforts will continue, ensuring that students and families who play by the rules are not left behind. However, the immediate impact of canceling 2,000 visa slots is undeniably stressful for affected students.
At Student Central (SC), we have always been staunch promoters of ethical visa processing. We understand the frustration that students and parents face, but we also believe that if the US government manages this situation effectively, it will lead to a fairer, more transparent visa system.
This is not just about 2,000 canceled appointments. It is about restoring justice for every student who dreams of studying in the USA—without having to pay a premium for their right to education.
Stay updated with Student Central for more information on USA visa interview policies, visa refusal trends, and student success stories. Because ethical processing is the only way forward.
Posted 1 month ago