The United States Embassy in India has canceled more than 2,000 visa appointments due to fraudulent activities involving bots and “bad actors.” The embassy announced the decision on Wednesday, revealing that the appointments were made through irregular channels, bypassing the official scheduling system. These cancellations are part of the embassy’s crackdown on violations, which have raised concerns about the integrity of its visa application process.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the US Embassy’s Consular Team in India confirmed that it had identified and suspended multiple accounts used by fraudsters to secure visa appointments. The embassy emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for agents and fixers who exploit the system to gain an unfair advantage.
“Consular Team India is canceling about 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. We have zero tolerance for agents and fixers that violate our scheduling policies,” the statement read. “Effective immediately, we are canceling these appointments and suspending the associated accounts’ scheduling privileges.”
The embassy’s decision is a response to the growing issue of fraudulent visa appointment practices, particularly in the face of overwhelming demand. The cancellation comes after the embassy’s visa appointment system came under scrutiny due to the actions of individuals or organizations using automated software (bots) to secure slots for visa interviews, thus denying legitimate applicants a fair chance.
The cancellation of these appointments is set against the backdrop of severe delays in visa processing in India. Specifically, B1 and B2 visas, which are meant for business and tourism purposes, have faced significant backlogs in recent years. Applicants for these categories have been facing long waiting periods due to high demand and limited appointment availability.
The waiting times for these visas in 2022 and 2023 ranged from 800 to 1,000 days, leading the US to open additional visa appointment locations in other countries such as Frankfurt and Bangkok. This move was an attempt to alleviate some of the pressure on Indian applicants who were unable to secure appointments locally.
In 2022, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, raised concerns about these visa delays in a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Jaishankar pointed out that the backlog was negatively affecting the relationship between the two countries. Blinken attributed the delays to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had disrupted consular operations worldwide.
Jaishankar also brought up the issue again in January 2024 during discussions with US Senator Marco Rubio. After their bilateral meeting, Jaishankar remarked, “If it takes 400-odd days of waiting period to get a visa, I don’t think the relationship is well-served by this.”
This backlog, however, is not the only concern facing Indian visa applicants. Alongside the delays, there has been a notable increase in the rejection rate for both business and student visas.
In addition to the cancellation of appointments, another troubling trend has emerged: the growing rejection rate of US student visas. In the fiscal year 2023-2024 (October 2023 to September 2024), the US received over 6.79 lakh applications for F-1 student visas. However, nearly 2.79 lakh of these applications were rejected, leading to a 41% rejection rate. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, where the rejection rate stood at 36% for 6.99 lakh applications.
The surge in rejections is especially concerning for students planning to pursue higher education in the United States. Back in 2014, the rejection rate for Indian students applying for F-1 visas was only around 15%. In contrast, the rate has nearly tripled in recent years, reflecting growing challenges in obtaining US student visas.
The rising rejection rate has had serious consequences for educational institutions and aspiring international students. A decline in the number of student visas issued not only affects students’ academic plans but also impacts universities in the US, many of which rely on international students to fill their classrooms and contribute to the global diversity of their programs.
Reports also indicate a decline in the total number of student visas issued in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Data from the first nine months of 2024 suggests a 38% drop in the number of student visas issued to Indian applicants. This sharp decline raises concerns among educational stakeholders in both India and the US, as fewer students are able to fulfill their dreams of studying abroad due to the increased scrutiny of visa applications.
Despite these challenges, the US remains a top destination for Indian students, with many still pursuing opportunities for higher education in the country. However, the tightening of visa policies and the delays in appointment availability are putting a strain on these aspirations. As the US Embassy continues to address fraud in its visa appointment system, the ongoing delays and rejections are likely to persist as major hurdles for applicants.
As the US Embassy’s decision to cancel fraudulent visa appointments sends a clear message against visa abuse, it also underscores the complexities faced by both the embassy and applicants. India’s diplomatic leadership, including Minister Jaishankar, will likely continue pressing for solutions to address the delays, as well as the broader visa challenges.
In the meantime, the US Embassy’s efforts to clean up the visa appointment system are aimed at ensuring that appointments are available for those who follow the correct procedures. However, with waiting times still stretching into years for many applicants, the embassy’s actions may not provide immediate relief to those in need of a visa.
Given the current state of the US visa system, Indian applicants will need to be patient and stay informed about any changes or new opportunities for securing visa appointments. For now, the diplomatic dialogue between the two countries will remain crucial in finding long-term solutions to improve the visa application process and reduce the backlogs that have created so much frustration for prospective travelers.
