US Embassy Cancels 2,000 Fraudulent Visa Appointments in India

The embassy identified bot-made bookings, suspended associated accounts, and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy for fraud in visa scheduling.

The US Embassy in India canceled approximately 2,000 visa appointments made by bots, citing violations of scheduling policies.
Associated accounts involved in the fraudulent activities have had their scheduling privileges suspended immediately.
A complaint filed by the embassy with Delhi Police led to an FIR against over 30 visa and passport agents linked to fraudulent practices.
The US visa system continues to face challenges, including significant backlogs, retrogression in employment-based categories, and high rejection rates for student visas.
Travel agents using bots to block appointment slots have exacerbated difficulties for individual applicants, prompting stricter anti-fraud measures.