March 27, India: The United States has cancelled over 2,000 visa appointments in India, the US Embassy announced on Wednesday. This move is part of a broader effort to combat fraudulent activities within the visa application process.
Why Were the Appointments Cancelled?
The US Embassy cited widespread misuse of the visa appointment system by “bad actors” who used bots to secure slots unfairly. These automated systems, often deployed by agents and fixers, disrupt the scheduling process, making it difficult for genuine applicants to secure timely appointments.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards such violations.
“Consular Team India is cancelling about 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. We have zero tolerance for agents and fixers that violate our scheduling policies,” the post read.
The affected accounts have also had their scheduling privileges suspended with immediate effect.
Long Visa Wait Times Add to the Challenge
Even before this crackdown, visa applicants in India were already facing lengthy wait times, particularly for B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas. Over the past couple of years, wait times for these categories have ranged between 800 and 1,000 days. To ease the backlog, the US had previously introduced alternative appointment locations for Indian applicants in Frankfurt, Germany, and Bangkok, Thailand.
India’s Push for Faster Processing
The Indian government has repeatedly raised concerns over the long visa processing times with US officials. In 2022, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discussed the issue with then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Biden administration attributed the delays to challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
More recently, during his visit to Washington for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, Jaishankar again brought up the matter with Blinken’s successor, Marco Rubio. Despite these diplomatic efforts, visa processing remains slow, and approval rates have also reportedly declined, particularly impacting Indian students.
What This Means for Indian Applicants
While the US crackdown aims to create a fairer visa appointment system, it may also add further complications for genuine applicants. With appointment cancellations and stricter monitoring, those hoping to visit the US for work, study, or tourism may face additional hurdles in an already lengthy and uncertain process.
For now, applicants are advised to avoid using unauthorized agents or automated systems to book visa slots, as such practices may result in cancellations or bans on future scheduling.
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