U.S. Embassy in India Cancels 2,000 Visa Appointments Over Scheduling Violations

The U.S. Embassy in India announced on March 26 that it has canceled approximately 2,000 visa appointments due to breaches of its scheduling policies. Officials identified unauthorized activities, including the use of automated bots and other fraudulent practices, leading to the suspension of the associated accounts.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X, the embassy said, “Consular Team India identified bad actors who made about 2,000 visa appointments that violated our scheduling policies.”

Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the visa application process, the embassy further stated, “Effective immediately, we are canceling these appointments and suspending the associated accounts’ scheduling privileges. We will continue our anti-fraud efforts and have zero tolerance for agents and fixers that violate our scheduling policies.”

The U.S. diplomatic mission has been intensifying efforts to prevent exploitation in the visa application system, particularly by cracking down on unauthorized agents and fraudulent intermediaries. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance transparency and ensure fair access to visa appointments.