Visa Fraud: Slots were being blocked with the connivance of agents Due to the interference of middlemen and agents in the visa appointment process, common citizens were not getting slots on time. In this, slots were being blocked for real applicants.
US visa appointment: The new US government seems to be very alert regarding visas. Meanwhile, the US has taken action on the fraud happening in visa appointment booking in India. It was told that more than 2000 visa appointments have been canceled. The US Embassy informed on Wednesday that these appointments were booked by bots. In this, slots were being blocked for real applicants. The embassy has also announced a ban on the guilty agents and their accounts, calling such activities a violation of its policy.
Due to the interference of middlemen and agents
Actually it is being told that slots were being blocked with the connivance of agents. Due to the interference of middlemen and agents in the visa appointment process, common citizens were not getting slots on time. According to a report by Times of India, due to this, applicants were forced to pay up to Rs 30,000-35,000 to the agents. Many people told that it was taking months for them to get an appointment themselves, whereas through agents, the slot was available in just a few days.
Appointment within a month?
According to reports, currently it is taking more than six months to get an appointment for US business and tourist visa (B1/B2). But by paying a hefty amount to the agents, one gets an appointment within just a month. In 2023, when the waiting period for B1/B2 visa appointments reached 999 days, the US had to open appointments in other countries like Frankfurt and Bangkok for Indian applicants.
Without the help of agents..
During that time, this issue was raised before the US, after which the US took several steps to streamline the visa process. At present, with the action of the US Embassy, it is expected that the visa appointment process will be more transparent and common citizens will be able to get slots directly without the help of agents.
