Washington: Thousands of Indians who were looking to land a U.S. visa have received a big blow. The U.S. Embassy last week cancelled some 2,000 visa appointments, citing irregularities in the way in which they had been obtained. The embassy said these slots were booked using “fraud” and not through the official mixed method of booking as issued by the embassy. This move is intended to maintain fairness in the visa application process for all.
The U.S. Embassy posted an explanation on X Wednesday saying bots were behind the appointments. They said their consular team discovered a network abusing the system, resulting in the cancellations and suspension of the associated accounts. The embassy stressed that there is zero tolerance against fraud, and it would closely monitor people participating in similar fraud in the future.
The crackdown is part of an ongoing investigation by the Delhi Police, which began in response to a complaint in February 2025. The reports also accuse over 30 other suspects from Punjab and Haryana of obtaining visas through fraudulent documentation. They make bogus applications, including fake bank balance proofs, fake degrees, and fake experience letters, and charge people between ₹1 lakh and ₹ 15 lakh to sue them. U.S. officials identified 21 additional cases with similar indicators of fraud.
The embassy detected the culprits by tracking their IP addresses, as several dubious apps originated from the same locations. Investigators also observed that one agent had prepared numerous forged documents and suspiciously booked appointments. Following this, Delhi police have charged three sections of IPC pertaining to the offence of abandoned dead body U/s 318 and parts 336 and 340 of IPC along with Section 66(D) of IT Act. Meanwhile, the police are conducting raids to apprehend those involved in this racket.
The U.S. embassy has termed this scam a matter of grave security for India and the U.S. They’ve called on Indian authorities to speed up the investigation to ensure the integrity of the visa process. In the meantime, efforts are focused on detecting fraud, making sure that no one is being left behind who actually needs it.
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