— USAndIndia (@USAndIndia)Live EventsThe United States is taking strict action against automated bots that have been blocking visa interview appointment slots in India. These bots have forced many applicants to pay agents around ₹30,000-₹35,000 per person to secure timely appointments for their planned visits.The US Embassy in India announced on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter) that it has canceled approximately 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. “Consular Team India is cancelling about 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. In 2023, when the waiting period for B1/B2 visas reached nearly 999 days, the US allowed Indian applicants to book visa appointments at consulates in Frankfurt and Bangkok to ease the backlog.India had raised concerns over long visa wait times with the US government two to three years ago. With the latest crackdown on bots, further improvements in visa processing times are expected.

Source: The Times March 27, 2025 11:38 UTC