The US Embassy in India cancelled 2000 visa appointments on March 26, citing violations in scheduling policies. According to a short statement by the Embassy, these cancelled appointments appear to have been made using bots.
“Consular Team India identified bad actors who made about 2000 visa appointments that violated our scheduling policies. Effective immediately, we are canceling these appointments and suspending the associated accounts' scheduling privileges. We will continue our anti-fraud efforts. We have zero tolerance for fraud,” the statement said.
The Embassy also said that it had “zero tolerance” towards agents and fixers who violate their scheduling policies.
According to Business Insider, the move comes in the wake of a crackdown on
fraudulent visa practices, currently under investigation by the New Delhi police. On February 27 the US Embassy in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri filed a complaint alleging foul play. Over 30 suspects from various states including Punjab and Haryana have been allegedly involved in visa fraud between May and August 2024, Business Insider further reported.
The investigation will also be seen in the larger context of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
On February 6, the first of three military flights from the US carrying undocumented Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar. At the time, both the use of military aircrafts and the shackling of deportees for the full duration of the 48 hour flight back to India drew widespread criticism.
It may also be recalled that even before Trump officially took office, the H1B visa—issued to ‘skilled workers’—became the centre of controversy within his voter base. Many Republican hardliners demanded greater restrictions on the H1B visa, predominantly used by Indian and Chinese immigrants.
