‘Bad actors’: US Embassy in India cancels 2000 visa appointments
text_fields
Representational Image
New Delhi: The US Embassy in India said it had cancelled 2000 visa appointments on March 26 as part of its ‘anti-fraud efforts’.
The Embassy cancelled appointments after they appeared to have been made using bots, according to The News Minute.
Announcing its decision, the Embassy stated: ‘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.’
Alongside the Embassy emphasized on its ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards agents and fixers violating scheduling policies.
The decision to cancel visa appointment follows a crackdown on fraudulent visa practices which is currently under the investigation of the New Delhi police.
It is reported citing Business Insider that the US Embassy in New Delhi filed a complaint on February 27 alleging fraud.
Alongside, the outlet reported that over 30 suspects from states including Punjab and Haryana allegedly involved in the visa fraud taking place between May and August 2024.
The investigation gains importance in the wake of President Trump’s tough move against illegal immigration.
As part of Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the first of three military flights carrying illegal Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar on February 6.
The shackling of immigrants on the flight to India triggered widespread criticism with the Opposition in India raising the matter.