It is a process that has been on the rise since the end of 2000. Some Indian companies have found a way to make some quick bucks by selling visa slots to students and multiple visa applicants. The present cost is $100 to $1000.
It is known that there is a shortage of slots due to the pandemic, and on the other hand, the US Consulate wants to increase the number of Indians going to the US as a part of bilateral ties between both countries.
In fact, there are Facebook groups that openly ask the students to get associated with them for F1 visa slots (freshers and refused). One such group claims that they monitor slots 24×7, and when slots are available, they give them out after bulk bookings. At times, scalpers appear to bulk book appointment slots for general sale at a later date.
Usually, these offices claim they will get an early visa appointment. They claim to have consular ties with the consular officers in multiple US consulates and that they work with them for earlier dates. Such companies also share that travel agents do not have any special powers.
While the US Consular offices say such practices affect their own processes, little has been done so far to tackle the problem. A similar situation is in Nigeria, and while the Consulates ‘recognize’ the problem, they are now slowly working on getting their act right and making sure that students approach the Consulate staff in days to come for visas.
