The recent cancellation of over 2,000 US visa interview appointments due to bot-based or unauthorised bookings has made headlines across India. While the US Embassy has cited this as a move to crack down on fraudulent activity, those working on the ground — consultants, educators, and genuine students — know that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

As part of the Study Abroad Consultants Association (SACA), we feel it is important to highlight the real challenges faced by the student community and the genuine consultant ecosystem over the past many months.

A Broken System That Pushed Students Into Crisis

For the last one year, F-1 visa appointments for the USA have been scarce, erratic, and largely inaccessible for thousands of genuine Indian students.

• No clear schedule on when appointments would open.
• No communication from the Embassy about slot availability.
• Students and parents logged in day and night, hoping for a chance.
• Even after making payments and receiving offers from universities, many students were unable to find even a single appointment slot.

This wasn’t a one-off problem — it was a systemic failure.

Consultants Faced Pressure, Students Faced Panic

In the absence of an organized appointment system, students approached consultants in panic. With deadlines for university intakes closing in, and with lakhs of rupees already invested in tuition and accommodation, the situation turned desperate.

Consultants across the country were overwhelmed with requests, and many had to spend countless hours monitoring portals, refreshing systems, and trying to guide students who were losing hope. Unfortunately, this broken ecosystem gave rise to a parallel grey market — where slots were hoarded and resold to anxious students.

This was not a situation created by students or ethical consultants. This was the result of a poorly managed visa booking system that failed to match the growing demand with a transparent, secure, and structured solution.

A Delayed Step – But SACA Welcomes It

While the US Embassy’s recent action to cancel suspicious appointments is a delayed step, we at SACA welcome the move. Any action that restores transparency and trust in the process is a step in the right direction.

But the responsibility doesn’t end here.

We urge the US Embassy and allied departments to:

1. Introduce a structured, fair, and secure appointment booking system.
2. Engage with recognised industry associations like SACA to understand ground realities.
3. Create an early-warning mechanism that allows issues to be addressed before they spiral.
4. Ensure no genuine student loses an intake due to system failure or slot manipulation.

Let’s Work Together to Protect Students’ Dreams

This incident must become a turning point in how visa services are managed in India. It is time for all stakeholders — embassies, educators, consultants, and government bodies — to work together to ensure that no student’s dream of studying abroad is derailed due to systemic gaps.

About the Author

Mitesh Malhotra is the National President of the Study Abroad Consultants Association (SACA) and Managing Director of Saviour Education Abroad Pvt. Ltd.