The US Embassy in India has warned people against fraudulent messages and agents promising guaranteed visas or faster approvals, saying these are often scams that can cost applicants money, time and travel plans.
In a detailed video posted on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy highlighted steps that can be taken to identify scams, avoid scams and ensure that anyone applying for a US visa makes an informed decision.
The alert comes amid ongoing delays in processing and renewing visas that have left several people stranded in India. This situation has made them more vulnerable to fraudsters who can take advantage of their desperation.
Here are guidelines shared by the US Embassy in India to help applicants and people seeking visa issuance and renewal avoid scams.
Where can you get a US visa?
Officials emphasized that the only way an individual can obtain a US visa is through an embassy or consulate.
They also added that the only way to book an appointment is through the embassy’s online scheduling portal, which is www.ustraveldocs.com. “If someone says they can get you a visa outside of this process, they are trying to scam you,” the embassy said in the video.
Can a visa agent help you with this process?
Addressing the common question of whether to seek help from visa agents, the embassy clarified that no agent, matchmaker, or travel agent can promise to obtain a US visa for you.
Although some agents may promise success, we should not rely on them as they often provide false and misleading information and charge exorbitant fees. So the safest option is to stick to the official process and not pay anything extra to get faster results.
“The only fees you need to pay for a US visa are those listed on our application,” officials said.
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Where can you find accurate information about the US visa process?
Officials have also advised applicants to be cautious about false and misleading information and rely only on credible and official sources to avoid any kind of inconvenience.
“For official visa information visit travel.state.gov or on the website of the US Embassy in India, in.usembassy.gov/visas“, the embassy said.
Delays in processing visas
Indian H-1B visa holders and applicants are facing long delays in visa processing after US consulates suddenly canceled their appointments and pushed them back by several months.
The situation follows a new US policy under the Trump administration, which ended the H-1B visa lottery system and introduced a weighted system that favors applicants with advanced skills and higher salaries.
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This global screening process applies to applicants of all nationalities and aims to prevent abuse of the H-1B program while allowing companies to hire highly skilled temporary foreign workers, he added.
In recent years, Indians accounted for an estimated 71% of approved H-1B applications, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
