Fraudulent visa agents exploit H-1B renewal crisis; charge up to ₹50k for fake slots

Hyderabad: Prolonged wait for H-1B and H4 visa renewals, with some slots unavailable until late Dec or even 2027, has led to the mushrooming of fraudulent agents targeting anxious applicants. Operating from both India and the US, candidate say these agents lure them with promises of early appointment dates, in some cases within one week, in exchange of a hefty fee — ranging anywhere between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000.TOI spoke to several applicants who recently received such calls from fake agents.
"I was told they could get me a slot within seven days if I paid Rs 30,000 upfront. They even shared a screenshot of a page that confirmed the appointment. They made it look so genuine that I didn't doubt it initially," said a 33-year-old techie working in Chicago who is still looking for slots to renew his H-1B. "I refrained from accepting the offer after speaking to my lawyer," he added.Another 25-year-old cybersecurity professional from Los Angeles said the agent who reached out to her had detailed information about her pending renewal."He knew my visa category. He said slots were blocked for regular applicants, but available through his channel. It sounded convincing at first but I told him I will get back. I later consulted a colleague who advised me against taking up such offers," she said adding that the agent quoted a fee of Rs 20,000 to book her H-1B renewal slot."I am back at home in India now and have requested my company for work from home till I get an interview appointment," the 25-year-old said.In some cases, H-1B holders said, that agents are contacting their elderly parents, perceived to be more vulnerable, to build pressure. "I don't even know how they got my parents contact. They told them that my job would be affected unless we acted immediately and got my wife's H4 (dependant visa) renewed. They asked for Rs 50,000," said another software developer from Dallas. "Fortunately, my family called me to check before going ahead with the transaction so I asked them to immediately disconnect with the agents," he added. His wife is stranded in India now.Time taken to ascertain credibilityCautioning applicants against such frauds, the US Consulate General, Hyderabad said detailed instructions on how to book an appointment are available only on its official website: https://in.usembassy.gov/visas/"In every case, we will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States and that he or she credibly established his or her eligibility for the visa sought, including that the applicant intends to engage in activities consistent with the terms of admission," spokesperson from the US Consulate General of Hyderabad told TOI.Lawyers ask applicants to be patientImmigration lawyers also asked applicants to be patient sharing how increased social media scrutiny has led to reduced interview capacity at some consulates, adding to the wait for visa appointments. "We are seeing that many H-1B and H4 visa holders with Dec and Jan appointments have their interviews pushed to April, May, and even July. In the current scenario, this is bound to happen so it is better to wait and keep checking the portal for slots only on the official website," said Ana Gabriela Urizar, immigration attorney at Manifest Law. She advised applicants, who need visa stamping, to evaluate whether travel is essential or can be postponed, and ensure their documents are complete."For dependent filings, ensuring clean, well-documented applications is key. Also, review public social media accounts for accuracy and consistency with visa history, as there is no detailed govt guidance on what content may raise questions. Consulting an immigration attorney before travel or visa renewal can help identify potential issues early," she added.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !