Now Reading: Indian student alleges agent cancelled F-1 visa slot over extra fee
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Indian student alleges agent cancelled F-1 visa slot over extra fee
Indian student alleges agent cancelled F-1 visa slot over extra fee
An Indian student has alleged on Reddit that an agent cancelled their F-1 visa interview appointment after they refused to pay an additional Rs 20,000. The student, who had an I-20 form showing an August 2026 programme start date, had deferred admission to January 2027 after failing to get a visa slot. The agent later claimed to have secured an October 2026 appointment but demanded the extra payment.
When the student refused, the agent cancelled the appointment, and the student received a cancellation confirmation. The student’s application now shows no available slots and the I-20 still reflects the old start date. Experts quoted by m9.news advised the student to ditch the agent and manage the process independently. Times of India reported that US Citizenship and Immigration Services has warned such practices are scams and that no official fee of Rs 20,000 exists for an F-1 interview. The student has been advised to contact their Designated School Official for a new I-20 form.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both m9.news and Times of India report the same Reddit account, but m9.news frames the incident as a straightforward scam with expert advice to handle the process alone, while Times of India adds the official USCIS warning and notes that some Redditors believe agents are the only way to get slots in an emergency. The balanced reading is that the student’s experience illustrates a well-documented scam pattern, but the structural shortage of interview slots creates the market for such agents. Times of India’s inclusion of conflicting Reddit opinions provides the fuller picture. The student has yet to decide whether to continue with the agent or seek a new I-20 for January 2027.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (2): m9.news (sensationalist), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
