Hyderabad Techie Shocked by 470-Day Wait for US Visa Interview Slot

A tech professional from Hyderabad, Amit Bhawani, experienced an extraordinary wait time of 470 days for a US visa interview slot while attempting to book one for a friend. Bhawani, who was clearly frustrated by the lengthy delay, took to social media to express his shock and frustration.

Bhawani, who initially struggled to find a slot with a wait time under a year, questioned the fairness of the system. "Others I know went ahead with agents who were able to get them earlier slots. How is that possible?" he remarked. His frustration led him to declare, “Everything can be rigged.”

In a recent update, Bhawani announced that he successfully secured a visa interview slot scheduled for August. He proudly stated that he did not use “Chrome extensions, scripts, bots or took help of an agent” to book the appointment. “I didn’t give up trying and at the end it was all worth it,” he said, humorously adding, “…I might need a new mouse after all that ing.”

Did the techie use any hacks?

Bhawani revealed that he began his search around 11 pm and managed to find two slots for visa interviews in Mumbai and Delhi. Addressing an X user’s query about any hacks he might have used, Bhawani explained that he simply kept “refreshing” the page. He focused his search on Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai, while avoiding Kolkata and Chennai.

How did the internet react?

The reaction from the internet was mixed, with many sharing their own experiences and frustrations. One person noted, “Agents are charging 30k for early appointments.” Another user commented, “I applied for B1/B2 in March 2022 and got a date of Sep 2024. You’re still lucky.”

A third user shared, “One of my office colleagues recently paid 50k per person for a US visa – appointment in 1.5 months. Such are the levels of rigging.” Conversely, another user had a more positive experience, stating, “I booked for myself and got a next-day slot. Though I rescheduled it to one month later as it was suitable. You have to keep watch on slots; I think agents do the same too.”

Bhawani’s ordeal underscores the difficulties many face in securing timely US visa appointments, reflecting broader frustrations with the visa application system.