The U.S. State Department lists the F‑1 visa application fee at $185, while the SEVIS I‑901 fee sits at $350—neither of which is anywhere near ₹20,000. USCIS has repeatedly warned that no legitimate government office charges an "appointment fee" in rupees, labeling such demands as scams that prey on anxious students.
The student, whose I‑20 indicated a program start of August 31, 2026, had been told by the agent that an interview slot could only be moved to January 2027 if the extra fee was not paid. The agent secured an October 19 interview but demanded the ₹20,000 as a prerequisite.
When the student declined, the agent promptly cancelled the slot, sending a confirmation email that left the application status as "Open" on the official U.S. visa scheduling portal. The student has yet to pay the SEVIS fee and now faces a gap between the original August start date and any new interview date.
USCIS representatives have clarified that applicants may file forms on their own and that only attorneys or accredited representatives can act on their behalf. The agency’s public notices explicitly state that no third‑party can legitimately guarantee or expedite visa appointments for a fee.
The student’s next step, according to immigration lawyer Ritu Gupta, is to file a formal complaint with USCIS and to contact the U.S. embassy in Mumbai for guidance on re‑scheduling. Gupta also advises students to verify any agent’s credentials and to register directly with the U.S. Department of State’s visa website.
The case underscores a broader trend of visa‑related fraud in India, where over 10,000 student‑visa applications are handled each year, and where a handful of unscrupulous agents siphon hundreds of thousands of rupees from hopeful applicants.