H-1B Visa Slot Scam: Account Held Hostage for ₹30K

An H-1B applicant from India shared a troubling visa scam experience on Reddit. Due to difficulties in securing H-1B slots, the applicant hired a consultant to help with the appointment booking process.

The applicant paid the consultant ₹15,000 for the service. The consultant later claimed that an appointment had been successfully booked using the applicant’s visa scheduling account.

Soon after, the consultant allegedly changed the security questions linked to the account. They then demanded an additional ₹15,000 to restore access, leaving the applicant completely locked out.

Visa experts have strongly warned against using such consultants. In most cases, these agents do not have any special access to visa slots and often misuse applicant credentials.

The visa fee already paid will remain linked to the applicant’s passport number. However, recovering control of the compromised account can involve lengthy and complex procedures.

The applicant has been advised not to pay any more money. Consultants rarely have exclusive access to limited H-1B slots, despite what they may claim.

There is also concern that the appointment confirmation shared by the consultant may not be genuine. As a safer option, the applicant has been advised to create a new account.

A different e-mail address must be used for the new account. A formal technical support request should then be raised through the feedback option on the portal.

The applicant must attach a copy of the passport biometric page and request officials to link the passport to the new account. This is often the only practical solution.

Such scams target applicants unfamiliar with the visa scheduling system. Experts strongly recommend avoiding consultants who promise guaranteed visa slots.