A detailed Reddit post about an alleged “unfair turnaway” at a US visa interview in Toronto is gaining traction online, capturing a mix of confusion, frustration, and reluctant acceptance that such outcomes, however baffling, are not unheard of.
What was meant to be a routine visa appointment turned into a baffling and costly ordeal for a 25-year-old Indian national in Canada, who says he was turned away from his US B1/B2 interview despite having a valid booking.
In a Reddit post seeking “serious advice,” the applicant wrote that the situation “makes absolutely no sense” and has already cost him significant time and money, after securing an appointment at the US Consulate General in Toronto nearly two years in advance. As he wrote, “I originally booked my B1/B2 U.S. visa appointment back in April 2024 for March 13, 2026, at the U.S. Consulate General Toronto.”
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The user behind the post laid out a step-by-step account of what they say unfolded on the day of their interview. According to them, they had a confirmed appointment, reached the consulate on time, cleared initial security, and were waiting to be processed—only to later told to reapply.
As they wrote, “Here’s what happened:
My appointment was scheduled for 11:15 AM.
I traveled from Manitoba to Toronto specifically for this (flights, local travel, time off work — easily $500–$800 total).
I arrived 45 minutes early at the consulate.
And then—out of nowhere—I was told at the entrance that:
“You are on the turnaway list. Your appointment has already been marked as missed.”
I was literally standing there before my scheduled time.
No one could explain why.”
He stressed that there was no prior indication of any issue with his appointment. “I received no email, call, or notification that my appointment was cancelled or changed,” he wrote, adding that his DS-160 confirmation number remained the same and was correctly linked to his booking.
Even a February email prompting applicants to update their DS-160 details, if needed, did not apply in his case. “Mine hadn’t changed, and the system didn’t even allow edits,” he noted. What added to the confusion, he said, was the lack of clarity at the consulate itself. “Staff had no clear reason. They just guessed it might be system or backend issues.”
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He said the immediate guidance offered little relief. “They told me to email support and reschedule after 24 hours,” he wrote. But when he tried to do that, he ran into a bigger hurdle. “It’s asking me to pay the $185 MRV fee again, and the earliest appointments available are in mid-2027,” he noted, pointing out that this came after he believes he was incorrectly marked as a no-show.
For him, the situation feels deeply unfair. “I did everything correctly. I showed up early. There was no communication from their side. I lost money, time, and effort, and now I’m being treated as a no-show and asked to pay again,” he said.
So far, he has emailed the consulate and attempted to contact support, but has held off on paying the fee again while waiting for a response.