An Indian student seeking an F-1 visa to study at a U.S. university alleged that a visa agent canceled an interview appointment after the student refused to pay an additional $230 (20,000 INR), raising questions about unofficial charges associated with U.S. visa appointments.
The student shared the account on Reddit, saying the agent initially helped arrange the visa process after the student was unable to secure an interview before the program’s original start date.
According to the post, the student’s I-20 listed August 31, 2026, as the program start date. However, the student said they could not find a visa interview appointment before that date, prompting the agent to suggest moving the admission intake to January 2027.
The situation changed when the agent later told the student that an October 19 visa interview appointment had been secured.
The student said the agent then asked for an additional $230 (20,000 INR) for the appointment.
“I refused because I wasn’t sure why I needed to pay this extra amount. He then told me that if I didn’t pay, he would cancel the appointment. He actually cancelled it, and I received the cancellation confirmation,” the student wrote on Reddit.
The student said the application was still marked as “Open” on the official U.S. visa scheduling portal, with Mumbai listed as the selected location, but no interview slots were available.
The student also said the I-901 SEVIS fee had not yet been paid and that the I-20 still carried the original August 31, 2026, start date.
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“My I-20 still shows the old August 31, 2026 start date, although my agent says I should move my studies to January 2027,” the student wrote.
The student said the uncertainty had also raised questions about what to do next, including whether to continue working with the agent, handle the visa appointment independently, or ask the university to issue a new I-20 reflecting a January 2027 start date.
“I also don’t want to pay ₹20,000 if it’s simply an agent’s additional charge and not an official visa fee,” the student added.
While the U.S. Department of State lists the application processing fee for F, M and J visas at $185. F-1 students are also generally required to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee as part of the student visa process. The SEVIS fee is separate from the visa application processing fee.
There is no standard U.S. government F-1 visa fee identified as a $230 “appointment fee.”
That distinction is important for international students who use private education consultants or visa agents. An agent may charge a separate service fee for assistance, but such a charge should not automatically be treated as a U.S. government fee.
The student’s Reddit account does not establish whether the $230 (20,000 INR) requested in this particular case was an agency service charge, a payment associated with another service, or something else. The student’s account also does not independently establish why the appointment was canceled.
USCIS warns immigrants about scams
U.S. immigration authorities have repeatedly warned applicants to be cautious about individuals or businesses claiming to have special access to government officials or promising faster immigration outcomes in exchange for money.
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USCIS has specifically warned about businesses and websites that present themselves as immigration experts or claim to have special government connections.
“IT’S A SCAM,” USCIS said in a warning about such claims. The agency cautioned that some businesses may promise to help people obtain a visa, Green Card or work permit faster if they pay an additional fee.
USCIS also says applicants do not have to hire a representative to file forms with the agency. People can file forms themselves, while those who choose to use a representative should verify that the person is an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Department of Justice-recognized organization.
The agency advises applicants to use official government information and take steps to protect their personal information during the immigration process.
For students navigating the F-1 process, the distinction between official government fees and private service charges can therefore be important. Any student who is asked to pay an additional amount for an appointment should verify what the payment is for and whether it is an official government charge before handing over money.
In the student’s case, the next steps could also depend on the university’s program start date and the validity of the existing I-20. If the student is moving from the August 2026 intake to January 2027, the university may need to provide updated documentation before the student proceeds with the revised visa timeline.