An Indian student has alleged that an education agent canceled an October 19, 2026 F-1 visa interview after the student refused to pay an additional ₹20,000. The account, originally shared on Reddit and reported by The Times of India, has not been independently confirmed by the U.S. government or the agent involved.
According to the report, the student’s Form I-20 listed an August 31, 2026 program start date. After the student could not obtain an interview before that date, the agent reportedly recommended deferring enrollment to January 2027. The agent later claimed to have secured the October appointment but requested the additional payment. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The case highlights two practical concerns for prospective F-1 students: understanding which fees are official and maintaining control over their own visa scheduling account.
The U.S. Department of State currently lists the nonimmigrant visa application fee for F, M and most J visa applicants as $185. This is often called the MRV fee. (travel.state.gov)
New F-1 students generally must also pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee. This payment supports the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and is separate from the visa application fee. (ice.gov)
| Official payment | Current amount |
|---|---|
| F-1 visa application fee | $185 |
| I-901 SEVIS fee | $350 |
| Standard government “appointment fee” | None |
An agent may charge a private consulting or service fee, but that does not make it an official U.S. government charge. Any such fee should be disclosed clearly before the service is provided. An agent also cannot guarantee that a visa will be issued.
The Department of State warns applicants to be cautious when dealing with nongovernmental businesses claiming that they can obtain U.S. visas or provide special access. Payments made to unofficial organizations are not credited toward government visa processing fees. (travel.state.gov)
Using an agent for administrative assistance does not transfer responsibility for the visa application. The applicant remains responsible for the information submitted on the DS-160, the appointment profile and the documents presented during the interview.
Students should personally retain access to:
Students should not share one-time passwords or allow an agent to become the only person capable of accessing the account. If an applicant believes an agent canceled an appointment without permission, the applicant should change the account password, save relevant messages and receipts, and contact official visa scheduling support.
Visa appointments are administered through the Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates—not USCIS. Suspected visa-related fraud can be reported through the Department of State’s official fraud-reporting process. (travel.state.gov)
A student should not attend an interview using an outdated Form I-20 without first consulting the university’s designated school official, or DSO.
If the original program start date was August 31, 2026 but the student now plans to begin in January 2027, the school may need to defer the student’s SEVIS record and issue an updated Form I-20. Only the school—not an education agent—can make the appropriate program-date changes in SEVIS.
Before paying the I-901 fee, the student should confirm with the DSO:
SEVP guidance allows school officials to defer the program dates of eligible initial students who cannot begin as originally planned. (studyinthestates.dhs.gov)
Students facing a similar situation should first contact their university’s international student office rather than relying only on an agent. They should obtain an updated Form I-20 if their intake has changed and then use official government or authorized scheduling websites for all required payments and appointments.
Appointment availability can change as embassies and consulates release additional slots. The Department of State advises applicants seeking an earlier date to check the scheduling system regularly and move an existing appointment when an earlier slot becomes available. Availability is never guaranteed. (travel.state.gov)
Paying an agent may be a personal choice, but students should never be told that an unexplained private charge is a mandatory U.S. government appointment fee. Maintaining direct control of the application account is the safest way to prevent unauthorized cancellations and protect personal information.