A family coordinating a B1/B2 visa renewal from the US for their elderly parents in India faced a shocking setback. They filled out the DS-160, created accounts, paid the fee through UPI, and waited hopefully for Dropbox appointments to appear.
Application Vanishes Without Warning
When no appointments showed up, their stress grew. Then the application group disappeared from the portal. They were forced to begin again and pay the fee a second time, even though they had receipts for the first payment.
Not an Isolated Case
This story is becoming common. Many families handling B1/B2 renewals face similar hurdles. Children of elderly parents, used to navigating paperwork and online portals, find that one glitch can double their expenses and derail carefully planned timelines.
Complaints Flood Social Media
Social media is filled with complaints about vanishing applications, deleted logins, and unrecognised payments. People share advice, from selecting VFS Debit or Credit as the payment method to starting afresh so that the system might recognise old receipts.
A Process Lacking Transparency
Behind these stories lies the same pattern. The process is complicated, transparency is limited, and applicants have almost no recourse when errors occur. In Indian visa renewals, the phrase “it feels like a gamble” is often echoed by many.
Persistence is the Only Way
Experts advise persistence as the only solution. Keep receipts safe, test all payment options, and contact VFS or the local consulate if issues continue. With diligence and some luck, most applicants eventually manage to complete the journey.
