US Visa Appointment Rescheduling Rules India 2025: Limits & Bans

Key Takeaways

• The New Hard Limit: Effective 2025, applicants are typically restricted to ONE free reschedule after the initial booking.
• Soft Ban Risk: Excessive manual checks trigger "Access Limitation" errors, locking accounts temporarily (24 to 72 hours).
• Manual Checking is High-Risk: Frequent logins waste your limited actions and increase ban chances.
• Safe Strategy: Use external monitoring tools to scan slots without risking your account.

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Table of Contents

1. The Rescheduling Limit: How Many Times Can I Change?
2. The 'Access Limitation' Soft Ban Explained
3. Risks of Manual Slot Checking
4. Safe Automated Monitoring Solution
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The Rescheduling Limit: How Many Times Can I Change?

One of the biggest fears for applicants is losing their MRV fee validity. The rules for the Indian portal (USVisaScheduling / CGI Federal) have become much stricter in 2025 to combat slot hoarding.

When you pay your visa fee, it is valid for one year or for a specific number of booking actions.

• Initial Booking: This counts as your first action.
• Rescheduling Allowance: Unlike previous years, you are now generally allowed to reschedule only once after your initial booking without penalty.
• The Penalty: If you attempt to reschedule again after hitting this limit, the system will prompt you to pay the visa fee again ($185 USD) to book a new slot.

Warning: The system rarely gives a countdown warning. You might be on your last attempt without knowing it. This makes every login crucial.

Tip: Book the earliest available slot immediately to secure your fee validity, then monitor safely for improvements.

The 'Access Limitation' Soft Ban Explained

Users often encounter the error: "You have exceeded the limit for viewing this page" or "Access Limitation".

This is a temporary soft ban designed to block bots and excessive activity.

Triggers include:

• Repeated refreshes of the calendar page (F5 spamming).
• Logging in and out more than 3-5 times a day.
• Using browser extensions or opening multiple tabs.

Duration: Typically resets automatically after 24 to 72 hours.

During a ban, you cannot view slots or reschedule—potentially missing openings in high-demand locations like Mumbai or Hyderabad.

Risks of Manual Slot Checking

Slots in major hubs like Chennai (for H-1B), New Delhi, and Kolkata often vanish quickly due to high demand.

The challenge:

1. Frequent checks are needed to spot openings.
2. But frequent checks trigger bans or jeopardize your account status.

Business travelers applying for B1/B2 visas are especially vulnerable, as desperation leads to over-checking and eventual lockouts.

Safe Automated Monitoring Solution

The only way to check frequently without getting banned is to decouple monitoring from your personal account login.

How VisaApt Helps:

1. External Scans: We monitor all consulates using independent systems—no login to your account is required.
2. No Ban Risk: Avoids triggering "Access Limitation" entirely because your session remains inactive.
3. Instant Alerts: Get notified only when a suitable earlier slot is available, then log in once to reschedule safely.

This preserves your limited rescheduling attempts and keeps your account secure.

Start monitoring safely with VisaApt today: Get Started

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How many times can I reschedule in 2025? The new standard is typically 1 free reschedule after your initial appointment booking. Additional changes usually require a new fee payment.

2. Can support unlock a 'Access Limitation' ban? No—it is automatic and usually lifts after 24 to 72 hours. Avoid triggers by limiting manual logins.

3. Why do slots disappear after an alert? High competition. Act immediately on alerts, and use ban-free monitoring to stay ready.