US visa CGI account frozen for 72 hours: What causes it and how to prevent it? - Visa Traveler (2024)
With the limited availability of US visa appointments, it’s already a pain to find an appointment for your visa interview. You have to check for available appointments several times a day, even at odd hours such as late nights or early mornings. And, on top of that, it’s quite frustrating if your US visa account is frozen for 72 hours for suspicious activity.
When your CGI account is frozen, you are often presented with the following error message.
“Your account has been frozen for suspicious activity, and you will not be able to access it for up to 72 hours. Your account will be unfrozen automatically after that time. Our call center agents will not be able to assist you with unfreezing your account or scheduling your appointment until then.”
Having your CGI account frozen for 72 hours is frustrating and discouraging. It crushes your hopes. Especially when you haven’t done anything suspicious. You were only trying to book an appointment for your visa interview. What’s suspicious about it? You weren’t trying to game the system or hack someone’s account. It’s your own account. You paid $160 for the fee, not a small amount. You deserve to book an appointment.
I hear you. I have been there. I know why it happens and how to avoid it. In this article, I will explain why a CGI account gets frozen for 72 hours, how to prevent it and if there are any options to unfreeze a frozen account.
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What does it mean by a CGI account frozen for 72 hours?
Your visa appointment (also called CGI Federal or US Travel Docs) account is frozen for 72 hours when you see the following message on your account.
“Your account has been frozen for suspicious activity, and you will not be able to access it for up to 72 hours. Your account will be unfrozen automatically after that time. Our call center agents will not be able to assist you with unfreezing your account or scheduling your appointment until then.”
When you see the above message, your visa appointment account is locked for 72 hours and you cannot log back in for at least 72 hours.
The 72 hours is calculated from the first time you see the error message. So any repeated login attempts will not prolong the time. Any attempt to change the password will not extend the time either.
Related: How to schedule a US visa interview – A step-by-step guide
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Why does a CGI account freeze for 72 hours?
The main reason why this is in place is to prevent agents and bots from gaming the system and taking away the opportunity for individual applicants to book appointments that they deserve.
Agents that deal with US visa applications often have a pool of “placeholder” accounts. They use these accounts to look up and hold appointments. Since these accounts are used to view the availability and/or hold appointments but never to actually attend an appointment, they are repeatedly used for months and years. Some agents use bots to automate this activity.
Here is an example of why these agents use such placeholder accounts. The US visa fee is $160 and is valid for one year. If an agent can find appointments for 10 applicants and charge $100 each, that is a $1,000 return from a $160 investment. That’s a very good return on investment. So depending on how many clients they have and how big their business is, they maintain tens or even hundreds of such placeholder accounts.
If you think about it, this practice of looking up or holding appointments can lead to limited or unavailability of appointments for those that genuinely need them.
CGI Inc., the software company that built and maintains the US visa appointment systems, has features to curb such practice. When the CGI Federal system senses that an account is often used to look up availability or hold appointments more often than necessary, it flags the account suspicious and freezes it for 72 hours.
Now, there isn’t an easy way to determine whether an account is a real account or some agent’s placeholder account. So the criteria for flagging suspicious accounts can sometimes freeze real accounts. And that’s also a reason why the accounts are temporarily frozen for 72 hours instead of permanently banning them.
CGI Federal is actively working on making its systems more efficient but as of now, a few extra clicks or lookups can flag your account as suspicious and can get your CGI Federal account frozen for 72 hours.
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How to unfreeze CGI account?
The only way to unfreeze CGI account is to wait 72 hours. But there have been instances where the accounts were released/unfrozen after 24 hours. Therefore, wait about 24 hours and then access your account. Trying once every 24 or 36 hours will help figure out if your account is unfrozen and you can log back in.
Any attempts to log in while your account is frozen will not reset the clock or extend the frozen time. So there is no harm in trying to log in once every 24 or 36 hours.
Also, contacting customer service or changing password will not unfreeze your account. Creating a new account and paying the fee again will not work either, since the new account will be flagged as a duplicate as most of the information will be identical to the frozen account.
Therefore, there is no option other than waiting 72 hours. The smart option is to prevent an account freeze.
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How to prevent a CGI account freeze for 72 hours?
Your US visa account might freeze for many reasons. Only the developers at CGI Federal would know the exact reasons. Below is the list of activities that I think are considered suspicious by CGI Federal. Avoiding these suspicious activities will prevent your CGI account from freezing for 72 hours.
DISCLAIMER The below list is based on my own personal experience and knowledge. Only the developers at CGI Federal know what activities constitute suspicious. Therefore, we shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies.
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Suspicious Activity 1: Concurrent logins
Your visa account is frozen for 72 hours if CGI Federal notices that you have logged into your account concurrently. Concurrent logins indicate that your account may be a placeholder account and several people are using it to view appointments.
Here are some of the ways to avoid concurrent logins.
1. Do not share your login information with others
It’s not an uncommon practice to share login information with family and friends to maximize the chances of finding an appointment. But this can backfire as concurrent logins are considered suspicious activity. Do not share your login information with others.
2. Use only one browser for your CGI account
Logging into your CGI account from different browsers and not properly logging off can seem like concurrent logins. Always use only one browser on your computer to log into your CGI account.
3. Log off completely after you view the available appointments
Keeping the tabs or browsers open or closing them without properly logging off can keep the sessions alive on the server. These may seem like concurrent logins. Always log off completely after you are done using your CGI account.
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Suspicious Activity 2: Logging in from different devices
Your visa account is frozen for 72 hours if CGI Federal notices that you have been logging into your account from different devices. Similar to concurrent logins, logging in from different devices may raise red flags suspecting that your account may be a placeholder account.
Here are some of the ways to avoid logging in from different devices.
1. Use only one device, preferably a computer/laptop
A US visa is a serious endeavor and you should use a computer or laptop for your visa application and appointment booking. Mobile phone screens are too small and they can be cumbersome to handle an activity such as booking a US visa appointment.
Whichever device you pick, make sure to use the same device throughout the visa appointment booking process.
2. Always use the same computer/laptop
If you prefer to use a computer/laptop for booking your US visa appointment, use the same computer/laptop for logging into your account every time.
If you prefer to share your login with someone at home so you can look up appointments round the clock, have them use the same computer/laptop. Divide up your time into blocks and have each of you use the same laptop in that block of time.
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Suspicious Activity 3: Performing more than 12 actions in one session
Performing more than 12 actions in one session will not right away result in an account freeze, but will result in getting blocked from viewing the appointments until 12am EST the next day.
If you are close to performing 12 actions, you will be presented with a “you are approaching the maximum number of times you may view this page…” message.
When this message is shown, simply finish booking your appointment or log off completely. And, do not log back in for at least 6 hours, otherwise, you risk getting your CGI Federal account frozen for 72 hours.
RELATED: You are approaching the maximum number of times: What causes this error and how to avoid it?
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Suspicious Activity 4: Logging in more than 4 times in a day
Logging into your CGI account way too many times in a day can also freeze your account. But how many times is way too many times?
How many times can you login to CGI Federal in a day?
You can login to CGI Federal up to 4 times a day. Logging in more than 4 times a day can trigger suspicious activity which can lead to your CGI account frozen for 72 hours. If you are going to check your appointments 24×7, then space your logins at least 6 hours apart.
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Conclusion
It’s already a pain to find an appointment for your US tourist visa due to limited availability. On top of that, it’s frustrating if your US visa account gets frozen for 72 hours. You are often presented with the following message when your account is frozen.
“Your account has been frozen for suspicious activity, and you will not be able to access it for up to 72 hours. Your account will be unfrozen automatically after that time. Our call center agents will not be able to assist you with unfreezing your account or scheduling your appointment until then.”
The only way to unfreeze your CGI account is to wait 72 hours. Contacting customer service or changing password will not unfreeze your account. The wisest option is to prevent an account freeze.
As per my experience, activities such as concurrent logins, too many actions in a given session or too many logins in a day can all constitute suspicious activities.
Is your CGI account frozen for 72 hours? What activities do you think triggered it? And, how long did you have to wait? Let me know in the comments below.
Your visa account is frozen for 72 hours if CGI Federal notices that you have been logging into your account from different devices. Similar to concurrent logins, logging in from different devices may raise red flags suspecting that your account may be a placeholder account.
The freezing of your CGI portal for 72 hours should not have an impact on the success rate of your visa application. The CGI portal is an online platform where you can submit your visa application and supporting documents, and track the progress of your application.
Your user account may become locked after three unsuccessful consecutive log in attempts or if you have entered information incorrectly when trying to log in to the site for the first time. To unlock your user account, follow the forgotten password process to reset your password and unlock your account.
The US Travel Docs website advises that applicants are allowed to login/refresh the site up to three times per day in order to schedule a visa interview.
Your visa account is frozen for 72 hours if CGI Federal notices that you have logged into your account concurrently. Concurrent logins indicate that your account may be a placeholder account and several people are using it to view appointments.
How to Unfreeze an Account. Account freezes are not permanent but generally require the account holder to take certain actions before they can be lifted. The freeze is typically lifted once the person has made payment in full to clear an outstanding debt to a creditor or the government.
The common causes for account lockouts are: End-user mistake (typing a wrong username or password)Programs with cached credentials or active threads that retain old credentials.
A bank account freeze means you can't take or transfer money out of the account. Bank accounts are typically frozen for suspected illegal activity, a creditor seeking payment, or by government request. A frozen account may also be a sign that you've been a victim of identity theft.
Making purchases beyond your credit limit may result in your account being frozen. Some card issuers offer products with no-preset spending limits, while others will allow cardholders to exceed their limit upon request.
CGI Federal Inc. is a wholly-owned U.S. operating subsidiary of CGI Group Inc., dedicated to partnering with federal agencies to provide solutions for defense, civilian, healthcare and intelligence missions. Founded in 1976, CGI is one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world.
Your unique CGI reference number will pop-up on the screen. You will use this number when processing your online payment. Make only one payment per CGI Reference number as the payment is non-refundable. It is critical that you keep the CGI Reference number that you use to make your online bank transfer.
The US Travel Docs website advises that applicants are allowed to login/refresh the site up to three times per day in order to schedule a visa interview. However, it is best to check with the consulate or embassy where you will be applying for your visa as they may have different policies in place.
Generally, for simpler situations or misunderstandings the freeze can last for 7-10 days. For more complicated situations, the bank may request detailed information and take 30 days or more to review and decide whether to unfreeze or close the account entirely.
The credit card company can potentially take the money they are owed from the frozen account. There is not much that can be done if this is the case. If there is not enough money in the account to pay the debt, the creditor could levy for the rest of the money.
In order to unfreeze the debit freeze on one's account, the account holder must forthwith furnish PAN/Form 60 (as applicable) to the bank. Banks also provide an online method to carry out this procedure. The account holder can log in to the Netbanking portal of the bank and click on the “Update PAN” section.
Banks have the authority to freeze an account if they believe that a transaction in it is questionable. Before freezing, they must, however, notify the holder. An unauthorised business transaction that is prohibited by RBI regulations may be involved in an unusual transaction using a savings account.
Generally, a bank account remains frozen until you pay the debt or file a motion to vacate. A motion to vacate is a specific request to a court to withdraw the judgment against you. You must file a motion to vacate within a reasonable timeframe after a court issues a judgment and provide a valid legal reason.
With all due respect, I would like to declare that on _____ (write the date), I asked that my bank account be frozen because of _____ [write the reason). Now that the problem has been fixed, I politely ask you to unfreeze my account. Please unlock my bank account so that I may carry out more financial activities.
The Account lockout duration policy setting determines the number of minutes that a locked-out account remains locked out before automatically becoming unlocked. The available range is from 1 through 99,999 minutes. A value of 0 specifies that the account will be locked out until an administrator explicitly unlocks it.
A frozen bank account meaning some actions like cash withdrawal or transfer from the account, is restricted due to payment defaults by the individual, suspicious account activity, or an illegal act by the account holder. However, it is possible to deposit or transfer money into the account.
The length of a temporary ban depends on your number of past bans and the causes of those bans. A typical duration could last from a few hours on the lighter side to 24-48 hours for repeated infractions.
When your account is blocked it means you can't make any purchases using your debit card. It also means any direct debits or standing orders will not be processed. Access to your funds will also be blocked therefore, you can't withdraw cash out at ATM or Post Office and you can't make any payment transfers.
Yes. It is unlikely that you will get any advance notice of a freeze on your account before it is frozen. Although a bank must tell you if it has received an order to freeze your account, the bank will comply with the order before notifying you, which means your account will be frozen before you learn of it.
Depending on the reason for the block, you can unblock your credit card by calling the bank or credit card company and discussing the issue. You may need to go through extra steps such as: Answering security questions to confirm your ID. Negotiating your credit limit.
Sometimes, a bank might freeze a bank account without giving any notice, which is generally permitted under their terms and conditions in “exceptional circ*mstances”. It will usually occur where the bank suspects that fraud or money laundering may be occurring or is imminent.
Common types of CGI include two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) animations, objects and renderings. Many major media productions now include CGI components for visual effects, background settings and props.
Computer-generated imagery or CGI for short is a large portion of what we perceive as the 3D computer graphics of video games, movies, and TV shows. CGI can create characters, scenes, backgrounds, special effects, and entire animated films.
CGI originally stood for "Conseillers en gestion et informatique" (translated to English: "Consultants on management and information systems"). More recently, in English speaking countries it is taken to stand for "Consultants to Government and Industries".
Click on Account Settings from the dropdown list. On the left sidebar, under User Profile, click on Account Access & Security. Click the three-dotted icon alongside the existing Authorized User. Click Delete Profile.
You will need to fill out a new DS-160. After completing a new DS-160, please log into your ustraveldocs account, update the new DS-160 barcode number on your appointment at least three working days prior to your appointment date, and print out a new Appointment Confirmation Sheet.
Whether it's a missing middle name, or a typo in the passport number you entered on your CGI Federal profile, if you have already paid your F-1 Visa fees, your biographical information will be locked into the CGI Federal system, and you cannot manually update the same.
You must bring a valid government issued form of identification to make your payment. Be sure that you pay the exact amount indicated on the deposit slip. IMPORTANT: After receiving your payment, the cashier will give you a receipt containing your CGI Reference Number.
The time it takes to receive your MRV receipt number can vary depending on several factors. Generally, it can take up to 72 hours for the receipt number to become available on the visa application website. However, in some cases, it may take longer due to technical issues or delays in processing.
Some US visa applicants may get “Clearance Received” or “Department Authorization” in the annotation field. It means that the US Consular officer while reviewing the applicant's file, found some issues with the applicant's records that might impact their ability to issue a US visa to that person.
This receipt is valid for one year from the date of payment and allows you to schedule your interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You must schedule your interview while the receipt is valid, which means your interview must be booked within one year of paying your fee.
To reschedule an immigrant visa appointment, you must call the US embassy and explain your reasons for wishing to reschedule the visa appointment. You must give them your case number or application number, as well as a time that is convenient for you, so that they may make an appointment for you.
Are There Restrictions To Rescheduling My US Visa Interview? You can only reschedule the US visa interview twice after the first visa appointment in some countries. After the second rescheduling attempt is canceled, an applicant will only be allowed to reschedule a new date after a waiting period of 90 days.
19 Is is O.K. to have two visas at the same time? Yes, as long as the visas are for different purposes. For example it is OK to have a B1/B2 (tourist/business) and F1 (student) together, but not OK to have two valid F1 visas.
The number of times you can change or reschedule the US Visa appointment totally varies by country. Depending on the staff, and wait times of appointments, you can re-schedule the visa appointments in the online system anywhere from 2 to 6 times.
A U.S. visa appointment can be canceled at any time. There is no fee for canceling the appointment. The visa application fee isn't refunded for a canceled U.S. visa appointment. An appointment can also be rescheduled, only once, for a later date.
There are two ways to reschedule a US visa appointment. You can do it either by changing the date online or by calling the visa application center (VAC). To do it online, you can log in on the website with your passport number, date of birth as well as your country of citizenship.
There is no specified period to keep an account frozen. An account can be unfrozen once the account holder follows the unfreezing protocol. But investment accounts that are frozen due to investor freeriding are usually kept frozen for 90 days, according to Regulation T.
In order to unfreeze the debit freeze on one's account, the account holder must forthwith furnish PAN/Form 60 (as applicable) to the bank. Banks also provide an online method to carry out this procedure. The account holder can log in to the Netbanking portal of the bank and click on the “Update PAN” section.
Your bank account may be put on hold if a bank suspects fraud or if someone else can claim the money. If your bank account is frozen, you won't be able to move money out of your account. To fix the account, you might need to verify your transaction history or pay back a business.
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to request the unfreeze of my bank account [account number] as per the court order [court order number] issued by [name of the court]. The court order was issued due to [reason for the court order], and the issue has since been resolved.
You may not be notified by your bank when your account is frozen. So you may discover the freeze inadvertently when you try to use your bank account or debit card. When the bank, creditor or CRA has your bank account frozen, any activity is stopped. you can't access your accounts for withdrawals, transfers or deposits.
If your bank has suspected that you used your account illegally, they can also close your account without any notice. It can also prevent you from doing business in the future. If, however, you are not doing an illegal activity, then you should contact your bank immediately to clear this up and remove the freeze.
You can unfreeze and freeze your credit reports online or by mail, or by calling each credit bureau. TransUnion requires a PIN, and Equifax offers the option to request a one-time PIN if you're calling to unfreeze.
You must submit a written application to the bank. For joint accounts, signatures of all accountholders will be needed, irrespective of a single or joint operating mode.
You will have to submit your KYC (Know Your Customer) documents. ...
You have to do at least one financial transaction.
If you tried to sign in to your account and received a message that it's been locked, it's because activity associated with your account might violate our Terms of Use.
If I have a pending transaction when I freeze my card, will the transaction be paid? Yes. Transactions which have already been authorised will clear. It is only from the point that the lock is put in place that a initiated transaction will be declined.
Can the bank freeze the account? Yes. The bank may temporarily freeze your account to ensure that no funds are withdrawn before the error is corrected, as long as the amount of funds frozen does not exceed the amount of the deposit. Or the bank may simply place a hold on the deposit amount.
What causes payment failure? Failed payments can occur from both the merchant's end and the customer's end. A customer will often experience payment failure due to a faulty internet connection, entering incorrect payment details, or because there is not enough money in their account to cover the payment..
Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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