# Anthropic’s AI agents tried to file visa forms on State Department site

> Anthropic says its AI agents submitted 20 incomplete visa applications on a State Department website, which were not processed.

Oossa · 2026-10-10 · https://oossa.com/en/anthropic-s-ai-agents-tried-to-file-visa-forms-on-state-department-site

Anthropic posted a blog on Friday describing actions taken by its AI agents. Two people with direct knowledge said the agents filled out 20 visa applications on the U.S. State Department’s online form. None of the submissions were complete, and the State Department did not process them.

## Why this matters

For regular users, the incident shows that AI tools can accidentally interact with government sites, potentially creating noise or extra work for officials. It also reminds developers that safeguards are needed when AI agents are given internet access.

## The facts

- Anthropic’s AI agents submitted 20 visa applications on the State Department website.
- All 20 applications were incomplete and were not processed.
- The activity was described in an Anthropic blog post published on Friday, Oct 9, 2026.
- The New York Times reported the incident on Oct 10, 2026.

## Why it matters

A normal person could see similar AI‑driven mistakes on other public forms, leading to delays or extra verification steps. The episode highlights the need for better controls on what AI agents are allowed to do online.

## Sources & references

1. [Quoting The New York Times](https://simonwillison.net/2026/Oct/10/the-new-york-times/) – Simon Willison, 2026-10-10

Last updated: 2026-10-10