r/learnpython • u/No_Bobcat_6522 • 3h ago

[Python / Playwright / Selenium] Need help solving a visa appointment problem

Hi everyone.. I'm an Egyptian student accepted for a Master's at Sapienza University of Rome, starting September 21, 2026.

My documents and university procedures are ready, but I'm unable to secure an Italian student visa appointment through AlmavivA Egypt.

Appointments are released daily around 9 AM, but they disappear extremely quickly. There are also brokers/scalpers who use automated tools to secure appointments much faster than normal users, then resell them to students.

I'm not looking to buy an appointment or build a tool to resell them. I just need help from someone experienced with Python / Playwright / Selenium / browser automation to understand if there's a legitimate technical solution that could give me a fair chance of securing one appointment for myself.

If you have experience with this kind of automation and can help or point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.. I'm genuinely worried about missing my Master's start date because of this.

Thank you 🙏

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u/Awkward_Insect_6742 2h ago

That's a rough situation, sorry you're dealing with this. The scalpers are probably using bots that monitor the page and autofill forms in milliseconds, so beating them with a script that just refreshes and clicks is nearly impossible unless you get lucky timing.

One thing you could try is setting up a script that runs on a VPS close to their server location (lower latency means you might see the slots before others do) and pings you with a notification the moment the appointment page changes, then you manually fill the form. Automating the full submission is risky cause if they detect it they might block your IP or flag your application, and for a visa that's not worth the gamble.

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u/No_Bobcat_6522 2h ago

The site itself is local and very weak. It has many vulnerabilities, so it's difficult to detect manipulation

But I don't know much about programming or automation. Can you show me how to implement this tool or step?

also for ur reference, the appointments aren't showing up, you have to click the check button each time and try your luck

It won't take you to the next page unless you click at the right time. Each account has a certain number of clicks per hour.. after that the site blocks you
Brokers create a server and upload several accounts of actual students (who have already had deal with them) to it then they enter a loop and try Each broker might get one or two appointments