Fraudulent requests for visa in India alarms US | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Fraudulent requests for visa in India alarms US

IANS | By, New Delhi
May 09, 2007 03:10 PM IST

The US embassy has expressed alarm over the recent rush in visa applications in India to gain fraudulent entry into America, resulting in inordinate delays in the processing time for genuine candidates.

The US embassy has expressed alarm over the recent rush in visa applications in India to gain fraudulent entry into America, resulting in inordinate delays in the processing time for genuine candidates.

HT Image
HT Image

Some 50 arrests have been made in this connection in the national capital alone, US diplomats said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"In New Delhi alone, the rate of refusal has jumped 60 per cent in recent weeks," Charge d' Affaires Geoff Pyatt said, adding that some agencies were making gullible people believe they can get them US visas fast, bypassing the system.

"In the light of this rush and the wake of reports on human smuggling to the US and other countries, the US mission to India is increasing its vigilance to eliminate illegal smuggling and visa fraud," Pyatt said.

Last month, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP was arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport while trying to smuggle out two persons to Canada, using the passports of his wife and son.

"Almost Rs 10 million ($250,000) was spent by people whose visa applications had been turned down," added Minister Counsellor Peter G Kaestner. He said the missions received 63,000 applications with an average visa fee of $100 in April.

"The bulk of such fraudulent applications were from rural people with no hope at all in gaining entry into the US," Kaestner said. "They were clearly not non-immigrants."

According to Kaestner, the sharp increase in fraudulent visa applications was resulting in delays of as many as six weeks in the processing time otherwise taken at the consulate in Mumbai.

The embassy in New Delhi followed next with a delay of three weeks, followed by one week and two days, respectively, in the consulates in Chennai and Kolkata, he added.

The US embassy and its consulates in India had received 460,000 applications in all visa categories between Oct 1, 2005 and Sep 30 last year, and expected the number to go up to 600,000 in the corresponding period this year.

"There are individuals and companies who are taking advantage of Indian citizens by suggesting they can provide a shortcut to an American visa. This is something that is not a fact," Pyatt said.

"We especially want to tell everyone in India that no firm or person can help you obtain a US visa. The only way is to present legitimate documents," he said.

"The US government cooperates with the government of India on the arrest of people with false documents and those who seek to gain US visas fraudulently," Pyatt said.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On