The U.S. Embassy in India has taken a firm stance against visa fraud, announcing the cancellation of approximately 2,000 visa appointments after uncovering significant scheduling violations orchestrated by “bad actors.” This move underscores the embassy’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the visa application process and signals a heightened crackdown on fraudulent activities.
“Consular Team India identified bad actors who made about 2,000 visa appointments that violated our scheduling policies,” the embassy stated in a notice shared on X (formerly Twitter). “Effective immediately, we are canceling these appointments and suspending the associated accounts’ scheduling privileges. We have zero tolerance for agents and fixers that violate our scheduling policies.”
This decisive action is part of a broader effort to combat fraudulent visa practices, which has also triggered an ongoing investigation by the Delhi Police. The investigation, initiated on February 27 following a complaint from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri, implicates over 30 individuals from Punjab and Haryana in alleged visa fraud occurring between May and August 2024.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused, comprising visa agents and applicants, conspired to forge critical documents, including bank statements, educational records, and employment certificates, to fraudulently secure U.S. visas. U.S. authorities flagged 21 cases where applicants submitted false claims facilitated by agents and document vendors.
Investigators revealed that applicants were charged exorbitant fees, ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹15 lakh, for these fraudulent services. In a particularly telling case, an applicant named Chamkaur Singh admitted during his visa interview to fabricating his employment history. He confessed that a visa agent had created a false employment record to conceal a gap in his timeline and submitted fabricated bank documents under his and his father’s names. Singh stated that his father had agreed to pay ₹13 lakh if the visa was approved.
The embassy’s internal investigation, which tracked IP addresses linked to consultants and vendors, identified patterns of fraudulent behavior across numerous applications. The FIR has been registered under Sections 318, 336, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the IT Act. Law enforcement has initiated raids to apprehend other individuals involved in the network.
Recognizing the fraud as “a serious security matter that affects both the United States and India,” the U.S. Embassy has urged Indian authorities to expedite the investigation. This coordinated effort between U.S. and Indian authorities highlights the seriousness of the issue and the commitment to safeguarding the visa application process. (With inputs from PTI)
