US Embassy cautions against unscrupulous visa agencies

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) Alarmed at the rush of unqualified visa applicants to the United States, the US embassy here today cautioned the people against falling victim to fraudulent agencies which promise them easy visas only to add to their problems and create hurdles for genuine travellers.

US Charge d'Affairs Geoff Pyatt and Peter G Kaestner, Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs and Consul General of the US Embassy here, said the embassy had evidence that some companies promised a ''short-cut'' to the US by assuring visas to unqualified visa-seekers only to create problems for genuine visa seekers.

There are individuals and companies who are taking advantage of Indian citizens by suggesting that they can provide a short-cut to an American visa. These people are deceiving innocent people into wasting their money and making it harder for legitimate travellers to obtain visa appointments, Mr Pyatt said in a statement.

Addressing a joint press conference, Mr Pyatt and Mr Kaestner said while the US wanted to encourage people-to-people contact between India and the US and promote travel by students, businessmen and genuine visitors, such efforts were being undermined by unscrupulous agencies and people.

''They (such agencies) are promising short-cut to US visa which does not exist. They are trying to circumvent visa laws...We are very concerned...,'' Mr Pyatt said.

Mr Kaestner said they were working with the Indian authorities and at least 50 cases were being investigated.

Intending immigrants were trying get non-immigrant visas.

The Indian government had been very supportive, he added.

Rupees 95 lakh were spent by people in New Delhi alone in one month on such cases.

''The US cooperates with the government of India on the arrest of people with false documents and those who seek gain US visas fraudulently,'' the statement added.

The trend is a clear fallout of the tremendous increase in the number of visas issued by the US Embassy in India.

Mr Pyatt and Mr Kaestner categorically denied that it was a fallout of the recent arrest of MP Babubhai Katara who was arrested at the airport while trying to smuggle out a woman and child on fake passports.

There has been a 32 per cent increase in the number of student visas issued by the US Embassy.

Overall, between October 1, 2005, and September 2006, 460,000 visas were issued.

''America is an open society, proud to welcome visitors from all over the world. However, in the light of this rush and the wake of reports of human smuggling to the United states and other countries, the US Mission is increasing its vigilance to eliminate illegal smuggling and visa fraud-- people intending to illegally migrate to the United States,'' the statement said.

It said that no firm or person could help the people obtain a visa and the only way was to present legitimate documents.

UNI