US mission tightens visa procedures

Ahmedabad, May 23 (UNI) In view of reports on human trafficking to the United States and other countries, the US Mission to India is increasing its vigilance to check illegal trafficking and visa fraud by conducting public awareness campaigns.

The US Embassy Consul General Peter G Kaestner, who was in the city today, told reporters that a large number of unqualified visa applicants had applied during the current year for all categories which had led to the rejection of 60 per cent applications.

This had also created a scarcity of visa appointments for legitimate Indian travellers during the busy summer travel season this year, Mr Kaestner said. He said in the past 18 months, approximately 50 criminal investigations have resulted from presentation of fraudulent documents at the US embassy in Delhi itself.

Mr Kaestner said the US is proud to welcome genuine visitors from all over the world but was cautious to people intending to illegally migrate. He said as per rough estimates, there were over three lakh Indians staying illegally in the United States. India is among 32 countries on the US ''watch list'' for human trafficking.

He, however, said the US has not changed its laws or procedures but only tightened them to keep away unqualified visa aspirants. ''Our visa regulations and laws have not changed,'' he stressed.

Mr Kaestner said while the United States encourages legitimate Indian travellers, ''We want to tell everyone in India that no firm or person can help you obtain the US visa and the only way is to present legitimate documents to get visas.'' He said in many cases travel agents deceive innocent people into wasting their money and make it harder for legitimate travellers to obtain visa appointments. ''Those visa seekers should go through our websites to get right information,'' he advised.

UNI