Visa Fraud

Chennai, November 10: The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai notes the actions taken by Indian authorities in a case of apparent fraud in seeking U.S. visas. While we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, we are cooperating with the Indian authorities in this and other cases. Under U.S. law, the Consulate may not disclose the identity of the persons involved.

Citing the recent detection of fraudulent visa applications, the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai calls on visa applicants to follow these simple guidelines when seeking visas to the U.S.:

• obtain free and complete information about visa requirements and the visa application process from official sources such as the Consulate General (Web site: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov) and VFS (Visa Facilitation Services), the Consulate’s authorized visa appointment services provider (Web site: http://www.vfs-usa.co.in). Visa interview appointments must be made through the VFS web site.
• submit only genuine documents. Strictly avoid documents sold by document vendors or brokers.
• tell the truth on all visa forms and during the visa interview with a consular officer.

The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai reminds the public that when seeking work in the United States, visa seekers should protect themselves from potential employment fraud by always verifying a recruiter’s claims. The Consulate’s Web site includes a section on employee rights, and how to report violations.

The U.S. welcomes and encourages legitimate travel to America, and we are pleased by the increasing volume of travel between India and the U.S. However, we must caution that visa requirements have not been relaxed and scrutiny remains high. Fraud in a visa application may constitute a criminal offense under the laws of both India and the United States, leading to possible criminal prosecution. There are no shortcuts to obtaining a visa. Rather, there is a simple path if applicants follow these three guidelines: use only official information, present only genuine documents, and tell the truth.