Indian visa holders in US warned of revocation over theft, assault

Khaleej Times

a day ago

The US Embassy in India has cautioned that committing crimes such as assault, theft, or burglary in the United States could result in serious consequences beyond legal troubles, including visa revocation.
"Committing assault, theft, or burglary in the United States won't just cause you legal issues — it could lead to your visa being revoked and make you ineligible for future US visas. The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws," the embassy said in an official message.
The statement underscores that adherence to US laws is mandatory for all foreign visitors, with violations potentially impacting future travel eligibility.
The advisory comes amid growing concerns over the conduct of some visa holders. In one such recent case, an Indian woman reportedly spent more than seven hours inside a Target store on May 1, collecting items worth USD 1,300 (around Rs1.1 lakh), before allegedly attempting to leave without paying. The incident went viral after a store employee confronted her, and footage of the exchange circulated widely online.
Highlighting the seriousness of its stance, the US Embassy reiterated on Saturday that visa screening continues even after a visa is granted, stressing that criminal behaviour can not only jeopardise an individual's current visa status but also affect their eligibility for future entry into the country.
"US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules — and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don't," the Embassy said in a post on X.
The statement underscores the United States' ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with its immigration laws and reinforces that visa holders must adhere strictly to all legal requirements during their stay.
As part of broader efforts to tighten screening, a related announcement was made last month. In a move aimed at strengthening visa screening procedures, the United States has announced that effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are required to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law.
In a post on X, the official handle of the US Embassy in India (@USAndIndia) shared the announcement stating, "Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States."
It also reiterated that since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms.
The post added: "We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security."
Meanwhile, the US government has also unveiled a sweeping new 2025 travel ban, barring nationals from 12 countries entirely and partially limiting visa access from seven others. The move prioritises national security and focuses on countries deemed high-risk for security loopholes and terrorism concerns. Most affected countries are reportedly in the Middle East and Africa.
Citizens from these nations now face a total ban on immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including those for tourism, education, and employment. Simultaneously, seven other countries face partial restrictions, involving tighter screening or limited visa categories.
Amid growing concern in South Asia, the US has clarified that India is not on the list. The US is continuing to process applications for Indian nationals across all categories, including B1/B2 tourist visas, H1B work permits, and F1 student visas.
However, visa applicants from India still face long delays due to high demand and administrative backlog. Most US consulates in India are booking interview slots up to 10-12 months in advance.
So while India remains unaffected by the new travel ban, long processing times may still impact travel plans, education, and employment opportunities for many.