US issues stern VISA warning after Indian woman caught stealing — You could be next if…
In a post on X, the embassy cautioned individuals against engaging in assault, theft, or burglary while in the United States.
"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," reads the advisory.
"The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws," the embassy added.
In a shocking incident, an Indian woman allegedly attempted to shoplift goods worth over $1,300 ( ₹ 1.11 lakh) from a Target store in Illinois, USA, sparking a massive debate online.
The Bodycam footage, that went viral, shows the woman, reportedly a visitor from India, being confronted and subsequently detained by US police for the alleged theft. She was even heard pleading with officers to let her go and let her pay for the products she allegedly stole.
'But if I'm paying for it, what is the harm?' she is heard asking n officer, only to be told - 'It would have been fine if you didn't leave, right? You would have had that opportunity to pay. But because you left the store at that point, you chose to not pay for it, and we can't go back.'
The latest warning comes amid a series of restrictions imposed on US visa applications.
In its latest move, the US State Department has made it mandatory to make the social media privacy settings of applicants of the F, M, or J non-immigrant visas to be changed to 'public'.
The US Embassy in India last month announced that 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'.
On July 12, the US Embassy in India threatened to revoke visas and deport individuals who fail to comply with US laws and immigration rules.
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