Indian missions in UAE warn against fraudulent visa agencies

 Indian nationals have been warned against paying agencies that promise guaranteed visas after complaints about firms collecting fees without providing services or refunds.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai and Northern Emirates issued the advisory on Monday, October 12, covering visa and migration processing agencies operating outside India, including in the UAE.

The missions said certain agencies advertise employment and residency visa services for third countries on social media, take payments from applicants and then fail to fulfil their promises or return the money.

They urged Indian nationals in the UAE and elsewhere to exercise caution and avoid trusting private agencies solely on the strength of social media advertisements, particularly those operating outside India.

Applicants should never pay based on promises of visa approval, the advisory said. No agency can guarantee a visa because the decision rests exclusively with the issuing government.

Before proceeding, applicants should verify visa requirements, application procedures and authorised employment or residency visa channels directly with the destination country’s embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

The missions also advised applicants to obtain accurate, current information from the relevant government or embassy websites rather than third-party sources.