The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have warned Indian nationals about fraudulent visa and migration processing agencies operating outside India, including in the UAE.
According to the advisory, the missions have received complaints from Indian nationals against agencies promoting third-country employment and residency visa services through social media advertisements. These agencies allegedly collect fees from applicants but fail to provide the promised services or issue refunds.
Indian nationals have been advised to exercise extreme caution and follow several safeguards when applying for visas.
Applicants are advised not rely solely on social media advertisements or place blind trust in private visa-processing agencies, particularly those operating outside India. They are also advised to verify visa requirements, application procedures and authorised channels for obtaining employment or residency visas directly with the embassy or consulate of the country they intend to visit in their country of residence.
The advisory further stressed that applicants should never pay money based on promises of visa approval, noting that no agency can guarantee a visa, as the decision rests solely with the issuing government.
For accurate and up-to-date visa information, applicants are advised to consult official government and embassy websites of the relevant country directly, rather than relying on third-party sources.
Source: Emirates 24|7