The United States embassy in India has released a new advisory for Indians planning to apply for a US visa. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the US State Department clearly warned that any involvement in criminal activities like assault, theft, or burglary could have serious consequences.
The official message stated, “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.”
Warning Follows Viral Video of Indian Tourist Stealing in US
This alert comes shortly after a video of an Indian woman allegedly shoplifting in the US went viral online. The woman, who was visiting the country on vacation, was caught stealing from a Target store.
Indian Woman Caught Stealing Items Worth ₹1.1 Lakh
According to a video posted by the YouTube channel @BodyCamEdition, the tourist attempted to take goods worth around ₹1.1 lakh ($1,000) without paying. The video showed her being questioned by US police officers.
During the interaction, the woman is heard pleading with them and saying, “But if I’m paying for it, what is the harm?” However, one officer explained the legal issue clearly by replying, “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.”
Embassy Stresses Importance of Following US Laws
In response to the incident, the US embassy reminded all visitors that the country places great importance on legal conduct. It stated, “The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws.”
https://twitter.com/USAndIndia/status/1945468460525297773
Recent Changes in Visa Policies
This latest message is part of a series of strict measures related to US visa policies. Last month, the embassy had already issued another warning after an Indian student was detained and deported for trying to enter the US illegally.
Now, US authorities have also introduced tighter security checks. The federal government has instructed officials to carry out detailed reviews of visa applicants’ social media activity. As part of this change, traditional visa interviews are being cancelled and replaced with a digital screening of applicants’ social media accounts.
