Indian Missions in UAE Warn Against Fraudulent Visa and Migration Agencies

The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have issued a joint advisory warning Indian nationals in the UAE about fraudulent visa and migration agencies.

These agencies allegedly collect significant payments for overseas jobs and residency permits but often do not provide the promised services or refund fees. The advisory follows numerous complaints regarding agencies promoting third-country employment and residency visa services, particularly through social media platforms.

Official Guidance for Applicants

Indian missions strongly advise individuals seeking jobs or residency abroad to exercise caution and verify the credentials of any visa agency before making payments. Key recommendations include:

• Confirm visa requirements and application procedures directly with the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
• Consult official government websites for reliable and current information.
• Understand that private agencies cannot guarantee visa approval; the final decision always rests with the destination country's government.

Applicants are urged not to pay money based on mere assurances of visa approval and to avoid trusting private intermediaries without thorough verification.

Warning on Personal Data Misuse

This latest warning builds on an earlier advisory from August 24 by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, which highlighted the risks of sharing personal documents and biometric information with unauthorised individuals. Unauthorised parties claiming to assist with visa regularisation, emergency certificates, exit permits, Emirates IDs, and employment procedures could misuse such data to open bank accounts or obtain loans and credit cards without the individual's knowledge.

Indian nationals are specifically advised:

• Not to disclose passport details, Emirates ID information, or biometric data to unauthorised persons.
• To submit biometric information for official procedures only at authorised UAE government facilities.

For assistance, Indians can contact the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra. Both missions reiterate the importance of verifying all immigration-related information through official sources and protecting personal data from potential misuse.