Beware of fraudulent travel agents, warns Indian Consulate in New York

The Indian Consulate in New York has cautioned the Indian community against using fraudulent travel agents who are overcharging for consular services and submitting fake documents. Consul General Binaya Pradhan highlighted several instances where agents belied people's trust, charging exorbitant fees for services like Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, visas, passports, and emergency certificates. For example, agents have charged up to $450 for an emergency certificate, which costs only $17.

The Consulate serves the northeastern states of America -- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, which are home to about 2.5 million Indians, or 40-45% of the total Indian diaspora in the US.

Pradhan said that applicants do not need to use agents, as they can directly approach the Consulate for services.

"You can come to us directly for the services that we provide at the Consulate. There is no requirement of using an agent, and on top of that to pay money, which is exorbitantly higher," he said.

The Consulate has discovered fake documents related to identity, residential address, and utility bills submitted by agents on behalf of applicants, often without their knowledge. This not only causes unnecessary delays but also violates Indian regulations and puts the applicants at risk of legal issues in the US.

The Consulate has found more than 140 fake E-visa websites pretending to be the official Government of India sites, which mislead applicants.

Pradhan advised the community to use only the official website for E-visa services to avoid being scammed.

DIGITAL INITIATIVE AND STUDENT SUPPORT

To streamline services, the Consulate has implemented digital initiatives, including tools like 'Pramit', 'Bharti Chatbot', and a mobile app. It also hosts an open house twice a month, allowing applicants to meet Consular Officers without prior appointments.

Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph reiterated that there is "absolutely no need" to go to agents for consular services, and applicants can use the global visa outsourcing and technology service, VFS Global, instead.

Pradhan noted that the Consulate has a special focus on students, providing internship opportunities, attorney and medical information, and encouraging them to register on the Consulate's portals for easier communication in case of emergencies.

Regarding OCI cards, Pradhan encouraged Indian community members to obtain them, as they serve as a permanent visa and a better connection to India.

"We have been encouraging Indian community members to have OCI cards. The OCI card is in a way a permanent visa. And more than that, it's a better connect to the motherland," he said.