The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indian Consulate in Dubai have advised Indian citizens to stay alert and avoid fake visa and migration agencies, especially those operating in the UAE and other countries.
In a joint-advisory, the mission and the post said they had received complaints against agencies promoting third-country employment and residency visa services through social media advertisements, collecting fees from applicants and subsequently failing to deliver the promised services or provide refunds.
Indian nationals have been advised to exercise utmost caution and not rely solely on social media advertisements or blindly trust private visa processing agencies, especially those operating from outside India.
The advisory also urged people to verify visa requirements, application procedures and authorised channels for obtaining employment or residency visas directly with the embassy or consulate of the country of intended visit.
The advisory further cautioned applicants against making payments based on promises of visa approval, stressing that no agency can guarantee a visa, as the decision rests solely with the issuing government.