‘Visa is a privilege, not a right’: US Embassy issues fresh warning to Indians amid visa crackdown

The United States Embassy in India has issued a clear warning to all visa holders and applicants: getting arrested in the US can lead to your visa being revoked and may make you ineligible for future visas.

“If you are arrested for assault, domestic violence, or other crimes while in the United States, your U.S. visa may be revoked, and you may be ineligible for future U.S. visas. A visa is a privilege, not a right – one that can be revoked if you break the law," the Embassy said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

This warning comes as part of a series of reminders by the US Embassy urging foreign visitors to follow American laws while in the country. It follows a viral video that allegedly shows an Indian woman being arrested by US police after she reportedly attempted to shoplift from a store.

Last week, the US Embassy had issued a similar advisory, stressing the consequences of committing crimes such as theft, assault, or burglary in the US.

“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 U.S. visas. The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws," the Embassy stated.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs also responded to the viral video incident. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal commented, “When a person is living in a country -- whether they are a citizen of that country or not -- it is their responsibility to abide by the laws there."

He added, “Hence, whenever our people go abroad, we always urge them to respect and follow the laws of that country, so that they can build a good and positive image for themselves and our country.”