The Indian Consulate in New York has issued a caution to the Indian community, alerting them about dishonest agents who are overcharging for consular services and engaging in fraudulent practices.
Consul General Binaya Pradhan highlighted that these agents are exploiting people’s trust, charging excessively for services like obtaining Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, visas, passports, and emergency certificates.
In some instances, agents have demanded as much as USD 450 for an emergency certificate, which officially costs just USD 17.
The Consulate also uncovered cases where agents submitted forged documents—such as identity proof, residential addresses, and utility bills—on behalf of applicants without their knowledge. This not only causes delays but also puts the applicants at legal risk in the US.
Pradhan emphasized that community members do not need to use agents and can directly approach the Consulate for any required services.
The Consulate also warned about fake E-visa websites that mimic the Government of India’s official site to deceive applicants. The community was urged to use only the correct website for E-visa applications.
Serving the northeastern states of the US, where approximately 2.5 million or 40-45% Indians reside. Over 113,000 Indian students attend universities in these ten northeastern states, out of a total of 354,000 across the country.
The New York Consulate has introduced several initiatives to make accessing services easier, including digital tools like ‘Pramit’, ‘Bharti Chatbot’, and a mobile app. Additionally, it hosts an open house twice a month, allowing applicants to meet Consular Officers without prior appointments.
The Consulate has also developed a platform for students to find internship opportunities in the US and access legal and medical information.
Pradhan noted that out of the 1.5 million Indian-origin American passport holders under the Consulate’s jurisdiction, only about 600,000 have OCI cards. The Consulate is actively encouraging more community members to obtain these cards, which serve as a permanent visa and maintain a strong connection to India.
