U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Warns Against Visa 'Facilitators'
from Murthy Immigration Services, Pvt Ltd, Chennai, India
Posted Oct 26, 2007
©MurthyDotCom
In an October 2007 press conference, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty, advised U.S. visa applicants to avoid facilitators who promise visa document packages with guaranteed visas. This was reported in The Hindu, October 11, 2007. We at Murthy Immigration Services, Private Limited (MISPL) (http://www.murthyindia.com) take this opportunity to reiterate that visa applicants should avoid individuals or services making such claims. If and when help is required with U.S. visa applications at consulates abroad, one should seek the help of qualified, experienced professionals. Visa applicants should use their judgment and never take assistance from facilitators who offer fake documentation or guarantee visas.
©MurthyDotCom
The consulates in India have made it very clear that, when making a decision, they rely more on the information elicited from the applicant at the visa interview than on any documents. However, one needs to know the documents that are mandatory for the particular category of visa, and that the documents are complete and supportive so that they can help the visa officer arrive at a positive decision with regard to a particular situation or application.
©MurthyDotCom
Several student, H1B, and tourist visa applicants who have been permanently barred from entering the United States for using forged financial statements, for using forged education or work credentials, or for concealing facts about the presence of siblings or children in the U.S. on DS forms have consulted with us at MISPL. These individuals acted upon the advice of facilitators, who either did not understand the consequences of using false documents when trying to obtain a visa, or were unconcerned with the dire consequences their clients would face and never warned the visa applicants. Most consulates display information indicating that fraud or misrepresentation on an application will lead to permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa. However, young applicants who aspire to study in the land of opportunity and aged parents who want to visit their children and grandchildren in the U.S. sometimes fall prey to the false promises of unscrupulous facilitators.
©MurthyDotCom
We at the Murthy Law Firm and Murthy Immigration Services, Pvt. Ltd., alert readers to the fact that no one can guarantee a visa under any circumstances. There is no particular package that can ensure issuance of a visa. Each application is adjudicated on its merits and on the facts perceived by the visa officer at the interview. One needs to be aware of the rights and limitations of the particular category of visa for which s/he is applying, and present the case accordingly. Only qualified professionals, knowledgeable and experienced in the area of U.S. immigration law and the nuances of the procedures, should be engaged to guide one through the application process, to maximize one's chances of a successful visa interview.