The US embassy in India has issued a fresh advisory warning that an individual’s visa may be revoked if they are linked to any acts of assault, theft, or burglary in the United States. The advisory follows a viral incident involving an Indian woman accused of shoplifting at a Target store in Illinois. The woman allegedly shoplifted items worth over ₹1 lakh
In a post on social media platform X, the US embassy cautioned foreign nationals against engaging in criminal behaviour while in the country.
“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 US visas,” the post read.
“The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws,” it added.
In a widely shared video, an Indian woman, reportedly a visitor, is seen being confronted and detained by police officers for allegedly attempting to shoplift goods worth over $1,300 (approximately ₹1.11 lakh) from a Target store in Illinois.
Bodycam footage shows the woman pleading with officers to let her pay for the items. “But if I’m paying for it, what is the harm?” she is heard asking, to which an officer replies: “It would have been fine if you didn’t leave, right? You would have had that opportunity to pay. But because you left the store at that point, you chose not to pay for it, and we can’t go back.”
The incident has sparked widespread debate online, with many pointing to the potential consequences such offences could have on visa status and future travel plans.
The advisory comes amid a series of regulatory changes affecting US visa applicants. In a recent update, the US State Department has made it mandatory for applicants of F, M, or J non-immigrant visas to set the privacy settings of their social media accounts to ‘public’, allowing officials to verify identities and carry out background checks.
Last month, the US Embassy in India warned that individuals who fail to comply with US laws or immigration policies could face visa revocation and deportation.
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