The US Embassy in India has issued a strong advisory to visa holders and applicants, cautioning them that involvement in criminal activities such as theft, assault, or burglary in the United States can lead to immediate visa revocation and could also impact future eligibility for US visas.
This warning comes in the wake of an incident involving an Indian tourist who was allegedly caught shoplifting from a Target store in Illinois. The stolen items were reportedly valued at around ₹1.1 lakh (approximately $1,300).
In an official statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy emphasised the seriousness of such offenses: *“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 embassy further added that the United States expects foreign visitors to respect its laws: “The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws.”
The advisory also warned that even seemingly minor infractions can have significant immigration repercussions.
The woman in question was reportedly on vacation in the US when the alleged incident occurred. A video that has since gone viral shows her pleading with police officers at the scene, insisting she was ready to pay for the goods.
“I don’t want to get into any trouble… I haven’t done anything yet. What should I do? I’m really sorry… What’s the harm? I’m ready to pay for this,” she is heard saying in the video, also requesting not to be taken to the police station and inquiring about her passport.
According to a Target employee who spoke with responding officers, the woman had spent more than four hours browsing in different sections of the store before allegedly leaving with the unpaid merchandise.