Friday
5th Dec 2025
Dhivehi Edition
The US Embassy in India has issued a visa warning, cautioning that committing crimes such as assault, theft, or burglary in the United States could result in visa revocation and future visa ineligibility.
The advisory follows an incident on May 1, 2025, in Illinois, where an Indian woman was caught attempting to steal items worth approximately Rs 1.1 lakh (around $1,300) from a Target store. Police bodycam footage showed the woman spending over seven hours inside the store before trying to leave without paying.
In a public statement on X (formerly Twitter), the US Embassy emphasized that violating US laws could have serious legal consequences, including visa cancellation and barring re-entry. “The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws,” the embassy said.
According to US federal law, offences such as larceny, embezzlement, robbery, and burglary are criminalized at both state and federal levels, with significant penalties.
The woman involved has been charged with felony theft, and though not yet arrested, she faces serious legal action. The incident drew attention after the confrontation with a Target employee went viral, highlighting the strict enforcement of laws against theft.