Thu Jul 17 03:17:18 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**U.S. Embassy Issues Visa Warning After Indian National Arrested for Theft**
**New Delhi, India –** The U.S. Embassy in India has issued a stern warning to prospective travelers following the arrest of an Indian woman in Illinois for allegedly stealing merchandise valued at approximately Rs 1.1 lakh from a Target store. The embassy cautioned that committing crimes such as assault, theft, or burglary in the United States could result in visa revocation and permanent ineligibility for future U.S. visas.
The warning comes after video surfaced of an incident on May 1, 2025, in which police apprehended an Indian woman at a Target store after she allegedly spent seven hours collecting items and attempting to leave without paying. According to a Target employee, the woman roamed around the store for the said time, picking up items, checking her phone, and moving between aisles before being stopped by staff.
“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 U.S. visas,” the embassy stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all U.S. laws.”
The embassy’s warning emphasizes that theft, regardless of its specific form (larceny, embezzlement, robbery, or burglary), violates numerous state and potentially federal laws. The woman in the Target incident is reportedly facing felony charges.
The U.S. Embassy urges all Indian citizens traveling to the United States to be aware of and abide by all U.S. laws to avoid legal repercussions and potential visa consequences.
First Piper 