Foreign travel and visa agents in Chandigarh asked to submit documents within 4 weeks

The Chandigarh administration on Tuesday issued an order directing all foreign travel and visa agents to provide complete antecedents for verification within four weeks.

In his order, Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said a breach would invite action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The order issued under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) came into force on Tuesday and will be effective for 60 days — up to and including June 20.

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Singh said some travel agents were allegedly cheating people on the pretext of the pretext of arranging their visas or managing their affairs related to sending them abroad and other related activities.

According to the order, it also includes those involved in processing applications for or related to the grant of passport or visa, or acting as an agent for a company, firm or bodies or entities for selling air travel tickets, and providing means of transportation for travel to a foreign country by land or sea.

They also provide consultancy visa services or guidance to those who want to go abroad to acquire education, go on a pleasure trip, get medical treatment, arrange cultural entertainment or musical shows, spread or preach religious ideas, and participate in sports tournaments or events. 

The order also included coaching institutes for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), ticketing agents, and general agents.

The Chandigarh police said they have received several complaints of fraud by immigration firms and travel agents who lure people in the name of sending them abroad in the past as well.