Haryana’s Panchkula police arrested two men late on 15 December for allegedly defrauding job-seekers of ₹15 lakh with promises of work visas for New Zealand. Officers recovered ₹5 lakh in cash and seized forged offer letters, blank passport pages and biometric appointment receipts during raids on two premises.
Investigators said the accused advertised on social media, claiming they could secure ‘guaranteed approvals’ within 30 days for IT and hospitality roles. Victims were asked to pay an upfront ‘processing fee’ of ₹3-5 lakh. None received a visa; one complainant approached police after repeated deadline extensions.
The case underscores rising visa-fraud risk as Indians seek alternative destinations amid tightening US and UK entry routes. According to Bureau of Immigration data, complaints of forged letters of offer have grown 27 % year-on-year in 2025.
![₹15-lakh New Zealand work-visa scam busted in Panchkula]()
For those seeking legitimate travel documentation, VisaHQ offers a secure, end-to-end visa facilitation service with transparent fees and real-time application tracking; Indian applicants can explore country-specific requirements at https://www.visahq.com/india/.
Corporate mobility managers should warn employees against unsolicited visa agents and direct them to reputable channels such as VFS Global. Under India’s Emigration Act, companies can face liability if they reimburse or facilitate unlicensed intermediaries.
Police have frozen seven bank accounts linked to the racket and are coordinating with New Zealand authorities to verify whether any biometric data reached Wellington visa offices.
Investigators said the accused advertised on social media, claiming they could secure ‘guaranteed approvals’ within 30 days for IT and hospitality roles. Victims were asked to pay an upfront ‘processing fee’ of ₹3-5 lakh. None received a visa; one complainant approached police after repeated deadline extensions.
The case underscores rising visa-fraud risk as Indians seek alternative destinations amid tightening US and UK entry routes. According to Bureau of Immigration data, complaints of forged letters of offer have grown 27 % year-on-year in 2025.
For those seeking legitimate travel documentation, VisaHQ offers a secure, end-to-end visa facilitation service with transparent fees and real-time application tracking; Indian applicants can explore country-specific requirements at https://www.visahq.com/india/.
Corporate mobility managers should warn employees against unsolicited visa agents and direct them to reputable channels such as VFS Global. Under India’s Emigration Act, companies can face liability if they reimburse or facilitate unlicensed intermediaries.
Police have frozen seven bank accounts linked to the racket and are coordinating with New Zealand authorities to verify whether any biometric data reached Wellington visa offices.
