Can an Agency Guarantee You a Visa or a Job Abroad?

Short answer: no. Only the government of the country you want to go to can approve a visa. An agency that guarantees one, and wants money first, is the warning sign.

The October 2026 warning

On October 12, 2026, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai warned Indian nationals about visa and migration agencies operating outside India, including in the UAE. The missions said they had received complaints about agencies that advertise jobs and residence visas in other countries through social media ads, collect fees from applicants, then fail to deliver what they promised or return the money.

How the trap works

It usually starts with an ad promising a job and a visa in another country, often with an attractive salary. The agency then asks for one fee after another, for processing, a work permit, a medical check, or a "visa slot", and pushes you to pay quickly because places are limited. Much of the contact happens over WhatsApp. Once the money is paid, there are delays and excuses, and then silence.

Warning signs

1. A guaranteed visa or job. Nobody can promise what only a government decides.
2. Fees before anything official happens, especially paid to a personal account or by money transfer.
3. The offer only lives on social media or WhatsApp, and you can't find a real office or official registration.
4. Pressure to pay today before the "last places" are gone.
5. A salary or offer far better than normal for the job.

How to check before you pay

1. Go to the source. Check visa rules and the official ways to apply on the destination country's embassy or official government website, as the missions advise.
2. Don't rely on social media ads or third-party pages for visa information.
3. Search the agency's name with words like "scam" or "complaint" before you share documents or money.
4. Indian nationals in the UAE can check the Indian Embassy and Consulate's official websites for genuine consular and visa services.

If you already paid

1. Keep everything: receipts, messages, ads, and the agency's details.
2. Report it to the police. In Abu Dhabi, you can contact the Aman service on 8002626 or by SMS to 2828. Elsewhere, contact your local police or fraud reporting service, and tell your country's embassy.
3. Call your bank if you paid by card or transfer, and ask whether the payment can be stopped or disputed.
4. Ignore anyone offering to get your money back for a fee. That is usually a second scam.

A real opportunity abroad will still be there after you check it. A scam won't survive the checking.

Sources: Gulf News: Indian expats in UAE warned about fraudulent visa agencies · Gulf News: Abu Dhabi Police Aman service contacts