Indian woman in US told to get out of embassy while seeking visa after father's death

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, December 1

An Indian woman in the US was told to get out of the embassy in New York while she was seeking a visa to attend her father’s last rites in India. She and her husband were also threatened to be blacklisted from ever getting an Indian visa.

The woman posted a video on Twitter and wrote, “This is Vijay Shankar Prasad – the visa officer in charge…Is this…representation of India?” Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the officer.

She wrote: “My father passed away on Monday and this incident took place at New York on Tuesday. I begged and pleaded for nearly an hour as my husband & I were threatened to be blacklisted from ever getting an Indian visa and the NYPD was called on us. As I cried I was also told by security that I live in the United States and am no longer an Indian – and have no rights. No ‘reason’ for this level of apathy and indifference is acceptable with any person let alone someone who found out they lost their father a few hours ago and are begging for help.”

She further wrote: “Now that I’ve attended his cremation (thanks to help from some true Indians) and prepare to scatter his ashes. I wonder how many other people may have been treated unjustly & left stranded by New York”.

In response, the Consulate General of India in New York said it was reviewing the incident.

This is Vijay Shankar Prasad – the visa officer in charge @IndiainNewYork . Is this the representation of India? #AbuseOfPower @IndianEmbassyUS @MEAIndia @meaindia1 @sandiplomat @IndianDiplomacy @nytimes @sidhant @PremBhandariNYC @thevirdas @AmericanKahani @RomieDecosta pic.twitter.com/bsqFUo4Tsz

— Tina (@Tina71699557) November 27, 2021

In response to media queries on a video being circulated on Social Media.@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @IndianEmbassyUS @MOS_MEA @M_Lekhi @RanjanRajkuma11 pic.twitter.com/QGf14u54wY

— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) November 26, 2021

In response to media queries on a video being circulated on Social Media.@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @IndianEmbassyUS @MOS_MEA @M_Lekhi @RanjanRajkuma11 pic.twitter.com/QGf14u54wY

— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) November 26, 2021