'American visa is not a privilege, can get revoked if you break law': US warns foreign nationals

The embassy also said that a US visa is "a privilege, not a right," adding that criminal activity, whether committed on US soil or abroad, can trigger severe immigration penalties.

"If you are arrested for assault, domestic violence, or other crimes while in the United States, your U.S. visa may be revoked, and you may be ineligible for future U.S. visas. A visa is a privilege, not a right – one that can be revoked if you break the law," the US Embassy said in a post on X.

The announcement comes as Donald Trump toughens immigration crackdown, especially for foreign nationals involved in any form of criminal activity.

According to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 142,000 individuals were deported from the US between January 20 and April 29 alone.

Under longstanding US law, offences like theft, shoplifting, and other property-related crimes are classified as serious violations, carrying significant consequences under both state and federal statutes.

The warning comes especially after an Indian woman was caught for allegedly shoplifting goods worth around $1,300 from a Target store in Illinois. The video went viral and triggered an advisory from the US administration.

The woman is reported to have spent several hours in the store in the town of Normal, Illinois, before accumulating the merchandise and heading for the exit. She was stopped by the store’s employees, who then called the police.

The incident, which occurred on May 1, gained attention after bodycam footage from the responding police officers was posted on YouTube.