Late last month, Rambhai Patel, an Indian national, pled guilty in a case dating back to March 2023, when a spate of staged armed robberies struck small businesses in cities across the United States. At least 18 convenience stores, liquor shops, and fast-food restaurants were targeted. Alarmingly, most of these robberies involved Indian-owned businesses.
But behind these so-called “targeted crimes” lay a dark secret: the robberies were staged to help the “victims” qualify for a U visa. In a plot that seemed straight out of a low-rent thriller, these sham incidents featured a fake robber who would threaten a clerk with a firearm, grab cash from the register, and flee. Surveillance cameras captured the scenes, providing staged “evidence.” After waiting a few minutes to give the imposter time to escape, the clerk would call the police. Later, the “victims” would apply for a U visa by posing as survivors of a violent crime.
Patel was sentenced to 20 months in prison, ordered to forfeit $850,000, and will be deported following his release. Along with co-conspirator Balwinder Singh, he helped store owners stage these phony robberies in exchange for hefty fees.
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This incident appears to be part of a broader pattern, as recent years have seen several comparable cases of alleged staged crimes tied to U visa applications.
In Omaha, Ketankumar Chaudhari—the owner of five motels, along with his wife Rashmi Samani—is currently facing charges for staging a robbery in an attempt to secure a U visa. According to an affidavit, Chaudhari hired a fake assailant to rob and assault his wife as she closed her salon. He has since been convicted of fraud.
In another case from July of this year, five Louisiana men, including current and former police chiefs, were indicted in an alleged scheme to file bogus police reports that allowed immigrants to apply for U visas in exchange for thousands of dollars. According to investigators, Chandrakant “Lala” Patel, a Louisiana businessman, acted as a go-between for U visa seekers and his four law enforcement partners. Prosecutors allege Patel paid the officials $5,000 each to insert immigrants’ names into falsified reports. Ironically, Patel himself had once received a U visa, claiming to be a survivor of an armed robbery. If convicted, he now faces years in prison.
What exactly is a U visa?
Chicago-based attorney Syed Hussain, a seasoned litigator and founder of Haseeb Legal, explains: “A U visa is a type of immigration relief created to help non-citizens who are victims of serious crimes in the United States. The idea is to protect people who suffer significant harm but may otherwise be afraid to report crimes due to their immigration status.”
Who qualifies for a U visa?
Hussain says: “To qualify, the person must have been the victim of a qualifying crime (examples: domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, kidnapping, etc.). They must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result. They must be helpful to law enforcement or prosecutors in investigating or prosecuting the crime. A police officer, prosecutor, judge, or another authority must sign a certification form confirming the victim’s cooperation. Only then can USCIS consider granting the visa. If approved, a U visa gives legal status for 4 years, work authorization, and a potential path to a green card.”
A closer look at U visa applications, according to experts, also reveals several common misconceptions about who qualifies and what must be proven. Alen Takhsh, immigration attorney and founder of Evanston, IL–based Takhsh Law P.C., explains: “The most common misconceptions involve thinking that any crime qualifies and believing that simply ‘being a victim’ is enough. First, only certain qualifying criminal activities render one eligible for a U visa. Second, the applicant must also have suffered substantial physical and/or mental abuse. In this regard, documenting the extent of the abuse is key, and affidavits, hospital records, and psychological reports are common ways of showing the lasting effects of the abuse.”
Capped at 10,000 visas annually since FY 2009, USCIS has reported a staggering 2,013% increase in pending cases.
USCIS spokesperson Mathew J. Tragesser recently stated: “The U visa program is another example of a great idea gone terribly wrong through gross mismanagement and corruption. Envisioned as a law enforcement tool to protect bona fide alien crime victims, the U visa program is being exploited by fraudsters and criminal aliens, their attorneys, and corrupt law enforcement.”
A number of recent fraud schemes have involved Indian nationals—often as masterminds, planners, or staged victims. Asked whether there are particular patterns of misuse among Indian-origin immigrants, attorney Alen Takhsh, who has represented numerous clients in complex immigration cases, explained: “Unfortunately, there does appear to be a pattern of misuse of the U visa route among Indian-origin immigrants. The story almost always involves an African American perpetrator who draws a gun and attempts a robbery, allegedly leaving the victim irreparably devastated.”
On how attorneys navigate such cases, Takhsh added: “An advocate must often use his or her emotional intelligence, as well as his or her common sense, to determine if the narrative, based on the evidence presented, is plausible. If you cannot convince your advocate, you will have a difficult time convincing the Department of Homeland Security. It is, therefore, not unusual for us to decline a U visa engagement.”
So, in today’s restrictive immigration landscape, are fabricated U visa claims becoming an unspoken taboo in the community, much like visa overstays?
Attorney Syed Hussain cautions against broad generalizations: “While there have been some fraud cases involving Indian-origin business owners staging crimes, abuse of the U visa system happens across many groups, and most applicants are legitimate victims seeking protection.”
Community members and legal practitioners alike warn that the recent wave of fraud cases—from staged robberies to other manufactured claims—risks undermining the very intent of the U visa program. They fear it could jeopardize access to relief for genuine victims who might otherwise aid law enforcement.
When asked what guidance can be offered to immigrants who are genuine crime victims but uncertain about navigating the legal process while avoiding fraudulent pitfalls, attorney Takhsh advises: “It is superbly important to have your case vetted by a trusted attorney before filing a U visa application.”
He stresses that applicants must also determine whether the status applies to them. As Takhsh explains, “If, at the time of the filing of the case, you are in status, then you risk spending thousands of dollars on a rather weak case. If, on the other hand, you are out of status, then, in addition to having wasted thousands of dollars, you risk the Department of Homeland Security knowing a great deal about you, including your whereabouts—as a U visa application is not a defense against removal enforcement.”
Against this backdrop, concerns over fraudulent applications have only heightened. The risks, experts warn, are severe. “Making a false U visa claim is extremely serious,” says Hussain. “Risks include — federal criminal charges such as visa fraud, conspiracy, or perjury which carry prison time and heavy fines. There can also be Immigration consequences ranging from permanent bars from any future U.S. immigration benefits, and likely deportation. Also, it can result in financial penalties as courts often order restitution or forfeiture if fraud is involved.”
Ultimately, a fraudulent claim can cost far more than a denied petition—it can strip away credibility, jeopardize future opportunities, and leave lasting scars on both one’s record and conscience. As attorney Takhsh sums it up: “Fraudulent paths, as a matter of course, must be avoided at all cost because they fail the age-old sleep test: If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, worrying about your case, know that you made the wrong choice by filing it. There is power in truth, because truth wins cases (usually!).”