Ahmedabad Man Loses ₹11.65 Lakh in Alleged Overseas Job Visa Fraud; Agent Booked

Naranpura resident claims he was promised jobs in Norway and Dubai, shown questionable employment documents and sent to the UAE on a tourist visa

A 37-year-old customer service executive from Ahmedabad has accused an overseas visa agent of cheating him and his wife of approximately ₹11.65 lakh by promising jobs and work permits in Europe and Dubai, according to a complaint registered with Anandnagar police.

The complainant, Chintanbhai Satishbhai Shah, a Naranpura resident, alleged that Deval Hemantkumar Joshi collected money from the couple between 2024 and 2026, promising to arrange overseas employment. However, the Norway application did not result in a work visa, and the complainant was subsequently sent to the UAE on a tourist visa, where he was allegedly told to find a job himself.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the alleged financial transactions, employment documents and the roles of people named in the complaint.

School Principal Introduced Couple to Visa Agent

According to the complaint, the couple was introduced to Joshi through Jarnaben, principal of Vedanta International School in Satellite, where their eight-year-old daughter studied.

In June 2024, when Jarnaben learnt that Shah was preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination to pursue opportunities abroad, she reportedly connected him with Joshi, describing him as a visa and insurance agent.

Joshi allegedly quoted ₹15 lakh to arrange a work visa for a European country. The couple initially considered Poland but later explored employment opportunities in Norway after rejecting the Polish offer over its comparatively low salary.

The complainant alleged that the couple initially paid ₹2 lakh in cash to Joshi at the school to begin the process. Between June and December 2024, they made additional payments through digital platforms and bank transfers to Joshi, his wife and accounts associated with his office, Dream Overseas.

Norway Job Offer Raised Questions

Joshi allegedly sent Shah a PDF purportedly issued by Norway’s Directorate of Immigration (UDI), dated November 11, 2024, followed by an employment offer said to be from Samsung in Norway.

The document reportedly promised a monthly salary of approximately €31,000 in Oslo. However, the name and logo of the purported employer were blurred, prompting Shah to question its authenticity. Joshi allegedly told him that a complete offer letter would be provided after the remaining payment was made.

Shah claimed that he was assured the visa process would be completed within six months. Relying on the assurance, he resigned from his existing job, with his notice period ending on January 15, 2025.

In January 2025, Joshi allegedly sent another document described as a UDI employment paper, but several details were obscured and Shah’s surname was incorrectly mentioned. The complainant said he requested corrected documents with all details clearly visible.

In March 2025, he allegedly received another document described as a legal paper from Norway and proof of residence, along with a recommendation letter from VFS Global. He was asked to visit the Norwegian Embassy in Mumbai with his passport and supporting papers.

Embassy Visit Failed to Resolve Visa Delay

During his visit to the embassy, the barcode on one of the documents reportedly could not be scanned. Shah alleged that Joshi said he would speak to a person identified as Mitesh, who subsequently supplied a barcode number manually.

According to the complaint, embassy officials told Shah that his application would be processed if the documents were found valid. He also met another applicant who allegedly reported experiencing similar delays.

After waiting several months without receiving a visa, Shah sought the return of his passport, which he received by courier in September 2025.

Joshi allegedly later demanded additional money towards Norwegian immigration fees. Shah claimed he paid the amount in cash on C G Road, but the work visa still did not materialise.

Sent to Dubai on Tourist Visa, Complainant Alleges

After the Norway process failed to produce a work permit, Joshi allegedly offered to arrange a job in Dubai, promising a work permit and a monthly salary.

On December 1, 2025, Joshi reportedly sent Shah a Dubai tourist visa. When Shah questioned why he had not received a work visa, Joshi allegedly assured him that he would accompany him and arrange the required permit within two days of arrival.

The complainant travelled to Dubai with Joshi towards the end of December 2025. According to his complaint, he was instructed to tell immigration officials that he was entering on a tourist visa and that a person named Khalid Khan Pathan would meet him at the airport.

After arriving in the UAE in January 2026, Shah alleged that Joshi stayed at a hotel while he was sent to accommodation used by a labour contractor in Sharjah. He was reportedly told to attend interviews and find employment himself within 10 days.

Shah said he confronted Joshi, questioning why he had paid an agent if he was expected to find a job independently. He subsequently returned to Ahmedabad, citing his wife's ill health as the reason for leaving the UAE.

₹11.65 Lakh Refund Dispute Under Investigation

After returning to India, Shah said he consulted a friend who examined the documents and questioned their authenticity. He then sought a refund from Joshi after deducting legitimate visa-processing and travel expenses. Joshi allegedly refused, claiming that the visa process had been undertaken.

The complainant also approached Anandnagar police and sought a preliminary inquiry. During subsequent discussions involving the school principal, her husband and Mitesh Patel, he allegedly learnt that a Vadodara-based immigration agent, Pratimaben Parmar of Shri Immigration, had been involved in the Norway application.

The complaint states that ₹3 lakh had been paid for the Norway process and that part of the amount was returned after the application failed to proceed. Shah alleged that the documentation was inadequate and no valid employment offer had been secured.

The complaint refers to a total payment of ₹16.65 lakh in cash and online transactions, while the complainant claims approximately ₹11.65 lakh remains unreturned after accounting for certain expenses and refunds. The precise accounting of payments and refunds remains to be verified.

Anandnagar police are investigating the allegations and are expected to examine the financial records, employment documents, visa applications and the roles of those named in the complaint.