Punjab, February 10:
The craze for moving abroad is growing rapidly in Punjab, leading to a surge in the number of immigration agents. However, most of them are operating illegally. According to official data, only 8% of agents are registered, while 92% are working without authorization.
Only 212 Authorized Agents in Punjab, 65 Inactive
As per records from the Ministry of External Affairs, Punjab has only 212 officially registered immigration agents. However, among them, 65 agents have either had their licenses revoked, expired, or suspended.
The situation is even more alarming in eight districts—Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Fazilka, Malerkotla, and Mansa—where not a single registered immigration agent exists, even though many operate illegally.
Over 2,730 Illegal Agents Operating in Punjab
More than 2,730 unauthorized immigration agents are actively working in Punjab, charging hefty amounts from people who want to move abroad. The government is now preparing to take strict action against these illegal agents.
Some Districts Have No Active Licensed Agents
- Fatehgarh Sahib: Only one registered agent, but their license has been suspended.
- Sangrur: Two registered agents, one of whom has had their license canceled.
- Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar: Three registered agents, one with an expired license.
- Moga: Two registered agents, one with an expired license.
- Patiala: Three registered agents, with one license revoked after a review.
- Bathinda: Two registered agents, both with expired licenses.
Most Registered Agents in Jalandhar, Mohali, and Hoshiarpur
The highest number of registered agents are found in Jalandhar, Mohali, and Hoshiarpur:
- Jalandhar: 86 registered agents, but 16 have expired licenses, 4 have had their licenses revoked, 1 is suspended, and 2 were canceled upon request.
- Mohali: 31 registered agents, 7 with expired licenses, and 1 revoked.
- Hoshiarpur: 22 registered agents, 8 with expired licenses.
- Ludhiana: 20 registered agents, 3 with expired licenses, and 1 revoked.
Government to Crack Down on Illegal Agents
The government has been running campaigns to identify illegal immigration agents. Recently, several unauthorized agents were prosecuted based on complaints from people deported from the U.S. Now, the authorities are gearing up to take even stricter action against fraudulent travel agents to protect aspiring immigrants from scams.
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