In a recent interview, immigration visa consultant and Chairman of a leading immigration and study abroad consultancy agency (Highbrow international), Mr. Rana Inam-Ullah Khan, shared his concerns over increasing incidences of human smuggling through illegal pathways, and how they can be avoided with efficient use of legal services.
Upon asking why people such incidents happen, he said that the
“The major issue is lack of awareness among the general public. People want to cross borders quickly and want to save money, As a result, They choose illegal ways to go abroad. Unfortunately, they are not aware that they can travel in the same amount or even less money through legal pathways too”.
He added that People fall into trap of the smuggling mafia as they promise to take them abroad without any paperwork hustle. They find it easy to give money and get their work done rather than adopting legal ways. But what they don’t realize is that strictness at the borders has increased significantly and it is no longer possible to dodge the legal authorities.
Despite knowing the risks, some people still go for the illegal path. These mostly include less-educated, low-income groups tired of inflation. Sometimes, even high-profile people with proper education choose this when they get rejected from the legal process.
“Unfortunately, the major individuals caught in such incidences are from Islamic Countries like Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan traveling mostly through Iran, Turkey, and then Italy’s borders. You would rarely find other nations like Indians there because they are well-informed about the legal immigration rules and paths.” He added.
He further said that though certain human rights organizations conduct yearly events like Human trafficking day to discuss and spread awareness on such issues, it is not enough.
Media and Consultancy agencies must play their role in informing people about the dangers of such unlawful attempts and about legal options available to visit foreign countries.
He advised that rather than falling prey to smuggling mafias, People should consult with immigration professionals to choose a lawful path based on their background (either through studies, immigration, or visit visas) and invest their amount on legal channels instead of wasting it on a risky and unlawful process.
He further added that the steps should also be taken by foreign agencies to make foreign policies more flexible so that deserving and merit-meeting candidates can be facilitated. It is crucial as sometimes, immigration officers cancel the visa of eligible candidates having all the right paperwork due to unstable country conditions. Therefore, govt. must take steps to rectify these issues so that more people are encouraged to move towards official legal pathways.
