High school dropout caught in US with fake work permit

He was deported back to Kempegowda International Airport

A 30-year-old high school dropout from Goa, who had allegedly managed to land in New York airport with a fake work permit on Sunday, was caught by US immigration officials and deported to Kempegowda International Airport on Tuesday.

The accused, Valezio Fernandes, is a resident of Curtorim in south Goa. He has been charged under cheating and forgery by the airport police, and remanded in judicial custody.

The police said Valezio claimed to have paid ₹2.7 lakh to a tout in Goa for arranging travel documents and a fake work permit issued by a leading pizza company in New York.

Using the travel documents, Valezio boarded a flight to New York from KIA on Sunday. However, he was caught by US immigration officials who were told by the company that the work permit was fake. US officials deported Valezio and alerted KIA immigration officials.

Valezio told Indian officials that after dropping out from high school, he took a six-month hotel management course in Goa and worked as a cook in a hotel for three years. He then approached Savio Fernandes, a Goa-based travel agent, seeking employment abroad.

Savio allegedly assured him a job in the US and arranged the travel documents, including a fake work permit.

The airport officials remanded Valezio in judicial custody and are on the lookout for Savio.