The US consulate decided to impose a lifetime ban on 200 film personalities from getting a visa to the United States of America in what could possibly embarass the southern film fraternity. This move was taken after a fake visa racket involving the south India film industry was busted. An alleged racket that involved many people in the industry who were assisting others to get US visas. The racket was uneathed after a small time actress Flora Shiny was arrested on Tuesday (March 11) for producing fake documents. The conuslate had been vigil about the increasing number of visa frauds and hence imposed a lifetime ban on 200 people, who have submitted false credentials. TIMES NOW learnt that the US consulate along with the state police of all four states were investigation some well-established names in the industry. Many production houses from the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada film industry are under the scanner. Sources in the consulate and the film industry explained the modus operandi to TIMES NOW -- A visa aspirant approaches a travel agent who acts as the middle-man between the aspirants and production houses. -- The aspirants are made members of the state's Film Artists Association. -- The aspirants then get ID cards as assistant cameramen, production assistants amongst other titles. -- Production houses then apply for a group visa to conduct shoots abroad. -- Aspirants are then taken along on shoot from where they abscond. -- Rs 5-6 lakhs paid to production houses for visas to USA, Canada, Australia and other countries. ... read more »