After the first teaser dropped for Shah Rukh Khan’s starrer, ‘Dunki’, expected to release around Christmas this year, one of the most hot topics of discussion is the topic of Dunki flights, a type of illegal immigration where people use multiple flights to enter a country without a valid visa.

But what does one mean by this Donkey Flight technique? How do Indians use it to enter countries like the US and UK and live out their dreams? Let's have a closer look.

What are Dunki flights?

The term is based on a Punjabi idiom, which means hopping from one place to another. Dunki flights have been around for many years, but they became more common in the early 2000s, as more and more people from developing countries began to seek asylum in Europe and North America.

Simply speaking, Donkey flights immigrants seek to enter their desired foreign country via stopping in multiple stops in between, circumventing the immigration rules and regulations. A YouTube search for "USA Donkey" shows several how-to videos in Hindi or Punjabi on illegal border crossings. One vlog even shows a group traversing a Panamanian jungle to reach the border.

One of the earliest known examples of Dunki flights occurred in 2002, when a group of Indians were arrested in Serbia after flying from India to Turkey to Serbia, with the intention of crossing into Hungary and then into Western Europe.

Since then, Dunki flights have become increasingly common, and they are now used by people from all over the world to enter countries without a valid visa.

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Where are Dunki flights most prevalent?

The business is spread in Punjab and other parts of India. Here, several "travel agencies" promise guaranteed visas to the country and take hefty money from interested people. It's especially prevalent in the Doaba region or the villages surrounding Jalandhar, which has become a hub of such illegal operations.

The business is also finding it's footing in northwest India, especially in Gujarat as many residents seek to settle in Western countries.

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How do Dunki flights work?

According to the Migration Policy Institute, migrants from India often use the Donkey flights to enter the country of their choice.

Accordingly, there are three options available under Donkey flights.

● Schengen route

The first option that is available to migrants is the Schengen route. The Schengen route is being used by more and more migrants, who frequently say EU embassies are "softer touch" than the British High Commission. Their goal is to transit to the UK by illegal or questionable ways, using their base in France, Belgium, or Germany. Even the isolated agricultural communities of Punjab know that a valid visa grants entry to another 27 nations. The popularity of this path is confirmed by the local police.

Many migrants go from France or Belgium to the United Kingdom via the risky path, which is clearly dangerous and often leads to the deception of the most vulnerable. In 2007, after being placed in a container on a ship departing from Zeebrugge, Belgium, and informed that it was headed for England, eight Indians showed uptired and scared in Gothenburg, Sweden. Others involved in turf conflicts at fuel stations have suffered injuries or even lost their lives.

● Exploiting legal routes

Many immigrants choose the relatively safer paths of getting into sham marriages or posing as members of dancing troupes or tourist groups, as the hazards of being smuggled into the United Kingdom are too great.

The idea of fake tour or dance groups is that there are too many Indians visiting the UK each year, and there isn't enough people or technology to make sure they all depart when their visas expire. According to Punjabi police sources, immigrants frequently pretend to be members of a singing or dancing group that is visiting the UK for a wedding or religious occasion.

With legitimate tourist visas, the company enters the nation; never the less, two or three of the "dancers" never make it back home.

A spousal visa is an alternative method for entering the United Kingdom, as fake marriages are difficult to detect, especially in Indian culture where it is common for husbands and wives to meet on their wedding day.

● Student visas 

Student visas area popular choice for young people seeking emigration and work abroad in the United Kingdom. However, scams have emerged in recent years, such as fake bank accounts created by freelance agents in Punjab. These agents exploit a gap in the UK's vetting system, unable to determine if an applicant's financial means are legitimate or genuine. This makes it difficult for immigration authorities to determine the validity of an applicant's visa.

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Despite the accompanying dangers, why do Dunki flights continue to be prevalent?

The main motive to emigrate out of India, even if it means adopting illegal routes, lies in the prospect of securing a better lifestyle.

Unfortunately, the benefit of economic gains of India have not trickled down to the poorest of the country. Despitethe dangers associated with illegally migrating to a foreign country, many people feel that they have nothing to lose. They feel that the risk is worth it.

Future migrators are inspired by success stories of those who could make it into their desired country. The desire of having a much improved life abroad is what drives this entire concept of Dunki flights.