Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

The Fraudulent Use of Death Records in Visa

Scams

NAPHSIS Annual MeetingPortland, Oregon

June 8, 2004

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

Visa Scams

• What is a Visa ?

• How do you get one?

• Fraudulent death certificates used to commit visa fraud

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

What is a Visa ?

A nonimmigrant visa is a document issued by the US Department of State to an alien who meets the criteria set by the US Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act for admission to the United States as a temporary visitor.

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

How Does Someone Apply for a Visa?

• Apply at US Embassies and Consulates.

• Submit an application, are photographed, fingerprinted and interviewed by Conoff.

• Namechecks for known ineligibilities.

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

Who Qualifies ??

An applicant for a tourist aka a nonimmigrant visa to visit the United States must overcome the presumption that he or she is an intending immigrant.

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

How do they do that ?

• Must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the interviewing officer that:

• Must have compelling ties to their home country, e.g. a family, property, a job, money in the bank…

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

Death Records

Faxed from the US to the visa applicant…

Submitted to lend credibility and urgency to an individual’s application for a visa......

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

Fraud to Date

• Data alterations • names of immediate relatives• date of death

• Complete counterfeits

Fraud Prevention Programs Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

Questions ?

Mary Alice NoyesFraud Prevention Programs

US Department of Statenoyesma@state.gov