Ask the Consul
Everybody Suffers from Visa Fraud
Visa fraud is not a victimless
crime. Because of visa fraud committed by a few dishonest individuals, every
applicant must wait longer and pay more for interview appointments. The
Consular Section must spend limited time and resources to combat visa fraud. As
a result of the illegal acts of a few, the Consular Section cannot schedule as
many interviews per day as we otherwise would. Consequently, fraud cases extend
the waiting times for an immigrant visa interview. Fraud reduces everyone’s
chances of receiving a nonimmigrant visa. Innocent people with legal immigrant
visa applications must also spend a longer time separated from their families in
the United States while the Consular Section investigates fraudulent cases. In
part to pay for fraud prevention measures, a US$45 security surcharge has been
added to the cost of an immigrant visa. So as you see, the consequences of visa
fraud affect everyone.
For the person committing fraud,
the consequences are extremely serious. Every immigrant visa interview is
conducted under oath. If you commit fraud, you may be found permanently
ineligible for a visa. In addition, you may also have to pay hundreds of
thousands of dollars in fines and you may even go to jail. The Form I-130
(Petition for Alien Relative) warns that a person found guilty of knowingly and
willfully falsifying or concealing a material fact or using a false document may
be fined up to US$10,000 and/or sentenced for up to five years in jail. For a
person found guilty of entering into a sham marriage, the maximum sentence is a
fine of US$250,000 and five years in jail. Permanent residents (those with
green cards) who have engaged in fraud may be deported or lose their opportunity
to become American citizens. Even American citizens who obtained their
immigrant visas through fraud may be de-naturalized (i.e., lose their American
citizenship) and deported. The Consular Section aggressively pursues fraud,
referring fraud cases for prosecution under U.S. and/or Dominican law.
Visa fraud wastes everyone’s time
and money. By reducing fraud cases, we can expedite the process for everyone.
If you have a tip concerning fraud that you wish to share with us, you may
contact the Fraud Prevention Unit by e-mailing us at
SDO-Fraud@state.gov, faxing us at (809) 731-4467, calling us at (809)
731-4272 between 7:30 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or by writing us.
If you wish us to keep your identity confidential, be sure to tell us that this
is your wish when you contact us. Instructions for sending tips to us by mail
are found at the following website address:
http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/Consular/fpu-mailing_instructions-e.htm. |
