FRAUD SUMMARY - DUBLIN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001492

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA/FPP; DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC UK EI
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - DUBLIN

REF: STATE 205073


1. Country Conditions: Ireland is a modern, highly
industrialized nation with a growing economy and
moderate rate of inflation. The export trade
continues as the driving force behind the countries
prosperity and this in turn has led to a rise in
consumer spending, a thriving construction industry
and an increase in business investment from both
Irish and foreign investors. The work force is well
educated and flexible, the rate of unemployment in
the country is 4.3%, the E.U. aggregate rate stands
at 8.5%. The country continues to actively recruit
abroad to supplement the local workforce across a
broad spectrum of professional and service
positions. Since May 1, 2004 when the need for work
permits ceased to be a requirement for all accession
states to the European Union, post has seen a
substantial increase in the number of NIV
applications from all these countries, particularly
the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland and Slovakia. Citizens are attracted by the
wages, availability of jobs, comprehensive
educational system and excellent social welfare
benefits that Ireland has to offer.

Birth, Marriage and Death certificates are available through
direct application to the Registrar, General Register
Office. Commencing in July 2003 under a modernization
scheme, new style "security certificates" were introduced on
a phased basis. Both the new and the old handwritten
version with dry seal are in circulation. To date no
problems have been experienced with either.

Ireland introduced a new passport in November 2004. The
passport is a highly secure document and incorporates a
polycarbonate data page with enhanced security features. To
date no reports of fraud regarding this passport have been
received.


2. NIV Fraud: As a low fraud post the main reason for visa
refusals continues to be the failure of both Irish and TCN
applicants to overcome the "intending immigrant"
requirements of the law, and the suspicion that the
applicants are seeking to enter the U.S. to take up illegal
employment, even if only temporarily. Post continues to
monitor with care Indian national H1-B applicants in the IT
(information technology) sector who apply with an Indian
primary degree, have taken further IT-related courses in
either questionable Irish schools or at recognized
institutions where they fail to make the grade. Often
times, small Indian owned IT companies in the US are the
petitioners of these applicants.


3. IV Fraud: Post is aware of this potential area of fraud
but has no incidents to report.


4. DV Fraud: Two cases of DV Fraud were encountered at post
in the past year. One related to the presentation of
fraudulent educational documents by a Burmese national in
support of his visa application. The second involved an
Irish national who made two separate applications for the
visa lottery, thus disqualifying herself.


5. ACS and Passport Fraud: No incidents of fraud have been
detected in the past year.


6. Adoption Fraud: There are very few Irish children
available for adoption and although it is legally possible
for these children to be adopted outside the state,
preference would be given to Irish adopting parents.


7. Asylum and other DHS Benefits: No incidents reported.


8. Co-Operation with host government: Co-operation with the
Irish government offices and agencies is excellent. The FPM
meets on a regular basis with representatives from
government offices, the local law enforcement agency and
U.K. embassy officers. The US Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection (BCBP) have Pre-Flight Inspection facilities at
both Dublin and Shannon Airports and also participate at
these meetings to help keep all informed and alerted to any
emerging trends.


9. Areas of particular concern: The potential for fraud
arising from the increased numbers of TCNs now living
legally but undocumented in Ireland and applying for NIVs at
post is an issue of concern. Also, we continue to
experience H1B applications from Indian nationals whose
educational ties to Ireland may be suspect and who appear to
be using temporary residency in Ireland as a stepping stone
for seeking an H1B visa here as opposed to from our posts in
India.


10. Staffing and Training: FPM Andrew Hoye also holds the
position of Chief of the Visa Unit and attended PC541 Fraud
Prevention for Consular Managers (PC541) in March 2001. LES
Nuala Phillips spends approximately 50% of her time on fraud
prevention matters and attended the Fraud Prevention
Workshop (PC542) in 2003. LES back-up Alan King has
attended no formal Fraud Prevention training courses to date
although he did attend the Senior NIV Workshop (PC121) in
February 2004.