Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRATISLAVA24
2007-01-12 15:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

SELF-EMPLOYED SLOVAKS HAVE LOW OVERSTAY RATE

Tags:  KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC LO 
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VZCZCXRO7008
RR RUEHKW
DE RUEHSL #0024 0121517
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121517Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0592
INFO RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 3344
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 4118
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0918
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 0009
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000024 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR CA/FPP; DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC; INFO ADDRESSEES FOR
FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC LO
SUBJECT: SELF-EMPLOYED SLOVAKS HAVE LOW OVERSTAY RATE


UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000024

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR CA/FPP; DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC; INFO ADDRESSEES FOR
FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC LO
SUBJECT: SELF-EMPLOYED SLOVAKS HAVE LOW OVERSTAY RATE



1. (SBU) A recent validation study conducted on self-employed
Slovaks (those who have licenses as small business owners, or
"zivnostniks") who received B1/B2 visas in the first 180 days of
2006 found them to be relatively "good" cases with a low rate of
overstay. Of the 240 individuals surveyed, 217 (or 90 percent) were
contacted. Of these, 187 (or 78 percent) had used their visas to
travel to the United States and had returned to Slovakia in an
appropriate timeframe.

HAVE VISA, DIDN'T TRAVEL
--------------


2. (SBU) In addition to the 187 self-employed Slovaks who traveled
and returned, an additional 29 Slovaks (or 12 percent) had not yet
used their visas to travel to the United States. We therefore
deduce that 90 percent of the participants in the validation study
have not (to the best of our knowledge) violated the terms of their
visa.

OVERSTAYERS IN THE U.S.: TWO
--------------


3. (SBU) The study did, however, reveal two overstayers in the
United States (or slightly less than 1 percent). One was a "fitter"
working on seagoing vessels making port in the United States,
another departed in July and remains there with her son and
ex-husband.


4. (SBU) An additional 21 individuals (8.75 percent) could not be
contacted; while it is possible that all 21 are illegally in the
United States, it is also likely that a large percentage of these 21
individuals did not abuse the terms of their visas.

ONE SLOVAK DEPORTED FOR ILLEGAL WORK
--------------


5. (SBU) In addition to the two Slovaks still in the United
States, one of the Slovaks in our study was arrested and deported
for illegally living, working, and possibly studying in the United
States on his B1/B2 visa.

(SBU) COMMENT: BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT
--------------


6. (SBU) Getting verifiable information from self-employed
businessmen in Slovakia is frequently a difficult task that makes
evaluation of these visa applicants more challenging. In addition,
their freedom to make decisions without consideration for the
requirements of "employers" long made us wary of evaluating their
employment as a strong tie under INA section 214(B). This study,
however, has shown that self-employed businessmen are, in reality,
likely more reliable issuances than the average Slovak visa
applicant writ large.

VALLEE