AMSTERDAM: VALIDATION STUDY INDICATES LOW INCIDENCE OF FRAUD

UNCLAS AMSTERDAM 000071 DEPT FOR CA/FPP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFRD NL CH CVIS ASEC SMIG CFED SUBJECT: AMSTERDAM: VALIDATION STUDY INDICATES LOW INCIDENCE OF FRAUD AMONG CHINESE B1/B2 TRAVELERS ¶1. SUMMARY. In October 2008, the U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam conducted a validation survey of B1/B2 visas issued by Post to citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC). PRC citizens constitute the largest group of third country national (TCN) applicants at Post. Over half of all Chinese applicants seek B1/B2 visas for short-term business or pleasure purposes. The results of the validation survey indicated that 86% of PRC citizens who entered to the U.S. on B1/B2 visas issued by Post had traveled or were traveling in accordance with U.S. immigration law. Post's DHS Customs and Border Protection Attachi identified only eight confirmed overstays and one case of possible fraud. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2008, Post adjudicated 41,901 nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications. Of the 13,068 applications presented by third-country nationals (TCNs) from over 160 countries during that period, 1,043 were submitted by citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC). This number constitutes 2.5 per cent of the total number of nonimmigrant visas adjudicated and the largest share - eight per cent - of NIV applications submitted by TCNs during that time. ¶3. Over half of all PRC applicants - 530 - applied for B1/B2 visas to travel to the U.S. for short-term business or tourism. Many of these applicants were in the Netherlands as students and wished to attend conferences in the United States. Others were employed in the Netherlands and intended to take part in business meetings or take a short vacation in the U.S. ¶4. In October 2008, Post conducted a validation study of PRC citizens issued B1/B2 visas by the U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2008. Post used the CCD and Microsoft Excel to generate a random sample of 105, one-fifth the total number of B1/B2s issued by Post to PRC citizens during the study period. Post's DHS Customs and Border Protection Attachi confirmed applicants exited the U.S. by analyzing reports of I-94s received upon departure. ¶5. The results of the survey indicated that the vast majority of the sample population did not overstay the authorized duration of their visits to the U.S. Of the 105, Post's DHS Customs and Border Protection Attachi identified only eight confirmed overstays and one case of possible fraud. Four travelers had changed status upon entering the U.S., six were in the U.S. and had not yet overstayed at the time the study was conducted, and ten had not yet traveled to the U.S. Of the ninety-five in the sample population who had traveled to the U.S., eighty-two had faithfully traveled on their visas or were still in the U.S. legitimately. Thus, 86% of PRC citizens who entered the U.S. on B1/B2 visas issued by Post between October 2006 and September 2008 had traveled or were traveling pursuant to U.S. immigration law. AMES