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