Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09FLORENCE19
2009-05-05 14:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Florence
Cable title:
FRAUD SUMMARY (SAN MARINO)
how-toVZCZCXRO6498 RR RUEHFL DE RUEHFL #0019/01 1251414 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 051414Z MAY 09 FM AMCONSUL FLORENCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0493 RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH NH INFO RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0306 RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE 0546
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FLORENCE 000019
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR KCC WILLIAMSBURG KY
STATE FOR CA/FPP
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC SM
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY (SAN MARINO)
REF: 08 STATE 74840
------------------------
Country Conditions
------------------------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FLORENCE 000019
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR KCC WILLIAMSBURG KY
STATE FOR CA/FPP
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC SM
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY (SAN MARINO)
REF: 08 STATE 74840
--------------
Country Conditions
--------------
1. Relations between the United States and the Republic of San
Marino (RSM) were upgraded in 2006 from Consular to Diplomatic.
For consular purposes, the republic is within the jurisdiction
of the Consulate General in Florence for all functions except
for immigrant visas, which are processed at the Consulate
General in Naples. There is also a virtual presence post at
http://sanmarino.usvpp.gov. The Vice Consul in Florence acts as
the Fraud Prevention Manager and supervises a fraud prevention
FSN.
2. With a population of approximately 31,000, San Marino is the
third smallest state in Europe. The key industries include
manufacturing, banking and insurance, and public administration.
Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. Tourism
remains a significant activity, drawing about two million
visitors a year. San Marino's per capita level of output and
standard of living are comparable to that of the most prosperous
regions of Italy, a country with which San Marino is closely
aligned in terms of foreign policy, social and political trends.
San Marino maintains the lowest unemployment rate in Europe and
has no national debt.
3. San Marino is a democratic, multiparty republic. The
popularly elected unicameral Great and General Council
(parliament) selects two of its members to serve as Captains
Regent (Co-Heads of State). The Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs has some of the prerogatives of a prime minister. The
judiciary is independent. We believe this to be a low fraud
post.
--------------
NIV FRAUD
--------------
4. San Marino is a participant in the Visa Waiver Program. NIV
fraud, whether by citizens or foreign residents, has yet to be
detected. In 2008, all nine NIV applications from citizens of
San Marino were approved. Third country nationals are generally
well-rooted in their communities. Due to the extremely low
number of applicants applying from San Marino, no validation
study has been run.
--------------
IV FRAUD
--------------
5. Florence does not adjudicate IV cases. See Italy's fraud
summary.
--------------
DV FRAUD
--------------
6. Florence does not adjudicate DV cases. See Italy's fraud
summary.
--------------
ACS AND U.S. PASSPORT FRAUD
--------------
7. There are approximately 1,000 U.S. citizens resident in San
Marino, with an estimated 12,000 Amcit tourists visiting
annually. Post has not noted any ACS or U.S. passport fraud.
--------------
ADOPTION FRAUD
--------------
8. Post is unaware of any adoption fraud. No Sammarinese have
been adopted by American citizens.
--------------
USE OF DNA TESTING
--------------
9. Post does not issue IVs and has never used DNA testing for
investigation of suspected relationship fraud.
-------------- --------------
ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFIT FRAUD
FLORENCE 00000019 002 OF 002
-------------- --------------
10. Florence does not process asylee/refugee cases. See
Italy's fraud summary.
-------------- --------------
--------------
ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORIST TRAVEL
-------------- --------------
--------------
11. Post is unaware of any alien smuggling, trafficking, or
organized crime. Post has not
noted any fraud trends that affect post consular operations, or
border and national security.
-------------- --------------
DS CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS
-------------- --------------
12. The Consular Section Chief is also the Post Security
Officer and maintains a close relationship with the RSOs in
Milan and Rome. There are no DS criminal fraud investigations
concerning the San Marino.
-------------- --------------
-------------- -
HOST COUNTRY PASSPORT, IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, AND CIVIL REGISTRY
-------------- --------------
-------------- -
13. Sammarinese apply for passports through the Passport Office
of the State Department of Foreign Affairs. If abroad, they can
receive a temporary Italian travel document (annotated for
return travel to San Marino) from an Italian consular office.
San Marino missions abroad CANNOT issue them. Alternatively,
while abroad, Sammarinese can apply by mail for a new passport
and wait until it is sent by mail from the government of San
Marino. San Marino passports are EU and ICAO compliant.
14. A foreigner can apply for a "permit of stay" in San Marino.
After five consecutive years of "permits of stay", a person may
apply for permanent residency. Once a person stops holding a
"permit of stay", the permanent residency application process
resets. At that point, the person must begin again the process
of obtaining five year's worth of consecutive permits before
applying.
15. Schengen country citizens with employment in San Marino and
"commuters" (Italians and Schengen citizens who live in Italy
and work in San Marino) are generally granted work permits
automatically. San Marino employers who want to hire other
foreign workers may apply for a work permit through the Office
of Labor of the Department of Labor.
16. Post is unaware of any cases of document fraud.
-------------- --------------
--------------
COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
-------------- --------------
--------------
17. Post is unaware of any instances of consular fraud
pertaining to San Marino, and therefore we have not engaged with
host government authorities on any suspected fraud cases.
Sammarinese officials do report their nationals' lost and stolen
passports to Consulate General Florence. Sammarinese officials
have reported 30 lost or stolen passports in 2005, 50 in 2006,
60 in 2007, and 52 in 2008. Counterfeiting an identity document
is considered a serious crime in San Marino. The penalty for
this crime is six months to three years of imprisonment (Two to
six years plus interdiction from holding public offices if the
guilty party is a public official.) Making false declarations
to obtain an identity document is also punishable with
imprisonment from six months to three years.
-------------- ---
AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN
-------------- ---
18. There are no areas of particular concern to report.
COUNTRYMAN
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR KCC WILLIAMSBURG KY
STATE FOR CA/FPP
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC SM
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY (SAN MARINO)
REF: 08 STATE 74840
--------------
Country Conditions
--------------
1. Relations between the United States and the Republic of San
Marino (RSM) were upgraded in 2006 from Consular to Diplomatic.
For consular purposes, the republic is within the jurisdiction
of the Consulate General in Florence for all functions except
for immigrant visas, which are processed at the Consulate
General in Naples. There is also a virtual presence post at
http://sanmarino.usvpp.gov. The Vice Consul in Florence acts as
the Fraud Prevention Manager and supervises a fraud prevention
FSN.
2. With a population of approximately 31,000, San Marino is the
third smallest state in Europe. The key industries include
manufacturing, banking and insurance, and public administration.
Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. Tourism
remains a significant activity, drawing about two million
visitors a year. San Marino's per capita level of output and
standard of living are comparable to that of the most prosperous
regions of Italy, a country with which San Marino is closely
aligned in terms of foreign policy, social and political trends.
San Marino maintains the lowest unemployment rate in Europe and
has no national debt.
3. San Marino is a democratic, multiparty republic. The
popularly elected unicameral Great and General Council
(parliament) selects two of its members to serve as Captains
Regent (Co-Heads of State). The Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs has some of the prerogatives of a prime minister. The
judiciary is independent. We believe this to be a low fraud
post.
--------------
NIV FRAUD
--------------
4. San Marino is a participant in the Visa Waiver Program. NIV
fraud, whether by citizens or foreign residents, has yet to be
detected. In 2008, all nine NIV applications from citizens of
San Marino were approved. Third country nationals are generally
well-rooted in their communities. Due to the extremely low
number of applicants applying from San Marino, no validation
study has been run.
--------------
IV FRAUD
--------------
5. Florence does not adjudicate IV cases. See Italy's fraud
summary.
--------------
DV FRAUD
--------------
6. Florence does not adjudicate DV cases. See Italy's fraud
summary.
--------------
ACS AND U.S. PASSPORT FRAUD
--------------
7. There are approximately 1,000 U.S. citizens resident in San
Marino, with an estimated 12,000 Amcit tourists visiting
annually. Post has not noted any ACS or U.S. passport fraud.
--------------
ADOPTION FRAUD
--------------
8. Post is unaware of any adoption fraud. No Sammarinese have
been adopted by American citizens.
--------------
USE OF DNA TESTING
--------------
9. Post does not issue IVs and has never used DNA testing for
investigation of suspected relationship fraud.
-------------- --------------
ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFIT FRAUD
FLORENCE 00000019 002 OF 002
-------------- --------------
10. Florence does not process asylee/refugee cases. See
Italy's fraud summary.
-------------- --------------
--------------
ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORIST TRAVEL
-------------- --------------
--------------
11. Post is unaware of any alien smuggling, trafficking, or
organized crime. Post has not
noted any fraud trends that affect post consular operations, or
border and national security.
-------------- --------------
DS CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS
-------------- --------------
12. The Consular Section Chief is also the Post Security
Officer and maintains a close relationship with the RSOs in
Milan and Rome. There are no DS criminal fraud investigations
concerning the San Marino.
-------------- --------------
-------------- -
HOST COUNTRY PASSPORT, IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, AND CIVIL REGISTRY
-------------- --------------
-------------- -
13. Sammarinese apply for passports through the Passport Office
of the State Department of Foreign Affairs. If abroad, they can
receive a temporary Italian travel document (annotated for
return travel to San Marino) from an Italian consular office.
San Marino missions abroad CANNOT issue them. Alternatively,
while abroad, Sammarinese can apply by mail for a new passport
and wait until it is sent by mail from the government of San
Marino. San Marino passports are EU and ICAO compliant.
14. A foreigner can apply for a "permit of stay" in San Marino.
After five consecutive years of "permits of stay", a person may
apply for permanent residency. Once a person stops holding a
"permit of stay", the permanent residency application process
resets. At that point, the person must begin again the process
of obtaining five year's worth of consecutive permits before
applying.
15. Schengen country citizens with employment in San Marino and
"commuters" (Italians and Schengen citizens who live in Italy
and work in San Marino) are generally granted work permits
automatically. San Marino employers who want to hire other
foreign workers may apply for a work permit through the Office
of Labor of the Department of Labor.
16. Post is unaware of any cases of document fraud.
-------------- --------------
--------------
COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
-------------- --------------
--------------
17. Post is unaware of any instances of consular fraud
pertaining to San Marino, and therefore we have not engaged with
host government authorities on any suspected fraud cases.
Sammarinese officials do report their nationals' lost and stolen
passports to Consulate General Florence. Sammarinese officials
have reported 30 lost or stolen passports in 2005, 50 in 2006,
60 in 2007, and 52 in 2008. Counterfeiting an identity document
is considered a serious crime in San Marino. The penalty for
this crime is six months to three years of imprisonment (Two to
six years plus interdiction from holding public offices if the
guilty party is a public official.) Making false declarations
to obtain an identity document is also punishable with
imprisonment from six months to three years.
-------------- ---
AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN
-------------- ---
18. There are no areas of particular concern to report.
COUNTRYMAN