Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KOLKATA188
2009-07-09 06:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
GUARDING AGAINST VISA FRAUD WITH "BATCH CHECKS" IN ADIS
how-toVZCZCXRO4597 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHGH RUEHNEH DE RUEHCI #0188/01 1900655 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 090655Z JUL 09 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2411 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2272 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0989 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0985 RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD 0052 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0006 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2971
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000188
SIPDIS
CA/FPP FOR JILL NYSTROM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD ASEC CVIS CMGT IN
SUBJECT: GUARDING AGAINST VISA FRAUD WITH "BATCH CHECKS" IN ADIS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000188
SIPDIS
CA/FPP FOR JILL NYSTROM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD ASEC CVIS CMGT IN
SUBJECT: GUARDING AGAINST VISA FRAUD WITH "BATCH CHECKS" IN ADIS
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post recently expanded its approach to
validation studies, providing more frequent and focused
assessments of B1/B2 visa applicants. Using a "batch method" of
retrieving Arrival Departure Information System (ADIS) records
of multiple travelers with a single search, Post can quickly
evaluate the travel of numerous applicants to guard against
fraud and empower adjudicating officers. So far, the results
reaffirm Post's adjudication practices. Post's Fraud Prevention
Unit (FPU) adopted this "batch method" from FPU Shanghai. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (SBU) Though the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
provided Post's FPU with access to ADIS, FPU rarely checked more
than one or two travelers at a time. When multiple travelers
were involved, Post conducted a separate search for each one, a
tedious and time-consuming process. In some cases, when several
hundred travelers were analyzed for a formal validation study,
Post tasked the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs to request
ADIS records from DHS.
3. (SBU) In March, Post learned of the "batch method" of ADIS
checks from FPU Shanghai's intranet site:
http://shanghaiconsular.state.gov/2009/03/bat ch_checks_in_a
dis.html. Following the steps provided by FPU Shanghai and adding
techniques learned from experience, Post can now retrieve and
assess ADIS records for dozens of travelers in approximately 15
minutes. These results now inform visa adjudications as well as
revocations when fraud is suspected.
--------------
RECENT EXAMPLES
--------------
4. (SBU) Applicants from Sikkim: Many applicants from the remote
and relatively poor states in Northeast India face difficulty
overcoming the presumption of immigrant intent. Post refuses
about 36 percent of B1/B2 applicants from the state of Sikkim.
Of the 144 B1/B2 visas issued since January 2005 to Sikkim
applicants, 119 traveled and returned within status. Another 3
adjusted status, 14 never traveled, and 8 are confirmed
overstays (5.56% of issuances). Of these overstays, 6 are women.
Post plans to report further findings septel in a larger
validation study of Indian northeastern states.
5. (SBU) Religious tour groups: Last year, a tour operator and
many of his customers applied for visas to attend the opening of
a Jain temple in Phoenix. A CCD search of the tour's U.S.
contact returned 42 issuances. Using ADIS, Post learned that 35
of applicants traveled, all of whom returned at the conclusion
of the tour.
6. (SBU) Sales incentive trips: Companies in India regularly use
trips to the United States as incentives for agents to meet
sales targets. Occasionally, an entire family will claim to have
qualified for one of these trips. Some of these groups, such as
cement dealers who run small shops with informal financial
records, can be troublesome for adjudicating officers. Using a
text search in the CCD, Post identified 92 issuances to cement
dealers and their family members to participate in an incentive
tour in 2008. There were zero overstays.
7. (SBU) Travel agencies: Many applicants within the consular
district use travel agencies for package tours, and some
agencies are thought to be more scrupulous than others.
Searching the CCD for one frequently used travel agency, Post
found 226 B1/B2 issuances associated with package tours offered
by that agency during the last two years. Only one traveler from
this group is a confirmed overstay. Post will now conduct
similar studies of other popular travel agencies in the consular
district to identify any suspect operations.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) Post commends FPU Shanghai for sharing this useful
innovation. As ADIS records can exert significant influence on
visa adjudications, Post also welcomes moves to expand access to
ADIS data and incorporate it into Consular applications.
Furthermore, these batch checks could become more nuanced if
certain fields from the DS-156 visa application form, such as
state of residence, are indexed for searching in the Consular
Consolidated Database (CCD). Although workarounds are possible,
KOLKATA 00000188 002 OF 002
Post sees value in expanding the CCD's data mining potential to
incorporate capabilities previously available in the Ad Hoc
Reporting Tool.
PAYNE
SIPDIS
CA/FPP FOR JILL NYSTROM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD ASEC CVIS CMGT IN
SUBJECT: GUARDING AGAINST VISA FRAUD WITH "BATCH CHECKS" IN ADIS
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post recently expanded its approach to
validation studies, providing more frequent and focused
assessments of B1/B2 visa applicants. Using a "batch method" of
retrieving Arrival Departure Information System (ADIS) records
of multiple travelers with a single search, Post can quickly
evaluate the travel of numerous applicants to guard against
fraud and empower adjudicating officers. So far, the results
reaffirm Post's adjudication practices. Post's Fraud Prevention
Unit (FPU) adopted this "batch method" from FPU Shanghai. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (SBU) Though the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
provided Post's FPU with access to ADIS, FPU rarely checked more
than one or two travelers at a time. When multiple travelers
were involved, Post conducted a separate search for each one, a
tedious and time-consuming process. In some cases, when several
hundred travelers were analyzed for a formal validation study,
Post tasked the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs to request
ADIS records from DHS.
3. (SBU) In March, Post learned of the "batch method" of ADIS
checks from FPU Shanghai's intranet site:
http://shanghaiconsular.state.gov/2009/03/bat ch_checks_in_a
dis.html. Following the steps provided by FPU Shanghai and adding
techniques learned from experience, Post can now retrieve and
assess ADIS records for dozens of travelers in approximately 15
minutes. These results now inform visa adjudications as well as
revocations when fraud is suspected.
--------------
RECENT EXAMPLES
--------------
4. (SBU) Applicants from Sikkim: Many applicants from the remote
and relatively poor states in Northeast India face difficulty
overcoming the presumption of immigrant intent. Post refuses
about 36 percent of B1/B2 applicants from the state of Sikkim.
Of the 144 B1/B2 visas issued since January 2005 to Sikkim
applicants, 119 traveled and returned within status. Another 3
adjusted status, 14 never traveled, and 8 are confirmed
overstays (5.56% of issuances). Of these overstays, 6 are women.
Post plans to report further findings septel in a larger
validation study of Indian northeastern states.
5. (SBU) Religious tour groups: Last year, a tour operator and
many of his customers applied for visas to attend the opening of
a Jain temple in Phoenix. A CCD search of the tour's U.S.
contact returned 42 issuances. Using ADIS, Post learned that 35
of applicants traveled, all of whom returned at the conclusion
of the tour.
6. (SBU) Sales incentive trips: Companies in India regularly use
trips to the United States as incentives for agents to meet
sales targets. Occasionally, an entire family will claim to have
qualified for one of these trips. Some of these groups, such as
cement dealers who run small shops with informal financial
records, can be troublesome for adjudicating officers. Using a
text search in the CCD, Post identified 92 issuances to cement
dealers and their family members to participate in an incentive
tour in 2008. There were zero overstays.
7. (SBU) Travel agencies: Many applicants within the consular
district use travel agencies for package tours, and some
agencies are thought to be more scrupulous than others.
Searching the CCD for one frequently used travel agency, Post
found 226 B1/B2 issuances associated with package tours offered
by that agency during the last two years. Only one traveler from
this group is a confirmed overstay. Post will now conduct
similar studies of other popular travel agencies in the consular
district to identify any suspect operations.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) Post commends FPU Shanghai for sharing this useful
innovation. As ADIS records can exert significant influence on
visa adjudications, Post also welcomes moves to expand access to
ADIS data and incorporate it into Consular applications.
Furthermore, these batch checks could become more nuanced if
certain fields from the DS-156 visa application form, such as
state of residence, are indexed for searching in the Consular
Consolidated Database (CCD). Although workarounds are possible,
KOLKATA 00000188 002 OF 002
Post sees value in expanding the CCD's data mining potential to
incorporate capabilities previously available in the Ad Hoc
Reporting Tool.
PAYNE