Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MUSCAT1000
2009-09-29 09:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

FRAUD SUMMARY - MUSCAT

Tags:  CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6760
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #1000/01 2720939
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290938Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0810
RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH 0001
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0053
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MUSCAT 001000

SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC
POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS
ATHENS FOR DHS/ICE AND DHS/CIS
ROME FOR DHS/ICE, DHS/CIS AND DHS/CBP
DHS FOR CIS/FDNS
CA/FPP FOR S. SEXTON
CAIRO FOR RCO ROWAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - MUSCAT

REF: (A) 09 STATE 57623


A. (U) COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Oman's population is estimated to be
3.3 million including 900,000 expatriates according to the State
Department's 2009 Human Rights report. The CIA World Factbook
estimates Oman's population to be 3,418,085, which includes 577,293
non-nationals in its latest on-line update (July 2009 estimate).



Oman's long history of trading between the east coast of Africa and
the Indian subcontinent has produced considerable ethnic,
linguistic, and cultural diversity in the population, although a
majority of Omani citizens are ethnically Arab. Arabic is the
official and most widely spoken language. English, Hindi, Urdu,
Swahili, Baluchi, Loti, Telagu, Malayalam, and local dialects are
also used. Many government officials and most merchants dealing
with the expatriate community speak English.



Like other countries in the region, Oman relies on imported labor
to support and carry out its development plans. With ambitious
public works, tourism, and industrial projects begun throughout the
Sultanate, the last two years have seen a rapid increase in the
number of expatriates working in the Sultanate. According to the
most recent Omani Central Bank figures, the expatriate workforce
was approximately 680,100 in March 2008, up from 511,000 in 2006.
While a substantial increase, indications from several sources
suggest the official number of expatriate workers in the Sultanate
is understated. Americans hold a handful of positions in the
private sector, mostly in the oil, education and banking sectors,
but technical advisers and managers are mostly from Europe and the
Indian subcontinent. Although the majority of third country
nationals come to Oman to work, some transit illegally to other
countries.



The majority of third country national (TCN) NIV applicants are
from Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
Morocco, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Syria.



The overall level of fraud at post is low.




B. (U) NIV FRAUD: Post adjudicated approximately 3,415

non-immigrant visas from March 2009 to August 2009. Fifty eight
percent of these were B1/B2 applications from Omanis and Indians
traveling to the U.S. as visitors or for business and training
sponsored by employers in Oman. The refusal rate for all
applicants was 23 percent. The refusal rate for Omani NIV
applicants was 0.80 percent. Post encounters little or no fraud
with citizens of Oman. Among the expatriate community, the fraud
generally appears to be unsophisticated. Consular officers continue
to depend on both interviewing techniques and document examination
to adjudicate NIV applicants.



Occasionally, the consular section receives reports of visa
applicants who have been duped into paying large sums of money to
individuals claiming to represent the United States Citizenship and
Immigration Service (USCIS),the National Visa Center (NVC),or
another visa office. During this quarter, at least four such cases
came to the consular section's attention. In one case, a visa
applicant told post he paid approximately USD 1,150 to a
London-based USCIS office and wanted to verify its authenticity.
Post contacted Embassy London's Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU),and it
asked the London community police to investigate the office's
address and phone number. In another similar case, an Omani
national reported that he paid for three green cards he hoped to
sell to expatriate workers registered under his sponsorship. As a
result of the increase in incidents of these scams, Embassy Muscat
issued a press release warning the public about possible scams and
reminding them that visa forms are free. Both English and Arabic

MUSCAT 00001000 002 OF 003


language dailies in Muscat published the information.



Consistent with the William Wilberforce Anti-Trafficking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, Post continues to adhere to
the Department's policy of requiring a signed contract between
employers and their domestic employees in both English and a
language that the employee reads and understands. Interviewing
consular officers question employers and employees to determine
whether they met past contractual obligations. They also ask them
to provide proof of past payment. Post refused one A3 case under
Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when
the consular officer learned that the domestic employee may have
received wages far below what was agreed upon in the contract.
When the consular officer raised the issue with the diplomat
employer, he abruptly left the interview and later complained to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The case is still refused
pending documentation. The Consular Chief and the Deputy Chief of
Mission met with officials at the Omani MFA to explain the USG
commitment to combating human trafficking and labor rights
violations. The Consular Chief provided the MFA with the
Wilberforce brochure and a non-paper on the subject. In addition,
the consulate has created a contract template, which is currently
in the clearance process.



Post also scrutinizes domestic visa applications, especially for A3
and B1 domestic employees, to ensure that the employer and employee
are in compliance with Wilberforce. All employment category
non-immigrants are provided with the Wilberforce brochure prior to
their interviews. During the interview, consular officers ask
employees whether they have read the brochure and ask them a few
questions to ensure that they have understood it. Often consular
officers find it necessary to explain the main points of the
brochure. In several cases, consular officers arranged verbal
translation of the brochure to ensure the applicants understood its
contents.




C. (U) IV FRAUD: Post processed 30 immigrant visa (IV) petitions
during this reporting period. All of the applicants were long term
residents of Oman in the immediate relative and family-based
categories.




D. (U) DV FRAUD: During this period, a total of 13 diversity visas
(DVs) were processed and issued to TCNs from Sudan, Burma and Sri
Lanka. One incident of fraud was encountered. A Bangladeshi male
applied for a Diversity Visa for himself and his family. Upon
examination of the application, it became apparent that the photos
were of different individuals. When questioned as to why the
pictures did not match, he responded, "Please help me." To combat
a spate of reports regarding DV visa scams in Oman, post issued a
press release on July 11, 2009, reminding citizens and residents of
Oman to use caution when being asked to pay for forms or processing
fees.




E. (U) ACS AND US PASSPORT FRAUD: The American Citizen Services
unit did not encounter any incidents of ACS fraud.




F. (U) ADOPTION FRAUD: None. Post received no adoption applications
during this period. Only Muslims are permitted to adopt in Oman.




G. (U) USE OF DNA TESTING: Post did not recommend any cases for
DNA testing during this period.




H. (U) ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFIT FRAUD: Post did not process

MUSCAT 00001000 003 OF 003


any cases during this period.




I. (U) ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORIST
TRAVEL: No cases were reported for the period.




J. (U) DS CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION: No cases were investigated
during this period.




K. (U) HOST COUNTRY PASSPORT IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, AND CIVIL
REGISTRY: Oman maintains a national identity card for both Omani
citizens and expatriates. The issuance of both the ID card and the
passport are tightly controlled. In addition, as a result of the
computerization and centralization of civil documents in Oman,
birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are easily verifiable
and under close and constant control. Post has occasionally seen
different birthdates for the same individual in different Omani
passports. Post believes the incidence of these different
birthdates relates more to data entry than fraud. In addition, many
older Omanis born before 1970 do not have birth certificates and
are often unsure of their exact birthdate. Post is not aware of
any fraud related to host country passport identity documents or
any civil registry fraud.



Post has encountered two instances of children born out of wedlock
to non-Omani couples. Although this is strictly illegal in Oman,
both couples were assumed to be married when attending doctor's
appointments and entering the hospital for the birth of the
children.




L. (U) COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: The embassy
has excellent relations with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the
consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The
ROP and MFA communicate with the embassy whenever they encounter
fraud that impacts the embassy's operations.




M. (U) AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: None.




N. (U) STAFFING AND TRAINING: The Fraud Prevention Manager is Vice
Consul Stephen F. Ibelli. The consular section has sent one Omani
staff member to fraud prevention training in Washington and hopes
to send another in the near future.
Schmierer