CONTINUED INTEGRITY OF SAO PAULO REFERRAL PROGRAM

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000332 SIPDIS DEPT FOR CA/FPP, INL/HSTC, WHA/BSC, DS/CR/OCI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFRD CVIS ASEC BR SUBJECT: CONTINUED INTEGRITY OF SAO PAULO REFERRAL PROGRAM Ref: 9 FAM Appendix K, 406 (6) ¶1. Summary: A validation study of all 1,333 short-term visitor visas issued during FY2008 under Consulate General Sao Paulo's referral program found only one overstay and one other problematic referral, both Class "B" referrals. In order to further strengthen the integrity of its referral program, post is instituting a newly-revised referral school for all current and incoming officers. End Summary. -------------- Procedures -------------- ¶2. Sao Paulo's Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU) pulled data on all Class "A" and "B" referrals issued by post during FY 2008 (Sept. 1, 2007 - Oct. 30, 2008). During that time period, post issued 189 Class "A" referrals, with no refusals, and 1,428 Class "B" referrals, with two refusals. The data was sorted to eliminate all but short-term visas, leaving a total of 107 Class "A" and 1,226 Class "B" referrals. Each case was then run against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s Arrival-Departure Information System (ADIS) database to determine entries, exits, and possible overstays. -------------- Results -------------- ¶3. ADIS checks showed that of the 107 Class "A" referrals, 82 (77 percent) have traveled and returned, 20 (19 percent) have not yet traveled, and five (five percent) are in the United States "in status," having recently traveled. The checks for Class "B" referrals initially showed that, of the 1,226 cases, 969 (79 percent) have traveled and returned, 230 (19 percent) have not traveled, 16 (1.3 percent) are in the United States "in status," ten UCO ("Unconfirmed overstays") and one ERR (expedited removal) at port-of-entry. FPU then called each of the ten UCO's. Seven were located back in Brazil, two contacted are currently living in Spain, and one was contacted and confirmed to still be in the United States. ¶4. The two problematic referrals, both Class "B," originated from the same officer in the Political Section. (Note: The officer in question left post almost one year ago. End note.) The first case, the ERR, was for a Lebanese restaurant owner, legally resident in Brazil for 10 years. The visa was issued based on a request from an Atlanta church for the individual to participate in an ecumenical choir aimed at bridge-building between the Muslim and Christian communities. On arrival in Atlanta, Customs and Border Protection contacted the U.S. church, which denied having invited the individual and stated that no such concert was planned. The one confirmed overstay was for the mother of a 15-year-old model to accompany the daughter to a contest in the United States. The daughter returned, but the mother stayed. ¶5. Comment: The results of the study demonstrate that Sao Paulo's high-volume referral program is fundamentally sound. In order to further strengthen the program, however, the nonimmigrant visa unit is instituting a revised Referral School program for all current and incoming officers, in accordance with 9 FAM Appendix K, 203. WHITE