Embassy of the United States Warns Visa Applicants Against Fraud, Thanks Haitian Police

July 24, 2009
No. 2009/49

The Embassy of the United States expresses its profound gratitude to the Haitian National Police for its investigation of immigrant visa fraud, which recently resulted in three arrests.   We extend our sympathies to the victims, and will continue to work vigorously to prevent fraud.

The three suspects posed as U.S. Embassy employees and called immigrant visa applicants offering to « expedite » pending applications.  Then, using information obtained from the Haitian visa applicants, they convinced the applicants’ families in the U.S. to send amounts from USD$3,000 to $5,000 by wire transfer to a bank account in Haiti.  It is estimated that the suspects defrauded dozens of individuals for a total of over USD$100,000.

The U.S. Embassy urges all current and potential visa applicants to protect themselves against fraud, by remembering the following:

• Immigrant visa fees are paid only in person, to the Embassy Cashier inside the Embassy’s Consular Section.
• Non-immigrant visa fees are collected only through Sogebank.
• If you are contacted by any person claiming to be from the U.S. Embassy asking for money to « expedite » a visa, you should NOT give out any information and NEVER send any money. 

Please report all suspicious calls or e-mails to the Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit at papfraud@state.gov. 

The best defense is to be well-informed.  Information about fees is available online at haiti.usembassy.gov and from the Embassy’s Visa Information Call Center at (509) 2229-5001.  (End of text) 

The Embassy of the United States expresses its profound gratitude to the Haitian National Police for its investigation of immigrant visa fraud, which recently resulted in three arrests.   We extend our sympathies to the victims, and will continue to work vigorously to prevent fraud.