The United States Department of State has launched a new online reporting portal for suspected visa fraud involving sham marriages, fabricated job offers, falsified documents, shell companies and birth tourism.
The new reporting system, announced on Wednesday, is designed to provide members of the public with a direct channel to report suspected fraud or misuse of U.S. visas for review and possible enforcement action.
The State Department said visa fraud could take several forms, including the submission of falsified documents or travel plans, marriages arranged primarily to obtain immigration benefits, the use of shell companies and fabricated employment offers.
It also identified birth tourism, in which individuals travel to the United States primarily to give birth and obtain U.S. citizenship for their children, as one of the schemes subject to scrutiny.
The department said information provided by members of the public had already assisted authorities in identifying suspected visa fraud.
According to the State Department, tips from the public contributed to the identification and accountability of tens of thousands of people suspected of visa fraud during President Donald Trump’s second term.
The new portal is part of broader fraud detection and prevention efforts being implemented by the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.
The department said the measures were aimed at preventing individuals from travelling to the United States through fraudulent means or for unlawful purposes.
It added that visa fraud could extend beyond individual applicants to organised schemes involving multiple people and entities.
The State Department said violations could result in visa revocation and the referral of suspected fraud cases to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
The department also warned applicants about scams involving individuals and organisations falsely claiming to provide U.S. government visa services.
It advised prospective applicants to verify visa information through official U.S. government websites and exercise caution with organisations or individuals promising to secure visas or immigration benefits.
The latest initiative comes amid wider efforts by the State Department to expand visa screening and vetting.
On September 18, the department announced that, effective October 1, online presence reviews would be expanded to additional categories of nonimmigrant visa applicants, including foreign media representatives, USMCA professionals and their dependants.
The State Department urged anyone with information about suspected visa fraud or misuse to report it through its online visa fraud reporting portal.
