

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10VANCOUVER100, CALGARY AND VANCOUVER FRAUD SUMMARY FEBRUARY 2010
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10VANCOUVER100.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10VANCOUVER100 | 2010-02-23 01:01 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Vancouver |
VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHVC #0100/01 0540133
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230132Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL VANCOUVER
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0191
RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH 0001
INFO RUEHVC/AMCONSUL VANCOUVER
UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000100
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR CA/FPP
DHS FOR CIS/FDNS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD ASEC CPAS CMGT CA
SUBJECT: CALGARY AND VANCOUVER FRAUD SUMMARY FEBRUARY 2010
REF: 08 STATE 074840
¶1. (U) SUMMARY. There are no significant fraud incidents to report
for this period. Note that this report is on behalf of Calgary and
Vancouver. End Summary.
¶2. (U) COUNTRY CONDITIONS. Vancouver and Calgary are low-fraud
posts. Malafide travelers find it less difficult to attempt entry
across the vast land border than apply for a visa. Vancouver,
Canada's third largest city, is one of the most affluent and
culturally diverse cities in North America. Recent immigrants from
Asian countries including India, China, the Philippines, Korea, and
Taiwan have flocked to the city in the past decade. In fact, a
third of the city is of Chinese origin and Vancouver International
Airport services daily flights from many Asian capitals. Eastern
Europeans and Russians have also moved to Vancouver recently in
significant numbers. Blaine, Washington, the closest land border,
is a mere thirty minutes by car from downtown.
¶3. (U) Recent economic development and population growth have led
to a skyrocketing real estate market and major ethnic diversity.
The migration from abroad has also brought in criminal elements and
Vancouver is becoming home to an increasing number of ethnic gangs.
Vancouver has the highest
density per square mile in the entire country. Foreign immigration
remains the principal growth factor, reflected in the fact that
less than half of all residents in the Vancouver area speak English
at home. The application process for Canadian documents, including
passports and local birth certificates, is fairly well-controlled.
Post has not seen cases of fake Canadian permanent resident card,
which has similar security features to
the U.S. legal permanent resident card. However, local authorities
recently acknowledged that counterfeiting is becoming a major
problem in the province and post has seen cases of individuals
obtaining British Columbia identification cards when they were not
entitled to them.
¶4. (U) NIV FRAUD. Vancouver and Calgary detected fraud most notably
in the H1B category.
¶5. (U) Although visitor visa (B1/B2) fraud appears less organized
and less complicated, there continues to be incidences where
applicants try to cover up prior orders of removal or unlawful
presence in the U.S. They do so by changing names or other
identifying information after leaving the U.S. and
entering Canada either as immigrants or asylum claimants. Usually,
these applicants have only recently arrived in Canada to seek legal
status after residing unlawfully in the U.S. for years. They will
also present brand-new passports to hide their previous travel. If
IAFIS and IDENT do not catch these applicants, their American
regional accent or better-than-average English will reveal that
they have been residing in the U.S. for a long time.
¶6. (U) Since Calgary and Vancouver rarely see first-time H1B
applicants who are not landed immigrants in Canada, there are
usually no concerns about an applicant's skill or experience.
¶7. (U) Most H1B fraud in Vancouver occurs when applicants come to
renew their H1B visas and the consular officers discover that they
are actually doing something other than working for their
Petitioner, or they have not been paid what they should and we
discover that they are being "benched". Vancouver has seen fewer
fraudulent H1B cases in this reporting period than in previous
periods. Since Vancouver started scrutinizing H1B cases more
heavily in 2008, post appears not to be targeted as being an "easy"
place to apply for H1B visas anymore. Post regularly requests
additional documentation, such as earnings and leave documents,
monthly bank statements, unemployment wage reports, and pay records
of applicants that have not earned the correct year-to-date
salaries.
¶8. (U) Calgary has continued to work aggressively in the last
reporting period to identify possible H1-B fraud based on the
information that was promulgated by Toronto in 09 Toronto 000193.
Using the tools provided, Calgary has looked more effectively at
possible "benching" of applicants and has been able to better
respond to adverse PIMS reports prepared by Kentucky Consular
Center's (KCC) FPU. In these cases we have not developed any
clear-cut instances of fraud, but have been able to ask additional
questions to resolve inconsistencies and have hopefully avoided
visa shopping within the mission and applicants coming to Calgary
expecting a less thorough review of the applications. In addition,
the Local Fraud Investigator from Vancouver made a trip to Calgary
in January 2010 and shared H1B investigation methods used in
Vancouver. The Fraud Investigator was able to see what kind of
cases are appearing in Calgary and is now better able to assist
Calgary remotely.
¶9. (U) Vancouver sees occasional fraud in treaty investor and
trader visa categories. Sometimes the fraud involves the
concealment of criminal ineligibilities that are usually revealed
in secondary inspection at the border when a CBP officer accesses
the applicant's Canadian criminal record. Other times, it appears
that the applicant is filing for an E visa so that their children
can attend school in the U.S. These applicants tend to be recently
naturalized Canadian citizens who are looking to start small
businesses in the U.S. while their children attend high school or
college there. They are generally refused for not meeting the
marginality requirement. Post has seen E applicants who were former
asylum seekers in the U.S. who buy a small business in the U.S.
upon becoming a Canadian citizen after three years of permanent
residency in Canada.
¶10. (U) Vancouver continues to monitor international student
applicants for possible fraud. Post conducted a validation study in
the last year for Mexicans who are on student status in Canada. The
results of the study seem to indicate that these students tend to
abide by the terms of their B1/B2 visas.
¶11. (U) IV FRAUD. Vancouver does not process immigrant visas but
does accept "clearly approvable" I-130 petitions. Post processes K
visas for applicants who are resident in the consular district.
K-visa applications are generally good with a few
immigration-purposes only cases.
¶12. (U) DV FRAUD. Calgary and Vancouver do not process DV visas.
¶13. (U) ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD. As border controls strengthen and
visa applicants are more rigorously screened, post believes
attempted ACS and passport fraud will increase. One ACS fraud
scenario involves the creation of a false identity. Historically,
Canada has been a haven to Americans wishing to escape US
authorities. Consequently, the ACS Unit encounters several people
each year with outstanding warrants in the United States. New
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) passport requirements
for all travelers, as well as the fact that Citizenship &
Immigration Canada is now requiring Canadian permanent residents to
have a valid passport, means American fugitives, as well as others
seeking to cut ties with U.S., may try to assume false identities
in order to obtain national identification at the Consulate.
¶14. (U) Vancouver's FPM was informed by the 2010 Olympic Joint
Operations Center Supervisor of a possible U.S. passport fraud case
in British Columbia. Diplomatic Security in Bellingham was
informed by RCMP that a suspicious package was received at the
Burnaby, British Columbia UPS office. The UPS account had been
opened by a male with a U.S. passport and a Nevada driver's
license, which are presumably fraudulent. The package contained
solar panels. The passport number provided to FPU belongs to a
female from Ohio. We will continue to gather details from the
Vancouver Police Department investigation.
¶15. (U) In most of Calgary's ACS fraud cases, they have worked
directly with the appropriate domestic FPMs and CA to help resolve
questions. In fact, most potential cases have proven to be fairly
easily resolved. As an example, Calgary has had several cases
where applicants have denied having any previous lost or stolen
passports or even any previously issued passports, but name checks
revealed these claims to be incorrect. Similarly, many of
Calgary's fraud cases dealt with suspicions about possibly
questionable birth certificates. In all of these cases, the birth
certificates were satisfactorily verified.
16 (U) Vancouver reported in last period's fraud summary about an
American citizen resident on Vancouver Island who wished to renew
her passport from 1999, the first ever issued to her, because she
could not find out what happened to her mail-in renewal application
in the United States. Post discovered that there is a fraud-hold on
her case because the ID and social security number of the applicant
is reported as matching a woman who died in the 1970's. In
addition, the applicant purporting to be the American citizen
helped her daughter to get her first American passport in 2000.
Post was able to get the woman into the Consulate and take her
fingerprints. RSO sent the fingerprints to Seattle for analysis.
FPU has been informed that there is no criminal record associated
with the prints, so it is still unknown who the purported American
is. DS in Seattle has indicated that they do not intend to pursue a
case against the woman and post is waiting to hear if another DS
office will.
¶17. (U) Lost and stolen passports are numerous. Statistics are
difficult to compile, as many lost/stolen passports are either not
reported or are returned to authorities other than the Consulate.
Vancouver has a particular problem regarding stolen passports, as
it has one of the highest property theft rates of any urban area in
North America. More Americans carry passports now due to the WHTI
requirements, so we expect the number will continue to rise.
¶18. (U) The historically open US-Canadian border often makes
documenting physical presence in the United States difficult, if
not impossible. Neither side of the border stamps entries in US
passports. Proof of physical presence is, of course, required for
transmitting citizenship to Canadian-born children. Within the past
year, post has detected several individuals fabricating physical
presence claims in order to meet the time requirements. Some
applicants apply years after being refused an initial time,
submitting different data and hoping for a different ruling. For
this reason, posts very rarely accept affidavits as proof of
physical presence.
¶19. (U) Canadian authorities go to great lengths to conceal
adoptions on official records to protect individual privacy.
Biological parent information on birth documents is routinely
replaced with the details of the adopting parents with no evidence
that a change ever took place. This makes concealing
adoptions for the purposes of claiming derivative citizenship
fairly easy. Post must scrutinize birth documents very carefully
and always ask to see the "long" birth form, when available.
¶20. (U) ADOPTION FRAUD. No fraud to report.
¶21. (U) DNA TESTING. No DNA testing this reporting period.
¶22. (U) ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFITS FRAUD. No fraud to report.
¶23. (U) COOPERATION WITH HOST COUNTRY AUTHORITIES. Post enjoys a
good working relationship with authorities from all levels of the
host government. They are generally accessible and responsive to
consular needs.
¶24. (U) AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN. Given Vancouver's proximity to
the U.S. border, there are significant concerns that foreign
nationals view the region as a transit center for ultimate illegal
entry into the United States.
¶25. (U) Calgary is currently working with the Department on
reported incidents of internet scammers who are using apparently
photo-shopped American passports as proof of their identity to
would-be targets. While these documents do not appear to have been
used for travel (and most likely only exist in digital form), they
have been sent to people with whom they have developed contacts
with over the internet. After building the relationship, the
scammer will then ask for money and send the passport image as
proof of who they are. In the two most recent cases, it appears
that the scammers have used the same background template for the
passport, and digitally substituted different pictures and
biographic data. Afraid that something might be amiss, the
potential victims have sent the passport images to the Consulate
for verification. Vancouver had one person try and verify a U.S.
passport due to this kind of scam during this period.
¶26. (U) Posts routinely refer cases to CBSA whenever applicants
reveal information during a visa interview that indicates they
committed fraud against Canadian immigration authorities.
Similarly, CBSA counterparts refer cases to post whenever they
believe the individual has committed fraud against U.S.
authorities.
¶27. (U) STAFFING AND TRAINING. Vancouver and Calgary have part-time
Fraud Prevention Managers (FPM) who are also NIV line officers.
Calgary has a locally engaged staff member who serves as Fraud
Prevention Manager Assistant and Vancouver hired a full-time fraud
prevention investigator last year. The current investigator started
work in Vancouver in February 2009 and went to Calgary in January
2010 to conduct fraud training.
CHICOLA