Anti Fraud or Administrative Check

jayanagar1

Registered Users (C)
Anti Fraud or Administrative Check - PLEASE HELP

On OCtober 29, 2002 during Consular Processing interview in Chennai, for my immigrant visa, after the finger printing was done(it's true and I dont have a clue why it was done like that) I was given a letter stating that my petition needs further administrative processing as the consulate suspected a fraud committed under my name. I pleaded with the officer that I have never been involved in any fraud and it's a mistaken identity. I checked my credit report and it looks fine. I was given a letter saying that my petition needs further administrative processing and once that is complete the Consulate will contact me.

The Consular Officer told me that it takes about 4 weeks for the administrative check to be completed and it's in my interest that the fraud check is important. I had my company Attorney involved and itseems when he contacted the consulate via email he also got a single line response that my petiiton needs further administrative processing.

I have never been involved in any fraud and I don't recall any problem with my previous or present employer.

It's been more than eight weeks now and still there is no update on the status of my application. Couple of weeks ago, the HR department head from our company wanted to find out why there was a delay and he called the Consulate and after fifth time he was able to speak to some one and he got the same one line response and he was told that at the minimum it may take another month or so.

In the meantime, I thought it's a good idea to check about the finger print results. I had my brother in U.S. call the FBI number to find out the result. The finger print results were cleared on Nov. 24 and instead of sending that to Consular Office in Chennai they were sent to NVC. When my brother called NVC, and explained the situation to the officer, she was kind enough and told that NVC has no record of the receipt of finger print results and they never requested one. When contacted the FBI again, I was told that FBI would send a copy if NVC requests it again. I called NVC and explained them the situation, they said they can do nothing about it as my petition was forwarded to Consulate and I need to contact Chennai Consulate. At Chennai phone number no body is willing to speak and whenver I call them I get one line answer - no update on my application status.

I am not sure whether the receipt of finger print results at Chennai consulate would have any effect in speeding up the adminstrative check process but I just wanted to give it a try.

I talked to the Officer at NVC again and she seem to be irritated as there were three calls made in a week asking about the finger print receipt and she clearly told not to call for atleast another 10 days as she is going to bring this to the attention of her supervisor and it may take couple of weeks for the supervisor to take a look. Once again I was told to contact Consulate to request finger print result from NVC.

I posted about anti-fraud check in Ron Gothcher's web site and Ron responded immediately saying that this kind of situations are very rare in immigrant petitions but as Chennai has a huge backlog it may take a quite a long time. He could not give out any more information except saying that my attorney should be able to resolve this. But my company attorney says that he cannot do anything but to wait until the check is complete.

I have been sending letters via email and fax, to Chennai Consulate explaining my situation and requesting for their help. So far no positive response.

At this point I am frustrated as my daughter continue to miss school. It's more that 2 months now. In addition I have some health problems for which I was taking medication and now I don't know about the fate of my health insurance.The company has stopped my salary as I ran out of my vacation and I don't know how long I can still be employed in U.S by staying in India.

I would like to get back to U.S. if possible. I have couple of questions for which I couldn't get a straight answer from my company attorney.

1. At the time of interview, I had a valid H1 B visa that would have expired at the end of 2003(at the time of CPinterview the H1B visa on my passport was scratched by the officer). Can I come back to U.S. on this H1B or does a new H1 B have to be processed again.

2. What are the implications on trying a new H1 B visa.

3. Since I don't get to speak or get an appointement to see the consular officer in Chennai what I can I do to meet the consular officer.

4. Does it help to engage another attorney. I tried to contact few other attorneys in U.S and they wanted complete authorization to change the company lawyer and all the papers which I do not any control. Itseems the consulate do not deal with more than one attorney for a petition - I am not sure whether this true.

I would greatly appreciate all your suggestions.

Thank you in advance.
:confused:PLEASE HELP
 
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I've read about some people on China run into similar problems.. Here is one thing a few of them did..

Use your H1 (if not cancelled) to return to the US. But before you do this, speak to the consulate and see if they will mail the IV once issued to you in the US.. You can pre-pay fedex postage.

If they agree, come back and once you get the IV, go out of the country [canada]and renter using the new IV's.. But Chennai consulate would have to cooperate with you..
 
If your h1b visa has any scrawl made by the consular officer, that visa is invalidated and you cannot use that to enter US.

If you have your ORIGINAL H1B APPROVAL NOTICE with you, you can try to apply for a new H1B visa. I donot know if the new application also will fall into the fraud investigation hole, but it might be worth a try. If you are lucky and get a new H1 visa, you can return to US. You will then have to wait for the consulate receive fingerprint results and proceed with your IV application.

Do not lose hope! I wish you best of luck and I am sure you will come out of this mess successfully.

FYI I had a successful CP interview in Chennai on OCt 23rd.
 
P.S. I don't think Consulate will mail IV to you in the US. You may have to travel back to India (along with your family) to collect the IV.
 
lesson

I think what this story tells us is to give your spare key to home/car etc to your trusted friend/family member and also other important info. In case, you cannot comeback, s/he will be able to help you out; even ship something from your home or cancel the lease or sell the car, etc. I know it sounds scary/crazy, but i think its better to be prepared for anything. And i wish nothing like this happens to anybody. hope this new year brings good news to you.
 
jayanagar1,

God bless you. I know someone under the same situation (Administarative Processing) for the last nine months. At the time of interview they gave him the same letter like yours and told him it will take upto 3 months. Now its 9 months and everytime his attorney calls the consulate, he gets the same reply that we will contact you when our investigation finishes. The fact is they are doing nothing. Hope this news is some consolation for you.
 
What is the actual problem?

gcrita,

Do you know what was the real probelm with your friend who is in similar situation as jayanagar1?

What causes administrative check to be extended for 9 months?

Thanks.
 
If I were in your position, I would probably have left for the US and my job, within a week, of the delay. And then I would have filed for AOS. What made you think that your H1B is cancelled? H1B is only cancelled without prejudice when you are issued a PR visa.
 
Isn't it true that non-immigrant visas like H1 are issued based on the belief that you are not trying to immigrate to USA. And if you have gone to the consulate for immigration visa and didnt get approved, wouldnt that be enough ground to cancel your H1 visa? I really doubt if anybody will be able to get back to USA on H1 if their immigration visa is refused/delayed. I will be glad if i am proved wrong.
 
Originally posted by cannon576
Isn't it true that non-immigrant visas like H1 are issued based on the belief that you are not trying to immigrate to USA. And if you have gone to the consulate for immigration visa and didnt get approved, wouldnt that be enough ground to cancel your H1 visa? I really doubt if anybody will be able to get back to USA on H1 if their immigration visa is refused/delayed. I will be glad if i am proved wrong.

As far as I know, H1B visa belongs to the category 'duel intent'.
So, the provision for immigration is built into H1B.

About the issue of how the Cosulate handles the actual process,
I believe cancellation of earlier H1B visa is more of a procedural issue rather than a case to case action. Since the reasons for non issual of immigrant visa are, few , the first one being in-sufficient documentation, the Consulate should not have any problem if the candidate wants to come back to US and get the necessary forms.

But the fact remains that, the person has to go through the hassle of getting an H1 Visa stamping again, if the H1B is cancelled at the point. ( we have seen cases where the passports have been returned without cancellation of H1B visas, even after approval of Immigrant visa ..)

However, if the reason for non-issual is due to reasons like, the consulate believing there is a fraud or mis-representation, then they would stick to their stand of 'No Visas of any kind', till they complete their study of the case.

This is probably the reason, why conservative attorney's recommend AOS over CP, because any reason, even an innocent one can keep you in the Country where you are attending the CP interview.

But still CP is a path ,one can take if he/she is confident about all of the issues in their petition.

But again one can only pray to god, that mis-understandings like those happening to JAYANAGAR1 do not happen in his case.

I really hope Jayanagar1 gets out of this problem quickly and succesfully!!
 
Thank you all for your input.

H1 B stamp on my passport I had before from the same consulate was scratched out by the consular officer. At the time of the interview he did mention that the existing H1 B will be cancelled as my status would be changed. I am not sure whether I can still use the same visa again.

The problem is, I cannot get an interview with the Consular Officer. I have all the papers that I originally carried to get my H1 extension last year. Also I have the originals of H1B. Is there any way I can make use of the same? Or is there any way I can see the Consular Officer?

Is it a good idea to go with another Attorney ?

Gcrita did your friend approach any other Attorney?

Have any of you know of an Attorney who would get involved without having to change the company attorney. At this stage I don't think my company would agree to change the attorney completely.

Can any one know the name of the Anti-Fraud Unit Cheif in Chennai so that I can mail a letter or email him my situation. I don't know whether this would work against me.


Thanks in advance for your input.
 
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I suggest you seek permission from your company to hire an additional attorney (at your expense?) for "local" assistance. I am surprised that your H1B was scratched before granting you the H1B. When I was issued PR visa, I was told that we are cancelling H1B visa without prejudice to avoid you being permitted entry on that visa. Otherwise you would need to go out and come in to the US again.

I think your problem has been exasparated due to the 9/11 problems. New migrants to the US are not issued SS cards till INS clears it. Most of these people can not work for months on end. No one is listening now. Life for innocent and decent migrants has become difficult due to the 9/11 terrorists. Unfortunately, in spite of all this, 5 arab muslims slipped in from Canada on fake UK passports 2 days back.

Best of luck, please do post and inform so that others in a similar situation might get some help.
 
cpdelhi,

The consular office does'nt say anything as what the problem is. They only say that this case needs further investigation. My friend also approached local senator's office and the consulate replied that due to a large number of such cases and also due to our limited resources, we can not give a specific time frame to resolve this case. We will contact the candidate as soon as our investigation is finished. Now 9 months have passed and till now there is no news.

Jayanagar 1,

My friend has a very powerful attorney and till date the same attorney has sent at least 9 emails to the consulate inquiring about the status. In all he received 2 replies and both the replies were same as mentioned above. The attorney says he can not do anything as no one can put any pressure on the consular officers. Their decision is always final. All I can advise you is go to the consulate and ask them to re-instate your H1B on the passport so that you can travel. Good luck
 
jayanager is back in the US on a green card. I sent him an email earlier this year on his case and what he did was he used political influence to get his case resolved
thanks
 
Political Influence

Jayanagar1:
Would you mind telling us what kind of political influence you used to get ur case resolved. It might help other who are/ will be in the same situation.
 
does anybody know what FBI center the chennai consulate uses for finger print check? Can you give me the phonenumber to call and check the status?
 
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