Four arrested on US visa fraud charges

PORT OF SPAIN, (CMC):

United States Ambassador, Candace Bond Wednesday said the arrest of four Trinidad and Tobago nationals for visa fraud should serve as a warning to “anyone intending to falsify documents or misrepresent themselves to obtain a US visa through deceit”.

The US Embassy said that its Diplomatic Security Service (DS) facilitated the July 2 and 3 arrests by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Fraud Squad of the four Trinidad and Tobago nationals.

It said one of the accused, a 24-year-old woman, was arrested at the embassy, while two other suspects, a 63-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman, were arrested at their homes on July 2.

The Embassy said that the fourth accused, a 34-year-old woman, was arrested at her home on July 3.

“All will be charged with providing fraudulent documentation in support of visa applications and falsely claiming to be TTPS police officers when they submitted documentation to US Embassy Port of Spain consular officials. The suspects will appear before a Port of Spain magistrate to answer the charges,” the Embassy said.

Bond said that the arrests are a demonstration of the unique teamwork between the TTPS and the US Embassy’s federal agents with the Diplomatic Security Service.

“The arrests send a message to anyone intending to falsify documents or misrepresent themselves to obtain a US visa through deceit that US federal agents will work alongside local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute them. Committing fraud when applying for a US visa will result in the perpetrator being permanently ineligible for a tourist visa, The US diplomat added.

The US Embassy said it wanted to remind members of the public applying for visas to visit legitimate websites for details on the visa application process.

“The Embassy advises the public not to pay people who promise to help obtain a USvisa. Only US Embassy consular officers can adjudicate visa applications,” it added.