US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN1492

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001492 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR CA/FPP; DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFRD, CVIS, CPAS, CMGT, ASEC, UK, EI 
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - DUBLIN 
 
REF: STATE 205073 
 
1. Country Conditions:  Ireland is a modern, highly 
industrialized nation with a growing economy and 
moderate rate of inflation.  The export trade 
continues as the driving force behind the countries 
prosperity and this in turn has led to a rise in 
consumer spending, a thriving construction industry 
and an increase in business investment from both 
Irish and foreign investors.  The work force is well 
educated and flexible, the rate of unemployment in 
the country is 4.3%, the E.U. aggregate rate stands 
at 8.5%.   The country continues to actively recruit 
abroad to supplement the local workforce across a 
broad spectrum of professional and service 
positions.  Since May 1, 2004 when the need for work 
permits ceased to be a requirement for all accession 
states to the European Union, post has seen a 
substantial increase in the number of NIV 
applications from all these countries, particularly 
the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Poland and Slovakia.  Citizens are attracted by the 
wages, availability of jobs, comprehensive 
educational system and excellent social welfare 
benefits that Ireland has to offer. 
 
Birth, Marriage and Death certificates are available through 
direct application to the Registrar, General Register 
Office.  Commencing in July 2003 under a modernization 
scheme, new style "security certificates" were introduced on 
a phased basis.  Both the new and the old handwritten 
version with dry seal are in circulation.  To date no 
problems have been experienced with either. 
 
Ireland introduced a new passport in November 2004.  The 
passport is a highly secure document and incorporates a 
polycarbonate data page with enhanced security features.  To 
date no reports of fraud regarding this passport have been 
received. 
 
2. NIV Fraud:  As a low fraud post the main reason for visa 
refusals continues to be the failure of both Irish and TCN 
applicants to overcome the "intending immigrant" 
requirements of the law, and the suspicion that the 
applicants are seeking to enter the U.S. to take up illegal 
employment, even if only temporarily.  Post continues to 
monitor with care Indian national H1-B applicants in the IT 
(information technology) sector who apply with an Indian 
primary degree, have taken further IT-related courses in 
either questionable Irish schools or at recognized 
institutions where they fail to make the grade.  Often 
times, small Indian owned IT companies in the US are the 
petitioners of these applicants. 
 
3. IV Fraud:  Post is aware of this potential area of fraud 
but has no incidents to report. 
 
4. DV Fraud:  Two cases of DV Fraud were encountered at post 
in the past year.  One related to the presentation of 
fraudulent educational documents by a Burmese national in 
support of his visa application.  The second involved an 
Irish national who made two separate applications for the 
visa lottery, thus disqualifying herself. 
 
5. ACS and Passport Fraud:  No incidents of fraud have been 
detected in the past year. 
 
6. Adoption Fraud: There are very few Irish children 
available for adoption and although it is legally possible 
for these children to be adopted outside the state, 
preference would be given to Irish adopting parents. 
 
7. Asylum and other DHS Benefits:  No incidents reported. 
 
8. Co-Operation with host government:  Co-operation with the 
Irish government offices and agencies is excellent.  The FPM 
meets on a regular basis with representatives from 
government offices, the local law enforcement agency and 
U.K. embassy officers.  The US Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection (BCBP) have Pre-Flight Inspection facilities at 
both Dublin and Shannon Airports and also participate at 
these meetings to help keep all informed and alerted to any 
emerging trends. 
 
9. Areas of particular concern:  The potential for fraud 
arising from the increased numbers of TCNs now living 
legally but undocumented in Ireland and applying for NIVs at 
post is an issue of concern.  Also, we continue to 
experience H1B applications from Indian nationals whose 
educational ties to Ireland may be suspect and who appear to 
be using temporary residency in Ireland as a stepping stone 
for seeking an H1B visa here as opposed to from our posts in 
India. 
 
10. Staffing and Training:  FPM Andrew Hoye also holds the 
position of Chief of the Visa Unit and attended PC541 Fraud 
Prevention for Consular Managers (PC541) in March 2001.  LES 
Nuala Phillips spends approximately 50% of her time on fraud 
prevention matters and attended the Fraud Prevention 
Workshop (PC542) in 2003.  LES back-up Alan King has 
attended no formal Fraud Prevention training courses to date 
although he did attend the Senior NIV Workshop (PC121) in 
February 2004.