Embassy of the United States

Welcome

Welcome to the Fraud Prevention Unit.  Our principal mission is to safeguard U.S. borders by detecting and stopping fraud in applications for U.S. passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas. We accomplish this critical goal by training Consular Section staff on fraud detection, maintaining close cooperation with U.S. and Brazilian law enforcement agencies and deploying our staff of highly trained investigators to conduct interviews and investigations.

The consequences of fraud are extremely serious. If you commit fraud, not only will you lose the benefit that you are seeking, but you may also have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and you may even go to jail. The Fraud Prevention Unit, working closely with the American Citizen Services Unit, the Immigrant Visa Unit, the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit, the Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security, aggressively pursues fraud cases, referring individuals as appropriate for prosecution under U.S. and/or Brazilian law.

Warnings

The consequences of fraud are extremely serious.  Below are the written warnings on some of the applications/documents that are commonly seen in the Consular Section. The warnings speak for themselves.

On the DS-11 (Application for a U.S. Passport or Registration) and the DS-82 (Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail), you will find the following warning:

False statements made knowingly and willfully in passport applications or in affidavits or other supporting documents submitted therewith are punishable by fine and/or imprisonment under provisions of 18 U.S.C. 1001 and/or 18 U.S.C. 1542. Alteration or mutilation of a passport issued pursuant to this application is punishable by fine and and/or imprisonment under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 1543. The use of a passport in violation of the restrictions contained therein or of the passport regulations is punishable by fine and/or imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. 1544. All statements and documents submitted are subject to verification.

Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) contains the following warning:

The Department of Homeland Security investigates claimed relationships and verifies the validity of documents.  The Department of Homeland Security seeks criminal prosecutions when family relationships are falsified to obtain visas.  Penalties:  You may, by law be imprisoned for not more than five years, or fined $250,000, or both, for entering into a marriage contract for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws and you may be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned up to five years or both, for knowingly and willfully falsifying or concealing a material fact or using any false document in submitting this petition.

 Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) contains the following certification that the applicant must sign:

I certify that I have read and understood all the questions set forth in this application and the answers I have furnished on this form are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that any false or misleading statement may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial or entry into the United States.  I understand that possession of a visa does not automatically entitle the bearer to enter the United States of America upon arrival at a port of entry if he or she is found inadmissible.

Contact the Fraud Prevention Unit

The Fraud Prevention Unit, because of the nature of anti-fraud work, is not open to the public. If you have questions about your case, please visit the page of the specific unit that is handling your case (the American Citizen Services Unit, or the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit and follow the directions for contacting that unit

If you have a tip concerning fraud that you wish to share with us, you may contact the Fraud Prevention Unit by email or fax.

Brasília: E-mail: FPMbrasilia@state.gov, fax: (61) 3312-7654

Recife: E-mail: recifeFPU@state.gov, fax: (81) 3231-1906

Rio: E-mail: FPMrio@state.gov, fax: (21) 3823-2111.

São Paulo: E-mail: SPLrelato@state.gov, fax: (11)-5186-7393.

Fraud Prevention Unit

Lost/Stolen Passport with a valid visa

If your passport with a valid visa was lost or stolen, please contact immediately the closest American Embassy or Consulate.

Fill in an Incident Report (Boletim de Ocorrência) at the police station closest to the place where the incident took place, send a copy of the report to the Fraud Prevention Unit of the closest American Embassy or Consulate with the following information:

• Last and first names as written in the passport (USE UPPERCASE LETTERS)
• Date of birth and passport number
• Description of how the passport was lost or stolen
• Date of the incident
• Telephone and e-mail

The Consular Section cannot issue an invalidated visa. If you informed the loss of the passport with a valid visa, it  will be canceled. If you wish to apply for a new visa, you'll have to schedule an appointment to apply for a visa.

Fraud Prevention Unit

Deportation / Removal
If you have been deported/removed from the United States and need to prove your return to Brazil, you may:

In Brasilia, appear at the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit any Monday at 2 p.m.  When you appear, you must bring the following:

• The passport you used to travel to the United States (if applicable)
• Form I-392 (Notification of Departure)
• The used airline tickets from your journey to/from the United States
• All other documents related to your deportation/removal.

In Recife, appear at the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit on Tuesdays or Thursdays afternoons. When you appear, you must bring the following:

• The passport you used to travel to the United States (if applicable)
• Form I-392 (Notification of Departure)
• The used airline tickets from your journey to/from the United States
• All other documents related to your deportation/removal.

In São Paulo, appear at the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit any Monday between 7 and 11 A.M.  When you appear, you must bring the following:

• The passport you used to travel to the United States (if applicable)
• Form I-392 (Notification of Departure)
• The used airline tickets from your journey to/from the United States
• All other documents related to your deportation/removal.

In Rio de Janeiro, schedule an appointment in advance, through an e-mail to visario@state.gov.When you appear, you must bring the following:

• The passport you used to travel to the United States (if applicable)
• Form I-392 (Notification of Departure)
• The used airline tickets from your journey to/from the United States
• All other documents related to your deportation/removal.