US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

francie · Jan 7, 2009

Re: US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

AnonLover;682500 said:

i wouldnt so much be interested in the names as i would the job description / job title /employment details. the employment reason they need shipped in.

I think it would be beneficial. You could test it by requesting FOIA information for... say... "first 5 random petitions for religious worker visas submitted by petitioner Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc. in 2008".

Doesn't matter what the names on the applications are. They could be blacked out. But it would be interesting to see how they are filling out the applications.

It might show country of origin, post title for the beneficiary, and other info of interest.

I say "go fer it". Couldn't hurt. Might help a lot.

AnonLover · Jan 7, 2009

Re: US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

francie;682710 said:

Doesn't matter what the names on the applications are. They could be blacked out. But it would be interesting to see how they are filling out the applications.

It might show country of origin, post title for the beneficiary, and other info of interest.

exactly. any other religious institution wouldnt even think of bothering w/ the paperwork hassles for menial/administrative workers. They use it strictly for aide workers, specialized teachers, or political ambassadors -- with the last two always being short term.

so if we get generic job-related info out of a foi request (once enough applications peculate thru the new system) that can be exploited... i see 2 big gains:

1) insert disgust for scilons abusing the system in other religious organizations
2) cannon fodder for complaining to Homeland Security, who mandated these new policies had to be put into place. assuming we find administrative/menial job placement requests being approved. my hope is we find that shit being denied because it not vocational service.

OTBT · Jan 7, 2009

Re: US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

Go for it! Any info that can be extracted from FOI requests would be very useful.

OTBT · Jan 7, 2009

Re: US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

I'll just leave this here...

About The Office of Fraud Detection and National Security

The Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) is a division within USCIS National Security and Records Verification Directorate (NSRV). FDNS was created in 2004 to enhance the quality, integrity, and security of the U.S. legal immigration system. FDNS’ primary mission is to detect, deter, and combat immigration benefit fraud and to strengthen USCIS’ efforts aimed at ensuring benefits are not granted to persons who threaten national security or public safety. FDNS is USCIS’ primary conduit to the law enforcement and intelligence communities. Adjudications officers collaborate with FDNS officers who in turn, work in collaboration with DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and if pertinent, with other federal, state, and local government offices to bring suspected cases to conclusion, i.e., criminal prosecution or administrative sanctions.

FDNS has four branches

*
Fraud Detection Branch: Responsible for developing and overseeing anti-fraud policies and procedures, detecting fraudulent immigration activities, and identifying fraudulent benefit applications.
*
National Security Branch: Responsible for developing and overseeing national security policies and procedures and resolving national security concerns with the law enforcement and intelligence communities.
*
Intelligence Branch: Responsible for the collection, analysis, and sharing of information, as well as coordination of information and activities with the law enforcement and intelligence communities.
*
Mission Support Branch: Responsible for providing administrative support by performing functions such as, strategic planning and analysis, budget and finance, property and procurement, human resources, facilities, and systems support.

FDNS is a developing operation. By 2009, it will have a workforce of approximately 650 officers throughout the U.S. and in selected offices overseas.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/fdns_fact_sheet.pdf

OTBT · Jan 7, 2009

Re: US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

A note, found this while digging around. "Matter of Hall" definitely applies to Sea Org compensation.

http://www.uscis.gov/err/C1 - Religious Worker/Decisions_Issued_in_2004/SEP092004_01C1101.pdf

The fact that the auditor's compensation takes the form of room and board rather than a salary is not inherently disqualifying; in Matter of Hall, 18 I&N Dec. 203 (BIA 1982), the Board of Immigration Appeals found that an alien who "volunteered as a religious worker in exchange for room, board and a small stipend was, for immigration purposes, "employed" by the church.

Here is the Decision referred to, in full:

ProPublish Reference

Interim Decision # 2897

18 I. & N. Dec. 203

United States Department of Justice

Board of Immigration Appeals

MATTER OF HALL

In Deportation Proceedings

A-22103583

Decided by Board February 4, 1982

(1) The respondent, who engages in fund-raising activities as part of his missionary work for the Unification Church, is employed within the contemplation of section 245(c)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1255(c)(2), and, therefore, his employment without the permission of the Immigration and Naturalization Service bars him from adjusting his status in the United States to that of a lawful permanent resident.

(2) Where the respondent receives full support in return for his missionary duties, he is not an unpaid volunteer in the service of the Church even though he receives no fixed salary or remuneration in an amount proportional to his success in his work.

(3) In the absence of a clear expression of legislative intent, the Board will not conclude that detriment to the American labor force was Congress' sole or even primary concern in enacting section 245(c)(2) of the Act; however, where the respondent's activities as a fund-raiser could successfully be performed by persons or business enterprises outside the Church and involve the sale of goods, an entrepreneurial undertaking which places the Church in competition with other sellers of such goods, it may not be said that those activities are without adverse impact on the United States labor market.

francie · Jan 9, 2009

Re: US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

ICE arrests 110 Florida residents in targeted immigration fugitive operation.

11 arrests from Tampa area... "ICE will continue to arrest and deport aliens who have ignored an immigration judge's order to leave the country," said Michael Rozos, field office director for the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) in Florida. "While we are a welcoming country, we expect those wanting to immigrate here to do so in a safe, legal and orderly manner. We will conduct these targeted fugitive operations to ensure that removal orders are carried out and locate these immigration violators who potentially pose a threat to public safety. Those that want to avoid arrest should comply with the law."

ICE arrests 110 Florida residents in targeted immigration fugitive operation.

Sponge · May 27, 2011

Would the proposed "SAVE Act" (HR2000) be friendly to the scientology cult?

Rep. Heath Shuler Reintroduces Bi-Partisan SAVE Act
NumbersUSA.com 27th May 2011
http://www.numbersusa.com/content/n...shuler-reintroduces-bi-partisan-save-act.html

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) reintroduced his comprehensive immigration enforcement legislation that would mandate E-Verify nationwide, strengthen border security, and improves interior enforcement. The SAVE Act (H.R. 2000) was introduced with 36 original co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. This is the third consecutive Congress Rep. Shuler has introduced the legislation.

The SAVE Act would:

<snipped>

• Strengthens penalties against alien smugglers including imprisonment from 1 to 30 years depending on the type of offense; includes an exemption for religious institutions that authorize illegal aliens to serve as volunteer ministers or missionaries.

If they weren't considered "volunteer ministers" or "missionaries" then......

•Within four years of enactment, all employers must verify employment eligibility for all employees through the E-Verify program, established as the Basic Pilot program in 1996:

◦Federal agencies, Federal contractors and subcontractors, and large employers with more than 250 employees must verify new hires within one year of enactment;
◦Employers with 100 or more employees must verify new hires within two years; and
◦Employers with 30 or more employees must verify new hires within three years.
◦Requires all employers to meet verification requirements on all employees within four years of enactment.
◦Provides a safe harbor against sanctions for employers who use the system in good faith.
◦Requires all employers to run their current employees through the E-Verify system

Jeff Jacobsen · May 27, 2011

Sponge said: ↑

Would the proposed "SAVE Act" (HR2000) be friendly to the scientology cult?

Rep. Heath Shuler Reintroduces Bi-Partisan SAVE Act
NumbersUSA.com 27th May 2011
http://www.numbersusa.com/content/n...shuler-reintroduces-bi-partisan-save-act.html

If they weren't considered "volunteer ministers" or "missionaries" then......

This would be a way for a nefarious "religion" to make money. The government gives them a unique way for people to get into the US. The "religion" offers that way to people for a nice donation.

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US Government enacts revised regulations to reduce Religious Worker Visa fraud

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