O-Visa Fraud News
There have been a few visa fraud issues recently. In addition to the two Indian-American brothers, who got sentenced to more than 7-years in prison due to visa frauds, an entertainment producer was arrested on Saturday June 18.
Jemuel Luciano, an executive producer for the Royal Entertainment Productions, was indicted of bringing nonimmigrant workers to come to Guam as entertainers with the O-visa, and having them illegally sell alcoholic drinks to make profit.
The O-visa program is for individuals who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements. In order for the petitioner to obtain an O-visa, they must submit documentations on what they will be doing, in which field of work.
Luciano violated U.S. Immigration laws by bringing bands from the Philippines and made them perform in a club while having the female member of the bands sell alcoholic drinks, which he made an estimate of $10 – $30 profit off of per every drink sold.
If found guilty, Luciano will have to forfeit more than $9,000 in addition to any properties he purchased with the profits he made from the drink sales.
In Hartford, Connecticut another man has been charged for a visa fraud scam. Hai Van Nguyen, a 41-year-old man was indicted of an online fraud scheme. Nguyen advertised a green card and a citizenship within 5-years, through Facebook to workers from Vietnam to come to the United States through his company “New Saigon Entertainment”. He had two others that helped him collect “deposits” from the workers in Vietnam. He has been accused of stealing more than $500,000 from those people.
Another H-1B Visa Fraud
Another immigration fraud occurred in Pleasanton, California. Sandhya Ramireddi and her brother, Pratap “Bob” Kondamoori, along with two others, Sunitha and Venkat Guntipally, were indicted of conspiracy to commit H-1B frauds.
The four submitted more than 100 fraudulent H-1B visa applications, which stated that the workers would be placed in specific U.S. companies. However, the companies listed were either nonexistent or they had no intentions to hire those H-1B petitioners.
Contact Us
Immigration fraud does occur, and it is a serious crime. Be sure you consult with a trusting attorney. Contact us with any questions or for more information on immigration visas.