VZCZCXRO8070
RR RUEHSL
DE RUEHSL #0422 2731441
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301441Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0186
RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH NH
INFO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0005
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0007
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0006
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0001
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0222

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000422 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR CA/FPP, DHS FOR CIS/FDNS, CA FOR KCC WILLIAMSBURG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC LO
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - BRATISLAVA 
 
¶1. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Slovakia joined the Visa Waiver Program 
(VWP) in November 2008, and the majority of former B visa 
travelers are now traveling under VWP.  Although Slovakia had 
one of the best-performing economies in Europe in recent years, 
it has been severely affected by the global economic crisis due 
to its dependence on the auto industry and other foreign direct 
investment for employment.  In the last six months, of European 
countries only the Baltic states have experienced a sharper 
contraction.  Although unemployment has risen less than 
expected, to 11.8 percent nationally, the crisis has 
disproportionately hit the southern and eastern parts of the 
country, where some areas now have unemployment in the 
mid-twenties. 
 
¶2.  NIV FRAUD: Post receives four primary types of applicants: 
students, crew members, petition-based visas, and ESTA denials. 
Post has not seen any new types of fraud in student, crew, or 
petition-based visas.  For ESTA denials, applicants most often 
have had refusals in the past or overstays. 
 
¶3.  IV FRAUD: As of February 2009, IVs for Slovak nationals are 
processed in Bratislava.  During the past six months, Post has 
processed 38 IV cases, and no fraud has been detected. 
 
¶4.  DV FRAUD: As of February 2009, DVs for Slovak nationals are 
processed in Bratislava.  During the reporting period, Post 
processed 15 DV cases, and found one case of misrepresentation 
in which the applicant attempted to conceal a prior overstay. 
 
¶5. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: Post has not identified any ACS or 
passport fraud in recent months. 
 
¶6.  ADOPTION FRAUD: Post has not had any adoption cases in the 
reporting period, and thus no reports of adoption fraud. 
 
¶7. USE OF DNA TESTING: Bratislava did not employ DNA testing in 
the reporting period. 
 
¶8. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFITS FRAUD: Bratislava does not 
process asylum or DHS benefit cases. 
 
¶9. ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORIST 
TRAVEL: During the past six months, Post has continued to 
investigate cases of applicants connected to organized crime. 
The Consular section participates in Post's Counter-Corruption 
Working Group to ensure lookout and related information is as 
complete as possible and if appropriate, processes revocations. 
Post did not identify any terrorist cases during this half year. 
 
¶10. DS CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS: Post's Consular section 
has a very good relationship with the RSO.  During the reporting 
period, no cases were formally referred to the RSO.  The RSO 
regularly cooperates on cases where local checks or other 
information is helpful for adjudication or further investigation. 
 
¶11. HOST COUNTRY PASSPORT, IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, AND CIVIL 
REGISTRY: The GOS began issuing biometric travel documents 
containing a chip in January 2008.  A second generation 
biometric passport, including a scan of the traveler's 
fingerprint and photo, began issuance starting June 2009. 
Passports are issued by a centralized authority responsible to 
the Ministry of the Interior.  Slovak passports and identity 
documents meet EU security criteria and ICAO standards. 
Slovakia began issuing a new national ID card, based on the 
standard EU format, in July 2008.  Post has not identified any 
official document fraud. 
 
¶12. COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: Post remains 
actively involved with the host government through working level 
contacts. 
 
¶13. AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: Corruption in the political and 
economic sphere is a significant issue in Slovakia.  It has 
impacted a number of individual visa applications, and Post is 
looking at potential application of INA s.212(f) in selected 
cases. 
 
¶14. STAFFING AND TRAINING: The FPU consists of one FSO and one 
FSN with part-time anti-fraud responsibilities. 
 
BALL