After all fly checks and verifications, a person who becomes a victim of a particular crime while they are in the US and assists law enforcement in the research process is eligible to receive a U visa. The entire procedure has now been revealed as an Indian-origin man named Rambhai Patel, who lately admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy to perpetrate request scams. The 37-year-old American man who lives in New York used to perform armed robberies in franchises to obtain a U Visa from the owners. Rambhai Patel received substantial sums of money from the staged patients in exchange. Patel entered a guilty plea on May 22. He and a co-conspirator were charged in December of 2023. On August 20, Patel may be sentenced. A sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of$ 250, 000 are included in the conspiracy charge of visa fraud. Patel will also be deported once any statement is commuted.
How was the U card fraud financed?
According to the Justice Department’s records, Patel and his reported co-conspirator started these staged burglaries in March 2023. To meet the visa requirements, all of these were armed burglaries. At least nine fast-food cafes and convenience stores were robbed in the US, including at least five in Massachusetts. The staged thefts were done so that store clerks could submit a request for U nonresident rank, which is available to sufferers of certain crimes who have experienced mental or physical abuse and who have assisted law enforcement in the exploration or trial of unlawful activity. The fake robber used a firearm to threaten the store staff during the staged robbery before fleeing and taking cash from the register. In order to produce sufficient evidence, the entire action had to be performed in front of a surveillance camera. The restaurant owners then only called the police to report the crime when the fake robbers escaped. One fictitious victim paid Patel$ 20000 to have him play his staged robbery so he could obtain a U visa. The owners of the stores were then paid by Patel for the robbery. At least two allegedly armed victim co-conspirators submitted U Visa applications based on their involvement in the staged armed robberies.
A U Visa: What Is It?
In the US, victims of certain crimes who have experienced significant mental or physical abuse are eligible for a non-immigrant visa and are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. The Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act, which also includes the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, was passed to create it. A U visa provides work authorization (via an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD), along with temporary legal status, typically for up to 4 years, and employment authorization. Additionally, it provides protection from deportation, which is crucial for victims who work for law enforcement.