Fraud Prevention Tips

The U.S. government is aware of fraud schemes targeting Afghans who apply for COM approval.  

Here are tips to prevent becoming a victim of fraud:

• If possible, fill out the DS-157 form yourself.  If someone helps you fill out the form, verify that all the information is true and correct.  Save an electronic copy of your DS-157 to your personal files.
  
  
• Get an employment and recommendation letter directly from your employer and supervisor.  Do not work with anyone who asks for money to help you get an employment or recommendation letter.  If anyone asks you for money to give you these letters, please report it to:  AfghanSIVapplication@state.gov.  Only your employer’s Human Resources department can verify your employment.  Only your direct supervisor or someone higher in the supervision chain can write your Letter of Recommendation.
  
  
• Scan your identity documents yourself.  Save those documents in your personal files only.  Do not let anyone keep copies of your scanned identity documents.

• Send your application materials from your personal email address only.  Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, and other sites offer free email accounts.  Do not let someone else send your application materials to us from their email address.  They may later force you to pay money to read emails received for you or attempt to steal your identity.
  
  
• All emails related to your COM status will be sent to your email from a “.gov” email address.  Be suspicious of any COM-related emails coming from an email address that does not end in “.gov”.
  
  
• The U.S. government has not authorized anyone else to notify you about the status of your COM application.  Imposters may contact you to try to convince you to pay money to seek COM approval.  They may also try to convince you to give them your personal information.  They might try to reach you through websites, emails, letters, and/or phone calls.  Only the U.S. National Visa Center or the U.S. Department of State Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Unit have information about the status of your COM application.  You can send requests for information about your case to:  AfghanSIVapplication@state.gov.
  
  
• The U.S. government will never:
  • Charge fees to apply for COM approval.
  • Offer jobs or guarantee the outcome of your application.
  • Ask you to send personal information to apply for COM approval by text or social media.
  • Guarantee a visa to the United States.
     
• Do not reply to messages that:
  
  • You didn’t request, either by email, text, or social media.
  • Ask you to submit personal information by text or social media.
  • Ask you to submit information to an email address that does not end in “.gov”.
  • Ask you to pay fees.  This includes phone transfers, prepaid credit cards, and private money transfer services like Pay Pal, MoneyGram, Venmo, Apple Pay, etc.
  • Guarantee approval of your COM application, fast-track processing, or job offers.
  • Come from personal channels (like non-government emails, or websites that end in .com).
     
• What to do if you receive a suspicious message about your COM application:
  • Only respond if the reply-to email address ends in “.gov”.
  • Do not click on any links from email domains you do not recognize.