NAIROBI, Kenya- The United States is encouraging the public to report suspected visa fraud and misuse through an online platform that accepts anonymous tips, promising to investigate allegations and take appropriate action.
The State Department’s reporting page, updated on September 18, 2026, asks informants to provide detailed information that could help authorities identify and investigate suspected wrongdoing.
“We encourage members of the public to provide any and all information regarding potential fraud or misuse of U.S. visas for immediate investigation,” the department says.
For Kenyans who have encountered fraud involving an American visa application, the platform provides a direct channel to US authorities.
The department’s separate reporting guidance directs both victims and people with knowledge of suspected visa fraud to the form.
Informants can withhold their identities
People submitting reports do not have to disclose their names. However, providing contact details allows investigators to ask follow-up questions.
The department says detailed identifying information improves the likelihood of a successful investigation.
Its privacy notice explains that information submitted may support law enforcement investigations and reviews of immigration actions.
Reports may also be shared with relevant authorities, including foreign law enforcement agencies.
The page does not announce a Kenya-specific measure or give a launch date for the reporting platform.
Warning over green card lottery scams
Separately, the State Department warns that fraudsters are targeting Diversity Visa applicants with emails and letters designed to look like official US government communications.
The scheme, commonly known as the green card lottery, has attracted scammers who falsely tell applicants they have been selected and demand money.
According to the department, applicants must check their selection status themselves through the official Entrant Status Check at dvprogram.state.gov.
An email reminding someone to check their status is possible. An email or letter announcing that they have won is not how the department communicates selection.
Agents cannot improve selection chances
The department also warns against consultants who charge applicants on the promise of improving their chances of selection.
Applicants who need assistance should ensure that whoever completes the forms uses accurate information.
They should retain their confirmation number and use an email address they control.
The guidance warns against adding people who are not legally an applicant’s spouse or child to a visa application.
For Kenyan applicants using an intermediary, those instructions mean retaining access to their application details and checking what is submitted in their name.
Fraud can lead to permanent visa ineligibility
The consequences of deliberately misleading immigration authorities can extend beyond a rejected application.
Under the State Department’s guidance, a person who seeks a visa or entry into the United States through fraud or wilful misrepresentation of a material fact can be found permanently ineligible.
A material fact is information that would have affected the person’s eligibility had the truth been known.
That finding remains relevant to future applications. Simply submitting a fresh application does not remove it.
Some applicants may qualify to seek a waiver, depending on the legal grounds and their circumstances.
A consular officer advises whether that option is available, and approval is not guaranteed.
Where to report suspected fraud
People who have experienced or become aware of suspected fraud involving a US visa application can use the State Department’s reporting form.
The department provides separate reporting routes for passport fraud and other immigration scams, directing the latter to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Internet and email scams are also covered by reporting guidance linked from its official fraud information page.
