While most immigration petitions are genuine, the Immigration Service is constantly looking out for the scams.

In fact, the Immigration Service (“USCIS”) charges a Fraud Fee in some petitions, but the investigation of fraud in immigration cases is not only limited to those particular petitions.

The Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (“FDNS”) at the USCIS has been browsing the social network sites to root out fraud. The FDNS released a memo entitled “Social Networking Sites and their Importance to FDNS,” which makes it clear that the USCIS is investigating people, who apply for immigration benefits. This memorandum was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act demand on the government.

The memo does not say what level of suspicion is required before FDNS will investigate a person on the social media pages.

The memo even guides investigators on how to make “friends” with people on these sites so that they can get access to those restricted personal pages.

A social networking site can reveal a bogus marriage, where someone is listed as “single.” An H-1B professional who is supposed to be working for a software developer may be exposed as working as a bar tender. The solemn religious worker, who is seen chugging spirits at a wild beach party, will have no chance in arguing that “spirits” and “spiritual” are the same.

Kind-hearted U.S. citizens, who are only “trying to help” someone stay in the country can find themselves in federal criminal courts for fraud. Remember Uncle Sam is watching.