PORTLAND, Ore. – An Oregon resident who served four years in the Zvornik Brigade in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the mid-1990s was convicted on Aug. 6 by a federal jury on charges of visa fraud and making a false statement to an agency of the United States, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Zeljko Boskovic, 50, of Beaverton, Ore., came to the United States as a refugee in 1998. At that time, he claimed that he did not participate in the Bosnian Civil War, which took place from 1992 to 1996. He claimed he lived outside of Bosnia during those years.

However, evidence presented during trial showed that Boskovic’s claims were false.

Records and other documents showed that he lived in Zvornik, Bosnia, during the war and served in the Zvornik Brigade from July 1992 through at least February 1996. He initially served with the infantry for two years before being transferred to the military police for the remainder of the war.

The Zvornik Brigade participated in the executions of unarmed Bosnian Muslim men and boys captured from the United Nations designated safe-area of Srebrenica in July 1995. Members of the Zvornik Brigade were responsible for atrocities at or near four school sites, including the Orahovac School, which was in close physical proximity to the Zvornik Brigade headquarters.

“Those who knowingly hide their past not only defraud our nation’s immigration system, they hope to avoid taking responsibility for the crimes they have committed,” said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of HIS in Seattle. “We have made it a priority to use our unique investigative authorities to ensure that human rights violators do not use the United States as a safe haven.”

“Our nation’s refugee programs are among the most generous and compassionate in the world,” said U.S. Attorney Holton. “Refugee applicants who create fraudulent personal histories in order to be admitted to the United States – and to deny affiliation with groups like the Zvornik Brigade – abuse that generosity and compassion. Their misrepresentations cast a pallor of suspicion over all legitimate refugees who played by the rules.”

Trial evidence included military records seized in 1998 from the headquarters of the Zvornik Brigade, Army of the Republika Srpska in 1998. The search was conducted pursuant to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Boskovic is scheduled to be back in federal court for sentencing on Oct. 14, 2010. The maximum penalties for visa fraud and false statement are 10 years and five years imprisonment respectively.

U.S. Attorney Holton praised the investigative work of the special agents in ICE HSI who worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Atkinson of the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Matthew Singer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section handled the prosecution of the case.

Abused spouses options under immigration laws

There are millions who live in the United States without status. While it is true that there are harsh inadmissibility bars triggered by spending time in the United States without any legal status, there are certain immigration options which are available to those who are in the US without status. If, however, none of the following saving provisions apply to you, then you may be deemed inadmissible and would have to apply for an inadmissibility waiver before you can obtain legal status.

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Important: The testimonials or endorsements on this website do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Each case is different and success in one case does not warrant or guarantee success in other similar cases or situations.

Notice: Due to the large volume of Surrender Certificate applications we are unable to attend to ANY QUERIES at the counter. Collection of Surrender Certificate at the Consulate is between 4:00pm to 4:45pm (working days only).

Renunciation of Indian Citizenship and ‘Surrender Certificate’

Indian citizens acquiring US (foreign) citizenship and renouncing Indian citizenship are required to surrender their Indian passports and obtain a “Surrender Certificate” which is issued by the Consulate. The charges for obtaining this service is US$20/- for those acquiring US citizenship upto 31.05.2010 and thereafter it is US$ 175/- for those acquiring US citizenship on or after 01.06.2010. These passports are cancelled and returned to the passport holder for future reference.

Please attach money order / cashiers check payable to “Consulate General of India – San Francisco” for the service charge of US$ 20 or US$175/- depending on your date of obtaining US Naturalization for surrender certificate.

Detailed procedure for application of “Surrender Certificate” is given below:

Renunciation of Citizenship of India

The Declaration of Renunciation of Citizenship of India shall be made in Form to the Consulate by the concerned applicants resident in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming

The applicants shall state clearly the circumstances in which they acquired US (foreign) Citizenships.

On receipt of the Declaration of Renunciation of Citizenship of India, a Surrender Certificate, in the prescribed form, is issued by the Consulate. The Declaration of Renunciation is registered in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, through the Consulate.

Applicants may kindly send completed Form, along with all documents and a money order / cashiers check payable to “Consulate General of India – San Francisco” along with trackable Pre-paid return envelope to 540 Arguello Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94118 (e.g. (a) USPS ‘Express Mail’ – Preferred (b) UPS (c) Fedex) also do not remove senders/customers copy (consulate will keep it).

All queries only by e-mail

For more details

This internal memo-on-alternatives-to-comprehensive-immigration-reform a few days ago and got everyone talking. The memo clearly shows USCIS taking dramatic measures to ease immigration waiting lines and policies WITHOUT CIR – or legislative change. They are trying to do things that they can, internally, that are within their power, to effect positive change. This is commendable!! Something USCIS should have done years ago. Whoever’s behind this is SO doing the right thing.

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