BUFFALO, N.Y. — An Afghan national has been arrested and charged with visa fraud after allegedly submitting falsified documents to obtain a U.S. Special Immigrant Visa, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Dilbar Gul Dilbar, also known as Dilbar Gul Taj Ali Khan, was taken into custody and charged by criminal complaint with visa fraud, a felony offense that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, Dilbar submitted applications for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) in 2016 and 2021. These visas are reserved for Afghan nationals who have assisted the U.S. military. Dilbar’s applications allegedly included a counterfeit U.S. Embassy Kabul Chief of Mission approval, a fraudulent letter of employment, and a fraudulent letter of recommendation.
In July 2016, Dilbar applied for Chief of Mission approval but was denied. He later submitted a counterfeit approval letter in November 2017. In 2021, he reapplied for the SIV, submitting a fraudulent employment verification letter from a U.S.-based company involved in a large-scale scheme to provide fake documents for a fee. He also submitted a second letter of recommendation from an individual involved in an “advance-fee” scam selling fraudulent immigration documents.
Dilbar’s application was approved on March 20, 2024, and he was admitted to the United States on April 4, 2024. On the same day, he applied for a Legal Permanent Resident card, commonly referred to as a “green card,” which was issued on July 22, 2024.
Dilbar made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 9, 2025.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire and is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
