Penalty Info

Home / United States / Passport / visa fraud

Passport / visa fraudPossibly — unconfirmed

Possibly — unconfirmed

Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.

Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed

§ 1546(a) — Visa fraud to facilitate international terrorismPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 25 years
Fine
Per § 3571 cap (see fine-cap note)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 1546(a) — Visa fraud to facilitate a drug-trafficking crimePossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 20 years
Fine
Per § 3571 cap (see fine-cap note)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 1546(a) — Visa fraud, first/second offence otherwisePossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years
Fine
Per § 3571 cap (see fine-cap note)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 1546(a) — Visa fraud, any other offencePossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 15 years
Fine
Per § 3571 cap (see fine-cap note)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 1546(b) — Employment-document fraudPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 5 years
Fine
Per § 3571 cap (see fine-cap note)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§§ 1541–1545 — Passport offences (issuing, false statements, forgery, misuse)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years
Fine
Per § 3571 cap (see fine-cap note)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Reported — not yet confirmed.

Source

Statute
18 U.S.C. §§ 1541–1546
Official source
uscode.house.gov (search-snippet corroboration)
Verification status
§ 1546 corroborated via official-text snippet; §§ 1541–1545 reported, not yet confirmed.
Last verified
2026-10-19
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, plea, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.