USCIS Increasing Measures to Detect H-1B Abuse

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced recently several measures to help recognize and prevent H-1B fraud and abuse.

The H-1B Visa and Abuse

This visa program's purpose is to help companies in the U.S. recruit highly-skilled workers from other countries when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the U.S. The U.S. employer must prove that there is not an available worker in the U.S. to fulfill the opening, which presents an opportunity for fraud or abuse of the visa program.

Additionally, USCIS now aims to make more rigorous site visits to H-1B employers and H-1B worksites. Resources will be focused where this fraud is more likely to occur. Also, USCIS will continue random and unannounced visits to these worksites. The purpose of these visits is to identify employers who are committing fraud or abusing the system.

USCIS has created an email address (reporth1babuse@uscis.dhs.gov) where individuals may submit tips or information. This information may be used for investigations. Individuals may also report fraud or abuse by submitting Form WH-4 to the Department of Labor (DOL).