US receives over 5,000 tips on H-1B visa fraud says Official

Representational ImageMore than 5000 complaints of H1b visa fraud and abuse have been received by a federal agency on a dedicated email helpline that was launched by the Trump administration last year an official said As of May 21 2018 the USCIS has received over 5000 tips to the dedicated H1B email address Philip Smith a Spokesperson for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS told PTIAfter US President Donald Trump Signed Buy American Hire American executive order last year Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate FDNS established email addresses dedicated to receiving information about suspected H1B and H2B fraud or abuse FDNS leads USCISs efforts to combat immigration benefit fraud Anyone including both American workers and workers who suspect they or others may be the victim of H1B or H2B fraud or abuse can email ReportH1BAbuseuscisdhsgov or ReportH2BAbuseuscisdhsgov to submit tips alleged violations and other relevant information about potential fraud or abuse Smith saidThe USCIS however did not provide any other details with regard to the nature of complaints the companies involved and which countrys hightech professionals were the victims of H1B visa fraud and abuse Pursuant to the Buy American Hire American Executive Order FDNS has helped the agency investigate the H1B program to protect American workers Smith said In April 2017 USCIS FDNS created and implemented the Targeted Site Visit and Verification Program TSVVP as part of its continuous efforts to enhance the integrity of the immigration benefit process he said This targeted approach focuses on H1B dependent employers those who have a high ratio of H1B workers as compared to US workers as defined by statute Cases that we cannot validate the employers basic business information through commercially available data and employers petitioning for H1B workers who work offsite at another company or organizations location Smith said in response to a questionFDNS officers resolve background check information and other concerns that surface during the processing of immigration benefit applications and petitions Resolution often requires communication with law enforcement or intelligence agencies to make sure that the information is relevant to the applicant or petitioner at hand and if so whether the information would have an impact on eligibility for the benefit FDNS officers also perform checks of USCIS databases and public information as well as other administrative inquiries to verify information provided on and in support of applications and petitions Smith said administrative inquiries may include targeted site visits Inquiries conducted in cases where fraud is suspectedFDNS uses the Fraud Detection and National Security Data System FDNSDS to identify fraud and track potential patterns he said The USCIS has formed a partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE in which FDNS pursues administrative inquiries into most application and petition fraud while ICE conducts criminal investigations into major fraud conspiracies he said According to the USCIS the H1B visa program should help US companies recruit highlyskilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country Yet too many American workers who are as qualified willing and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged the USCIS says on its webpage Employers who abuse H1B visa program may negatively affect US workers decreasing wages and opportunities as they import more workers from abroad it saidHighly popular among Indian technology professional the H1B visa is normally issued for three years and renewed for another three years The US Congress has a cap of 65000 H1B visas per year It also issues another 20000 H1B visas to those who have masters and higher education from a US academic instituteCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever