US immigration authorities are increasing scrutiny on H-1B visas and other legal immigration programs due to fraud investigations and new regulatory restrictions. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has intensified monitoring of employment-based, student, and family-based immigration, including a significant enforcement effort called Operation Twin Shield.
This operation revealed widespread abuse of H-1B and student visas, as well as fraudulent marriage-based applications, leading to numerous worksite visits, over 1,500 in-person interviews, benefit denials, and arrests by USCIS. Changes have been made to the rules governing employment authorization, including the elimination of automatic extensions for certain work permits while renewal applications are being processed.
Moreover, some employment authorization documents’ maximum validity has been reduced from five years to 18 months to facilitate more frequent screening and vetting of applicants. USCIS has proposed a rule to prioritize H-1B visas for higher-skilled, higher-paid workers to safeguard wages, working conditions, and job opportunities for American workers.
Family-based immigration is also under increased scrutiny, with USCIS enhancing screening to verify the authenticity of marriages and family relationships cited in immigration applications to prevent fraudulent schemes for obtaining benefits. These measures align with a broader shift towards an “America First” immigration policy focused on public safety and national security.
