US Launches H-1B Fraud Probe; Vance Says American Jobs for American Workers

Speaking in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vance said the action was part of a broader fraud enforcement effort aimed at protecting taxpayer money and preventing abuse of visa programs.

“We have a program called the H-1B visa program. It shows how broad-based the fraud task force is. We fight for your taxpayers’ money, but we also make sure scammers don’t take advantage of these visa programs,” Vance said.

Explaining the purpose of the H-1B program, Vance said the program was created to allow highly skilled professionals, including scientists, doctors and technologists, to work in the United States.

“Now why does this program exist? This is a visa program that was established to ensure that if you are a brilliant tech person, a brilliant scientist, or a brilliant doctor, you can come to the United States and access this visa program,” he said.

But Vance claimed that large companies and overseas organizations were abusing the program to lower wages for American workers.

“But you know that big companies and scammers abroad are using this program to drive down the wages of American workers,” he said.

“So do you know what we’re doing in the Trump administration? We’re saying, ‘No more. If you’re trying to take advantage of this visa program, you’re not allowed into the United States,'” Vance added.

Vance said the federal Labor Department has launched “dozens of subpoenas and investigations” into entities accused of trying to exploit the H-1B visa system.

“American jobs should go to American workers, not foreign scammers, and the Labor Department is fighting against it!” he said.

The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to petition for highly skilled foreign workers to temporarily fill positions in specialized occupations that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Employers sponsoring H-1B workers must submit applications approved by the U.S. Department of Labor stating that the employment will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.

For India, this development is important because the H-1B visa program serves as an important pathway for Indian professionals seeking job opportunities in the United States, especially in sectors such as technology, engineering, healthcare and finance.

Because of India’s large pool of skilled workers in specialized fields, Indian citizens make up a significant portion of those receiving H-1B visas each year, making changes to the program a major issue for New Delhi.

The H-1B program is an important component of the U.S. skilled worker immigration system; The US Congress sets the annual visa limit for most private employers at 65,000, while offering an additional 20,000 slots for candidates with advanced degrees from US institutions.

According to immigration advocacy group FWD.us, approximately 730,000 H-1B visa holders and approximately 550,000 of their dependents, including their spouses and children, currently live in the United States.