US Launches 175 H-1B Visa Probes Amid Allegations of Abuse, Report Claims

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) has initiated 175 investigations into potential abuses of the H-1B visa program, according to a Fox News report released on Friday.

The investigations were launched under Project Firewall, a federal effort started in September to ensure American workers are given job priority and that visa programs are not being exploited.

The initiative coincided with former President Donald Trump's proclamation imposing a one-time $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions to discourage misuse of the system.

What the Investigations Revealed

While the Labor Department has not disclosed full details, the 175 probes represent more than $15 million in unpaid wages owed to affected workers. According to the DOL, the investigations revealed that several foreign employees with advanced degrees were being underpaid compared to the promised job descriptions.

Officials said such wage manipulation not only hurt visa holders but also pushed down wages for American workers. As a result, many US employees were forced to accept lower pay to remain competitive in similar roles.

Employer Negligence and LCA Violations

The investigations found employers failed to notify the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when H-1B workers were terminated or delayed their notifications significantly. Another major finding centered around the misuse of the Labor Condition Application (LCA), which employers are required to file before hiring foreign workers for H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 visa programs.

The DOL noted that some work sites listed in the LCAs did not exist or that employees were unaware of their assigned duties. Furthermore, certain companies were discovered to be copying and pasting generic job notices that had little connection to the actual roles being filled.

Benching and Underpayment Concerns

Investigators also found that some employers engaged in "benching," a practice where H-1B visa holders are left unpaid between work projects. Employees were reportedly compensated less than what was stated in their LCAs, further violating program requirements.

The findings from Project Firewall highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring transparency and fairness in the H-1B visa system, which remains crucial to both the American workforce and the country's high-skilled immigration framework.