-1B visas allow US employers to hire foreign workers in certain occupations

WASHINGTON: The Computerized system designed to successfully screen H-1B applicants in the US each year has been abused and fraud attempts are on the rise. A federal agency gave this information on Friday. H-1B visas allow US employers to hire foreign workers in certain occupations.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement on Friday that it conducted an extensive fraud investigation in FY 2023 and FY 2024 based on "evidence found". USCIS said that it is in the process of initiating criminal prosecution.

It states that the H-1B program is an essential part of our nation's immigration system and economy, and USCIS is committed to enforcing the law and meeting the changing needs of the US labor market. It added that "we are working on the 'H-1B Modernization Rule', which will strengthen the registration process to reduce the potential for fraud and abuse in the H-1B registration system." US Tech Workers, a group campaigning against H-1B visas, said it has been warning about such scams for several years.