In recent times, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has intensified its monitoring of visa holders without prior notice in order to prevent visa fraud, ensure the authenticity of employment and educational information, specifically targeting H-1B and F-1 visa applicants to verify compliance with immigration regulations.
It is important to note that international students with F-1 study visas and foreign employees holding H-1B work visas may be subject to unannounced visits by the US administrative authorities for on-site inspections, checking all relevant records for any suspected fraudulent information. These impromptu inspections are carried out by the Fraud Detection and National Security Department (FDNS) under the jurisdiction of USCIS through the Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program (ASVVP).
The ASVVP, initiated by USCIS in July 2009, serves as a means to verify the authenticity of visa applications as a supplemental method to scrutinize certain reviewed visa application information. In 2017, USCIS launched the Targeted Site Visit and Verification Program (TSVVP) focusing on a more data-driven approach to application verification and FDNS is responsible for managing the TSVVP program.
Under this program, FDNS officers have the authority to conduct surprise inspections, gather information, as part of compliance reviews to ensure applicants and beneficiaries comply with applicable immigration laws for specific cases. Failure or refusal to cooperate with on-site inspections may lead to application denial or revocation.
The TSVVP program selects targets for scrutiny through data analysis, enabling FDNS officers to access government databases, research public records, and conduct field inspections. This means that visa beneficiaries may face sudden visits from immigration officials without prior notice.
In the face of impromptu visits by the immigration authorities, individuals should be aware of what to expect:
– Verification of information in databases and public records.
– Review of all supporting documents submitted with the application.
– Interviews with company representatives or visa beneficiaries.
– Verification at the workplace or study location.
Following the visit, FDNS officers will compile a Compliance Review Report. If any discrepancies are found, USCIS may reject or revoke approved visas based on the findings.
Recently, the Trump administration’s regulation “Restricting Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” has been enforced, requiring a one-time payment of $100,000 for any new H-1B visa application submitted after September 21, 2025. The Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security will also establish corresponding rules.
The new regulation aims to enhance the efficiency of the H-1B program, increase application flexibility, and strengthen measures against fraud. While primarily targeting H-1B visas, some provisions also impact other visa categories such as H-2, H-3, F-1, L-1, and O visas.
Individuals must ensure compliance, as inconsistencies or violations during the process of hiring foreign employees could lead to legal risks and reputational damage for companies.
From surprise home inspections to backlog in form processing, USCIS’s recent series of measures reflect a trend of stricter regulations, detailed scrutiny, yet efficiency needing improvement. According to USCIS’s latest data for August, there has been a significant decrease in the number of immigration form applications. In August, 469,373 applications were received, a 28.6% decrease from July’s 657,722. The number of rejections dropped from 59,830 to 50,842, a 15% decrease.
Furthermore, in various forms, the Employment Authorization Application I-765 showed the most remarkable change. In August, only 222,122 applications were received, a sharp 40.7% decrease from July’s 374,325. The Foreign Relative Petition I-130 reduced from 81,780 to 71,930, a 12% decrease, indicating a recent slowdown in employment and family-related immigration applications.
Despite the decrease in application volume, USCIS’s backlog remains severe. As of August, there were a total of 6,460,168 pending cases, with 63% (approximately 4.07 million) waiting for more than six months. The I-130 form has the highest backlog, exceeding 2.38 million, with over 80% of cases waiting for more than half a year. The I-765 form has nearly 1.78 million cases pending, with the average processing time extended from two and a half months to nearly four months.
The processing times for various forms also show significant differences. The average waiting time for the I-130 has continued to increase, from 14 months to nearly 15 months, while the I-751 Removal of Conditions application has increased from 19 to 20 months. The N-400 Citizenship Naturalization application remains one of the fastest categories to process, averaging 6.4 months for completion.