Office of International Student and Scholar Services

USCIS Site Visits for H-1B Employers

As part of the compliance review process and to investigate potential fraud in the H-1B Temporary Worker Visa Program, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Department of Labor (DOL) representatives may conduct random unannounced site visits to verify information in certain visa petitions. USCIS randomly selects sites to visit after the petition is adjudicated.  The purpose of the visit is to ensure that the employers and beneficiaries are following the terms and conditions stated in the approved H-1B petition.  Participation in USCIS site visits is mandatory.  Any refusal of a site visit may lead to a case being denied.  Please feel free to contact our office during a site visit so we can provide additional information on a petition if necessary. 

Who Is Subject to a Site visit

According to USCIS, the following petition types may be randomly selected for compliance review site visits:

• H-1B nonimmigrant temporary visas (all UToledo H-1B employees);
• L-1 nonimmigrant visas;
• EB-5 visas; and
• Religious workers.

What to Expect

At the site visit, the officer will do the following:

• "Verify the information, including supporting documents, submitted with the petition;
• "Verify that the petitioning organization exists;
• "Review public records and information on the petitioning organization;
• "Conduct unannounced site visits to where the beneficiary works;
• "Take photographs;
• "Review documents;
• "Interview personnel to confirm the beneficiary’s work location, physical workspace, hours, salary and duties; and
• "Speak with the beneficiary."--(from USCIS Site Visit page)

Guidelines and Tips

• Please remain calm and take a brief pause to gather your thoughts. You should always cooperate with federal immigration officials in collaboration with Legal Affairs or CISP to ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
• Ask for the immigration official’s credentials, badge or business card. Determine which agency they represent and the purpose of the visit.
• Make a copy of their credentials and any paperwork they present.
• Contact CISP (Maryam Sediqe or Anne Bennett) at (419)530-4229.
• If you or your H-1B employee are not able to answer a question or provide requested documents during an H-1B related site visit, you may ask the officials for additional time and contact Maryam Sediqe or Anne Bennet with CISP at (419)530-4229.
• If the officials want to interview an H-1B employee, you can request that one of the following university representatives be present for the interview: employee’s supervisor, attorney from general counsel office (419)530-8411 or Maryam Sediqe (419)530-4229.