The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a public alert on 19 September cautioning foreign nationals against paying individuals or websites that promise expedited approvals for Green Cards, work permits or non-immigrant visas. The advisory, amplified by Indian financial daily Moneycontrol, emphasises that no private party can influence processing times through special government connections. Indian applicants are a prime target for such schemes. Consultancy fees for coveted categories—family-based Green Cards, H-1B changes of status and employment authorisation documents—have ballooned as pandemic-era backlogs persist. Fraudsters exploit desperation by offering “premium slots” at US consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad or claiming inside access to the California Service Centre. USCIS reminds applicants that official forms are free and that legitimate legal advice can only be provided by attorneys or Department of Justice–accredited representatives. The agency directs victims to its online tip portal and notes that paying a scammer does not protect applicants from removal proceedings if fraudulent information is submitted. For Indian corporates, the warning is a compliance red flag. Mobility teams should audit third-party vendors and ensure employees rely on recognised immigration counsel. Employers that unwittingly sponsor petitions prepared with false information risk hefty fines and debarment from future filings. Pragmatic next steps: circulate the USCIS advisory to employees, review service-provider contracts for unauthorised sub-contracting and insist on written engagement letters that spell out scope, fees and refund policies.
Source: Moneycontrol
