USCIS started the Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program in 2009. The Program serves to verify information in certain types of visa petitions. Immigration officers from the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, otherwise known as FDNS, make unannounced site visits to ensure visa compliance.
Our visa attorney works with employees and companies to prepare and submit FDNS site visit responses.
What types of visas are subject to site visits?
USCIS will conduct site visits on special immigrant religious worker petitions; H-1B petitions; L-1 petitions; and EB-5 petitions.
What types of visas are most likely to receive site visits?
Generally, H-1B visas tend to have the most site visits. Our visa attorney has been helping companies verify H-1B information for more than ten years.
Will I know if USCIS is planning to conduct a site visit?
No, the visits are usually unannounced. In rare cases, an officer will contact an employer ahead of time.
How will the officer identify himself or herself?
The officer will normally present a badge or another identification credential. Contractors must present a business card with a 1-800 number for an FDNS hotline. If you need assistance responding to a USCIS site visit, please contact our visa attorney.
To whom will the officer ask to speak?
The officer will normally ask to speak with a representative of the employer. Sometimes, the officers will also ask to meet with the employee.
Must I participate in the site visit?
The USCIS site confirms that the site visit compliance review process is voluntary. FDNS officers must end a site visit if the employer or worker is unwilling to participate.
If I do not participate in a site visit, will my visa be revoked?
No. However, USCIS may later send a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Revoke. Our employment immigration attorney can review the facts of your case and help you prepare a response to your Notice of Intent to Revoke.
Can my attorney handle the site visit request?
An employer or employee may direct the officer to the attorney. If the officer sends an email request, the attorney may respond instead of the employer or employee. It is highly recommended that the company use a qualified attorney to handle all site visit interactions. Our employment immigration attorney is happy to assist companies with USCIS site visit responses.
Why did USCIS choose my case for a site visit?
FDNS randomly selects cases for site visits after USCIS adjudicates the petitions.
What will the officers do during a site visit?
The officers will ask questions and record their observations in a report. The officers will ask questions about the information and documentation submitted with the approved petition. Officers will verify that the employer exists, review public records of the employer, and take photographs. Officers may also interview other employees to verify information. Last, officers may speak to the employee on the visa.
What types of documents will the officer review?
The officer may ask to review a copy of the H-1B petition, the employee’s paystubs, and/or the company’s financial reports. Again, providing such documentation is voluntary.
Will USCIS conduct more than one site visit?
Sometimes, officers conduct multiple site visits if more information is needed to verify the petition.
How can I prepare for a USCIS site visit?
Companies should inform staff about the possibility of site visits by USCIS. Administrative staff, including secretaries, should direct the officers to the individual at the company who will answer the officer’s questions.
Companies should designate an employee who will act as the main contact person for the investigation. All conversation should flow through the designated person.
Companies should maintain immigration documentation in one place for easy access.
Companies should keep an immigration visa attorney’s information readily available. Information relating to our visa attorney can be found on the Contact Us page.
If you or your company are dealing with a USCIS site visit or FDNS document request and you would like assistance, please contact our Arlington area visa attorney.
