USCIS Targets H-1B Wage Manipulation

USCIS has identified H-1B wage manipulation cases in three states: Vermont, Nebraska, and Florida. According to the agency, employers used inaccurate job classifications or experience requirements to support lower wage levels, which could undercut U.S. Workers. The cases involve computer programmers and engineering work, with the agency finding that workers were listed as computer programmers while performing higher-paying engineering work.

The agency's investigation found that the practice lowered wages and harmed competition. A post dated September 5, 2026, described the findings, stating that USCIS officers uncovered H-1B petitions in Nebraska that listed workers as computer programmers, while site visits and interviews showed they were performing higher-paying engineering work.

The Cases

The cases in Nebraska, Florida, and Vermont highlight different ways wages can be understated. In Nebraska, the central issue was whether the work performed matched the lower wage classification used in the filings. In Florida, a petition listed two years of experience, while the end client said the position required more than seven years, which could have lowered the appropriate wage level by about $40,000.

Wage Manipulation

The enforcement effort focuses on three connected questions: whether the job title is accurate, whether the listed duties reflect the work, and whether the experience requirement is genuine. Each can affect the wage level presented in an H-1B petition. The agency framed the action as a way to detect inaccurate information and enforce wage-related requirements intended to protect U.S. Workers.

Employer and Worker Responsibilities

Employers and workers should compare the filing with the work performed. Employers should ensure the petition's job title matches the position offered, state the actual duties, and verify that the required experience reflects the end client's real requirements. Employees should review whether the petition accurately describes their duties and experience, and preserve the job information provided to them if the assigned work differs from the filing.

The agency's public emphasis is on wage-level accuracy, job-duty accuracy, and accurate experience requirements. The cases create separate risks for employers and workers, with employers controlling the petition's job description, experience requirements, and wage information. The Visaverge report highlights the importance of accurate filings and the potential consequences of wage manipulation.

The agency coordinated with federal partners to put an end to the wage manipulation practices and protect American workers from unfair wage and hiring practices. The Nebraska post appeared on September 5, 2026, with a related summary item carrying a September 7, 2026, date, extending the public attention around the three-state enforcement effort. The agency's actions aim to detect and prevent inaccurate information and enforce wage-related requirements, protecting U.S. Workers from unfair competition.