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Companies could face probes into their compliance with the H-1B visa program as part of the Trump Administration’s effort to clamp down on the program and force companies to hire more Americans. The Department of Labor announced on Friday that it was launching Project Firewall, an “enforcement initiative” that will investigate employers for potential abuse of the H-1B visa process. The initiative may be the first time the federal government has sought to broadly enforce H-1B legal standards intended to protect both the H-1B employee and American workers, such as paying wages on par with other workers of similar qualifications...

Project Firewall targets H-1B visa abuse, increasing enforcement and compliance checks for employers and immigrants. -snip- Project Firewall impact on immigrants For H-1B workers already in the US, Project Firewall may come with a whole package of uncertainty. Past practices suggest authorities will conduct unannounced site visits to check job duties, wages, and work locations. Even remote work or role changes could trigger compliance checks. Investigators are expected to focus on: Whether H-1B workers are paid at least the higher of prevailing or actual wages Misclassification of jobs into lower-paid categories Worksite accuracy, including remote work compliance Proper posting of...

The US Department of Labor (DOL) has launched ‘Project Firewall’, a sweeping enforcement initiative aimed at curbing misuse of the H-1B visa program and protecting American jobs, particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The objective is to ensure employers prioritize qualified Americans when hiring workers and to hold violators accountable. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the measure would ensure “highly skilled jobs go to Americans first.” For the first time in history, the Secretary of Labor will personally certify investigations into suspected H-1B violations, which officials described as a “historic action.” Employers found guilty could face...

The blanket $100,000 fee and Project Firewall are nothing but various elements being employed by the Trump government to turn the existing H-1B visa program upside-down. The focus has now shifted to hiring American workers. -snip- US Labor Department issues reminder to ‘hire American’ Merely hours ago, the US government department reiterated the sentiment in yet another official social media warning addressed to companies relying on the H-1B visa. “Under our Project Firewall plan, we’re eliminating fraud and abuse in the H-1B program and ensuring AMERICANS are prioritised in the hiring process,” the new tweet stated. The post also highlighted...

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of Project Firewall, an H-1B enforcement initiative that will safeguard the rights, wages, and job opportunities of highly skilled American workers by ensuring employers prioritize qualified Americans when hiring workers and holding employers accountable if they abuse the H-1B visa process. “The Trump Administration is standing by our commitment to end practices that leave Americans in the dust. As we reestablish economic dominance, we must protect our most valuable resource: the American worker. Launching Project Firewall will help us ensure no employers are abusing H-1B visas at the expense of our...

Companies could face probes into their compliance with the H-1B visa program as part of the Trump Administration’s effort to clamp down on the program and force companies to hire more Americans. The Department of Labor announced on Friday that it was launching Project Firewall, an “enforcement initiative” that will investigate employers for potential abuse of the H-1B visa process. The initiative may be the first time the federal government has sought to broadly enforce H-1B legal standards intended to protect both the H-1B employee and American workers, such as paying wages on par with other workers of similar qualifications...