How to spot work visa scams

People who dream of working in the U.S. are easy targets for scams. These are the most common signs and how to protect yourself.

Red flags

They ask for money to "guarantee" the job, the interview or the visa. For H-2A and H-2B this is against the law.
They sell an "EB-3 package" or a "guaranteed green card" for tens of thousands of dollars. No one can guarantee a green card, and the PERM cost belongs to the employer.
They ask for a deposit to "hold" the job, pay a "processing fee" or "insurance".
The offer only comes through WhatsApp or social media, with no company name, address or Department of Labor case number.
Pressure: "today only", "last spots", "pay now or lose it".
They promise pay far above normal for work with no experience.
They tell you to enter the U.S. as a tourist and "fix the visa later". Working on a tourist visa is illegal.

Ask for the case number (it starts with H-300, H-400 or JO-A) and look it up on the official site seasonaljobs.dol.gov or here on NorteVisa.
Check that the company name, city, pay and dates match the offer you got.
For H-2B jobs, see if the recruiter in your country is on the list the employer declared to the government.
Contact the employer using the phone or email in the official record, not the one in the message.
Never send copies of your passport or documents to someone you could not verify.

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: 1-866-487-9243 (many languages) or dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints.
Fraud in general: reportfraud.ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission).
Human trafficking or forced labor: National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-373-7888.
Outside the U.S.: your local police and the U.S. consulate.

Last updated: Nov 11, 2026