H-1B Site Visits and FDNS: What to Expect When USCIS Shows Up

USCIS's Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) conducts approximately 20,000 unannounced site visits to H-1B workplaces each year. These visits aren't random: they target petitions with risk indicators: consulting/staffing firms, small employers, work-from-home filings, and roles with vague specialty occupation justifications. If your H-1B fits any of these patterns, you may receive an FDNS visit during your status period.

The visits are short (typically 15-30 minutes), and outcomes range from instant clean records to revocation of your petition. The single biggest factor in a clean visit is preparation: your HR's preparation, your immediate supervisor's preparation, and your own. This guide covers what to expect, what they verify, and how to prepare in advance.

Who FDNS is

The Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate is a unit within USCIS that investigates immigration benefit fraud. For H-1B specifically, FDNS officers (also called Immigration Officers or Investigators) verify that:

• The petitioner (employer) exists at the listed address.
• The beneficiary (worker) actually works at the listed worksite.
• The worker performs duties consistent with the petition.
• The worker is paid the LCA-stated wage.
• The employer-employee relationship described in the petition is genuine.

When and how visits happen

Timing

Visits are unannounced. They typically occur 30-180 days after H-1B approval, but can happen any time during the validity period. Some employers report multiple visits per worker over a 3-year H-1B cycle.

What the officer brings

• Government-issued ID (always verify it's legitimate).
• A printed copy of the I-129 petition.
• A standardized questionnaire.

What the officer asks the worker

Expect questions like:

• "Where do you actually work day-to-day?"
• "What's your job title?"
• "What's your typical day like?"
• "Who is your direct supervisor?"
• "What is your salary?"
• "How long have you worked here?"
• "Who interviewed you?"
• "What are you working on right now?"

The officer will compare your answers to your I-129 petition. Discrepancies don't immediately mean revocation, but they trigger follow-up.

Common red flags FDNS investigates

Consultancy / staffing firms

The most-scrutinized category. The officer will ask: where do you actually work? If you're at a client site, do you have an end-client letter? Who manages you day-to-day? Most consultancy denials stem from FDNS visits, not initial USCIS review.

Working from home without an amended LCA

If your LCA lists an office address but you work remotely, the FDNS officer visiting that office won't find you. This triggers immediate follow-up. If you've genuinely moved to remote, your employer must file an amended LCA, and ideally an amended H-1B petition, within 30 days of the move.

Wage discrepancies

Officers can request pay stubs. If your actual pay differs from the LCA wage, the entire petition can be revoked.

Role vs. title mismatch

If your petition says "Software Engineer" and you describe your work as "data entry" or "QA testing," the officer will flag the inconsistency.

What to do during a visit

If the visit occurs at your office

• Be calm and answer truthfully.
• Don't volunteer information beyond what's asked.
• If you don't remember an exact answer (e.g., the precise wage), say so and offer to follow up.
• Ask for the officer's business card.
• Don't sign anything beyond the visit log without consulting your immigration attorney.

If the visit occurs at your home (for WFH workers)

• Same rules apply.
• Officers cannot enter your home without your permission. Answer questions at the door.
• Contact your employer's HR and immigration attorney within 24 hours.

If you're not available

The officer will leave a card and request you call back. Do. Within 24 hours. Failure to respond is treated as a refusal and can trigger a denial.

Preparation: what HR should have ready

• A current org chart showing your reporting structure.
• Your job description and recent project list.
• The LCA Public Access File (required by separate regulation).
• Recent pay stubs matching the LCA wage.
• Your employer's federal tax ID and corporate documents.
• The petition itself with all supporting evidence.

Preparation: what you should know

You should be able to instantly answer:

• Your exact job title (matching the petition).
• Your annual salary.
• Your direct supervisor's name and title.
• Your typical day-to-day responsibilities.
• The technologies, tools, or methodologies central to your role.
• Whether you work at the listed address, remotely, or at client sites.

If the visit goes poorly

If the officer indicates concerns, your petition could be sent to:

• Notice of Intent to Revoke (NOIR): You have 30 days to respond with evidence addressing FDNS concerns. Hire an immigration attorney immediately.
• Notice of Revocation: Status is revoked, triggering a 60-day grace period to file transfer, change status, or depart.
• Referral to ICE or fraud investigation: Rare but possible for clear fraud (fake employers, multi-petition gaming).

NOIRs are recoverable in roughly 60-70% of cases with strong attorney response. Don't panic, but act fast.

A work-from-home site visit. What happened

Take Tomás, a remote software engineer for a Boston-based fintech. His LCA listed the employer's Boston office as the worksite, but he had been working from his Brooklyn apartment for eight months. In April 2026, an FDNS officer visited the Boston office and was told Tomás worked remotely. The officer then visited Tomás's Brooklyn address.

"I opened the door at 11 AM in sweatpants. The officer was polite and professional. Asked who I worked for, what I did day-to-day, who my manager was. I answered straightforwardly and offered to show him my laptop's work email. He left after twelve minutes. My employer received a follow-up notice. We should have filed an amended LCA when I moved to Brooklyn. We did so within a week. No revocation. But it could have gone differently."

Takeaway: If your worksite changes, even within a "commuting distance" interpretation that seems safe, file an amended LCA. The FDNS officer at your door cannot retroactively fix paperwork.

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