Work visa scams: the 7 signs and how to verify a real job
Updated on 7/15/2026
The immigration market has a parallel scam industry — and it grows with the dream. The pattern never changes: charging a fortune for something that is either free, legally the employer's cost, or simply nonexistent.
This guide is our flag: the 7 signs that expose the scam, and the verification method we use every day — the U.S. government's own public records.
Live numbers from official records364,447 jobs with verified sponsorship in the portal · 120,863 employers with government-approved history (DOL) · refreshed daily
The 7 classic scam signs
One of these = alert; two or more = walk away:
- Charging 'for the job' or 'to guarantee the job' — real jobs are not for sale; H-2 programs prohibit charging workers, and PERM costs belong to the employer by DOL rule.
- Guaranteed-timeline promises ('green card in 12 months') — nobody controls the Visa Bulletin queue or the consulate.
- Pay wildly off-market for the role (cleaning at US$ 60/hour) — official wage tables exist and are public.
- Interviews only via WhatsApp/Telegram, no corporate email, no official company posting.
- Manufactured urgency ('offer expires tomorrow', 'last 3 spots').
- Payment requested by wire, crypto or gift card — no serious company charges candidates, least of all like that.
- 'Work visa without a job offer' for sale — outside the EB-2 NIW self-petition, that does not exist in the U.S. system.
How to verify a real job (the method)
Every legitimate sponsorship leaves a public trail: PERM certifications (green card), LCAs (H-1B) and H-2 certifications appear in Department of Labor records with company name, role and wage. If the offer's 'company' shows up in no record and has no posting on its own site, the offer does not survive verification.
That cross-check is what our portal automates: every job is matched against the employer's official history, and the badge shows what the government confirmed — how many green cards approved, when, and for which roles.
I fell for a scam: what now
Stop payments immediately and keep every conversation. Report it: in the U.S., to the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov). If you sent documents, monitor the use of your identity. And do not let shame silence you — the scammer counts on it.
Free account — real openings with sponsorship proven by public records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a U.S. job offer is a scam?
Apply the 7 signs: charging for the job, guaranteed timelines, unreal pay, WhatsApp-only contact, manufactured urgency, wire/crypto payment and 'visa without a job offer'. One sign = alert; two = walk away.
Is it normal to pay for a U.S. job?
No. H-2 programs prohibit charging workers; on green cards, PERM costs are the employer's by DOL rule. Being charged 'for the job' is scam signal number one.
How do I verify a company really sponsors?
In public DOL records: PERM, LCA and H-2 certifications list company, role and wage. Our portal crosses every job against that history and badges what the government confirmed.
Are recruiting agencies trustworthy?
Serious agencies are paid by the EMPLOYER and never charge candidates. If one charges you — for 'registration', 'processing' or 'guarantee' — it is violating program rules.