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USCIS Sounds the Alarm: "It's a Scam": Why Promises of Faster Visas, Green Cards and Work Permits Should Worry You
For anyone who has ever waited anxiously for a visa decision, the promise of "faster processing for a fee" can sound like a lifeline. But U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a blunt message for applicants tempted by such offers: it is probably an outright scam.
In guidance restated across its social media channels and reaffirmed on its official website, USCIS has warned that businesses and websites claiming to be immigration experts, or claiming special access to government officials, are frequently running fraudulent operations. These operators may pretend to be immigration experts or claim special connections to the government, and often guarantee faster visas, green cards or work permits in exchange for payment. The agency's message is unambiguous: only USCIS itself has the authority to determine whether a case can be expedited, and no outside business can buy that decision on an applicant's behalf.
As always, our EB-1A consultants have analyzed this important update from the USCIS and outlined what exactly USCIS is flagging against.
The mechanics of the scam as described by the USCIS
The warning, reported widely this week, including by Hindustan Times reporter Shweta Kukreti, lays out how these operations usually function. Firms that present themselves as immigration experts, claim insider government access, or guarantee faster outcomes in exchange for a fee are, in USCIS's own words, running scams. The agency stresses that there is only one legitimate fast-track option in the immigration system which is the premium processing. However, premium processing is officially available only for specific forms such as I-129 and I-140, with USCIS separately publishing standard case-processing times for everything else. In effect, any private company selling "expedited" approval outside these narrow, government-defined channels is selling something it has no power to deliver.
USCIS's guidance also extends to how payments should be made. Applicants should be wary of any request for money outside official government portals. According to consumer-protection guidance compiled by immigrant-support organizations, USCIS accepts payment only through an applicant's own myUSCIS account or by mail to authorized lockbox addresses. Moreover, the agency never asks for payment over the phone, by email, or through services like Western Union, MoneyGram or PayPal.
A pattern stretching back years
This is far from a new phenomenon: USCIS and other federal agencies have flagged variations of this fraud for over a decade. The Federal Trade Commission has previously taken operations to court over exactly this kind of deception. In one case, a federal judge shut down a business that had impersonated the U.S. government and charged consumers fees ranging from $200 to $2,500 by falsely claiming the money would cover USCIS processing costs.
More recently, scammers have moved onto social media, impersonating attorneys and law firms to lure victims. The FTC has documented an elaborate version of this con: fraudsters respond to comments or likes on immigration-related posts, then ask victims to send money through Western Union or Zelle in exchange for a promised appointment with USCIS. They sometimes even stage fake video calls with someone posing as a uniformed "USCIS officer." Real USCIS appointments, the agency notes, are scheduled only by mail or through an applicant's verified MyUSCIS account and never over messaging apps.
Community-level warnings also tell similar stories. In 2017, New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs cautioned residents about the so-called "10-Year Visa Scam," in which immigration service providers claimed a decade of U.S. residency alone could secure a green card.
In one documented case, a victim paid a service provider approximately $25,000 for guidance that omitted critical legal requirements, including proof of extreme hardship. Phishing campaigns tied to the Diversity Visa "green card lottery" have also persisted for years; the FBI has previously urged skepticism toward such messages.
Telephone-based fraud remains common too. Scammers using caller-ID spoofing to impersonate USCIS officials have specifically targeted foreign workers. As one consumer-protection official in Arizona put it, immigrants who speak little English can easily fall prey to callers pretending to be from USCIS.
Who can actually help and how to report fraud
USCIS and legal aid groups consistently point applicants toward two safeguards: verifying representatives and using only official payment channels. Only licensed attorneys and the Department of Justice–accredited representatives are authorized to give immigration legal advice in the United States. In other words, a "notario público," despite the term's different meaning in many Latin American countries, is not a substitute. Applicants can verify representatives through state bar associations or the Executive Office for Immigration Review's accredited-representative list.
Victims, or anyone who suspects a scam, are encouraged to file a report with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint, or with their state consumer protection office. Overseas, U.S. embassies have issued parallel warnings. The embassy in Manila, for instance, emphasized that all official communications come only through email addresses ending in "@state.gov", and never through Facebook, Viber, or WhatsApp.
The underlying message from every agency involved is the same: legitimate immigration processing cannot be bought, or negotiated through a third party. Anyone claiming otherwise is, almost certainly, running a con.
At GCEB1, our EB-1A mentors would also love to add a word of caution here. Never trust any 'Profile builder' or 'Profile building' company that is promising to expedite your green card. We and our USCIS compliant attorney network never promise such a thing, on or off the record. We firmly believe despite putting a lot of effort into one's EB-1A case, the ultimate approval or denial hinges on none other than the USCIS. They are the sole authority in all U.S. legal immigrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can anyone actually speed up my visa, green card, or work permit for a fee?
No. Only USCIS itself decides whether a case qualifies for expedited handling. The only legitimate fast-track option is premium processing, and it applies to a limited set of forms, primarily I-129 and I-140.
2. What is "premium processing," and how is it different from a scam offer?
Premium processing is an official USCIS service with published fees and timelines, paid directly through pay.gov or a myUSCIS account. A scam offer, by contrast, usually involves a third-party business asking for informal or off-platform payment with no official guarantee.
3. How will USCIS actually contact me if there's a problem with my case?
Through official written correspondence or your MyUSCIS account and never by unsolicited phone call, text, or social media message demanding immediate payment.
4. Does USCIS ever accept payment via Western Union, Zelle, gift cards, or cryptocurrency?
No. USCIS only accepts payments through pay.gov, a myUSCIS account, or its official mail-in lockbox system.
5. What is a "notario público," and can they give me legal advice?
In the U.S., a notary public is not a lawyer and cannot give immigration legal advice, despite the term implying otherwise in many Spanish-speaking countries. Only licensed attorneys or DOJ-accredited representatives can legally advise applicants.
6. Is the "10-year residency" green card promise real?
It is misleading in the form it is usually advertised. While long-term residency can factor into certain hardship-based relief, it usually requires entering removal proceedings and proving extreme hardship, which is a complex process, not an automatic benefit.
7. Are green card lottery "winner" emails legitimate?
No. The Department of State manages the Diversity Visa Program and does not notify winners by unsolicited email. Selection can only be confirmed through the official government portal.
8. How can I verify if an immigration "attorney" or consultant is legitimate?
Check their license status with a state bar association, or search the DOJ's list of accredited representatives and recognized organizations through the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
9. Where should I report a suspected immigration scam?
File a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint (or 1-877-382-4357), notify your state consumer protection office, and report it directly to USCIS through its official scams and fraud page.
Sources & further readings
- Cozen O'Connor. "Alert – New Scam Targets Indian H-1B Applicants." JD Supra. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.jdsupra.com/topics/scams/immigrants/.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Scammers Are Impersonating Attorneys and Law Firms, Offering Immigration Services on Social Media." Consumer Advice, FTC. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://consumer.ftc.gov/node/87057.
- Federal Trade Commission. "FTC Action Halts Immigration Services Scam." FTC.gov. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.ftc.gov/node/298191.
- Gulf News. "Visa Scam Alert: US Embassy in Manila Warns Applicants against Fraudsters." Gulf News, January 24, 2025. https://gulfnews.com/amp/story/world%2Fasia%2Fphilippines%2Fvisa-scam-alert-us-embassy-in-manila-warns-applicants-against-fraudsters-1.500022128.
- Kukreti, Shweta. "It's a Scam: USCIS Warns Visa Applicants against Businesses Promising Approvals, Green Cards, Work Permits Faster." Hindustan Times, September 21, 2026. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/its-a-scam-uscis-warns-visa-applicants-against-businesses-promising-approvals-green-cards-work-permits-faster-101789987736373.html.
- New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. "Consumer Warning: Department of Consumer Affairs Warns Immigrant New Yorkers about the '10-Year Visa Scam.'" NYC.gov, June 7, 2017. https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/news/028-17/consumer-warning-department-consumer-affairs-warns-immigrant-new-yorkers-the-10-year.
- Reilly, Marissa (or Fox News Staff). "Green Card Phishing Scam Preys upon Visa Hopefuls." Fox News. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.foxnews.com/us/green-card-phishing-scam-preys-upon-visa-hopefuls.amp.
- Fox News. "Scammers Target Temporary Foreign Visitors, Threaten Them with Deportation." Fox News. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.foxnews.com/world/scammers-target-temporary-foreign-visitors-threaten-them-with-deportation.
- Streamlinefeed. "USCIS Warns Applicants That Pay-for-Speed Immigration Promises Are Scams." Streamlinefeed, September 21, 2026. https://streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/uscis-warns-applicants-that-pay-for-speed-immigration-promises-are-scams.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Common Scams." USCIS.gov. Last reviewed August 4, 2026. https://www.uscis.gov/scams-fraud-and-misconduct/avoid-scams/common-scams.
- Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC). "Common Scams Reported by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services." CLINIC Legal. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.cliniclegal.org/resources/religious-immigration-law/common-scams-reported-us-citizenship-and-immigration-services.
