A new bill in the US House of Representatives would sharply raise penalties for serious H-1B visa violations. According to Business Standard, the maximum fine would reach $250,000, with a 10-year debarment for the most serious violations. The bill targets employers, not visa holders.

What Is the H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act?

Republican Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas introduced the two-page bill, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act. Her office announced it on Monday, saying current penalties are too small to deter employers from abusing the program. She tied the proposal to allegations of H-1B fraud in North Texas.

What Would Change

  • Willful violations: the maximum civil penalty rises from $5,000 to $100,000, and the minimum ban from two years to five. Her office says examples include lying about the job being performed or underpaying an H-1B worker.
  • Willful violations that displace US workers: the maximum fine rises from $35,000 to $250,000, and the minimum ban from three years to 10 years.
  • Document fraud: penalties of $250 to $2,000 per document rise to $1,000 to $10,000.
  • Repeat offenses: fines for violations after a prior order rise from $2,000-$5,000 to $20,000-$50,000 per document.

Who Would Be Affected?

The penalties apply to employers that commit intentional violations. Immigration Analytics, a policy publication, says the bill is narrower than the headlines suggest. The $250,000 fine applies only to willful misrepresentation that results in displacing a US worker, not to every violation. Indian IT firms and professionals are watching closely because they make heavy use of the program.

Where the Bill Stands

The bill has only been introduced, so none of the higher penalties are in effect. Its path through Congress is uncertain. It comes as the Trump administration tightens oversight of the H-1B program.

Key Takeaways

  • The maximum H-1B fine would rise from $35,000 to $250,000 for willful violations that displace US workers.
  • The minimum ban for those cases would rise from three to 10 years.
  • The bill is only proposed legislation and is not law.