More US universities may face J-1 visa fraud probes, says Labor Department IG D'Esposito

More US universities could come under investigation for potential J-1 visa fraud, US Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said. He also said that subpoenas had been served and investigations were already underway.

“Nine universities under investigation for potential J-1 visa fraud—more to come. Companies suspended. Warrants executed. Subpoenas issued. American first. Just getting started," D'Esposito said in a post on X.

Earlier, last Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance announced a federal investigation into nine universities over their use of J-1 visas. He alleged that some institutions were bringing foreign researchers to the US at lower wages than those paid to American workers.


Also Read: US announces investigation into 9 universities, including Ivy League schools, over J-1 visas

The universities named in the investigation are the University of Pittsburgh, Yale University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Brown University, the University of California, Davis, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Arizona State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Vance alleged that American graduate students and researchers earned about $20,000 more than foreign researchers brought in under the J-1 programme for comparable work. He also said foreign nationals accounted for about 61% of postdoctoral workers and researchers supported by federal grants at the nine universities, compared with 38% at other universities.

Also Read: US universities review CPT rules for international students as higher education groups seek court relief, hearing on November 6

The J-1 visa programme allows foreign nationals to enter the US temporarily as exchange visitors for activities such as research, teaching, internships, training and other educational or cultural exchanges.

The Labor Department's inspector general has also announced a Visa Fraud Strike Team to investigate and prosecute suspected visa fraud in high-risk programmes, including J-1 and H-1B visas. The initiative will bring together personnel from the departments of Labor, Justice and Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Homeland Security Investigations and the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service.

The authorities have said the investigation will examine whether visa misuse, improper financial relationships or foreign influence are compromising federally funded research.