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2026 guide

Caregiver recruitment fraud: warning signs and how to report it

If someone asks you for money for a job offer, a 'guaranteed visa' or to 'speed up' your case, be suspicious. In EB-3, the employer pays for the labor certification and the law (20 CFR 656.12) bars charging it to the worker. No one can guarantee a visa.

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  • Last verified Oct 22, 2026
  • Independent site, not a government agency
A worried young woman checks a job offer on her phone at night while her mother comforts her

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By Luis Fernando Garcia. Official sources verified Oct 22, 2026.

Warning signs

  • They charge you for the job offer, the PERM certification or to "hold" a spot.
  • They promise a guaranteed visa or faster times than the Visa Bulletin.
  • They ask for payment by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards.
  • They use free email accounts and will not give the employer's name or address.
  • They present themselves as "notarios" handling immigration cases: in the U.S. a notary public is not a lawyer (USCIS).

How to verify

Ask for the employer's legal name and look it up in the DOL databases. Only consult licensed attorneys or DOJ accredited representatives.

Read also: how the EB-3 visa for caregivers works.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to charge me for a U.S. job offer?

For EB-3 with PERM, the employer must pay the labor certification costs and 20 CFR 656.12 bars passing them to the worker. If someone charges you for a job or a guaranteed visa, treat it as a fraud warning sign.

Where do I report it?

To the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), to USCIS through its scam guidance, and to the DOL Wage and Hour Division.

Sources

  1. 20 CFR 656.12: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-656/subpart-C/section-656.12Official
  2. USCIS, avoid scams: https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scamsOfficial
  3. FTC, report fraud: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/Official
  4. DOL, Wage and Hour Division: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whdOfficial

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