A Texas journalist’s investigation has stirred controversy around online job listings on LinkedIn that specifically target foreign workers on H-1B visas, raising questions about potential misuse of the US work visa system.
According to reporter Sara Gonzales, who travelled to Texas addresses listed by some of the companies posting “H-1B only” jobs, many of those offices did not appear to be real operating businesses.
In several cases, contact numbers were invalid, websites showed poor language quality and some listed properties appeared vacant or were merely residential locations, rather than active workplaces.
Gonzales’ reporting suggests these suspicious postings could be part of a broader pattern of exploiting the H-1B visa programme; which is meant to allow US employers to hire foreign professionals for specialised roles when qualified American workers are not available.
Her findings have now drawn attention from authorities and stirred debate on social media about how recruiters use the platform.
The report also comes amid heightened scrutiny of the H-1B system in Texas, where state officials have launched investigations into job sponsors that appear to have no real office operations.
Investigations by the Texas Attorney General’s office followed similar concerns that some companies on official H-1B records may be “ghost offices” with little or no actual business activity at their listed addresses.
While the full extent of any wrongdoing has not yet been legally established, Gonzales’ work highlights growing concerns among both regulators and job seekers about transparency and legitimacy in visa-linked employment advertising.
Officials are now asking some firms to prove they have active operations and legitimate roles for H-1B workers.
Many employers and immigration experts say the H-1B programme remains vital for filling specialised job roles in the US, but calls for reform and closer oversight continue as states like Texas take a tougher stance on verifying employers and job offers tied to foreign work visas.