At the end of 2024, Verónica Acosta Jarquín, a 43-year-old Nicaraguan, saw on Facebook an opportunity that seemed legitimate: an advertisement offering work in the United States with an H-2B visaHe was looking for a job in his home country, and what he found seemed to fit what he needed: a professional form, email contacts, and a WhatsApp number. All in Spanish. Everything looked formal.

“I thought it was serious because it wasn't just a chat, but they asked me to fill out a form. Then they called me, explained the process, and offered me a position as a bellboy at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a contract until December 2026 and a salary of $21 an hour,” Verónica said in conversation with Enlace Latino NC The company called itself Temporary Power Solutions.

What followed was a perfectly choreographed sequence of steps mimicking a real immigration process: a group interview via video call with other candidates from different countries, a formal contract, documents with seemingly official stamps, and finally, a supposed visa process requiring a $275 fee.

What is the H-2B visa?

The H-2B visa is a temporary visa A non-agricultural visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for seasonal or temporary employment in industries such as construction, cleaning, hospitality, or landscaping. The employer must be authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor, and the visa requires a genuine offer of employment.

In contexts of high labor demand and limited awareness of the system, these visas are prone to fraud, where individuals or organizations pose as recruiters, offer fake jobs, and charge money for procedures that are never completed.

Related:  Countries eligible for temporary work visas in the U.S. in 2025

A sophisticated scam

“They sent me a contract with my name on it, everything very detailed. I checked the LLC (company registration) in the United States and was legally incorporated. That gave me confidence,” says Verónica. With that confidence, on January 7, she transferred $275 through the Wise platform.

She then received a DS-160 form, an actual document used to apply for US visas, supposedly completed by the company. “I was told to be aware of the appointment at the embassy, ​​which would be in person. But then they told me it would be via Skype because the local embassy was full,” she explains.

The appointment did indeed take place on January 29 via video call. "I was attended by a supposed consul named Tomás García. He spoke very formally, with an institutional background. He asked me about my financial situation and told me I was approved." Days later, the instruction was to wait for the documents to appear in person with his passport.

But then the payments started to multiply.

They asked her to prove she had $1,200 available to enter the U.S. When she couldn't, they offered to open a bank account in the U.S. with a "subsidy" of $600 if she contributed the other $600. Hopeful, Verónica agreed and made the second transfer in early April. In total, she handed over $875.

The last contact was an email notifying her that her fingerprints had been rejected, even though she had never submitted them. “I found it very strange. I started writing to them, and they stopped responding.”

Confirmation of the H-2B visa scam in the United States

Worried, Verónica contacted the U.S. Embassy in Managua directly. “They confirmed that Skype appointments don't exist, only in-person ones. That's when I realized it was all fake.”

Even today, she struggles to process the emotional impact. “The communication was very professional. I worked for many years in a consulate, and this seemed credible to me. My whole family had hopes, my children, my husband. It was a very strong blow.”

What worries her most is knowing she wasn't the only victim. In the first video call, she saw people from other countries who had likely also been scammed. "They operate with websites, emails, documents, and a very well-crafted narrative. They inspire trust. They exploit our desire to succeed."

You might be interested in>>  REAL ID goes into effect on May 7: Everything you need to know

How do you know if a visa job offer is a scam?

Verónica's story isn't an isolated case. On the contrary, people seeking work with visas are often victims of this type of scam.

One option to know if an H-2A job offer is a scam is to contact the Migrant Rights Center (CDM). It is a non-profit organization that offers assistance to workers in Mexico and the United States.

To contact the CDM, call 01-800-590-1773 from Mexico or 1-855-234-9699 from the United States. CDM specialists can analyze the job offer and inform you whether it is legitimate or fraudulent.

Warning signs:

But it is also very important to pay attention to certain warning signs:

• If a recruiter asks you for money in advance: the recruiters' task should be paid by the contracting companies and never by the workers. Charging fees to workers is totally illegal. However, there are cases where recruiters illegally charge fees for jobs that actually exist. But the charge for finding a job offer is a clear indication of irregularity.
• If a recruiter guarantees that you will get a visa: The only body that can make the final decision on granting a visa is the consulate. If a person guarantees the success of the process, it is an important indication to know if an H-2A job offer is a scam.
• If a recruiter promises you too high a salary: H-2A wages, for example, are set by the Department of Labor. By 2025, they will range from $16 to $20 an hour.
• If a recruiter offers a job for more than a year: These visas are characterized as temporary. This means that contracts cannot last more than one year. Any offer that promises anything different could be fraudulent.
• If a recruiter offers you permanent residency: “Green Card” or “Green Card” It's a document for permanent residents of the United States. It can only be issued by the government and is not linked to temporary work visas. Being wary of offers of permanent residency is another important clue to whether a visa job offer is a scam.
• If a recruiter requests to transfer the visa processing costs to their personal account (as was the case with Verónica), the only amount the worker may have to pay during the visa process is $190. This money is deposited exclusively into the consulate's official accounts. 

Where can I report recruiters running H-2B visa scams in the United States?

The Migrant Rights Center has offices in the United States, which H-2A workers who have been victims of fraud can also call. 

The CDM toll-free line in the United States is as follows: 1-855-234-9699 

Additionally, workers performing their duties in any state can contact the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor at 1-866-487-9243 if they are not paid the wages they expected or if they are charged fees. illegal.

In North Carolina, Legal Aid also provides free assistance in Spanish to visa holders. Those who paid a recruitment fee or experienced dishonest hiring practices can contact them via WhatsApp at +1 919-523-6665. Another valuable resource is to contact National Hotline against Human Trafficking by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting “Help” to 233733.

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A promise of a job in the U.S. ended in a scam: Veronica's story and the H-2B visa trap

by Nicolas Baintrub, Enlace Latino NC
May 6, 2025

Enlace Latino NC May 6, 2025 In late 2024, Verónica Acosta Jarquín, a 43-year-old Nicaraguan woman, saw a seemingly legitimate opportunity on Facebook: an ad offering work in the United States with an H-2B visa . She was looking for employment in her country, and what she found appeared to fit her needs: a professional application form, email contacts, and a WhatsApp number. All in Spanish. All with a formal appearance. “It seemed legitimate to me because it wasn’t just through chat; they asked me to fill out a form. Then they called me, explained the process, and offered me a job as a bellhop at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a contract until December 2026 and a salary of $21 an hour,” Verónica said in an interview withEnlace Latino NC. The company called itself Temporary Power Solutions. What followed was a perfectly choreographed sequence of steps that mimicked a real migration process. A group interview via video call with other candidates from different countries, a formal contract, documents with seemingly official seals, and finally, a supposed visa application that required a $275 fee. Facebook profile of the "company" that carried out the scam. What is the H-2025B visa? The H-05B visa is a temporary non-agricultural visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for seasonal or temporary employment in sectors such as construction, cleaning, hospitality, or landscaping. The employer must be authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor, and the visa requires an actual offer of employment. In contexts of high labor demand and limited awareness of the system, these visas are prone to fraud, where individuals or organizations pose as recruiters, offer fake jobs, and charge money for procedures that are never completed. Related: Countries Eligible for Temporary Work Visas in the U.S. in 2025 A sophisticated scam “They sent me a contract with my name on it, everything very detailed. I checked the LLC ( company registration ) in the United States and it was legally incorporated. “That gave me confidence,” says Verónica. With that confidence, on January 7, he transferred $275 through the Wise platform. He then received a DS-160 form, an actual document used to apply for U.S. visas, supposedly completed by the company. “They told me I should be aware of the appointment at the embassy, ​​which would be in person. But then they told me it would be via Skype, because the local embassy was full,” he explains. in Nicaragua" class="wp-image-118016" /> Alleged Skype meeting with the US consul. Legitimate appointments are never made by video call, but rather in person at the consulate. The meeting did indeed take place on January 29 via video call. “I was attended to by a supposed consul named Tomás García. He spoke very formally, with an institutional background. He asked me about my financial situation and told me it was approved.” Days later, the instruction was to wait for the documents to physically present their passport. But then the payments started to multiply. They asked him to prove he had $1,200 available to enter the U.S. Unable to do so, they offered to open a bank account in the US. with a “subsidy” of $600, if she contributed the other $600. Verónica agreed, hopeful, and made the second transfer at the beginning of April. In total, he handed over $875. The last contact was an email notifying her that her fingerprints had been rejected, even though she had never submitted them. “I found it very strange. “I started writing to them and they stopped responding.” The document contains USCIS letterhead but it is completely fake." class="wp-image-118017" /> Alleged problem with fingerprints, which Veronica never actually provided because she never went to the consulate. The document contains USCIS letterhead but is completely fake. Confirmation of the H-2B visa scam in the United States Worried, Veronica contacted the U.S. Embassy directly. in Managua. “They confirmed to me that Skype appointments don't exist, only in-person appointments. “That's when I knew it was all fake.” Even today he finds it hard to come to terms with the emotional impact. “The communication was very professional. I worked for many years in a consulate and this seemed credible to me. My whole family had hope, my children, my husband. “It was a very hard blow.” The most worrying thing for her is knowing that she was not the only victim. In the first video call, he saw people from other countries who had probably also been scammed. “They operate with pages, emails, documents, and a very well-crafted narrative. They inspire confidence. They use our desire to get ahead.” You might be interested in >> REAL ID goes into effect on May 7: Everything you need to know How do you know if a visa job offer is a scam? Veronica's story is not an isolated case. On the contrary, people seeking jobs with visas are often victims of this type of scam. One way to determine if an H-2A job offer is a scam is to contact the Migrant Rights Center (MRC). It is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to workers in Mexico and the United States. To contact the CDM, call 01 800 590 1773 from Mexico or 1 855 234 9699 from the United States. CDM specialists can analyze the job offer and inform you whether it is legitimate or fraudulent. Warning signs: But it is also very important to pay attention to certain warning signs: If a recruiter asks for money upfront: Recruiters' work should be paid for by the contracting companies, never by the workers. Charging fees to workers is totally illegal. However, there are cases where recruiters illegally charge fees for jobs that actually exist. But charging a fee for finding a job offer is a clear indication of irregularities. If a recruiter guarantees you that you will get a visa: The only body that can make the final decision on granting a visa is the consulate. If someone guarantees the success of the process, this is an important clue as to whether an H-2A job offer is a scam. If a recruiter promises you too high a salary: H-2A wages , for example, are set by the Department of Labor. By 2025, they will range between $16 and $20 an hour. If a recruiter offers a job for more than a year: These visas are characterized as temporary. This means that contracts cannot last more than one year. Any offer that promises something different may be a fraud. If a recruiter offers you permanent residency: The “Green Card” is a document for permanent residents of the United States. They can only be granted by the government and are not linked to temporary work visas. Paying attention to offers of permanent residency is another important clue to whether a visa-based job offer is a scam. If a recruiter requests to transfer the visa processing costs to their personal account (as was the case with Verónica), the only amount the worker may have to pay during the visa process is $190. This money is deposited solely in the consulate's official accounts. Where can I report recruiters running H-2B visa scams in the United States? The Migrant Rights Center has offices in the United States, which H-2A workers who have been victims of fraud can also contact. The CDM toll-free number in the United States is 2-2-2-1 Additionally, workers in any state can contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 855-234-9699-1 if they are not paid the wages they expected or are charged unlawful fees. In North Carolina, Legal Aid also provides free assistance in Spanish to visa holders. Those who paid a recruitment fee or experienced dishonest hiring practices can contact us via WhatsApp at +1 919-523-6665. Another valuable resource is to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting “Help” to 233733. This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/promesa-de-trabajo-en-ee-uu-termino-en-estafa-visa-h-2b/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/promesa-de-trabajo-en-ee-uu-termino-en-estafa-visa-h-4.0b/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

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