The Employer's Guide to H-1B Compliance Risk in Texas
Fake degrees. Ghost offices. Workers placed by staffing agencies that don't actually exist. It's happening right now across Dallas–Fort Worth — and most employers have no idea until it's too late.This free checklist shows you exactly what to check before you onboard any H-1B worker — so your organisation stays protected, compliant, and out of the headlines.
01 What's actually happening in Texas — and why it affects your next hire
02 6 warning signs of a fraudulent H-1B setup (with real DFW examples)
03 A step-by-step checklist to verify any H-1B candidate before day one
04 12 red flags to stop you in your tracks — and what to do next
05 What to do if something feels off — who to call and how to report it
06 How to make this part of every hire going forward — without slowing down
INSIDE THE GUIDE
AVVANZ SCREENING COVERAGE
Not sure where to start? Avvanz runs every check on the list for you — fast, accurate, and fully compliant. Most results back within 24–72 hours.
WHAT AVVANZ VERIFIES FOR TEXAS EMPLOYERS
GLOBAL CHECKS
Education & Credential Verification ✓
Employment History Check ✓
Global Criminal Background Check ✓
Sanctions & OFAC Screening ✓
Adverse Media Screening ✓
Right-to-Work / Immigration Status ✓
Identity Verification (SSN Trace) ✓
Professional Licence Verification ✓
USCIS Employer Status Cross-Reference ✓
TEXAS-SPECIFIC CHECKS
Texas DPS State Criminal Check ✓
County Criminal Checks (Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Travis, Bexar, Denton, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Williamson, El Paso, Hidalgo, Brazoria, Galveston, Bell, Nueces, Jefferson, Lubbock, Webb, McLennan and all 254 Texas counties) ✓
Texas Sex Offender Registry Search ✓
What's happening in Texas right now
6 fraud warning signs to watch for
Step-by-step hiring checklist
12 red flags with clear next steps
Texas is the second-largest H-1B market in the US, with over 83,000 approvals in 2025 alone. State and federal investigators have since uncovered a pattern of fraudulent operators across Dallas–Fort Worth — and compliant employers are now expected to demonstrate independent verification of every H-1B hire.
WHY THIS MATTERS NOW
North Texas businesses issued Civil Investigative Demands by the state AG
Duration of the federal RICO scheme, spanning January 2018 to May 2025
Texas state agency H-1B freeze extended through — affecting all public employers
FIVE FRAUD MECHANISMS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Fake Office Addresses
Companies registered to someone's house in Frisco or Plano — no real office, no real business, just a front to get visas approved
Made-Up Payroll Records
Companies creating fake pay stubs and salary records to make it look like workers have been employed — when they haven't
Fake Degrees
Workers presenting diplomas that were bought online, not earned — and most employers have no way to spot them without the right checks.
Job Listings That Don't Exist
Companies posting fake job ads just to tick the legal box — the role was never real, and neither was the hire.
Shell Companies That Look Real
Companies posting fake job ads just to tick the legal box — the role was never real, and neither was the hire.
This guide is intended for any Texas employer who hires H-1B workers, engages staffing agencies that sponsor them, or manages immigration compliance as part of their HR function.
WHO IS THIS FOR
Legal & Compliance Teams
Stay ahead of what investigators are looking for — and make sure your organisation can show it did its homework.
Talent Acquisition Managers
Identify the specific gaps in your current candidate vetting process and apply a structured checklist from day one of onboarding.
HR Directors & CHROs
Understand your organisation's current exposure and the verification steps your team should have in place before the next H-1B hire.
Vendor Management
Apply a consistent audit framework when assessing the legitimacy of staffing agencies and third-party sponsors placing H-1B workers at your site.
HR Business Partners
Equip your hiring managers with a practical, step-by-step reference they can use at every stage of the H-1B onboarding process.
Operations & Risk Leaders
Incorporate H-1B verification into your broader vendor risk and third-party due diligence frameworks with clear, evidence-based criteria.
Download the free guide, apply the checklist to your next H-1B hire, and let Avvanz run every background check — including Texas state and county-level criminal records.
Avvanz is a multi-award-winning global provider of background screening, compliance checks, and employee training solutions. Trusted by 6,000+ organisations worldwide.
Avvanz helps employers reduce hiring risks through advanced technology and is recognised for its Triple Crown Data Trust status, having achieved ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISO 9001 certifications.
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