U.S. steps up H-1B, green card assault with paper chase

charges that alleged companies were displacing qualified American workers.

A video of a 2007 seminar sponsored by Pittsburgh law firm Cohen & Grigsby, which was posted on YouTube at the time, was described as an invitation to increased enforcement in a separate video put together by the Programmers Guild. The law firm's videos were recorded during a May 15, 2007 seminar that was apparently were intended to provide free legal tips to hiring managers and other viewers. In the video, an attorney speaking at the seminar is seen saying that "Our goal is clearly not to find a qualified and interested U.S. works. That in a sense sounds funny, but it is what we are trying to do here."

The U.S. is also well armed to enforce visa rules through a $500 anti-fraud fee attached to as part of each H-1B applications.

The Obama administration hasn't yet spelled out its direction for H-1B visas and employment based Green Cards, but it is expected to support an expansion in their use. There's a belief among immigration attorneys that the enforcement actions are being directed by staff since the next director of the USCIS, Alejandro Mayorkas, is awaiting confirmation. And while document request have picked up this year they were also gaining steam before President George W. Bush left office.