“Employer” Arrested for Filing Nearly 1,000 Fraudulent Work Visa Petitions

By Michael J. Gurfinkel Esq.

Recently, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a press release on the arrest of Alexander Sales Vista. He is facing charges for filing nearly 1,000 fraudulent working visa petitions and obtaining working visas and other immigration benefits for more than 500 aliens.

According to the ICE press release, over the course of more than 10 years, Vista filed nearly 1,000 fraudulent petitions, claiming that the aliens were going to work at various companies he owned, such as Professional Staffing Services of America. However, in most cases, the jobs did not exist, and the companies were simply shell companies that did not conduct any real business. In other words, Vista made it appear that there were real jobs, but no job or business really existed.

For these “services”, Vista charged aliens between $7,000 and $12,000 per petition, earning him nearly $5 million dollars over the course of this visa fraud scheme.

ICE noted that in one case, Vista submitted a petition claiming that the alien would work full time as a permanent “market research analyst”, at over $1,800 per week. After immigration authorities issued the work visa, the alien never really worked for Vista’s company, but instead worked at a flower shop as a part-time florist. In addition, Vista would issue fake pay stubs to aliens, to give the impression that they were working for him (in connection with filing of tax returns).

It is likely that ICE has seized all of Vista’s files, which would contain the names of his “clients”. It is also likely that ICE is now further investigating and will go after anyone who obtained a visa through Vista’s non-existent companies.

I have always emphasized in my immigration columns and my TV show that the best way to legalize your status is to do it “legally”. Trying to obtain a green card through a fake or non-existent job does not make you “legal”. And, in the end, when the fraud scheme is discovered, you and your family would be the ones to suffer.

Therefore, I would recommend that you seek the advice of a reputable attorney, who can evaluate your situation, and perhaps find ways to legalize your status legally.