According to a number of sources, it appears that the USCIS has increased the amounts of requests for evidence it has submitted to petitioners applying for new H-1B visas and permanent residency cards. The process of obtaining H-1B visas and green cards has been slowed down by this added set of requests for additional information. USCIS has asked some petitioners for corporate payroll records, zoning maps and other proofs of evidence for new H-1B and green card requests.

In response to complaints regarding this increase in documentation requests, USCIS commented that it has indeed increased its scrutiny of new H-1B visa and green card applications. This is due, USCIS states, to new restrictions set in place by the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which includes a number of H-1B restrictions on companies that have received TARP bailout funds.

USCIS comments that it is requesting additional evidence in cases where it is possible that beneficiaries will not be working at the location of the petitioner, but may be working at a secondary location.