Marco Scanu, CEO ofVisa Business Plans, recently returned from the AILA RDC EMEA Spring Conference in Geneva, where he spent several days in discussions with U.S. immigration attorneys from across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. These weren’t just formal panels or presentations. Some of the most valuable insights came from the conversations in between, where attorneys shared what they are actually seeing in their cases right now.
This blog is part of a series where we’re sharing those insights. Not theory, not what’s written in guidelines, but what’s happening in practice.
One conversation, in particular, stayed with us.
It started casually, with one attorney asking the group whether anyone had recently dealt with a site visit. What followed wasn’t one story, but several. Different types of cases, but the same underlying theme.
FDNS is active, and it’s showing up more than people expect.
FDNS stands for Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, a division within USCIS responsible for verifying that what’s submitted in a petition actually reflects reality. And they don’t do this through emails or additional document requests. They show up, sometimes in person, sometimes remotely, but always with the same goal: to see if the case holds up outside of paper.
As attorneys shared their experiences, a pattern became clear. These visits are not limited to a company’s main office. They can happen at third-party client sites, at shared workspaces, and even at home offices (particularly for employees on H-1B, L-1, or other temporary work visas who work remotely). That last part caught a lot of attention, especially as remote work becomes more common. If a petition states that an employee works from home, that home becomes the official worksite, and it can be inspected.
The questions officers are asking during these visits are straightforward, but the implications are not. Is the employee actually working at the listed location? Are they performing the duties described in the petition? Does the company’s setup match what was submitted? On the surface, these seem like simple checks, but they quickly expose any gap between what was filed and what exists in practice.
And this is where many cases begin to break down.
Not because the case was entirely inaccurate, but because something doesn’t fully align. A job description that sounded right on paper but does not match reality. A company structure that wasn’t clearly defined. A work setup that changed over time but was never updated in the petition. Or in some cases, a narrative that looked strong in writing but didn’t reflect how the business actually operates day to day.
That’s the role of FDNS. It’s not just checking compliance. It’s testing credibility. It’s working to detect and combat immigration benefit fraud.
What came out of these conversations in Geneva is a shift in mindset. Attorneys are no longer just thinking about how to get a case approved. They’re thinking about how that case would hold up if someone showed up unannounced tomorrow and started asking questions.
Because that’s the reality.
This is exactly why being in Geneva mattered. These weren’t isolated stories. They were consistent experiences shared across jurisdictions and case types. Visa Business Plans was the only business plan company attending the conference, and being part of these discussions allows us to stay aligned with how cases are actually being reviewed today. It also allows us to continuously adapt how business plans are structured so they reflect real operations, hold up under scrutiny, and ultimately strengthen our clients’ chances of visa approval.
At the end of the day, the takeaway is simple.
If a case only works on paper, it’s fragile.
If it reflects reality, it holds.
In the next article, we’ll share another insight from Geneva that is shaping how cases are being evaluated right now.
Contact us today to get startedThe information provided in this blog is intended solely for informational purposes. While we strive to offer accurate and up-to-date content, it should not be considered legal advice. Immigration laws and regulations are subject to change, and individual circumstances can vary widely. For personalized guidance and legal advice regarding your specific immigration situation, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified immigration attorney who can provide you with tailored assistance and ensure compliance with current laws and regulations.
Visa Business Plans is led by Marco Scanu, a certified coach from the University of Miami with a globally-based practice coaching Fortune 1000 company executives, entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in four different continents. Mr. Scanu advises clients on turnaround strategies and crisis management.
Mr. Scanu received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from the University of Florida and an MBA in Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Mr. Scanu was also a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University under the prestigious H. Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright program) with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, and high-growth enterprises.
At present, Mr. Scanu is the managing partner and CEO at Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm providing attorneys and investors with business planning services in the areas of U.S. and Canadian immigration, SBA loans, and others.
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