USCIS confirmed on Wednesday, January 26, that USCIS is beta-testing the web-based Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE). VIBE is an information portal composed of corporate information provided by Dun & Bradstreet. Employers will likely begin seeing an increase in Requests for Evidence (RFEs) based on VIBE-related information. Employers are most likely to see an increase in RFEs for H-1B and L (I-129) petitions as well as Immigrant Petitions (I-140). Likely areas of concern for USCIS will be Financial Ability to Pay as well as discrepancies in financial and other business information. According to USCIS, an officer may utilize VIBE on all cases regardless of the information provided by the employer in the petition! USCIS will utilize VIBE to gather information on the employer's:

• Business activities;
• Financial standing, including sales volume and credit standing;
• Number of employees, including onsite and globally;
• Relationships with other entities, including foreign affiliates
• Corporate Status, for example whether it is a single entity, branch, subsidiary or headquarters
• Ownership and legal status, such as LLC, partnership or corporation
• Company executives;
• Date of establishment as a business entity; and
• Current physical address.

More information:

• Read more about Avoiding VIBE-related RFEs.
• Read the USCIS Press Release on VIBE.