Indian Company VISAs Requires Investigation
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Azim Premji promoter of Wipro has expressed his concerns over US Protectionist measures.
The American administration is right in imposing curbs on H1-B Visa sponsorship for IT Jobs. However, the bigger scam than H1-B is the L-1 Visa which is massively misused by Indian outsourcing companies.
Will the Obama administration order an inquiry and ask the chiefs of Indian IT companies to testify in the Capitol Hill that they have carried out business and VISA sponsorship after they failed to hire an American ? I bet the the Obama Administration can make a cool $500 mn in fines if they investigate this matter thoroughly with the top 10 IT outsourcing comanies from India.
The American administration is right in imposing curbs on H1-B Visa sponsorship for IT Jobs. However, the bigger scam than H1-B is the L-1 Visa which is massively misused by Indian outsourcing companies.
Will the Obama administration order an inquiry and ask the chiefs of Indian IT companies to testify in the Capitol Hill that they have carried out business and VISA sponsorship after they failed to hire an American ? I bet the the Obama Administration can make a cool $500 mn in fines if they investigate this matter thoroughly with the top 10 IT outsourcing comanies from India.
Chennai, India stamps 25% of Visas
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The US Consulate in Chennai stamps 25% of the H-1B Visa. This can be attributed to the fact that Engineers working in India's Silicon Valley Bangalore have to goto Chennai for their H-1B Visa Stamping. [Chennai Consulate covers the states of Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala]
General Andrew T Simkin told the Indian Edition of Wall Street Journal,
General Andrew T Simkin told the Indian Edition of Wall Street Journal,
One fourth of H-1B visas to the US from India are issued by the US Consulate in Chennai, which caters to the four southern states. Only when we suspect that a person will settle in America, we reject the visa application.Arbitrary rejection of Visa [H-1B or F-1] on the gut feeling / suspicion that the candidate might settle down in the US is the biggest flaw in the American Immigration system. Historical Data suggests more than half of F-1 and subsequent H-1Bs are converted to Green Cards and eventually citizenship. Maybe the Dept of Homeland Security Officials need some engineering talent from Google to help them arrive on a decision on how to reject US visa applications keeping their theory of suspicion to themselves.
Satyam Employee Green Cards Under Trouble
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Satyam Computers Founder B Rama Raju has admitted to financial fraud in Jan and resigned as its Chairman on the very same day.
Now Satyam has approximately 11,000 employees working in the US of which atleast 7,000 are on H-1B Visa. Satyam's fraud admission has come as a minefield of fraud in its Immigration petitions. One should be aware that H-1B Visas and Green Cards are issued because the employer has shown his ability to pay its employees. However, post revealing of fraud and the US Govt deciding to crackdown on the H-1B Scam, most Satyam Employees whose GreenCard under process will be revoked for fraud [spare the employees this time, as they were unaware of the massive scam] Kindly note that even if you have I-140 approved, chances of it being revoked is extremely high.
New York-based attorney Danielle Rizzo said,
Now Satyam has approximately 11,000 employees working in the US of which atleast 7,000 are on H-1B Visa. Satyam's fraud admission has come as a minefield of fraud in its Immigration petitions. One should be aware that H-1B Visas and Green Cards are issued because the employer has shown his ability to pay its employees. However, post revealing of fraud and the US Govt deciding to crackdown on the H-1B Scam, most Satyam Employees whose GreenCard under process will be revoked for fraud [spare the employees this time, as they were unaware of the massive scam] Kindly note that even if you have I-140 approved, chances of it being revoked is extremely high.
New York-based attorney Danielle Rizzo said,
USCIS regulations require that evidence of ability to pay be submitted in the form of audited financial statements, federal income tax returns, or an annual report filed with the SEC. Clearly any of these documents would have contained fraudulent financial information. It is not only the beneficiary's fraud that would invalidate a petition but the petitioner's as well.We feel that the US Department of Homeland Security should pursue the matter of H-1B Immigration fraud seriously and clean up the entire system. If necessary, the H-1B Visa law should be amended to accommodate only foreign students with a Masters or Higher Degree from an American University on the recommendation of an American Professor after being placed in a Job. Your thoughts ?
Indian MPs Push Extention of Stay
As the US President softly pushes for protectionism, several Indian MPs [Member of Parliament] have written to their External Affairs Minister seeking intervention on the recent H-1B Visa investigations nailing Indians and their companies.
It is estimated that 650,000 Indian immigrants in the US working under the H1-B visa programme. Also, there are 100,000 Indian students who go to pursue higher studies and are potentially looking to convert to H-1B Visa.
V Hanumantha Rao said,
It is estimated that 650,000 Indian immigrants in the US working under the H1-B visa programme. Also, there are 100,000 Indian students who go to pursue higher studies and are potentially looking to convert to H-1B Visa.
V Hanumantha Rao said,
It might lead to 30,000- plus legitimate companies shutting down threatening the future of more than 1.5 million qualified immigrants. This also means lower Foreign Exchange remittances to India.The MPs are seeking extension of stay of laid off H-1B Visa Workers from current 30 days to 180 days so that they can land in a new job. It is still unclear if there External Affairs Minister, Mr. Mukherjee has written to the US Administration.
Indian Consulting Companies - Modus Operandi
Saturday, February 14, 2009
It is well known that many Indian / Chinese / Pakistani IT consulting companies in the US have shady H-1B Visa practices. The FBI in an Operation - Pacific Vision, raided Vision Systems Group Inc involved in undercutting wages and arrested 8 of its associates. You can see how badly Vision Systems has been paying Software Developers.
In one case Vision Systems went to the extreme of hiring a Pakistani Programmer and sponsoring him an H-1B Visa who has ended up working in Gas Station.
In the same operation, FBI has charged Pacific West Corp's Reddy and Chockalingam in mail fraud and wire fraud. According to us, this is just a tip of the iceberg, yes having closely worked with few hiring managers, we know how this ring operates :-)
Why such IT Companies Mushroom ?
Most of these companies hire contract workers on their pay roll. They pay only while the H1-B Visa holder is placed to work on a client's site. Rest of the time he is on something called "bench", popular term amongst those workers.
We have asked few hiring managers as to why they prefer outsourcing contracts to companies like Vision System, Digital Liberty Group etc they immediately responded - these companies can bring in candidates to work within specified budget, competitive candidates, get the job down and kick them out.
The practice is not just restricted to Indians but can be extended to say many Asian companies :-)
In one case Vision Systems went to the extreme of hiring a Pakistani Programmer and sponsoring him an H-1B Visa who has ended up working in Gas Station.
In the same operation, FBI has charged Pacific West Corp's Reddy and Chockalingam in mail fraud and wire fraud. According to us, this is just a tip of the iceberg, yes having closely worked with few hiring managers, we know how this ring operates :-)
Why such IT Companies Mushroom ?
Most of these companies hire contract workers on their pay roll. They pay only while the H1-B Visa holder is placed to work on a client's site. Rest of the time he is on something called "bench", popular term amongst those workers.
We have asked few hiring managers as to why they prefer outsourcing contracts to companies like Vision System, Digital Liberty Group etc they immediately responded - these companies can bring in candidates to work within specified budget, competitive candidates, get the job down and kick them out.
The practice is not just restricted to Indians but can be extended to say many Asian companies :-)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
It is true that several Indian companies prefer L-1 US Visa over H-1B work permit. L-1 Visas permitted intra-company transfers for managers / executives / specialists in some chosen vertical. L-1 visa holders salary may not be the same as paid to persons in similar positions in USA.
Additionally, there is no restriction on the number of L-1 visas issued during a year and does not require the visa holder to be a graduate. However, in the past decade Indian software programmers were the largest beneficiaries of L-1 Visa and was severely criticized by several American Senators and Congressmen for the misuse.
Also it is not easy to go for your Greencard from an L-1 Visa. So demand a H-1B Visa from your employer in India if you are really bent upon working in the US.
Additionally, there is no restriction on the number of L-1 visas issued during a year and does not require the visa holder to be a graduate. However, in the past decade Indian software programmers were the largest beneficiaries of L-1 Visa and was severely criticized by several American Senators and Congressmen for the misuse.
Also it is not easy to go for your Greencard from an L-1 Visa. So demand a H-1B Visa from your employer in India if you are really bent upon working in the US.
