• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
programming forums Java Mobile Certification Databases Caching Books Engineering Micro Controllers OS Languages Paradigms IDEs Build Tools Frameworks Application Servers Open Source This Site Careers Other Pie Elite all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
Marshals:
  • Campbell Ritchie
  • Jeanne Boyarsky
  • Ron McLeod
  • Paul Clapham
  • Liutauras Vilda
Sheriffs:
  • paul wheaton
  • Rob Spoor
  • Devaka Cooray
Saloon Keepers:
  • Stephan van Hulst
  • Tim Holloway
  • Carey Brown
  • Frits Walraven
  • Tim Moores
Bartenders:
  • Mikalai Zaikin

Conditional H1B

 
Greenhorn
Posts: 29
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi,

I am a java developer with 3+ years experience and employed. I have recently come across a U.S offer from a concern that has made it conditional that my H1B will be processed only if I submit my credentials or I agree to give them a substantial amount that will be returned once my H1 gets stamped. Also I sign a contract with them to serve their company for 18 months.
I am in a dilemma as to the genuineness of the offer.

I would appreciate if you could putforth your views on this.

Thanks.
Neeraj
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 1033
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Originally posted by Neeraja Neeraj:
Hi,

I am a java developer with 3+ years experience and employed. I have recently come across a U.S offer from a concern that has made it conditional that my H1B will be processed only if I submit my credentials or I agree to give them a substantial amount that will be returned once my H1 gets stamped. Also I sign a contract with them to serve their company for 18 months.
I am in a dilemma as to the genuineness of the offer.

I would appreciate if you could putforth your views on this.

Thanks.
Neeraj



Are they based in Nigeria?

This sounds like a scam to me, I also think that the US has stopped approving H1Bs. I'd never apply for a job that requested money up front.
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 1907
1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Yes.I am reading first time this type of case.4/5 years back it was common to keep H1-B's original degree certificates etc with Indian office.Once he becomes 'loyal' for 6 months in US,then H1-B's used to get their certificates back.But demanding money is new to me(I think bcos there is no value to degree certificate now a days! ).Generally that happens when people here move to UAE or Suadi countries.But those are agents and not direct emplyers.
Never fall into this trap Neeraj.
[ August 02, 2004: Message edited by: Arjun Shastry ]
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 195
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Simple...Don't go in for it.
 
Greenhorn
Posts: 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I got this reply from some employers:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Empoyer1
---------

We are very impressed with your skills.

As you already know, getting an IT specialist from outside USA is a very expensive operation - timewise and moneywise for companies in the USA. Hence, at this point we are dealing with senior applicants who

1. Can pay their H1B visa expenses -- fully refundable after joining P***l
2. Can stay with their relatives/friends in the USA till we find them a job
3. Can pay their one way economy flight ticket and health insurance till they get a job -- refundable

H1B, economy flight ticket for yourself is refundable monthly in 10 installment parts after you join us with a job.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Employer 2
------------


Before we move to the next step of interviewing you, we appreciate your time taken to the following requirements that you should be able to fulfill.

1) Candidates Responsibilities:
a. The required legal/Immigration costs (approximately $1200) will be born by the prospective candidate, who is considered by R***m for employment.
b. Candidate will be responsible for Air travel costs to USA.
c. All qualifications and experience mentioned in your resumes must be supported by relevant documentation
d. Candidate has to sign the R***m�s employee contract agreement and send the document via fax or mail. Which will be e-mailed to you after you clear the technical screening.
e. Candidate should understand that they would be offered a Salary depending upon the marketability of candidate.
2) Benefits:
R***m as part of employee benefit program would provide the following
Incentives apart from regular salary/benefit package (R***m in general offers
Paid vacation, sick leave and health insurance to employees apart from agreed
Salary).

a. R***m will reimburse the legal/immigration costs incurred by the
Candidate upon completion of 12 billable months with R***m clients.
b. R***m will reimburse the airfare costs incurred by the candidate
Upon completion of 18 billable months.
3) Orientation Period:
a. During Orientation period R***m will host the candidates in living
One of their company�s guest house
b. R***m will provide necessary training in improving the interview
taking skills and assist the candidates in adapting to the cultural changes.
c. Candidate should apply for SSN and take drivers license test during this
Orientation period.
4) General Requirements:
a. Before coming to USA candidate should have learnt driving a car and obtain International drivers license
b. Candidate should bring enough necessary clothing based on seasons.
c. Candidate should carry a pair of suit.


Please note that H1 quota (2005-2006) is getting exhausted fast as per the information of our attorney�s hence, If you are serious and would like to consider persuading this opportunity please respond by accepting to this e-mail ASAP!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employer 3
-----------

Dear Sir,
Thanks you for responding to our advertisement.
As many consultants have responded and as there are many, different and repeated questions to be answered, we have tried to put all answer here together. If you could not find an answer to your query, please feel free to call us at 301 345 7872. (Not after 9 pm (EST USA) please!)

Here, we will try to be very brief.
1. If you want us to market you on a 80% basis and do not want to transfer your H1B Visa to H***, then please get your H1B holder company sign the attached CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT and send it to us. You can skip the rest of this letter.
2. For Overview of H*** Inc.: Please visit www.H***inc.com
3. Promoters: Agni Jandhyala, one of the promoters of H*** Inc., has more than 30 years of experience, of which more than 20 years in IT in USA. Mr. Jandhyala had a very successful career with Oracle, DoD, NASA HQ, NOAA, Banks, etc. He is with H*** nearly three years now.
4. H*** Inc. has successfully sponsored more than hundred qualified IT professionals on H1B Visa. Most of them are now working with leading IT firms in USA.
5. We offer to initiate the GC processing for any of our consultants after we receive payments for the first 500 billing hours or three months of billing.
6. The turnaround time for filing a H1B petition by us is around 24 hours to 1 week.
7. For filing H1B petition, the following deposits apply:
a. Standard Processing: $650 (fully refundable)
(i) H4 to H1
(ii) H1 to H1
(iii) L1 to H1
(iv) OPT to H1
(v) Others to H1
b. Premium Processing: $1650 (Only $650 is refundable)
(i) H4 to H1
(ii) H1 to H1
(iii) L1 to H1
(iv) OPT to H1
(v) Others to H1

c. New H1 from outside USA.
(i) 10 years and above experience: No deposit is needed.
(ii) 5 years to less than 10 years experience: $500 (fully refundable)
(iii) 4 years to less than 5 years experience: $1000 (fully refundable)
(iv) 3 years to less than 4 years experience: $1500 (fully refundable)
(v) 2 years to less than 3 years experience: $2000 (fully refundable)
(vi) 1 year to less than 2 years experience: $2500 (fully refundable)
(vii) 0 year to less than 1 year experience: $3000 (fully refundable)

These rates are for only Standard Processing. Under this processing, the approval takes anywhere from one month to three months.

Please add $1000 (non refundable) for Premium Processing. Under this processing, the approval should be received with in 15 days.

8. The Security Deposit is returned only after you work for a minimum period of one year with H*** Inc.
9. At the end of one year, you are free to work anywhere.
10. Experience mentioned above has to be evidenced thru Income Tax Returns and Bank Statements.
11. Applicants with less than three years experience, should be minimum a Computer Science or Applications undergrads.
12. Once H*** receives your application along with your resume for a New H1B (from those outside USA), our Tech Staff in Hyderabad, India will screen you before we accept to file your H1B Visa papers.
13. The Security Deposit should be in preferably in Dollars or can be in any other currency.
14. For filing an H1B petition we need the following documents (in very clean 2 sets, one goes to Credential Evaluation).
The List Documents:
a. Resume
b. Copy of Credential Evaluation. (If you do not have, we will get it).
c. Copy College degree/s and transcripts.
d. Copy of Training certificate(s).
e. Copies of Experience certificate(s).
f. Copy of latest three earnings statement/s.
g. Copies of Relevant Stamped Pages of Beneficiary�s Passport
h. Two recent passport size pictures signed in the front.
i. A letter requesting and authorizing H*** Inc. to file H1B petition
j. Approval Notice from INS for prior H1-B petition and Beneficiary�s Form I-94 (where applicable).
k. Copy of Beneficiary�s Visa granted by US Consulate (where applicable).
l. The Security Deposit in the name of H*** Inc. if in other than rupees, else in the name of V*** if in rupees.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Are they bogus guys?.

Alex
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 254
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
don't do it if you have a job right now .
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 328
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Are they bogus guys?

$1200 for H1B (all legal and application fees included) looks pretty reasonable to me. $650 is a bargain. If it's all they charge of course, and if there are no hidden costs in the contract.
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 403
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I thought it was illegal for the person applying for an H1B to pay for it themselves.
 
Dmitry Melnik
Ranch Hand
Posts: 328
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I thought it was illegal for the person applying for an H1B to pay for it themselves.

Which part of the payment you thought was illegal? Legal expenses? Application fee?

A person can not apply for H1B himself, his employer only can do that for him. But he may make an agreement with the employer that he reimburse him those expenses (if they are reasonable).
 
James Swan
Ranch Hand
Posts: 403
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I thought the appliation fee.
But I guess a deal could be arranged with the employer.
 
Dmitry Melnik
Ranch Hand
Posts: 328
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I think that collecting a job application fee is illegal.

And since job application, and H1B-status application are closely related for a foreigner, there is some ground for confusion.
 
Neeraja Neeraj
Greenhorn
Posts: 29
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Thanks for all your views.
They are based in NJ and the offer is for 48K.

Neeraj.
 
Alex Meriau
Greenhorn
Posts: 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
back to my question..
Are they bogus guys?. or Are they so called 'body shops'.

Does anyone come to the US by this kinda guys?.
 
Arjun Shastry
Ranch Hand
Posts: 1907
1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
{
They are based in NJ and the offer is for 48K
}
AFAIK,minimun wage for H1-Ber must be 60K by law.
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 1309
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
48K is very low for 3+ years of experience in NJ; especially if the location is close to NY.
 
Alex Meriau
Greenhorn
Posts: 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
How about 80K in big cities like NY, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas etc?.
Is that correct for a 5+ experienced?.
Will that be a good salary for a family with 2 kids?.
I am from Europe having no idea of US cost of living.
Anyone could feed my head ?.

Thanks
[ August 04, 2004: Message edited by: Alex Meriau ]
 
Dmitry Melnik
Ranch Hand
Posts: 328
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I am from Europe having no idea of US cost of living.
Anyone could feed my head ?.


I'd suggest you to play with these toys
 
Consider Paul's rocket mass heater.
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic