According to South Carolina District US Attorney’s Office, Indian-based L&T Technology Services has to pay $9,928,000 to settle claims against underpaid visa fees in violation of the False Claims Act.
The report says that L&T Tech acquired cheaper ($200-300) B-1 visas instead of the more expensive ($4,000-6,000) H-1B visas for its foreign personnel between 2014 and 2019.
The B-1 visa doesn’t allow foreign nationals to do paid labor in the USA and does not have a cap. In contrast, H-1B visas have an annual cap of 65,000 for foreign nationals with the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in an occupation requiring highly specialized knowledge and an additional 20,000 annually for those in such occupations with a master’s degree or its equivalent.
L&T Tech hired the personnel for its offices in Edison, New Jersey. The investigation did not determine liability, and L&T Tech, while cooperating in the matter, has denied liability. The allegations were made in regard to a whistleblower complaint in the District Court in Charleston, South Carolina.
District Attorney for South Carolina said the office would “hold accountable those who dodge this country’s visa requirements,” adding that US immigration laws “are intended to protect American jobs for American workers.”
