USCIS denies H-1B petitions from major IT consulting company over wage level violations

USCIS flags H-1B wage levels at IT consulting company

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it denied and revoked multiple H-1B visa petitions from a major IT consulting company after finding that the company had classified skilled technology jobs at wage levels below what the roles’ duties and requirements supported. In an X post, the agency said the practice could undercut the wages required for the positions and create unfair competition for US workers. USCIS said its action was aimed at protecting American workers and maintaining the integrity of employment-based immigration programmes.

USCIS flags H-1B wage levels at IT consulting company

USCIS said its Vermont office identified H-1B petitions in which skilled technology positions had been placed at lower wage levels than the agency believed were supported by the duties and requirements of those jobs. However, the agency did not name the IT consulting company in its post. USCIS said the lower classifications were significant because H-1B employers are required to meet wage requirements for the positions covered by the programme. The agency said the practice “undercuts required wages” and creates “unfair competition for U.S. workers.” The H-1B programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers for specialised jobs, including positions in the technology sector. Companies seeking H-1B workers must provide information about the job and meet the programme's requirements. In this case, USCIS focused on how the technology jobs had been classified for wage purposes. The agency did not provide details in its post about the number of petitions affected, the specific job titles involved or the total number of workers whose petitions were denied or revoked.

USCIS says action protects American workers

In the post, the immigration authority said the case also highlights the importance of employers correctly classifying positions under the H-1B system. USCIS said its action was intended to preserve the integrity of employment-based immigration programmes while protecting US workers from what it described as unfair competition.

Here’s what the immigration agency said in the post

"USCIS in Vermont identified H-1B petitions from a major IT consulting company that classified skilled technology jobs at wage levels below what the positions’ duties and requirements supported.This practice undercuts required wages and creates unfair competition for U.S. workers. We denied and revoked multiple petitions, protecting American workers and preserving the integrity of employment-based immigration programs."

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