Fair Working Opportunity
Since June 2023, CISI has been working with a group of dedicated individuals to fight against H-1B Abuse.
H-1B abuse has been caused by illegal multi-filings filed by IT Consulting Companies (ICC). As a result, legit qualified candidates are less likely to be selected in the lottery, with many of them being forced to leave the U.S. as a result.
By collaborating with individuals who advocate for a fairer H-1B system, representatives of CISI have been constant participants of the weekly meetings with the assistants of the United States House of Representatives and other key stakeholders, where they are presented with slides and data testifying why H-1B abuse is a serious problem that harms us all. So far, many of them have given positive feedback and promise to look more into the matter.
CISI will continue to support international students wholeheartedly and advocate for a brighter future.
USCIS on Multiple or Duplicative Filings
Petitioners may not file multiple or duplicative H-1B petitions for the same beneficiary. To ensure fair and orderly distribution of available H-1B visas, we will deny or revoke multiple or duplicative petitions filed by an employer (including its related entities) for the same H-1B worker and will not refund the filing fees. Multiple or duplicative petitions will be denied or revoked even if they are filed pursuant to a selected registration.
Relative Reports
H-1B Abuse: What is it and why does it matter?
The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers with high education and demanded expertise.
H-1B Abuse, or H-1B Fraud, is illegally increasing chances of successful lottery selection. One common form of fraud is when companies collude with individuals to file multiple H-1B applications, usually under fake jobs and titles. USCIS has announced that it has already undertaken extensive fraud investigations, denied and revoked petitions.
In these cases, many workers are from abroad and don’t even have a U.S. degree, yet they are able to illegal acquire the work visa and stay in the U.S., while hundreds and thousands of talented international students, graduated and have already built a career in the U.S., have to self-deport after unsuccessful lottery selections.
Why should you be concerned about it too?
H-1B abuse is a serious problem that victimizes us all.
It not only leads to a constant loss of talent, but significantly reduces college enrollment as well. According to VOA, International student enrollment has dropped 15% in the 2020-2021 school year. International students are unable to stay in the country after graduation, who, as alumni, usually reciprocate their alma mater through donations.
It also devalues U.S. higher education. With a system so dysfunctional and heavily abused, many international students are reconsidering U.S. institutions as their options, because they sense that the system is discouraging them. International students have been huge economic drivers, contributing $32 billion to the U.S. economy in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Right now, we are losing them too.
H-1B Abuse leads to the loss of highly skilled non-citizen workers, trained in the U.S., and deters foreign students from considering U.S. higher education as a viable option.
What can you do to help?
We are currently having constant online meetings with the United States House of Representatives, usually on a weekly basis. During these meetings, we present them with slides containing reports and data to brief them about the ongoing H-1B fraud. Many of their assistants have expressed their concern, given positive feedback and promised to take a deeper look at the matter.
You are more than welcome to join our meetings to show your support, even tell your stories. Are you one of the H-1B victims who have to go through multiple selections but unable to secure a visa? Are you a friend or relative of someone who is suffering from this? Are you a college professor or social worker who has deep sympathy towards international students, who believe in equality, justice and a fair system? We need your voice.
Even if you are just someone who is curious about learning an issue that is harming the U.S. interests, you are welcome to join and listen. Send an email to [email protected] and express your interest, and we will get back to you with the link of the next meeting!
Sending an email to universities
Many American universities are popular destinations for international students and known for supporting and assisting them through the journey. Write a formal letter to the Office of International Students and inform them of this issue.
We have a drafted letter that is ready to be sent out. Remember, double check the address and the name of the university before hitting the “send” button!
Stories of Medy, Gavin and Panny
Medy is a student specialized in data science. This July, she has to self-deport after another round of unsuccessful selection. Medy is talented, hard-working and dedicated. She has been living in the U.S. for ten years, with a well-developed career, life and network. Now they are all gone because of the H-1B fraud.
Gavin is a Cybersecurity and Software Engineer working for a renowned American company. He came to the U.S. at age of 18, and earned a graduate merit-based scholarship towards a degree in Information Systems. He has participated 3 times in the H-1B lottery and never got it. Without a secure work visa, he is considering returning to his home country, China. He is not the only one among his friends in the tech industry who are facing the same difficulties.
Panny is currently working for a New York company specializing in economic diplomacy and government relations. Because she is a non-STEM major, she has only one year of OPT. She was unfortunately not selected in the 2021 H-1B lottery and had to go back to school to maintain her legal status. Her journey has been made extra hard by the H-1B Fraud.