北加库比蒂诺夫妇从事H-1B签证诈欺十多年 遭联邦起诉
世界新闻网
4/14/2022
美国联邦检察官指出，北加库比蒂诺一对夫妇因涉嫌数多宗非法帮助外国劳工获得H-1B工作签证的案件遭到联邦起诉，他们二人每人面临7项签证欺诈罪指控。
联邦检察官指出，涉案的两人分别是现年52岁的普尼亚科帝（Elangovan Punniakoti），以及他现年47岁的妻子克莉丝蒂娜（Mary Christeena）。两人已于4月12日在圣荷西联邦法院初次过堂。联邦检察官指出，在截至2020年5月的过去十多年内，两人利用圣他克拉拉县的一家IT人力公司作为担保，为54名名海外劳工发出虚假的H-1B申请。该公司是2008年所成立，公司的首席执行官由普尼亚科帝担任，总裁则是克莉丝蒂娜。
检方介绍，H-1B签证是专门给技术人才所签发的签证，硅谷高科技公司的员工中，很多人都是持有H-1B签证来到美国工作。而该签证也是出了名的难申请，因为申请数量众多但名额不足。美国全国每年大约有20万件申请案，但名额仅有8万5000个。
检方表示，两人的签证诈欺的做法，让他们所经营的「创新方案」（Innovative Solutions）公司拥有「不公平、不合法的优势」。检方进一步解释，通常H-1B签证的申请表中，必须需要填写外国劳工就业的公司。然而，两人创新方案所承办的案件中，替外国劳工填写的就业公司，要不是根本从未接收过这些劳工，要不就是根本不打算聘用这些劳工。相反的，等到H-1B签证申请获得批准后，普尼亚科帝与克莉丝蒂娜会安排这些已经拿到签证的劳工至其他公司工作。
另外，这对夫妇还被控以「创新方案」内部项目（internal project）的名义，为外国劳工申请H-1B签证。然而两人明确知道这些项目并不存在（no such project existed）。
联邦检察官表示，两名被告还从雇用外国劳工的公司获得超过250万的工资；另外也还有拿到其他的利润。
目前两人已经被保释，预计下次的出庭日订于7月25日。
检方进一步表示，今年2月时其实也有一宗类似案件。当时42岁的萨拉度佳居民派特耐克（Namarata Patnaik），以及56岁的圣他克拉居民派瑞克（Kartiki Parekh）等两名南湾的公司高管遭联邦起诉。两人被共发出85个虚假的H-1B签证申请，以圣荷西一间公司作为掩护，提交资讯不实的签证申请。检方调查发现，他们利用这样的手段获利近700万元。
H-1B签证舞弊犯 判监禁15个月 曾助600人非法进入硅谷
世界新闻网
11/25/2021
2022年H-1B工作签证申请季在即，移民局也加强了对于H-1B签证舞弊的打击力度。联邦司法部日前在一份新闻稿中说，46岁的桑尼维尔居民卡乌卢（Kishore Kumar Kavuru），因签证欺诈罪被判处15个月的监禁。该名男子曾帮助超过600人通过递交多份签证申请的方式进入硅谷工作。
司法部表示，根据认罪协议，卡乌卢是四家人事公司的首席执行官。这四家公司通过了H-1B资质认证，被允许临时雇用外籍员工，并将这些员工最终安置在硅谷的科技公司。
卡乌卢曾在2018年被指控犯有10项邮件欺诈罪和10项签证欺诈罪。2009年至2017年，他提交了100多份H-1B申请，「虚假描述H-1B职位，并谎称将员工安置在了其他公司中。」官员说。
疫情大流行使得全美就业市场长期低迷，许多外籍员工都选择返回家乡陪伴家人。当大家都以为H-1B工作签证的申请难度会相应降低时，现实却出乎所有人的意料。
根据美国移民局的数据，2021年共收到超过27万份H-1B的申请，比2020年度的申请人数还要高出7万人。同时，2021年的H-1B签证的中签率还创下了十几年以来的新低，更有新闻曝出有大量空壳、外包公司帮助申请者非法提交多份申请，以提高中签概率。年初，部分华人还发起了反对「H-1B舞弊」的活动，集体诉讼移民局对申请审查的不力。
官员表示，卡乌卢要求他的客户向他支付数千元的现金作为报酬，以帮助他们提交申请，并寻找一份「数月无薪水」的工作。根据一份审判备忘录显示，卡乌卢至少从中赚取了150万元。
除了15个月的监禁以外，卡乌卢还将被罚款53万元，并在出狱后的三年接受监管。他将于明年2月10日开始服刑。
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Sunnyvale Man Sentenced To 15 Months For Visa Fraud
Defendant Falsified Over 100 H-1B Visa Applications And Obtained More Than $1.5 Million In Fraud Proceeds
SAN JOSE – Kishore Kumar Kavuru was sentenced late yesterday in federal court to 15 months in prison for making false statements in foreign worker visa applications, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Quentin Heiden, Los Angeles Region, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Edward J. Davila.
Kavuru, 49, of Sunnyvale, California, pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud on May 24, 2021. In his plea agreement, Kavuru stated he owned, operated, and was CEO of four different staffing companies. His companies specialized in obtaining H-1B visas for foreign skilled workers and placing these individuals in the United States at technology firms seeking qualified H-1B contractors. Known as H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers program, the H-1B visa program allows an employer to temporarily hire a skilled foreign worker in the United States on a nonimmigrant basis. The position must qualify as a “specialty occupation,” that is, one that requires the application of specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the specialty. At the four staffing companies he owned and ran, Kavuru was responsible for creating H-1B visa applications for foreign workers and submitting them to the appropriate government agencies of the United States.
Kavuru admitted in his plea agreement that from 2009 through at least 2017 he engaged in a scheme to obtain H-1B visas from government agencies by submitting H-1B applications that contained false and fraudulent statements. Kavuru admitted to submitting more than one hundred applications that falsely described available H-1B positions and falsely stated that the H-1B workers were to be placed at the positions at specific companies. Kavuru admitted he knew at the time he submitted the applications that the companies did not have the named jobs and that he did not intend to place the workers at those companies. None of those foreign skilled workers were ever placed at those companies. Kavuru – or one of his employees at Kavuru’s direction – nevertheless signed the visa applications attesting under penalty of perjury to the truth of those false statements.
Kavuru further admitted that he required the H-1B foreign skilled workers to pay him thousands of dollars in cash for the cost of preparing and submitting their H-1B visa petitions, which is a violation of U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL) regulations. He also admitted requiring his H-1B visa recipients to go unpaid for months while he looked for legitimate H-1B positions for them, violating US DOL regulations by failing to pay H-1B workers while they are “benched” in this manner.
In a memo filed for sentencing, the government calculated that Kavuru orchestrated the submission of over 100 fraudulent H-1B visa applications that earned him more than $1.5 million in fraudulently-obtained proceeds.
In addition to his 15 month prison sentence imposed for visa fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a), United District Judge Edward J. Davila entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $533,350.03. The sentence also included a three year period of supervision following Kavuru’s release from prison.
Kavuru will surrender to begin serving his sentence on February 10, 2022.
Assistant United States Attorney Maia T. Perez prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations.
USCIS Conducts Third Random Selection from Previously Submitted FY 2022 H-1B Cap Registrations
Release Date 11/19/2021
We recently determined that we needed to select additional registrations to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B numerical allocations, including the advanced degree exemption. On Nov. 19, we selected from among previously submitted electronic registrations using a random selection process. The petition filing period based on registrations selected on Nov. 19 will begin on Nov. 22, 2021, and close on Feb. 23, 2022. Individuals with selected registrations will have their myUSCIS accounts updated to include a selection notice, which includes details about when and where to file.
In July 2021, we conducted a second random selection from among properly submitted electronic registrations for the FY 2022 H-1B numerical allocations. The petition filing period based on registrations selected in July ended on Nov. 3, 2021.
We conducted an initial selection in March 2021. The initial filing period for those with selected registrations for FY 2022 was from April 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021. Per regulation, we take into account historical data related to approvals, denials, revocations, and other relevant factors to calculate the number of registrations needed to meet the H-1B numerical allocations for a given fiscal year. Only those petitioners with selected registrations for FY 2022 are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions.
An H-1B cap-subject petition must be properly filed at the correct service center and within the filing period indicated on the relevant registration selection notice. Online filing is not available for H-1B petitions. Petitioners filing H-1B petitions must do so by paper and must include a printed copy of the applicable registration selection notice with the FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petition.
Registration selection only indicates that petitioners are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions; it does not indicate that the petition will be approved. Petitioners filing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must still submit evidence and establish eligibility for petition approval based on existing statutory and regulatory requirements.
For more information, visit the H-1B Cap Season page.
Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/19/2021
Employment authorization implemented for Hong Kong residents covered under Deferred Enforced Departure
By Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
10/20/2021
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided information today on how Hong Kong residents covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) apply for employment authorization.
Key Points:
- DED and employment authorization for noncitizens covered by DED for Hong Kong is effective from Aug. 5, 2021, through Feb. 5, 2023, except for noncitizens who:
- Have voluntarily returned to Hong Kong or the People’s Republic of China (PRC) after Aug. 5, 2021.
- Have not continuously lived in the U.S. since Aug. 5, 2021.
- Are inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors in the U.S.
- Are subject to extradition.
- Are considered a present danger to public safety or have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the U.S. if they remain in the country.
- USCIS said Wednesday that Hong Kong residents can apply for an Employment Authorization Document by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
- Individuals can apply for travel authorization by submitting, Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
Additional Information: Eligibility requirements for Hong Kong residents who are covered by DED are based on the terms described in the President Joe Biden’s directive and any relevant requirements established by the Department of Homeland Security. The full USCIS announcement can be found here.
USCIS Implements Employment Authorization for Individuals Covered by Deferred Enforced Departure for Hong Kong Residents
Release Date: 10/20/2021
Eligible Hong Kong Residents May Apply for EADs and Travel Authorization
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today issued a Federal Register notice with information on how to apply for employment authorization for eligible Hong Kong residents covered under the president’s Aug. 5 memorandum directing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for 18 months, through Feb. 5, 2023.
DED for Hong Kong residents applies only to certain eligible Hong Kong residents who were present in the United States as of Aug. 5, 2021; who have continuously resided here since that date; and who meet other eligibility criteria described in the president’s memorandum. For purposes of this DED policy, Hong Kong residents are individuals of any nationality, or without nationality, who have met the requirements and been issued a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport, a British National Overseas passport, a British Overseas Citizen passport, a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, or an HKSAR Document of Identity for Visa Purposes.
There is no application for DED. Eligibility requirements for Hong Kong residents who are covered under DED are based on the terms described in the president’s directive and any relevant implementing requirements established by the Department of Homeland Security.
Eligible Hong Kong residents may apply for an Employment Authorization Document by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Eligible Hong Kong residents covered by the president’s DED memorandum may also receive travel authorization. Individuals must file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, for advance parole if they wish to travel based on DED.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Last Reviewed/Updated: 10/20/2021
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
Release Date: 09/24/2021
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners and requestors who are responding to certain:
- Requests for Evidence;
- Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
- Notices of Intent to Deny;
- Notices of Intent to Revoke;
- Notices of Intent to Rescind;
- Notices of Intent to Terminate regional centers; and
- Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant.
In addition, USCIS will consider a Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, or Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA), if:
- The form was filed up to 60 calendar days from the issuance of a decision we made; and
- We made that decision anytime from March 1, 2020, through Jan. 15, 2022
Notice/Request/Decision Issuance Date:
This flexibility applies to the above documents if the issuance date listed on the request, notice or decision is between March 1, 2020, and Jan. 15, 2022, inclusive.
Response Due Date:
USCIS will consider a response to the above requests and notices received within 60 calendar days after the response due date set in the request or notice before taking any action. Additionally, we will consider a Form N-336 or Form I-290B received up to 60 calendar days from the date of the decision before we take any action.
Please visit uscis.gov/coronavirus for USCIS updates.
Last Reviewed/Updated: 09/24/2021
USCIS Extends Evidence of Status for Conditional Permanent Residents to 24 Months with Pending Form I-751 or Form I-829
Release Date: 09/03/2021
Starting Sept. 4, 2021, USCIS is extending the time that receipt notices can be used to show evidence of status from 18 months to 24 months for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status. We are making the change from 18 to 24 months to accommodate current processing times for Form I-751 and Form I-829, which have increased over the past year.
Conditional permanent residents who properly file Form I-751 or Form I-829 will receive a receipt notice that can be presented with their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (also known as a Green Card), as evidence of continued status for up to 24 months past the expiration date on their Green Card, while their case remains pending with USCIS.
Additionally, we will issue new receipt notices to eligible conditional permanent residents who properly filed their Form I-751 or Form I-829 before Sept. 4 and whose cases are still pending. Those receipt notices will also serve as evidence of continued status for 24 months past the expiration date on their Green Card.
As a reminder, conditional permanent residents who plan to be outside of the United States for a year or more should apply for a reentry permit by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, before leaving the country. For more information on International Travel as a Permanent Resident, see our Green Card page.
Last Reviewed/Updated: 09/03/2021
