Macaca
04-22 09:07 AM
Passing On H-1b Costs to the Employee? (http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/FeesArticle07.18.2006.pdf) -- Smart Business Practice or DOL Violation?, by Michael F. Hammond and Damaris Del Valle
After all the costs associated with an H-1B petition are totaled, the sum can be alarming. In order to offset this cost, some employers ask that the beneficiary, the employee who is being hired, reimburse the company in whole or in part. Which costs may and may not be paid by the beneficiary can be a tricky matter. What follows is an analysis of H-1B costs and who may pay what.
All deductions from an H-1B worker’s pay fall into three categories: authorized, unauthorized, or prohibited. Authorized deductions can be taken without worry of whether or not such a deduction will lower the employee’s rate of pay below the required wage rate. Unauthorized deductions, counter to what the term may connote, can be taken from an employee’s wage but are considered non-payment and are only allowed if the beneficiary’s wage rate, after the deduction(s), is greater than the required amount listed on the Labor Condition Application (LCA). Unauthorized deductions cannot push the employee’s wage below either the prevailing wage rate or the actual wage rate, i.e. salaries of those similarly employed and qualified at the work site. Prohibited deductions may not be taken from the employee’s pay regardless of the effect they would have on the required wage rate.
The most straightforward of the deductions is the prohibited deduction. The Training Fee associated with the H-1B petition is the only prohibited deduction associated with the cost of filing an H-1B petition. Rajan v. International Business Solutions, Ltd. and the language in the relevant regulation make it very clear that the Training Fee is to be paid by the employer or a third party; it is not to be reimbursed in part or whole by the employee. This fee must be completely shouldered by the employer or a party who is not the employee.
Deductions are considered by the Department of Labor (DOL) to be authorized if:
The deduction is reported as such on the employer’s payroll records,
The employee has voluntarily agreed to the deduction and such agreement is documented in writing (a job offer which carries a deduction as a condition of employment does not meet this requirement),
The deduction is for a matter that is principally for the benefit of the employee,
The deduction is not a recoupment of the employer’s business expenses,
The amount deducted does not exceed the fair market value or the actual cost (whichever is lower) of the matter covered, and
The amount deducted is not more than 25% of the employee’s disposable earning.
An Education Evaluation arguably qualifies as an authorized deduction. Similar to a translation fee, which is payable by the employee, the employee is benefiting from the evaluation and will be able to use it in the future in his/her private capacity if s/he so wishes. Of course, if the employee is paying for the evaluation, then s/he must be able to acquire a copy of the evaluation so that the future benefit upon which his/her payment is presumed is a real possibility.
Attorney’s fees associated with obtaining H-4 status for family members accompanying the Beneficiary may qualify as authorized deductions since the Beneficiary is the party who primarily benefits from such fees. In addition, attorney fees associated with visa issuance, assuming that international travel is not a requirement for the position, could be properly considered as authorized deductions. In order to properly deduct the attorney fees associated with these processes, it is important that the attorney break down the specifics of how much is being charged for each element of the H-1B process- this will allow the employer to deduct those fees associated with the retention of the visas for the accompanying family members without concerning itself with the deduction requirements necessary for unauthorized deductions.
The circumstances surrounding the Premium Processing Fee determine if deduction of the fee is to qualify as authorized or unauthorized. While the speedy decision that the Premium Processing Fee guarantees often benefits both the employer and the employee, it is important to take notice of which party requests and benefits most from premium processing. If the employee has decided to utilize premium processing for his/her own personal benefit, then the employer may be reimbursed by the employee in accordance with the requirements established by the DOL for authorized deductions. If the employer is the party desiring premium process and who will benefit from such processing, then any deductions from the employee’s pay are unauthorized and, as such Deduction of attorney’s fees associated with the filing of the LCA or H-1B and the Base Fee (or I-129 Fee) are considered to be unauthorized. These fees are considered to be the employer’s business expenses and, for this reason, are not authorized deductions. These fees may be deducted from the employee’s pay so long as they do not drop the rate of pay below the required wage rate.
It is not clear whether or not the Fraud Fee which was implemented in March 2005 is unauthorized or prohibited. The language of the act regarding the Fraud Fee states that “the Secretary of Homeland Security shall impose a fraud prevention and detection fee on an employer filing a petition.”10 Almost identical language is used in the Act to refer to the Training Fee.11 Such similarity could be read to mean that the restrictions of the Training Fee also apply to the Fraud Fee. However, 20 C.F.R. 655 is explicit in saying that the employee cannot pay the Training Fee; no such statement is made regarding the Fraud Fee. The regulation regarding the Training Fee, 20 C.F.R. 655, predates the creation of the Fraud Fee, which may explain this discrepancy. Nonetheless, the language referring to the Fraud Fee is not explicitly prohibitive and an employer may decide to be reimbursed by the employee. If an employer chooses to do so, any deductions from the employee’s salary to pay for this fee must meet the DOL requirements for unauthorized deductions. 12
Before any payments are made by the employee or deductions are taken from his/her pay to reimburse the employer, it must be determined if such deduction is permitted and if so, whether or not it is authorized or unauthorized. Once these preliminary determinations are made, appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that the DOL’s requirements are met. As a practical matter, there are very few circumstances in which the prospective employee could legally be made to pay for the costs associated with the H-1b process without an employer risking non-compliance and causing significant record keeping.
After all the costs associated with an H-1B petition are totaled, the sum can be alarming. In order to offset this cost, some employers ask that the beneficiary, the employee who is being hired, reimburse the company in whole or in part. Which costs may and may not be paid by the beneficiary can be a tricky matter. What follows is an analysis of H-1B costs and who may pay what.
All deductions from an H-1B worker’s pay fall into three categories: authorized, unauthorized, or prohibited. Authorized deductions can be taken without worry of whether or not such a deduction will lower the employee’s rate of pay below the required wage rate. Unauthorized deductions, counter to what the term may connote, can be taken from an employee’s wage but are considered non-payment and are only allowed if the beneficiary’s wage rate, after the deduction(s), is greater than the required amount listed on the Labor Condition Application (LCA). Unauthorized deductions cannot push the employee’s wage below either the prevailing wage rate or the actual wage rate, i.e. salaries of those similarly employed and qualified at the work site. Prohibited deductions may not be taken from the employee’s pay regardless of the effect they would have on the required wage rate.
The most straightforward of the deductions is the prohibited deduction. The Training Fee associated with the H-1B petition is the only prohibited deduction associated with the cost of filing an H-1B petition. Rajan v. International Business Solutions, Ltd. and the language in the relevant regulation make it very clear that the Training Fee is to be paid by the employer or a third party; it is not to be reimbursed in part or whole by the employee. This fee must be completely shouldered by the employer or a party who is not the employee.
Deductions are considered by the Department of Labor (DOL) to be authorized if:
The deduction is reported as such on the employer’s payroll records,
The employee has voluntarily agreed to the deduction and such agreement is documented in writing (a job offer which carries a deduction as a condition of employment does not meet this requirement),
The deduction is for a matter that is principally for the benefit of the employee,
The deduction is not a recoupment of the employer’s business expenses,
The amount deducted does not exceed the fair market value or the actual cost (whichever is lower) of the matter covered, and
The amount deducted is not more than 25% of the employee’s disposable earning.
An Education Evaluation arguably qualifies as an authorized deduction. Similar to a translation fee, which is payable by the employee, the employee is benefiting from the evaluation and will be able to use it in the future in his/her private capacity if s/he so wishes. Of course, if the employee is paying for the evaluation, then s/he must be able to acquire a copy of the evaluation so that the future benefit upon which his/her payment is presumed is a real possibility.
Attorney’s fees associated with obtaining H-4 status for family members accompanying the Beneficiary may qualify as authorized deductions since the Beneficiary is the party who primarily benefits from such fees. In addition, attorney fees associated with visa issuance, assuming that international travel is not a requirement for the position, could be properly considered as authorized deductions. In order to properly deduct the attorney fees associated with these processes, it is important that the attorney break down the specifics of how much is being charged for each element of the H-1B process- this will allow the employer to deduct those fees associated with the retention of the visas for the accompanying family members without concerning itself with the deduction requirements necessary for unauthorized deductions.
The circumstances surrounding the Premium Processing Fee determine if deduction of the fee is to qualify as authorized or unauthorized. While the speedy decision that the Premium Processing Fee guarantees often benefits both the employer and the employee, it is important to take notice of which party requests and benefits most from premium processing. If the employee has decided to utilize premium processing for his/her own personal benefit, then the employer may be reimbursed by the employee in accordance with the requirements established by the DOL for authorized deductions. If the employer is the party desiring premium process and who will benefit from such processing, then any deductions from the employee’s pay are unauthorized and, as such Deduction of attorney’s fees associated with the filing of the LCA or H-1B and the Base Fee (or I-129 Fee) are considered to be unauthorized. These fees are considered to be the employer’s business expenses and, for this reason, are not authorized deductions. These fees may be deducted from the employee’s pay so long as they do not drop the rate of pay below the required wage rate.
It is not clear whether or not the Fraud Fee which was implemented in March 2005 is unauthorized or prohibited. The language of the act regarding the Fraud Fee states that “the Secretary of Homeland Security shall impose a fraud prevention and detection fee on an employer filing a petition.”10 Almost identical language is used in the Act to refer to the Training Fee.11 Such similarity could be read to mean that the restrictions of the Training Fee also apply to the Fraud Fee. However, 20 C.F.R. 655 is explicit in saying that the employee cannot pay the Training Fee; no such statement is made regarding the Fraud Fee. The regulation regarding the Training Fee, 20 C.F.R. 655, predates the creation of the Fraud Fee, which may explain this discrepancy. Nonetheless, the language referring to the Fraud Fee is not explicitly prohibitive and an employer may decide to be reimbursed by the employee. If an employer chooses to do so, any deductions from the employee’s salary to pay for this fee must meet the DOL requirements for unauthorized deductions. 12
Before any payments are made by the employee or deductions are taken from his/her pay to reimburse the employer, it must be determined if such deduction is permitted and if so, whether or not it is authorized or unauthorized. Once these preliminary determinations are made, appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that the DOL’s requirements are met. As a practical matter, there are very few circumstances in which the prospective employee could legally be made to pay for the costs associated with the H-1b process without an employer risking non-compliance and causing significant record keeping.
wallpaper arnold schwarzenegger 2011.
walking_dude
02-14 03:52 PM
Paskal, you guys rock man.
IV physicians is a model for special interest work done within the IV framework. There was similar idea of I-140 PP group, which sadly didn't take off. Makes me wish I had chosen stethoscope instead of the keyboard :-).
Best of luck guys.
IV physicians is a model for special interest work done within the IV framework. There was similar idea of I-140 PP group, which sadly didn't take off. Makes me wish I had chosen stethoscope instead of the keyboard :-).
Best of luck guys.
cortel
09-20 10:40 AM
To be honest, I am not happy with the NPR feature. Here is why: in the minds of most people, skilled immigrants just come here in masses, and within a blink of an eye, they get their green cards. They don't know how long and bothersome the way to an employment-based green card is. The feature focuses on letting more skilled immigrants come to the US, and having more green cards available without a mention of the problems with the current process. That means: they missed that we all are already here, and have been waiting for years to finally have our green card approved. I think it'll be misunderstood by all who don't know anything about the process. So in a way: this is an opportunity missed for disseminating more information about our situation. (Also, I bet that the picture posted was not taken at our rally.)
2011 Jan 17, 2011 · Arnold
bikram_das_in
04-20 10:54 AM
One may choose to sleepwalk with this complex (superiority?) that I am not one of them, but the reality on the ground is different. Our cause is hostage to bitter politics and guess what the only way at this point in time we can possibly achieve our goal by playing the politics right.
BTW in politics right or wrong is rarely a consideration.
I donot encourage IV'ans to participate in this march.
It means Join hands with Illegals for noreason.
No matter "how" loud / "what" you scream in this march it will be heard as "give amnesty".
BTW in politics right or wrong is rarely a consideration.
I donot encourage IV'ans to participate in this march.
It means Join hands with Illegals for noreason.
No matter "how" loud / "what" you scream in this march it will be heard as "give amnesty".
more...
mdipi
10-22 08:34 PM
i am making another image for my site, but i wanna have links ON the image, how do i do this? I am using PS7 by the way!
-mike:cyclops:
-mike:cyclops:
The7zen
01-26 01:37 PM
How do i Vote ? when i click that Vote up or Down, its not doing anything...do we get a confirmation ?
thanks for your help.
thanks for your help.
more...
paskal
08-14 03:53 PM
with this tension i m jusst going to end up with piles. then paskal will have to look at my piles :(
not that kind of a physician..not on your life pal :p
another thread, another poll. guys all this is already being discussed in so many threads...yes including the esteemed MR WILLIAMS.
there is a thread opening up for every mailroom chap in USCIS
Please stop this. it's not helping anybody. use the multitude of threads that exist and keep this stuff together. otherwise any info you hope to gather is going to be too fragmented anyway...
not that kind of a physician..not on your life pal :p
another thread, another poll. guys all this is already being discussed in so many threads...yes including the esteemed MR WILLIAMS.
there is a thread opening up for every mailroom chap in USCIS
Please stop this. it's not helping anybody. use the multitude of threads that exist and keep this stuff together. otherwise any info you hope to gather is going to be too fragmented anyway...
2010 Arnold Schwarzenegger poses
sk.aggarwal
05-23 11:09 AM
Yes, but if I were you, I would definately check with my attorney.
more...
MetteBB
05-11 01:20 PM
Hey thx!
Guess what -The appel (know I miss-spelled it) I accedently deleted... I'm such an as$ :whistle:
/mette
Guess what -The appel (know I miss-spelled it) I accedently deleted... I'm such an as$ :whistle:
/mette
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shreekhand
07-16 03:01 PM
BTW....one can now apply directly to NSC or TSC as per the state they are applying from. This memo became effective June 21 and is mandatory starting July 30.
see http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/UpdateDirectFiling062107.pdf
So there is now a choice till July 30 for everybody's kind information!
see http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/UpdateDirectFiling062107.pdf
So there is now a choice till July 30 for everybody's kind information!
more...
NikNikon
October 23rd, 2005, 09:30 AM
Sounds good to me. QJ?? Anyone else?
Speaking of QJ I haven't seen much activity from her lately, you still out there Queen?
Speaking of QJ I haven't seen much activity from her lately, you still out there Queen?
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krishmunn
05-11 08:24 AM
Ask your attorney to draft the experience letter. It may not be copied toto but support letter should cover the main points in the draft.
more...
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kum31
10-04 12:10 PM
Thanks for your response ...
contract is between prime vendor and middle vendor and my employer ... middle vendor made a contract with prime saying that i am on his W2 which is not right. prime vendor has a clause in their agreement that he can work with my employer directly if i am not a w2 of middle vendor.
so now middle vendor is saying that he will sue me along with my emplyer , prime vendor bcoz we surpassed him and created a new contract between my employer and prime vendor. I know it sounds ridiculous that middle vendor is trying to sue me but i want to make sure if there is any way he can stop me ? or sue me ?
Hope it is clear for you ....
contract is between prime vendor and middle vendor and my employer ... middle vendor made a contract with prime saying that i am on his W2 which is not right. prime vendor has a clause in their agreement that he can work with my employer directly if i am not a w2 of middle vendor.
so now middle vendor is saying that he will sue me along with my emplyer , prime vendor bcoz we surpassed him and created a new contract between my employer and prime vendor. I know it sounds ridiculous that middle vendor is trying to sue me but i want to make sure if there is any way he can stop me ? or sue me ?
Hope it is clear for you ....
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mbawa2574
08-08 08:12 AM
See the question on i485:-
been arrested, cited, charged, indicted, fined or imprisoned for breaking or violating any law or ordinance, excluding
traffic violations?
been arrested, cited, charged, indicted, fined or imprisoned for breaking or violating any law or ordinance, excluding
traffic violations?
more...
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EndlessWait
12-07 03:03 PM
bump /\/\
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JA1HIND
01-17 01:43 PM
Sick & tired of this VSC processing time frames, I hope they know what they are doing?
Applied for my H1/H4 (8th year) extension on October 22, 2007 and no approval as of today..not sure how long its going to take in order to approve these H1/H4 extension....my last approved H1 will expire in March 1st week of 2008. (still waiting for 140 approval at TSC).. Drama part-2 starts when ever 140 gets approved and applying for another extension .. oh lord!!
Not sure if VSC is trying to meet processing time frames for these visa extension applications with applicants Date of Birth....:D (I am sure that's what they are trying to do with cases filed in EB2 for 140/485)
oh god!! please give us energy & patience to deal with this processing centers!!
Applied for my H1/H4 (8th year) extension on October 22, 2007 and no approval as of today..not sure how long its going to take in order to approve these H1/H4 extension....my last approved H1 will expire in March 1st week of 2008. (still waiting for 140 approval at TSC).. Drama part-2 starts when ever 140 gets approved and applying for another extension .. oh lord!!
Not sure if VSC is trying to meet processing time frames for these visa extension applications with applicants Date of Birth....:D (I am sure that's what they are trying to do with cases filed in EB2 for 140/485)
oh god!! please give us energy & patience to deal with this processing centers!!
more...
makeup Arnold Schwarzenegger in a
onthelines
10-06 03:25 PM
This is Incredible..Thanks IV for all the hard work.
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chanduv23
01-13 11:32 AM
Attorney Prashanthi Reddy is in India now on a vacation and will not be on IV chat till the 3rd week of January. She plans to conduct her chat sessions once she comes back and I or someone else will post details.
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AllVNeedGcPc
08-06 11:19 PM
- Received 2 Yr EAD expiring July 2010
- Current EAD expires in Sept 2008
- 140 Still Pending
- EB3 I, July 03 PD
- Current EAD expires in Sept 2008
- 140 Still Pending
- EB3 I, July 03 PD
GCBy3000
06-19 11:07 PM
No one is saying this is what is going to happen 100%. It is all educated guess with whatever data in hand as of today.
Any person who has filed labor 2+years back would be having the required data to guess the PD. Most of the people know more than immigration attorney in US about the entire labor process. USCIS is educating all of us with immigration law, senate, congress, Bills and the entire US political system.
If I get GC, I will try to become an attorney or a senator.
Any person who has filed labor 2+years back would be having the required data to guess the PD. Most of the people know more than immigration attorney in US about the entire labor process. USCIS is educating all of us with immigration law, senate, congress, Bills and the entire US political system.
If I get GC, I will try to become an attorney or a senator.
DianaSteve
12-07 11:23 AM
I cannot find the status online or on the phone. I get the same message. They don't give info to the beneficiary. So attorney called and after spending 30 mins on the phone they were able to locate my I140. He said that once they put it online they will sent an email. This was few weeks ago and still nothing happened. But my employer received a letter from Nebraska stating that attorney or someone called to find the status of the I140 and that it will take some days(I don't remember the exact number as I know that it will take much longer than what they specified) to process this case.
There are so many people who are in this situation.
Hope this helps.
There are so many people who are in this situation.
Hope this helps.
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