Backing off at the last minute: Indian F-1 students claim companies refusing to sponsor H-1B despite earlier promises

Students on F-1 visas in the US working on OPT or OPT extension claim that the companies for which they have bee working are now backing off from sponsoring for H-1B visas at the last moment. And they are informed about this change only a few days before the H-1B cap registration begins on March 4 — leaving them with no other option to continue in the US. As these students are already in the US, if they are selected for the H-1B visa, their petition won’t require a $100,000 fee but companies are still not proceeding with H-1Bs promised earlier, the F-1 visa students complain. “I’m currently on F1 (OPT), and my company had verbally confirmed that they would sponsor my H1B this year. I planned everything around that — stayed with them, didn’t explore other offers, and trusted their commitment. Now, at the last hour, they’re saying they won’t sponsor anymore. This is an Indian consultancy company, and I’m hearing that a few other Indian consultancies are also backing off from sponsoring OPT candidates,” one Redditor said. “I feel terrible and honestly cheated. If they had told me earlier, I could have tried elsewhere. Changing this decision so late puts my status and career at risk,” the Redditor added.

This is a new challenge at a time when thousands of Indians are stuck in India without getting any visa stamping date, several have been laid off, and many are getting their H-1B visa canceled on the accusation of working for US companies from India. F-1 students already in the US are not getting job calls for which H-1B visa will be required.

“I wanted to ask if anyone has observed any pattern lately in the job market. I am witnessing that the companies are refraining from hiring any H1B visa holders. They are not willing to accept even the visa transfers. They cite that it is their internal policy and has nothing to do with legal procedure and stuff. Are companies being targeted by the government for hiring H1B candidates??? Is this a bad time to be on H1B visa? Because I am receiving a lot calls for contract roles on OPT EAD but no one is ready for H1B visa holders,” another Redditor wrote.

Only 70 companies paid $100,000 H-1B visa fee

Only about 70 employers have paid a $100,000 Trump fee on H-1B workers from outside the US since it was imposed through a September White House proclamation, a government attorney said Thursday during a lawsuit hearing over the visa fee.