A friend of mine sent me an email from Pakistan today. Apparently he had screening and tech interviews with a company called techmagika (techmagika.com) recently who offered to hire him. Since he will require an H-1B visa, they asked him to submit some $3700.00 for processing of H-1B. They said that they will reimbuerse the money back to him if he gets the visa.
It seems to me that this could be one of those small head-hunter type companies providing sub-contracting services to other IT consulting firms etc. But asking for $3700.00 upfront (even if they say they will give it back if the candidate gets H-1B visa) sounds shoddy. Does anyone know this company or have heard scam stories that may sound similiar to this?
Roman, I will advise your friend that he needs to stay away from these folks. No legitimate company will ask you for the expense of the H-1B visa. If the position falls under those guidleines, the company itslef has the responsibility of bearing the expense, not the candidate.
Roman, some of my friends who are in US via H-1B, never paid a dime for it. Companies they work for never asked them to foot the bill for this service. Now, I dont know the specifics each individual case, but it seems like a money grabbing scheme. (personal speculation). :)
By law what they are doing is wrong (the fee, as per immigration laws, known as training fee has to come from the company), but Ive seen alot of desi consultants do what roman's describing, and yes, they do get reimbursed (depends on how honest they are), but still, its better to just find a job directly and avoid these blood sucking desi consultants...