Pay 100,000 Dollars or Lose Your Visa: Indian Engineer Sues Texas Firm Over Alleged H-1B Extortion

An Indian professional working in the United States alleges his employer and its owner pressured him to hand over 100,000 dollars to keep his H-1B visa alive, withholding his pay slips and threatening to report him to ICE.

An Indian professional employed in the United States has taken his company and its owner to a Texas court, leveling some serious accusations. He says he was pushed to pay 100,000 dollars simply to keep his H-1B work visa running. The lawsuit further claims that his need to protect both his job and his lawful immigration status in the country was used against him.

Who Is Accusing Whom
According to TrendKia, the worker, Rishikesh Raj Misala, has accused his Indian-American employer Sai Jitendra Kalagara and company officials of demanding money from him. Misala says the firm held back his pay slips and other essential documents. When he pushed back against making the payments, he was reportedly warned that he would be reported to the US immigration agency ICE.

From a Student Visa to H-1B
The complaint states that Misala first arrived in the US on a student visa and completed his master's degree in 2023. He then landed a job that offered him H-1B visa sponsorship. The lawsuit alleges that even after joining this Texas company, he was never assigned to any project, yet was repeatedly asked for large sums of money under the pretext of keeping his job and visa valid.

Documents Turned Into a Pressure Tool
The case was filed by the immigration law firm Banias Law. According to the firm, this very job could have been Misala's route to a green card and, eventually, US citizenship, but the company exploited that vulnerability to apply financial pressure on him. The complaint says the firm withheld his pay slips and payroll records until separate payments were made. For H-1B visa holders, these papers are critical, because without them changing jobs, renewing a visa or proving compliance with immigration rules becomes difficult. Banias Law argues that the company understood this fully, which is exactly why the documents were wielded as a means of coercion.

Cash Paid Out of Fear
The lawsuit says that, fearing the loss of his immigration status, Misala eventually paid roughly 8,800 dollars in cash. The complaint accuses the company of labor trafficking, forced labor and using documents to coerce an employee. The firm claims that, counting unpaid wages and the forced payments together, Misala suffered losses of at least 97,248.94 dollars.

Allegations Not Yet Proven in Court
For now, none of these allegations have been proven in court, and neither Sai Jitendra Kalagara nor his company has issued any response. The matter is expected to move forward for a hearing in a US federal court.

A Case Amid the H-1B Debate
The dispute surfaces at a time when debate over the H-1B visa program is running hot. The visa allows American companies to hire foreign professionals. According to figures from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Indians accounted for 71 percent of all H-1B applications issued in 2024. Critics point out that because a worker's visa is often tied to the employer, they can become an easy target for exploitation. The industry, on the other hand, maintains that such cases are extremely rare.

What this means for you
• Across India: For Indian professionals heading to the US on H-1B visas, this is a warning that demanding money in exchange for a visa or withholding pay slips can be unlawful and can be challenged in court.
• For H-1B holders: Always keep your own copies of pay slips, payroll records and documents, since these are exactly what you need when changing jobs or renewing a visa.

Questions & Answers

1. How much money was the worker allegedly asked to pay?
The lawsuit alleges the company and its owner pressured the worker to pay 100,000 dollars in exchange for keeping his H-1B visa alive.

2. How much did the worker eventually pay?
Fearing the loss of his immigration status, Misala paid roughly 8,800 dollars in cash.

3. What total loss does the lawsuit claim?
Banias Law claims that, including unpaid wages and forced payments, Misala suffered losses of at least 97,248.94 dollars.

4. Has the company or owner responded to the allegations?
No, the allegations are not yet proven in court, and neither Sai Jitendra Kalagara nor his company has issued any response so far.

https://trendkia.com/en/america/h-1b-vija-bachane-ke-badale-eka-lakha-dolara-ki-manga-amerika-men-bharatiya-inji-1432
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