Paid for my own H1B visa - should I claim to be refunded?

[DKSanFran 1]

Hi all,

Long story short. I had a H1B visa transfer last year and the new sponsor had no knowledge of procedures and advised me that I would have to cover the cost myself if I wanted the offer.. I was desperate and accepted. I paid my lawyer all the fees and it ended up close to $5000.

Fast forward... I have now obtained my GC via marriage and have accepted a new better job offer.

My question is should I reach out to old employer and ask for my money back and refer to its illegal for employer to pay himself or just forget about it?

I'm on good terms with the old employer and afraid of burning bridges.

[Boiler 45,322]

Was this pre Google?

[lost_at_sea 995]

What they did was illegal, which you probably already knew at the time (as did the lawyer you paid at the time).

If you want to go after them about it, it's up to you. I imagine bridges will be burned, since you'll be doing what - asking them to pay you back or threatening them with legal action? They're not going to like that much.

If you are asking if you should... Well... If they made you pay, they're probably making others pay too.

Edited January 6, 2014 by lost_at_sea

[lost_at_sea 995]

P.S. looks like there is a form you can use to report employers who break the rules: http://www.***removed***/visas/h1b/employer-h1b-violations-complaint-procedure.html