Prevailing wage, help

[Tommi 0]

Hi,

My company is considering to sponsor me with the H1b visa. However, they are only able to pay $12/hour for my marketing specialist position at the moment. The wage is not a problem but I am concerned that the wage is lower than the prevailing wage of the position in order to file for the H1b.

My position ranges from marketing specialist to project manager or marketing manager, and we are in New York city. Is there any way to check the prevailing wage so that I would know if I am qualified for the visa.

The deadline to start preparing for the H1b application is just a few days away, and I want to make sure I am not wasting money on a case that can't make it through..

Thanks a lot!

[apple21 953]

Why should you be wasting money? The company sponsoring you must shoulder all expenses petition/visa related.

[Tommi 0]

I have to take care of the legal fee too, and also partly the filing fee. The company doesn't have that much money at the moment so the cost is negotiable.

Edited February 12, 2014 by Tommi

[apple21 953]

I have to take care of the legal fee too, and also partly the filing fee.

Smells fishy.

Edited February 12, 2014 by apple21

[Tommi 0]

Sounds fishy.

Me or the company? Isn't it right that the legal fee is negotiable between the worker and the petitioner?

[apple21 953]

Me or the company? Isn't it right that the legal fee is negotiable between the worker and the petitioner?

The company.

Edited February 12, 2014 by apple21

[Tommi 0]

The company.

I guess I want it to work out too. :/

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

$12/hour in NYC? You're right, this company does not have a lot of money. That is what uneducated, manual laborers get paid.

I hope you have free housing somewhere in the city. If not, get ready to live "modestly".

At $12/hour, and assuming a 40-hour work week, that's about $1500/month after taxes. That's what a decent apartment costs in Brooklyn or Queens, forget Manhattan.

To answer your question about prevailing wages:

I have no idea about marketing wages, but for a project manager, people make at least $50-60k, which at 2,000 hours/year is $25-30/hr.

Edited February 12, 2014 by Eric-Pris

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Cheap labour. For that kind of pay, probably doesn't even need a H1B person to do the job.

[apple21 953]

I guess I want it to work out too. :/

How do they propose to "split" the cost? If they're asking you to wire them the money, that screams scam.

[Tommi 0]

$12/hour in NYC? You're right, this company does not have a lot of money. That is what uneducated, manual laborers get paid.

I hope you have free housing somewhere in the city. If not, get ready to live "modestly".

At $12/hour, and assuming a 40-hour work week, that's about $1500/month after taxes. That's what a decent apartment costs in Brooklyn or Queens, forget Manhattan.

To answer your question about prevailing wages:

I have no idea about marketing wages, but for a project manager, people make at least $50-60k, which at 2,000 hours/year is $25-30/hr.

Thank you for your concerns. Yes, I have been struggling to live a low life. I pay $500/month for a shared apartment. I don't mind it though.

The company is looking for funding and the owner promises me to increase the wage with no problem when the company makes more money. I don't doubt his promise.

The thing is I am determined to make it here too. :/

How do they propose to "split" the cost? If they're asking you to wire them the money, that screams scam.

I propose it to them, indeed.

Cheap labour. For that kind of pay, probably doesn't even need a H1B person to do the job.

Lol the company can't afford to pay otherwise.

[aaron2020 11,651]

I have to take care of the legal fee too, and also partly the filing fee. The company doesn't have that much money at the moment so the cost is negotiable.

The cost is not negotiable.

US law requires the employer to pay the legal fees. The law strictly prohibits you, the employee, from paying. This is to prevent employers from scamming prospective employees.

What you are doing is illegal.

[Tommi 0]

The cost is not negotiable.

US law requires the employer to pay the legal fees. The law strictly prohibits you, the employee, from paying. This is to prevent employers from scamming prospective employees.

What you are doing is illegal.

Hmm, in the memo my lawyer sent to the employer, he said the fee is negotiable.

[Boiler 46,033]

There are some costs that must be paid by the Employer.

Some that are not specified.

And $12 an hour for any H1b job is having a laugh, double it and maybe.

I would look elsewhere.

[Tommi 0]

There are some costs that must be paid by the Employer.

Some that are not specified.

And $12 an hour for any H1b job is having a laugh, double it and maybe.

I would look elsewhere.

The company is trying to get funding. I want to see how it works too, as I am on board with that. There's not really time to look elsewhere anymore.

Question: would this case go through?

Edited February 12, 2014 by Tommi