Hello everyone,

An Indian consultancy offered me an H1B sponsorship last year. I accepted it and got a visa approval last year. Since I am working in Europe from past 8 months I couldn't get it stamped yet.

Now, the salary they offered me was (is) 55,000 USD per annum. Considering I work in or around NJ for their clients. Do you think this salary is good enough to live in or around New Jersey?

Also, they have a clasue that once I have accepted their offer then I will either have to work for them for 18 months (with increments in salary every 6 months) or if I decide to part, I'll have to pay the cost they incurred in processing my visa. Since they have not mentioned any amount here, can they quote some big amount once I am in USA and have any issues bcoz of which I may want to end association ?
Is it legal for them to ask such money?

Regards,
Santino

Hello everyone,

An Indian consultancy offered me an H1B sponsorship last year. I accepted it and got a visa approval last year. Since I am working in Europe from past 8 months I couldn't get it stamped yet.

Now, the salary they offered me was (is) 55,000 USD per annum. Considering I work in or around NJ for their clients. Do you think this salary is good enough to live in or around New Jersey?

Also, they have a clasue that once I have accepted their offer then I will either have to work for them for 18 months (with increments in salary every 6 months) or if I decide to part, I'll have to pay the cost they incurred in processing my visa. Since they have not mentioned any amount here, can they quote some big amount once I am in USA and have any issues bcoz of which I may want to end association ?
Is it legal for them to ask such money?

Regards,
Santino
Hi,

The salary might be dependent on your qualification, experience and also the market rate for your technology. And to say without these details, this Salary is OK to start with, that too with increment every 6 months sounds good.

The 18 months might be a pre-employment agreement. And you can ask them what would be the cost they would need you to pay if you change in between. It might be $3000 which is average Visa processing fee by any company. But the catch here is, they can ask you any amount of money - saying it is attorney fee.

But, as I said, you can talk to them, and get an approximate amount that you need to pay them back if you change companies before 18 months and they are obliged to give you an approximate amount quote.