The BRICS Times
H-1B visa scam exposed
Two men of Indian origin admitted to running a long-term H-1B visa fraud scheme. The US Justice Department confirmed this news recently. Sampath Rajidi and Sreedhar Mada, both 51, used fake University of California job offers. They used these documents to get work permits for foreign nationals.
The legal consequences
The Dublin, California residents pleaded guilty to visa fraud on Thursday. US Attorney Eric Grant announced the plea. Both men now face up to five years in prison. They might also pay a $250,000 (₹2.33 crore) fine.
How the scheme worked
Court records show Rajidi ran two visa service firms. These were S-Team Software Inc and Uptrend Technologies LLC. He used these companies to sponsor workers for specialty occupation visas. Meanwhile, Mada worked at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR). He was the Chief Information Officer in Davis.
Abuse of official positions
Mada had high authority but could not hire H-1B workers alone. The duo submitted fake petitions between 2020 and 2023. Rajidi claimed the workers had roles at the University. Mada used his official title to make these claims look real.
Impact on the visa system
The fake filings misled the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This gave their firms an unfair edge over honest competitors. It also reduced the visa pool for legitimate applicants. “The positions listed in the petitions did not exist,” investigators found.
Final sentencing details
The workers never actually touched any University of California projects. Instead, the accused marketed these visa holders to other private clients. US District Judge Troy L Nunley will sentence the pair on July 30.
