Indian H-1B Worker Accuses Employer Of Forcing To Pay $100,000 To Keep US Job, Files Lawsuit

Published 17 June 2026 · india

Indian H-1B Worker Accuses Employer Of Forcing To Pay $100,000 To Keep US Job, Files Lawsuit Published By, Last Updated: June 17, 2026, 07:34 IST

Indian H-1B Worker Accuses Employer Of Forcing To Pay $100,000 To Keep US Job, Files Lawsuit Published By, Last Updated: June 17, 2026, 07:34 IST The complaint alleged that the company allegedly withheld pay stubs and other payroll records unless additional payments were made. Rapid Read India-born workers accounted for 71 per cent of all approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024. An Indian H-1B worker in the United States has filed a lawsuit in Texas accusing his employer of forcing him to pay nearly $100,000 to keep his job and maintain his legal immigration status in the country. The worker, identified as, Rishikesh Raj Meesala, alleged that his employer Indian-American businessman Sai Jitender Kalagra, and company officials demanded money from him, withheld pay documents and threatened to report him to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when he resisted their demands, reported the American Bazaar. As per the report, Meesala, who arrived in the United States on a student visa and completed a master’s degree in 2023, later secured employment that provided H-1B visa sponsorship.

The lawsuit claimed that after joining a Texas-based company led by Kalagra, he was placed on the “bench" without an active project assignment but was still required to make substantial payments to maintain his employment and immigration status. According to the lawsuit filed by immigration law firm Banias Law, Meesala’s job was supposed to provide a path towards permanent residency and eventually US citizenship. The complaint further alleged that the company allegedly withheld pay stubs and other payroll records unless additional payments were made. Such documents are often crucial for H-1B workers seeking to transfer employers, renew their visa status or demonstrate compliance with immigration requirements. Banias Law alleged that the company understood the leverage this created. The lawsuit stated that without payroll records, Meesala’s ability to maintain, extend or transfer his H-1B status could be severely affected. According to the filing, Meesala eventually paid around $8,800 in cash after allegedly being threatened with losing his immigration status.

The complaint accused the company of labour trafficking, forced labour and document servitude. The firm alleged that Meesala is owed at least $97,248.94 in unpaid wages and coerced payments. The allegations have not been proven in court, and neither Kalagra nor the company had publicly responded. The case is expected to proceed in federal court. The lawsuit comes amid continued debate over the H-1B visa programme, which allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services data, India-born workers accounted for 71 per cent of all approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024. Critics argue that the system can leave workers vulnerable because their legal status is often tied to their employer, while industry groups maintain that such abuses are isolated incidents. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news.