Raphaelo

I entered the US a couple weeks ago with a H2B visa. The agency that helped me obtaining the visa (for $3100 fee; some workers paid up to $3600) holds my passport. When I insist to get my passport back, they tell me that Immigration authorizes them to do so, which i doubt. Now I am working with my sponsor company, and want to extend my visa they don’t want to give me my passport back.
My questions are the following:
Is it legal for an agency to charge $3600 for a H2B visa?
Is it legal for an agency to keep a worker passport?
In such a situation, what can I do to extend my visa?

I am waiting for your help please

lisa67

if they have your passport, how did you enter the country?

Raphaelo

after checking, they took the passport from me

lisa67

ok..doesn't seem right that they should be able to do so..but I may be completely wrong. Someone else should be able to help.
sorry to hear about your problems

ian-mstm

The passport is the property of the country that issued it. I would contact your country's Embassy and have them take the appropriate action to get back the passport.


Do you really want to continue working for these people?

Ian

meauxna

Unfortunately, this is not all that uncommon in the H-2 world. I wish I had some good answer for the OP.

crg

How are you "working to extend" ? What is involved? Is the sponsoring company going along with this plan?

Raphaelo

I have not started working with them yet.

every week, they tell me to wait for next week to start working. In fact, they don't even give me my Social.

ian-mstm

The "social" is not theirs to give you. You have to demonstrate to the SSA that you qualify to receive one.

Ian

scrubbedexpat099

You are required to carry your passport with you at all times. You should not have given it to them.

crg

Technically, the passport must be availableto the authorities if requested. It does not have to be in your pocket when you walk to the mailbox.

It's not uncommon for employers who handle crewmembers and laborers to maintain control of the passport.

scrubbedexpat099

Your GC does.

How can it be available if someone else has it and will not hand it back?

crg

It depends on what flavor of "available" they want to go with. The employer can produce it to the authorities upon request. The authorities may actually prefer that the employer has it so the worker is less likely to abscond.

scrubbedexpat099

The employer does not have it if I have read it right, an agent does.

Sounds like indentured labour.

meauxna

No kidding, D. Y'think??