'Employer backs out of promised H-1B sponsorship': Redditor says company signed agreement of support, but refused later

A Reddit user on the r/h1b community has sparked widespread concern after revealing that their employer abruptly withdrew an H-1B visa sponsorship, despite a signed agreement guaranteeing support. The post, which quickly gained traction, detailed the user’s experience with with a European company in the US that allegedly promised visa sponsorship in writing, only to backtrack at the last minute, jeopardizing the worker’s legal status and future in the United States.

The employee, whose identity remains anonymous, said they had a formal signed agreement with the company confirming that the firm would sponsor their H-1B petition.

"Earlier this year, I signed an employment agreement that clearly outlined work during the H1B period, with the understanding that the company would support my petition. I contributed heavily to the team, helped grow the US presence, and stuck through long hours to prove my value," the Redditor wrote.



"But when the time came to actually file the H1B petition, they refused to cover the USCIS filing fees and began to distance themselves from the process. Eventually, they just froze everything with no explanation and are now letting me go," the post added seeking advice from the community.

The person claimed they received no benefits, no health insurance, was being paid nearly 50 per cent below the DOL wage for the role. "The company is European-based and it’s clear now that they don’t fully understand (or respect) U.S. corporate and immigration compliance standards," the person wrote.

Reddit users advised that the person can now take legal action against the company under breach of contract or “promissory estoppel,” a legal concept that can enforce broken promises if someone suffered a loss by relying on them. Others advised the user to consider filing a complaint with the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, particularly if the company regularly engages in H-1B recruitment.

While the Reddit post does not name the company, several commenters speculated that such cases could become more common amid increased scrutiny of H-1B misuse by staffing agencies and outsourcing firms.