

US government, Cognizant eye early resolution to visa misuse case
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp and a former employee representing the US government are jointly approaching a US Court seeking review of a lower court order that mandates investigations into claims of non-payment of visa fees and related taxes to the US government.The move, depending on the outcome, could prevent a lengthy legal process and pave the way for a settlement.On 15 December, Cognizant and Jean-Claude Franchitti, formerly an assistant vice-president with the company acting as a whistleblower for the government, filed a joint motion to the United States Court of Appeals to do away with a New Jersey district court’s order from two years ago that permitted a court trial on claims of Cognizant’s alleged withholding of H-1B visa fees and taxes to the US. The motion has been reviewed by Mint.The genesis of the case goes back to 2023 when Franchitti, representing the US government, said Cognizant had knowingly concealed, misused, and brought employees to the US on other visas, thereby paying lower dues to the government.Franchitti said Cognizant applied for L-1 and B-1 visas for certain employees who did the work coming under the ambit of H-1B visa holders, thereby depriving the (US) government of higher filing fees required for H-1B visas.
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