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An investigation by the Department of Labor found that Peri Software had withheld over $1.4 million in back wages that are owned to its’ employees. The investigation also found that Peri Software paid lower than average wages to its H1B consultants. This is a direct violation of H1B laws. The law states that H1B workers must be paid the same wage rates that are paid to U.S. workers for the same work performed in the same geographical location. DOL also uncovered that Peri Software forced its’ employees to sign employment contracts and then sued the employees when the contracts were broken.

Also read: Email From an Indian IT Consulting Firm

Department of Labor has fined Peri Software a $439,000 fine for its’ violations. The company may also be barred from participating in the H1B program for two years.

In 2009, United State Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had arrested 11 H1B consultants and taken legal action against another New Jersey software company for H1B violations.

If you are planning on taking the SAT Subject Tests, it helps to know the average SAT Subject Test scores. You can use the average SAT Subject Test score to compare your score with the 2009 graduating class. I’ve listed below the average SAT Subject Test scores for the graduating class of 2009. You can read the average SAT Reasoning Test scores here.

Are the averages what you were expecting? Let us know how your score compares with the average score. Write in the comments below.

The websites listed below will help you prepare your federal taxes for free if you meet their eligibility criteria. Select the one that best fits your needs. Keep in mind that most of these sites will file the federal tax for free, but will charge you for filing your state taxes. You can read about international student tax guidelines here.

TurboTax® Freedom Edition: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $31,000 or less or if you are active military with an AGI of $57,000 or less or you qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit. This federal offer is valid in all states. Free extension.

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You can read the average SAT score for 2008 here.

So there you have it. Those were the average SAT scores for 2009. How did your scores compare to the average scores? Let us know in the comments below.

Also read: 21 Colleges that do not Require the SAT for Admission

According to the memo, H1B applications will need to be accompanied by the following documents, where applicable:

• a complete itinerary of engagement specifying dates of each service, names and addresses of establishment where service will be performed
• a copy of the signed employment agreement between the employee and employer
• a signed copy of the job offer letter that clearly describes the type of employer-employee relationship
• if the H1B employee is to perform work for third party clients, then signed contracts between the petitioner and the third party client needs to be provided, specifying clearly that the petitioner will have control over the employee
• if the H1B worker is to work at third party client sites, then work orders, statement of work, project duration, etc needs to be provided that clearly specifies the job duties, qualifications required for the job, salary paid, benefits and description of who will supervise the employee
• a copy of the job description
• a description of how the employee’s performance will be reviewed
• a copy of the organizational chart

These are not new rules, but a reinstatement of existing guidelines. This will make it harder for Indian IT professional to get H!B visas in 2011.

Also read: 30 Companies that Hire International Students

For those that don’t want to read through the legal mumbo jumbo, the gist of the memo is that an employer-employee relationship must exist between the H1B petitioner (employer) and the H1B beneficiary (employee). So what is an employer-employee relationship? This is a scenario when the employer has the ability to control the employee, i.e. the employer has the right to fire the employee. For those of you wondering, an employer-employee situation probably does not exist in the case when an IT consulting firm places you at a client site and has no knowledge or control over the tasks that you will be performing at the client site. The purpose of the Neufeld Memo is to shut down job-shops that have no control over their employees. Clearly, the following situations will be denied H1B visas in 2011:

• if you apply for your own H1B visa
• if you are an independent contractor
• you are at a third party client site where your H1B petitioner has no control over you

The Neufeld memo lays down additional document requirements for H1B applications. In the H1B application, the petitioner must prove the following:

• an employer-employee relationship exists
• the H1B petitioner (employer) can and will supervise the work of the employee and has the right to hire and fire the employee
• the petitioner is responsible for the direction of the employee’s work
• and the conditions will be maintained throughout the period of the H1B visa

I think the Neufeld Memo clearly proves beyond doubt the intentions of USCIS, that they are now serious about enforcing H1B rules. These guidelines will possibly bring to an end the practice of consulting companies sponsoring H1B visas to place contractors at client sites. If you think the Neufeld memo will affect you in some way, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Further reading: The Truth About Indian IT Consulting Firms Revealed

Also read: 30 Companies that Hire International Students

Knowledge. You need to know the different channels through which you can apply for the H1B visa in 2011. You also need to know if you qualify. You will need to know important deadlines and will have forms to fill out.

What is the easiest way to get an H1B visa in 2011?
The easiest way to get an H1B visa in 2011 would be if you were already physically present in the U.S. Well, lets not use the word easy, less difficult would be a more appropriate term. You see, U.S employers are more inclined to respond to your resume and call you for an interview if you are present in the country. Employers like to meet and talk to the person they are going to be hiring before they sponsor an H1B visa. If you are in the U.S on a student visa, you get OPT work permit for 12 months (longer for STEM majors) after your graduation. That is the time you should use to find a company that will sponsor your H1B visa. Read this article on how to effective use your OPT work permit to find a job: Give Yourself 5 Months to Find a Job Before Your OPT Starts. With your OPT work permit, you can start working right away, and when the time comes, you can apply for the H1B visa and if approved, switch your status from F1 to H1B. The hard part is finding an employer that is willing to sponsor you for the H1B visa.

USCIS starts accepting H1B applications in April of each year. If your application is approved, the work permit starts in October.

What should you do if you are not in the U.S?
You can still apply to companies from your home country to see if they will hire you. But unless you have skills that are highly sought after, chances are slim that you will get a H1B visa this way. Companies do not want to wait until October for an employee to start working if they need someone in April. Another route you can take to get a H1B visa in 2011 is to go with consulting companies. There are IT companies that will hire you to work as contractors on projects. Most of these companies are owned by Indian IT folks. A google search on Indian IT consulting firms will give you a list of these companies. However, some of these companies have been accused in the past of illegal and/or unethical practices, so you should be careful if you decide to take this route.

What are the minimum requirements for H1B visa?
To apply for an H1B visa,

• you must have at least a Bachelors degree
• the minimum entry requirement for the job must be a Bachelors degree or higher
• to see the full requirements, visit the following site: http://www.uscis.gov

Let us know in the comments if you are going to be applying for H1B. Good luck on your H1B visa application in 2011.

Also read: Credit Cards for International Students - 5 tips to keep you from drowning in debt

Should international students file taxes?
If you were an international student in the United States in 2009, and you are a non resident alien, then you must file taxes.

Which tax form should international students use?
If you were an international student in the United States in 2009, and you are a non resident alien, then you must use form 1040NR.

Should H1B visa workers file taxes?
If you were a H1B visa worker in the United States in 2009, and you are a non resident alien, then you must file taxes.

Which tax form should H1B visa workers use?
If you were a H1B visa worker in the United States in 2009, and you are a non resident alien, then you must use form 1040NR.

Can international students or H1B workers be considered resident aliens?
Yes, international students or H1B workers can be considered resident aliens under one of two conditions. According to the IRS, a person is considered a resident alien if they have a green card or they pass the substantial presence test. Everyone knows what a green card is but what is the substantial presence test? It basically means that you have been in the United States for over 31 days during 2009 and over 183 days during 2009, 2008 and 2007. The 183 number must be calculated using a special formula. To see if you pass the substantial presence test, see page 3 of this IRS publication. Almost all international students who have been in the United States since 2008 will likely pass the substantial presence test and be considered resident aliens for tax purposes.

OK. I am considered a resident alien. What tax form should I use?
If you have a green card, or pass the substantial presence, then you should use IRS tax form 1040.

Its important that you file your taxes on time as there are penalties for filing late. The quickest way to file is online. There are many websites that’ll file your federal return for free. To see a list of websites that eFile, go here.

I hope this will clear up some confusion regarding international student tax file issues and H1B tax issues. As always, post your comments or questions below.

Further reading: The Truth About Indian IT Consulting Firms Revealed

What is university accreditation?
The purpose of accreditation is to make sure that higher education institutions maintain an acceptable level of quality. Accrediting agencies, which are private associations, develop criteria and standards that must be followed by an educational institution in order to receive accreditation from that agency. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency’s evaluation and that meet an agency’s criteria are then “accredited” by that agency.

Also read: 10 Colleges Under $10000

So what are the benefits of attending a nationally accredited university over an university that has no accreditation? The benefits of studying at a nationally accredited university are many.

• You can be sure that you are following an approved curriculum that meets or exceeds national standards
• Your completed credits will be transferable to other accredited universities.
• Your degree will be recognized at other universities when you apply for a Masters or Doctoral program
• Your degree will be recognized by employers

How can you check that the universities you are considering applying to are accredited? The Council for Higher Education Accreditation maintains a searchable database of nationally accredited universities on their website. You can also use the database to search for accredited programs in your area of interest. To access the database, go here.

Below is a list of major national and regional accrediting agencies in the United States.

• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
• Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
• Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
• Council on Occupational Education
• Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
• Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
• New York State Board of Regents, and the Commissioner of Education
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
• North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Board of Trustees
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
• Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, Accreditation Commission
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

Further reading: Graduate Teaching Assistantship: Your Ticket to Free Tuition