H-1B Worker Sues US Employer Over Labor Exploitation, Wage Theft

(UNITED STATES) An Indian technology worker on an H-1B visa has filed a federal lawsuit accusing his employer, Siri Software Solutions, and its Indian-origin chief executive, Pavan Tata, of forced labor, wage theft, labor trafficking, and caste-based discrimination. The complaint, brought by Amrutesh Vallabhaneni, alleges the company used his visa status to trap him in unlawful conditions, including unpaid wages, threats tied to immigration status, and the retention of key visa documents.

The case places fresh scrutiny on staffing practices in the U.S. tech sector and highlights the power imbalance faced by migrant workers.

Allegations about pay and working conditions

According to the lawsuit, Siri Software Solutions (commonly known as SiriSoft):

• Required Vallabhaneni to pay his own salary for six months.
• Failed to pay the prevailing wage required under U.S. labor laws, despite a Department of Labor–guaranteed wage.
• Left him with barely enough for rent and basic costs for his family.

The complaint states, “It appears this is Defendant Siri Software Solutions’ business model,” labels the conduct “reprehensible,” and requests a jury trial. Vallabhaneni is seeking full compensation, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.

Financial and health consequences

The filing describes severe financial strain beyond missed paychecks:

• Health insurance lapsed, leaving him and his wife unable to access needed healthcare.
• He fell behind on credit card payments.
• After suffering a serious leg injury, he could not afford to see a doctor.

The lawsuit argues these conditions, combined with immigration-linked threats, created a coercive environment that meets the legal definition of forced labor under federal law.

Alleged use of visa sponsorship as leverage

Central to the complaint is the allegation that SiriSoft “weaponised” the H-1B visa program:

• The company allegedly promised Green Card sponsorship and then used that promise as leverage.
• Vallabhaneni says he was repeatedly threatened with withdrawal of his H-1B visa and deportation if he did not comply with company demands.
• The complaint also accuses the company of retaining visa documents, which the filing describes as a criminal offense under U.S. law.

This dependency, the lawsuit contends, kept him from leaving even when he believed the firm was violating labor rules.

Background: Vallabhaneni’s immigration and work history

Vallabhaneni’s path reflects a common trajectory for high-skilled immigrants:

• Studied in India.
• Came to the U.S. on an F-1 student visa in 2015 after taking a loan for college.
• Worked on Optional Practical Training (OPT) at a New Jersey firm.
• Joined SiriSoft in 2018 on the promise of H-1B sponsorship.

He remains employed at SiriSoft while awaiting his Green Card, and the filing states the company’s control over his immigration status made it dangerous to leave.

Expert observations and broader context

Jay Palmer, a U.S.-based labor trafficking consultant who assisted in preparing the lawsuit, characterized the experience as a life-or-status struggle for immigrants:

“For Indian workers, this resembles a Squid Game where the main objective is to remain in America,” Palmer told Breitbart News.
“The culture is extremely exploitative. Indian CEOs bring caste-based politics from their home country into workplaces in the United States.”

He said the case reflects wider issues in tech outsourcing and staffing, where tied visas and fear of removal make workers vulnerable.

Legal framework and government resources

While this lawsuit targets a single employer, the allegations mirror broader concerns about coercion in tied-visa systems. Under federal rules:

• Employers of H-1B workers must pay the required wage and comply with labor conditions.
• Workers and employers can review government guidance on wage obligations and protections.

For official information, see the U.S. Department of Labor’s H-1B materials: U.S. Department of Labor H-1B Program: Worker Protections.

Caste-based discrimination claim

The complaint raises caste-based discrimination as a factor shaping treatment and employment decisions. Although U.S. federal law does not list caste as a separate protected category, attorneys often bring such claims under national origin and ancestry discrimination bans.

The lawsuit argues that caste dynamics, combined with immigration threats, contributed to a hostile and coercive work environment.

Nature of the alleged threats

The filing alleges threats were explicit and persistent. Examples include claims that SiriSoft:

• Warned it would revoke sponsorship.
• Threatened to withdraw filings.
• Said it would “initiate deportation proceedings” if Vallabhaneni raised concerns about unpaid wages or benefits.

The suit emphasizes these threats are particularly powerful for H-1B workers because losing sponsorship can upend a family’s life within days.

Legal categories invoked

Vallabhaneni’s claims encompass several legal categories:

• Wage theft — withheld pay and unpaid salaries.
• Forced labor — alleged use of threats of serious harm or abuse of legal process to compel work.
• Labor trafficking — recruiting or obtaining labor through force, fraud, or coercion.

The complaint contends that threatening to pull an H-1B petition and expose a worker to removal is an abuse of legal process intended to force continued work under unlawful terms.

Impact on workers and industry

Advocates stress the personal details matter: lapsed insurance, unpaid bills, and inability to see a doctor all indicate a pattern of control where visa leverage amplifies each missed paycheck’s harm. Worker groups report families:

• Rationing medicine.
• Skipping groceries.
• Living in crowded apartments to survive unpaid periods.

Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that recent lawsuits and investigations have encouraged more migrant workers to come forward, especially in staffing-heavy tech and consulting segments. Public cases can prompt:

• Internal audits.
• Policy reviews at companies that rely on contractor networks, where accountability is often diffuse.

The complaint alleges the conduct was not an aberration but a business model.

Response and possible next steps

Siri Software Solutions and CEO Pavan Tata did not respond to requests for comment in the lawsuit’s initial filings, according to the complaint. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the defendants are expected to contest the claims.

If the case proceeds to discovery, it could:

• Shed light on how pay, benefits, and immigration control were handled across the firm’s projects.
• Reveal whether other workers faced similar pressure or loss of wages.

Legal experts say a finding of forced labor or trafficking tied to immigration threats could have wide implications:

• Send a strong message to the staffing sector and client firms that rely on such labor.
• Clarify limits on employer control over visa processes and retention of worker documents.
• Reinforce risks for H-1B holders when status, pay, and benefits depend on a single sponsor.

Advice for affected workers

As the lawsuit moves forward, worker advocates urge migrants who suspect pay violations or coercion to:

• Document communications (emails, messages, pay stubs).
• Seek help through official channels for wage complaints and protections that apply regardless of immigration status.
• Consult legal counsel or worker-support organizations for guidance.

For Vallabhaneni, the complaint frames a stark choice: comply with alleged abuse to remain in the country, or resist and risk removal. His lawyers say that is precisely the trap U.S. labor laws aim to prevent.