Employer forces to hire a lawyer to process green card/H1b - Legal?

[aat0995]

Hi!
My employer won't provide any documents unless I hire a lawyer. This is the process for H1b as well as Green card. I was wondering if it is legal. Can you experts shed some light on it?

Can I complain it to USCIS?

Thanks!

[Milind123]

No Buddy (pun intended) can't complain to USCIS. The reason for this is probably the financial information that is included in the documents send out to USCIS. Things like gross income, profit etc tec.

[delhirocks]

Correct me If Iam wrong, but isn't after July17th, the employer is supposed to pay for all expenses related to green card?
And if that is correct, employer can hire any lawyer, he/she wishes to

Originally Posted by aat0995

Hi!
My employer won't provide any documents unless I hire a lawyer. This is the process for H1b as well as Green card. I was wondering if it is legal. Can you experts shed some light on it?

Can I complain it to USCIS?

Thanks!

[indianindian2006]

Originally Posted by delhirocks

Correct me If Iam wrong, but isn't after July17th, the employer is supposed to pay for all expenses related to green card?
And if that is correct, employer can hire any lawyer, he/she wishes to

That is for DOL charges,only for PERM.

[delhirocks]

Ok..Thx for the clarification..

Originally Posted by indianindian2006

That is for DOL charges,only for PERM.

[bestia]

I can think of one case, where your employer is insisting on hiring a lawyer. If you are a valuable employee, then your employer doesn't want to risk losing you in case you mess something up. If your lawyer messes something up, then your employer (or your manager) will have somebody to blame and/or sue.

[aat0995]

Right. But the only thing is there I didn't find anywhere that you have to hire a lawyer. I am not sure why my employer is insisting me. And if they like me so much they can always pay for the lawyer cost .

[lutherpraveen]

My employer is a large private firm.
They are very supportive of me and everything, but they wouldn't just give away some sensitive financial data just like that.
My lawyer had tough time getting all the usual financial information needed from my company. He was adviced to quote a reputed business journal (or something of that sort) which had information on my company's financial status.
But again it is a well known company, so, I did not have any problems.
Also all these things were sorted out during my H1 days, so the current GC processing is going on smoothly.
I can understand why companies insist on dealing with an attorney (probably even just one and only one attorney) rather than with individuals on a case by case basis.
But again it is just my opinion based on my experience.

[bestia]

Originally Posted by lutherpraveen

My employer is a large private firm.
They are very supportive of me and everything, but they wouldn't just give away some sensitive financial data just like that.
My lawyer had tough time getting all the usual financial information needed from my company. He was adviced to quote a reputed business journal (or something of that sort) which had information on my company's financial status.
But again it is a well known company, so, I did not have any problems.
Also all these things were sorted out during my H1 days, so the current GC processing is going on smoothly.
I can understand why companies insist on dealing with an attorney (probably even just one and only one attorney) rather than with individuals on a case by case basis.
But again it is just my opinion based on my experience.

My company is large and privately owned too, and they refused to disclose any financial information either (even to my lawyer). But it wasn't an issue, they asked me to prepare all the documents and give them the packet. I'm talking about I-140, I filed separately. They just placed all their financial stuff and mailed to USCIS. It wasn't a problem at all.