Infosys Visa Fraud Case (2013)

In 2013, Infosys Ltd, India's second-largest IT services exporter, agreed to a $34 million civil settlement with the U.S. government over allegations of visa misuse. The U.S. Justice Department accused Infosys of using B-1 business visitor visas to send workers to the U.S. for roles that typically require H-1B specialty occupation visas. This practice allegedly allowed the company to bypass stricter visa requirements and associated costs.

The settlement was the largest of its kind at the time and resolved a civil investigation dating back to 2011. While Infosys did not admit to any criminal wrongdoing, it acknowledged violations related to I-9 documentation errors-forms used to verify employment eligibility in the U.S.

As part of the resolution, Infosys agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and provide detailed descriptions of its visa holders' roles in the U.S. The company also pledged to improve its internal processes to prevent future violations. Importantly, the settlement did not impose any restrictions on Infosys's eligibility for U.S. federal contracts or access to U.S. visa programs.

Infosys has since taken steps to enhance its compliance with U.S. immigration laws. The case highlighted broader concerns about the use of temporary work visas by offshore outsourcing firms and their impact on the U.S. job market.