Microsoft asking for out of pocket payment for H1B extension premium processing
Posting on behalf of a friend. He has an approved i140 and his H1B expires in November 2024. Microsoft immigration team has reached out to him for H1B extension process and they are asking to pay ~$2800 out of pocket for premium processing. All extensions before this one were in premium processing and paid by Microsoft. Is this normal for Microsoft to ask employees for out of pocket payment? Has anyone who is due for stamping, got same email from Immigration? PS: This is his 3rd extension and he is full time SWE 2 with Microsoft. TIA!
Yes, since premium processing for extension of H1B is not necessary
why not necessary? if the employee has family emergency and need to travel, having an approved h1b will give peace of mind. it is ALWAYS stressful when visa approval is in pending state.
Not necessary for the company. That's why the choice exists for the employee to pay for it, if they choose to
This is a common practice. Pay for mental peace
AFAIK, Premium processing requires manager approval and if manager is clueless about India H1B situation, they don’t approve
This is correct. Manager needs to approve it from team budget and team might not have budget.
It's org and finance policy these days. Manager has no say in it. If it's a risk to employee not being able to work, immigration team will recommend it already and bill org
Needs approval from your org as it is deducted from org budget. Earlier it was auto approved and now it has changed. You have to be lucky to get it approved
I’m in the same boat and am paying for it !
Depends on the group. MSFT often pays for it
Yes totally normal, unless there’s a business need the companies don’t pay for premium processing