GUILTY VERDICT IN H-1B NURSE SCHEME

Last month MU Law posted a blog about an alleged H-1B nurse visa scheme that resulted in a federal indictment and trial.  The verdict is in.  US Citizen Kizzy Kalu was found guilty of 89 criminal counts, including visa fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking.  

The allegations included information that Mr. Kalu misled the USCIS, alleging that the nurses would work as instructors/supervisors at Adam University.  Nurse instructor/supervisors are generally held to be specialty occupations, which makes these positions eligible for H-1B approval. 

The prosecutors proved that Adam University existed largely in name only and had no genuine need for nurse instructor supervisors.  The nurses actually worked as regular nurses at salaries below prevailing wage.  Regular nursing positions are usually ineligible for H-1B approval.

The government also proved that Mr. Kalu forced the nurses to kick back a portion of their salary and threatened to have their visas revoked if they did not comply with his scheme.  The full press release is available on the US Department of Justice’s website.   Mr. Kalu's sentencing is set for September 23, 2013.