The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recently identified four American companies as “Willful Violation” employers, prohibiting them from using H-1B visa qualifications, with the announcement made on July 1, 2026.
According to the latest list developed by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, the following companies are currently disqualified:
1. GowraTech, LLC is restricted from May 12, 2025, to May 11, 2027.
2. Renotek Group LLC is restricted from August 8, 2025, to August 7, 2027.
3. Seeloz, Inc. is restricted from March 4, 2026, to March 3, 2028.
4. Sherwood at Mount Dora, Inc. (operating under the name Sherwood Academy) is restricted from May 26, 2026, to May 25, 2028.
The bans will last until 2027 or 2028, depending on the performance of the employers. During the disqualification period, these employers are not allowed to participate in the H-1B visa program. After the two-year ban is lifted, they will still be subject to random inspections for three more years.
As per the guidance from the DOL, “Willful Violators” are defined as employers found through applicable enforcement procedures to have intentionally violated H-1B labor condition requirements or made substantial misrepresentations.
Common actions identified as “Willful Violations” include:
1. Intentionally underpaying H-1B employees, such as paying below the Labor Condition Application (LCA) committed wage; paying below the prevailing wage required by law or the higher of prevailing wage or actual wage.
2. Failing to pay required wages during benching periods, where H-1B employees are not working due to lack of assignments but are not paid.
3. Making false statements in LCAs, misreporting work locations, wages, job duties, working conditions, etc.
4. Intentionally not fulfilling the obligation to post job notices, preventing other employees from learning about H-1B job opportunities.
Other violations include retaliation or threats against employees, refusal to cooperate with DOL investigations, systematic use of H-1B to circumvent laws, etc.
Currently, the federal government is intensifying efforts to scrutinize employers hiring foreign workers, combat visa fraud, and other violations of labor laws while protecting the rights of both American and foreign workers.
Meanwhile, the demand for H-1B visas among U.S. employers remains high.
On July 17, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that they have received enough applications, and the quota for the fiscal year 2027 has been reached. This includes 65,000 regular H-1B visa slots and an additional 20,000 slots allocated based on the U.S. advanced degree exemption clause.