NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has updated its official list of employers barred from participating in the H-1B visa program, identifying four companies that have been designated as “willful violators” of federal labor laws governing the employment of H-1B workers.
The revised list, which became effective on July 1, 2026, was published by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division but gained wider public attention in recent days after being highlighted by several media outlets, particularly in India because of its relevance to prospective H-1B applicants.
The four employers currently listed as willful violators are:
- GowraTech, LLC
- Renotek Group LLC
- Seeloz, Inc.
- Sherwood at Mount Dora, Inc., doing business as Sherwood Academy
A willful violator is an employer that the Department of Labor has determined knowingly or recklessly violated H-1B program requirements, rather than making an inadvertent error.
Violations that can result in such a designation include paying H-1B employees less than the legally required prevailing wage, making false statements on Labor Condition Applications (LCAs), misrepresenting job duties or work locations, failing to maintain required records, or committing other significant violations of federal labor protections.
Employers placed on the list may be barred from filing new H-1B petitions for a specified period and face heightened scrutiny from federal authorities. The designation can also subject future immigration filings to additional review and investigations.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign professionals in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Indian nationals account for the overwhelming majority of H-1B visa recipients, making changes affecting the program of particular interest to the Indian-American community and aspiring immigrants.
While the publication of the updated list has generated considerable attention, immigration experts note that it does not represent a new government policy or expansion of enforcement powers. The Department of Labor has long maintained a public list of debarred and disqualified employers, updating it as enforcement actions are finalized.
The current list includes only four employers, representing a tiny fraction of the thousands of companies, universities, hospitals, and research institutions that legally sponsor H-1B workers each year.
The Department of Labor encourages prospective H-1B workers to familiarize themselves with their workplace rights and to report suspected labor violations. The agency’s Wage and Hour Division is responsible for enforcing H-1B labor protections, including ensuring that employers pay required wages and comply with the terms certified in their Labor Condition Applications.
