Navigating the world of Day 1 CPT universities can be a daunting task, especially when you're looking for the perfect fit for your academic and professional aspirations. This guide dives deep into some of the top Day 1 CPT universities, providing insights into their offerings, student experiences, and more.
As its name suggests, Desi Consultancies are staffing agencies primarily serving the Desi. Community, especially Indian international students, and workers who are looking to build their career in the US. Sometimes referred to as IT Consultancy, they provide services like US job recruitment, training programs, and H1B and green card filing mainly in IT fields.
Along with the popularity of the H1B visa program, Desi Consultancies’s rise to prominence occurred in the 2000s. Busy lives and a complicated visa system can be overwhelming for Indian International students, leaving them little time to do extensive research themselves. They thus seek guidance and support from Desi Consultancies during the job search and the H1B visa process.
You may have heard of some Consultancies like Infosys or Tata Consultancy Services. In general, there are four types of desi consultancies, A, B, C, and D. A and B are small IT companies that provide services such as recruiting Indian workers.
C and D are Big IT companies that have extra benefits like free housing and even proxy interview support. Proxy interview support is having an expert to answer technical questions for the candidates to get the job offer. This practice itself makes the market more competitive and even harder to land a job for those who did not join Desi Consultancies. This is one of the reasons why a lot of Indian candidates still choose to go with IT consultancies even though the salary is much lower than the normal salary. After all, it’s still better than having no income at all.
Data from USCIS suggests that the largest H1-B visa sponsor in 2022 is neither Meta nor Google; it's a Desi Consultancy named Tata Consultancy Services Limited. Being the biggest H1B visa sponsor, the influence and power of IT consultancies in immigration regulation cannot be underestimated. Apart from providing recruiting guidance for Indians, these IT consultancies play a crucial role in advocating for changes to immigration regulations. For instance, the 2020 settlement between USCIS and the ITServe Alliance, a coalition of over 2,100 mid-sized IT companies, marks a significant turning point that reshapes the landscape of immigration regulations for international students and H-1B visa holders. Over the past 10 years, USCIS policies have imposed substantial constraints such as itinerary memos on employers and visa holders. In 2020, U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer ruled that the itineraries memo was not lawful, easing the burdens for H1B employers. This shift underscores the pivotal role of IT consultancies in influencing immigration policies, ultimately benefiting Indian students and professionals seeking opportunities in the US. These Desi Consultancies still remain actively engaged through lobbying. In July 2023, ITServe gathered in the U.S. capitol for a Congressional Advocacy Day. Their primary goal was to persuade Congressmen and Senators to support their idea to double the annual H1B visa quota from 65,000 to 130,000 to fix the massive shortage of highly skilled workers in the US.
Moving to a new country is already challenging for most international students, not to mention starting a new career in the US. Thus, Desi Consultancies often offer cultural transition support, which helps individuals blend into the American working culture smoothly by providing information on housing, transportation, healthcare, and cultural differences.
Most Desi Consultancies have lots of experience and are very knowledgeable about the IT and engineering job market. They know that the majority of Indian students in the US plan on working and settling down after their degree because of the competitive salaries and good work-life balance in the IT and engineering fields. Noticing this significant market need, many Desi Consultancies mainly target international students in tech industries. These workers in consultancies are usually desi who are trained by big tech companies in the hiring process so they know exactly what resumes and skills you need to get an offer. They have expertise in helping with resumes, interviews, and training for technical skills.
As we all noticed, the US job market has not been good lately, becoming more and more competitive. This is where Desi Consultancies come in handy for Indian international students. Many Desi Consultancies help to recruit workers for companies they have partnered up with. Since Desi Consultancies often have well-established relationships or connections with HR from companies, they help Indian candidates access hidden job opportunities, insights into industry trends, and training opportunities that might not be found through traditional job listings. With their help, international students can save a lot of time from gathering information and networking so they can focus on preparing for the technical interviews.
The visa process is something every international student needs to go through. In other words, this is one of the most important things for Desi who wishes to stay in the US long-term. Visa policies are complicated and these policies can sometimes change very quickly. Desi Consultancies are aware of these changes and will get you on the right track throughout the visa process.
Not everyone is lucky enough to get an H1B before their OPT days max out. The good news is, when you don't have H1B, most Desi Consultancies accept Day 1 CPT. In this case, Day 1 CPT can be a great alternative. Day 1 CPT is a program that allows international students in the US to engage in full-time employment (over 40 hours per week) from the first day of their academic program. This can be particularly beneficial for those who did not get picked for an H1B visa to start working without a long gap. You can think of day 1 CPT as a fast pass to work in the US, which you can start working full time around the first day of the program you enrolled in. If your OPT ends in December, you can enroll in a master's program starting in January to work in the same company seamlessly. What’s more, you can use CPT as long as the program duration. Let’s say your MBA program duration is 2.5 years, then you can work under CPT full time for 2.5 years, meanwhile getting more chances to get H1B.
The growing trend of Indian International students joining Day 1 CPT universities has significantly increased in the past two years. This trend reflects their eagerness to get an H1B visa and work in the US. Some popular Day 1 CPT universities among Indian students are Westcliff University, Harrisburg University, and New England College.
Westcliff University, located in sunny California, is a popular pick. They offer MBA, MSCS, MSEM, and DBA. Due to its low onsite requirement (one in-person class per semester), this school is popular among engineers in both Socal and the Bay Area. Many students from nearby states like Washington and Arizona also choose to join due to the low onsite requirements.
New England College is a hidden gem. Located in NH, the onsite requirement is once per semester. Their major options include an MBA, MS IT & Cybersecurity, MS Data Analytics, and MS IT & Project Management. The tuition fee is super budget-friendly. This school is perfect for those who already have a master's degree in the US and a job offer and would like to continue working on the East Coast.
Harrisburg University, famous for its diverse choice of majors, offers as many stem majors as you can think of, including MS Analytics, Biotechnology, Project Management, and more. The onsite requirement is once per month, very manageable for students working full-time on the East Coast.
Note: Day 1 CPT Universities have very different policies, it is recommended that you contact our advisor for free consulting to check if you are eligible for certain schools before you start your application. Our educational consultants can evaluate your case and match you with the best fit for free.
The biggest reason that most people choose IT Consultancies is that they sponsor H1B visas. They have flexible H1B policies compared to other US companies. They not only fill the H1B lottery for international students but also H4 holders.
Even if you got laid off from your current job, IT Consultancies can help you “transfer” your h1b to their company. H1B transfer is doing the same process as filing a new H1B, the difference is that you do not need to get picked from the lottery again. Your new employer needs to get an LCA and file an I-129 form with USCIS. As we all know companies that sponsor H1B are rare to find, not to mention H1B transfer. This is mainly due to extra time and costs of filing H1B or the fact that companies can find US citizens to fill up the position. H1B transfer could take 1-4 months under regular processing time, and around 15 days for premium processing.
In today's competitive environment, Desi Consultancies will do whatever it takes to secure a job for a candidate. However, not all IT Consultancies ethically conduct staffing processes. Not fully aware of these ethical concerns, some individuals may end up engaging with these unwanted issues. Please be wary of these controversial practices and consider them when it comes to choosing your Desi Consultancies:
Because Desi Consultancies get a certain percentage of your salary once you start working, they may be inclined to make up fake work experience on your resume to secure a job offer for you. Although this might get you immediate employment, it can lead to several problems. For instance, candidates may not possess the actual skills and experience required for the role, which could result in underperformance, ultimately not meeting the company's standards. This discrepancy between expectations and reality can, eventually, lead to job layoffs, harming both the candidate's career and the reputation of the consultancy.
Some Desi Consultancies provide guaranteed services including promised job offers and visa results. They may charge a great amount for these training fees or placement fees, up to thousands of dollars. However, in reality, some consultancies may not fulfill their promises. You might end up not getting the job or visa results as expected.
To maximize candidates’ chances of getting the H1B lottery, some Desi Consultancies submit multiple applications on behalf of a single individual, often under the names of five, six, or even ten different companies. Multiple registrations that illegally increase the chances for successful lottery selection can lead to serious consequences, including getting one’s H1B denied, H1B revoked and stamping refused. USCIS is actually hunting down people who illegally take advantage of the H-1B system. Even if your H1B petition had been approved for over a year if the USCIS finds out there's fraud, they will still notify your employer of its intent to revoke (ITR) your petition and request that you provide evidence to prove otherwise. If you fail to provide sufficient documentation or explanation, USCIS will eventually revoke your H1B petition.
Another example is that if your H1B registration is not valid when you leave the States to visit family or friends in your home country and try to come back with H1B stamping, your visa may be refused at the embassy.
To ensure that the candidate’s salary meets H1B’s minimum requirements, some Desi Consultancies will inflate your income during H1B filing. This is illegal, and companies and candidates that engage in such visa fraud may face serious legal consequences.
Some Desi Consultancies tend to engage in illegal practices to land a job for Indian job seekers. Consultancies may make false or misleading statements about the job’s duties, location, and duration. They may also hide detailed information about the employer. These unethical practices can harm individuals who are misled into enrolling in positions that may not lead to positive H1B outcomes.
Desi Consultancies are like a double-edged sword. Some Desi Consultancies provide a high-quality service, but some do not. Yes, the quality of each Desi Consultancy can be iffy. So it’s important to do extensive research before you commit to one. How to spot red flags when choosing your Desi Consultancies? Make sure you keep an eye out for these red flags when choosing the right Desi Consultancies:
Some unethical Desi Consultancies may promise you an IT position when you never had any IT experience in the past, or even promise H1B results. No legitimate Desi Consultancies can guarantee H1B visas. If they charge you for guaranteed H1B, run away fast. Some unethical consultancies even claim that they submit the promised visa petition when they never actually turn in any paperwork. Always check sources like My Visa Job to verify if they did file H1B petitions for the number they claimed. You can type in the company’s name and look into the employer database. It will show the number of certified H1B visas, the job title, and the salary in the company. If the numbers don’t match with the numbers Desi Consultancies provided, it’s a huge red flag. A helpful tip is to ask the number of international workers hired last year and compare it to the number of visa petitions they filed.
It is a big red flag if an IT Consultancy falsifies your resume by making up a degree or adding more years of experience than you have. Although this might get you a job offer more easily, in the long run, it could result in your H1B denial due to invalid documents.
A savvy way to investigate Desi Consultancies is to check their negative reviews online and ask communities for advice to find out more about their validity. You can find more information on channels like Google reviews, Quora, LinkedIn, Reddit, Facebook, and Whatsapp groups. It is completely normal if there are some complaints about the business. However, if there’s a significant number of negative reviews for a certain consultancy, you should stay away from them.
Good Desi Consultancies can make your career in the US a lot smoother and easier, so it could be a good option to join one. Yet, Desi Consultancies come with a dual nature, good and bad. While some offer exceptional services, others may not measure up. The quality of each Desi Consultancy can be uncertain, making thorough research an important step before making any commitment. In recent years we can clearly see that USCIS is hunting down people involved in visa fraud or H1B abuse, so make sure to stay away from the red flags mentioned above such as guaranteed services and resume frauds. Having limited information may lead you to choose a Desi Consultancies that doesn’t quite meet your needs and expectations. The main thing to remember is to always try to explore as many options as possible to find the right Desi Consultancy for you.