Bad Contracts with Bad Agencies

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Sorry to have to post something like this, but I have been receiving horror story after horror story the past few weeks, and there is absolutely no reason that you have to put up with any of those lies.

From DHEL28's agency placing 9 people in one apt without heat in NYC in the winter, and only one bathroom, they were told that accommodations were provided. And not even a bed, they had to buy that for themselves. To another agency incorrectly filling out documents so that the nurse got denied, then telling the nurse that the agency was going to pay for an attorney to go to Washington DC to correct things. But one year later they have not been resubmitted with the corrections, and number two, the immigration centers are not in Washington D.C. And this nurse was also told that the agency would know twenty seconds after arriving in the US that he was here. Impossible. And another that had a $25,000 cancellation policy but told that if she tried to leave, it would cost her about $100,000.

If you are having issues with your agency being untruthful and taking advantage of you, please contact the Embassy for your country here in the US, as well as the US Embassy in your home country where you had your interview.

Once you have arrived in the US, you cannot be deported. Do not let an agency threaten you with this. The green card gives you permanent residency.

Specializes in ER, Med Surg. ICU, Mgmt. Geri. Hme Care.

Hi: I'm sorry, but as I don't know what the contract that you signed states, I won't be able to help you. If I were you I'd read carefully the contract to be sure that you can cancell it at this point. Remember, they could charge you for the attorney that drafted the contract, or for any other expenses they think they are entilted to since they iniciated the process. So, bottomline, be very careful when you sign. they are experts, and they won't give you any for free, they always, if not make money, at least get the money back, tehy won't lose money on you. Good luck.

Faby

All the reports in this thread have made me apprehensive. I signed a contract with a California based agency. There is no specific amount in the cancellation clause but the contract stipulates that I will reimburse then for any fees they may have incurred in sponsoring me or in helping me get licensure, etc. At the moment, only the contract has been signed and they have not paid for any fees. I have not sent any documents for the filing of the I-140. The CEO of the company, which specializes in nurse recruitment, has been generally upfront in his dealings with me so far. However, all the horror stories recounted here makes me wonder if I should cancel the contract at the outset and just try to find a hospital that will directly hire me. Also, the contract I signed was very general and did not specify the place and the salary that I will be receiving. Can I still cancel the contract at this point? Or can I ask the CEO to make a new contract for me? Please help.

My payment was changed $22/hr. from $25.5 last week just after my workauthorization has been approved. They say that the hospital changed their payment policy. I got my job through an agency in April,2005. You know, it takes long time for the paper work. I understand that change of the policy may happen depending on the hospital's ficancial situation. But why didn't they tell me earlier? Why now? After the workauthorization, before the greencard... According to the USCIS, my greencard will be approved within 6months.

I agreed them, because I tought if I wouldn't accept this, I would lose job. It means, I lose my sponsor. But still I can't stop feeling like that my greencard is taken as hostage by the hospital and agency.

My payment was changed $22/hr. from $25.5 last week just after my workauthorization has been approved. They say that the hospital changed their payment policy. I got my job through an agency in April,2005. You know, it takes long time for the paper work. I understand that change of the policy may happen depending on the hospital's ficancial situation. But why didn't they tell me earlier? Why now? After the workauthorization, before the greencard... According to the USCIS, my greencard will be approved within 6months.

I agreed them, because I tought if I wouldn't accept this, I would lose job. It means, I lose my sponsor. But still I can't stop feeling like that my greencard is taken as hostage by the hospital and agency.

Are you to be paid by the agency or the hospital?

If you signed a contract that actually stated the $25.50 as the rate per hour, then they have to pay that. No hospital is going to lower their payments to a nurse. The agecny just wants a bigger cut.

My suggestion is to speak to an attorney.

Thank you quick response, suzanne4.

I know that I'm going to be paid by the hospital not the agency. I made my employment contract with the hospital not the agency. When I had the job interview, we filled up the hospital personnel form with "Hourly Rate $25.5". I don't know if this paper is legally effective or not. I need to access prepaidlegal.com. I will post the result. I don't want happen to nobody else like this.

If you have signed contract with them, they need to meet that rate. Definitely speak with an attorney.

I am getting very tired of seeing nurses getting taken advantage of.

And I would also let the US Embassy know of this in the country where you are. As well as the consulate for your country in the US. These shady dealings need to be stopped.

Hi!, I just talked to my friend who submitted an application to a Texas Based Staffing Agency. They set an interview to another Staffing agency based in California and was selected. They emailed him the contract and the documents that must be submitted with the signed contract. He didn't submitted the documents and yet checked the name of the agency in the website. He read the company profile and looks fine but when he check the email address of the contacts, most of them were using the company account while the person who is communicatiing with him is just using a hotmail account.

He sense something so he send a letter of inquiry to the agency and inquire if they know the name of the person who recruited him. He gave all the informations and after a week, the agency replied informing him that they don't have a staff working with them with that name. They requested more informations and asked to forward the communications made to him. He gave the contact number and even the name of the first staffing agency who arrange the interview.

He is waiting for their reply.

My question is, Is it possible to have 2 different agency in one name? Or Anybody can recruit in behalf of a company without their authorization/knowledge?

Sigh.....

Is there an institution in the US or a website wherein we can check if the recruitment agency is a Registered Agency and allowed to recruit? Thanks....

Hi!, I just talked to my friend who submitted an application to a Texas Based Staffing Agency. They set an interview to another Staffing agency based in California and was selected. They emailed him the contract and the documents that must be submitted with the signed contract. He didn't submitted the documents and yet checked the name of the agency in the website. He read the company profile and looks fine but when he check the email address of the contacts, most of them were using the company account while the person who is communicatiing with him is just using a hotmail account.

He sense something so he send a letter of inquiry to the agency and inquire if they know the name of the person who recruited him. He gave all the informations and after a week, the agency replied informing him that they don't have a staff working with them with that name. They requested more informations and asked to forward the communications made to him. He gave the contact number and even the name of the first staffing agency who arrange the interview.

He is waiting for their reply.

My question is, Is it possible to have 2 different agency in one name? Or Anybody can recruit in behalf of a company without their authorization/knowledge?

Sigh.....

Is there an institution in the US or a website wherein we can check if the recruitment agency is a Registered Agency and allowed to recruit? Thanks....

Unfortunately, at the moment recruitment agencies do not need to be licensed as such, at least in any state that I am aware of. But they need to be to get rid of the unscrupulous people that are out there.

It sounds like someone is just looking for a finder's fee, or referral bonus from the real agency. Personally, I would stay away from that scene all together.

It is nut uncommon for several agencies to be under one corporate umbrella, but something doesn't sound kosher with this one. Tell your friend to stop now with them. Their choice.

Right now, the only complaints that can be filed are with the Consulate of the country for your friend in the US, as well as the US Embassy in the country. They are able to check things out, the biggest issue has been companies recruiting in countries that do not have a permit from the other country to do that. Philippines requires a permit, and I doubt that many have it..........so many of these terrible contracts may not even be legal, since the company was operating illegally in the Philippines.

Hi, suzanne4. I'm caught in the other trouble besides my payment. My workauthorization lost its way and it hasn't been delivered to me yet. According to the agency, it was delivered to my old address. It couldn't be forwarded and returened to the USCIS. After I got the job, I moved to the city where the hospital is located. I have never put my new address on the form for the USCIS. The agency knows my new address, because they found the accommodation for me. The agency says "This is the USCIS's fault." I can't agree with them. They should have informed my new address to the USCIS during the process. I want to call the USCIS and pick up my workauthorization with my hand. I'm not sure the reason why they say "don't call the USCIS." I suppose they are trying, but why don't they want to explain how it will be given to me? I can't obtain SS# without workauthorization. My RN license can't be issued without SS#, because I passed the NCLEX,BON of California.

Shame on your agency, if they are the ones that paid the fee. If you did, then just go ahead and call USCIS and find let them know where to send the card to.

You can't start working until you have the card in your hand, the longer that you wait, the more money that you lose.

I talked with the other attorney. She said;

1.The "Personnel form"doesn't seem to be a contract. Therefore the hospital doesn't have to pay $25.5.

2.If the hospital changed their payment policy, we cannot do anything about that.

3.It seems that you got a bad agency. But if you change your sponsor to another hospital, you have to wait for the EAD 6 more months.

4.My agency told me that the hospital cannot hire a international nurse with payment higher than certain amount. That is wrong. The USCIS does't allow hospitals hire international nurses with less than minimum payment, but they doesn't have any criteria about maximum payment.

I have to make a dicision: Accept the change of pay or change the hospitals. Probably I will accept the hospital's offer.

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND NOT TO FIND A JOB THROUGH AN AGENCY.

You should contact with hospitals directly by yourself. Some hospitals may not want to hire international nurses without SSN and nursing license. If you can not convince the hospitals that you are eligible to work as a RN, hire an attorney and have job interviews with letter from your attorney. Do not make any contract with the hospitals and agency until you pass the NCLEX and the Visascreen in CA, and CGFNS in other states.

1.Pass the NCLEX and obtain the Visascreen certificate.

2.Find an immigration attorney.

3.Job hunting with letter from your attorney.

Good luck.

There happen to be some agencies that are reputable and are paid 100% by the facility, and you get contracted directly with the hospital.

Unfortunately, they are few and far between. but this is the way that things should be done.

Not the nurse giving the agency over $16,000 of their pay over 2 years.

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