No Americans? TCS-linked ‘need H-1B’ job post catches DOJ’s attention

**Massachusetts Tech Job Posting Draws DOJ Scrutiny Over H-1B Requirement**

A Massachusetts technology job posting has attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice after a recruitment email appeared to specifically seek an H-1B visa holder for an IT position. The posting has raised fresh questions about whether certain recruitment practices could restrict access to employment opportunities based on immigration status or national origin.

Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the DOJ, said the department is reviewing the posting along with other alleged examples of employment discrimination. Dhillon said officials are examining cases involving employers that may have engaged in national origin discrimination and indicated that the department would work with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor. Her comments came after she reshared a social media post highlighting a recruitment email for a Citrix administration position in Burlington, Massachusetts.

The position was described as an onsite, long-term contract role requiring more than 10 years of professional experience. The recruitment email, dated August 24, prominently included the wording “Need H1b,” which also appeared in the accompanying job description. The message was sent by Varshendra Chaturvedi of Next Level Business Services Inc., a company that describes itself as providing IT consulting, digital talent solutions and recruitment process outsourcing services.

The advertised position sought an experienced Citrix administrator with knowledge of Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop, remote access gateways and Netscaler. Candidates were also expected to have experience with Windows Server, Active Directory, SQL, DNS, DHCP, application deployment and network administration. Chaturvedi circulated the opening among technology job seekers and asked interested candidates to provide updated resumes. The message also encouraged recipients to refer friends or colleagues who might meet the requirements.

While the technical qualifications were extensive, the explicit reference to H-1B status was what drew widespread attention on social media. A user whose post was later reshared by Dhillon argued that such recruitment networks could allow certain U.S. technology jobs to circulate among visa holders before reaching a broader pool of American workers. The criticism has added fuel to an ongoing national debate over the role of foreign workers in the U.S. technology sector.

However, the publicly available material does not establish that the H-1B wording represented an official hiring policy of Tata Consultancy Services or that TCS itself created the recruitment email. Although the screenshot identified the opportunity as a TCS role, the recruitment message was sent by Next Level Business Services Inc. It is also not clear from the available information why H-1B status was listed as a requirement or whether individuals with other valid forms of U.S. work authorization could have applied.

Those details could become important as federal authorities assess the circumstances surrounding the posting. The DOJ Civil Rights Division has authority over certain forms of employment discrimination, including discrimination involving national origin. Dhillon’s reference to numerous other examples suggests that federal officials are examining the issue more broadly rather than focusing solely on the Burlington position. The controversy comes amid continuing disagreements over the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for certain specialized occupations.

Supporters argue that the program helps technology companies fill highly skilled positions, while critics contend that some recruitment practices can disadvantage U.S. workers. The Massachusetts posting has now become another focal point in that larger dispute. For now, the available information does not establish that the recruiter or employer violated federal law. The DOJ’s review will determine whether the language used in the recruitment process raises legal concerns and whether further action is warranted.