Recruitment fees
Recruitment fees means fees of any type, including charges, costs, assessments, or other financial obligations, that are associated with the recruiting process, regardless of the time, manner, or location of imposition or collection of the fee. (1) Recruitment fees include, but are not limited to, the following fees (when they are associated with the recruiting process) for (i) Soliciting, identifying, considering, interviewing, referring, retaining, transferring, selecting, training, providing orientation to, skills testing, recommending, or placing employees or potential employees; (ii) Advertising; (iii) Obtaining permanent or temporary labor certification, including any associated fees; (iv) Processing applications and petitions; (v) Acquiring visas, including any associated fees; (vi) Acquiring photographs and identity or immigration documents, such as passports, including any associated fees; (vii) Accessing the job opportunity, including required medical examinations and immunizations; background, reference, and security clearance checks and examinations; and additional certifications; (viii) An employer's recruiters, agents or attorneys, or other notary or legal fees; (ix) Language interpretation or translation, arranging for or accompanying on travel, or providing other advice to employees or potential employees; (x) Government-mandated fees, such as border crossing fees, levies, or worker welfare funds; (xi) Transportation and subsistence costs (A) While in transit, including, but not limited to, airfare or costs of other modes of transportation, terminal fees, and travel taxes associated with travel from the country of origin to the country of performance and the return journey upon the end of employment; and (B) From the airport or disembarkation point to the worksite; (xii) Security deposits, bonds, and insurance; and (xiii) Equipment charges. (2) A recruitment fee, as described in the introductory text of this definition, is a recruitment fee, regardless of whether the payment is (i) Paid in property or money; (ii) Deducted from wages; (iii) Paid back in wage or benefit concessions; (iv) Paid back as a kickback, bribe, in-kind payment, free labor, tip, or tribute; or (v) Collected by an employer or a third party, whether licensed or unlicensed, including, but not limited to (A) Agents; (B) Labor brokers; (C) Recruiters; (D) Staffing firms (including private employment and placement firms); (E) Subsidiaries/affiliates of the employer; (F) Any agent or employee of such entities; and (G) Subcontractors at all tiers.