Someone I know recently got hired this way. Patni had him on an L-1 visa and he was working at a Fortune 500 wealth management company (WMC) with HQ in Richmond

Someone I know recently got hired this way. Patni had him on an L-1 visa and he was working at a Fortune 500 wealth management company (WMC) with HQ in Richmond, VA. He got an H-1B visa for himself, moved out of Patni, worked with a body shopper for 3 months and then had his boss at the WMC file an H-1B on his behalf. His old Patni bosses kicked up a row and tried to stop him from getting hired. In his case, the anti-poaching agreement was between Patni and the WMC; but the WMC management were firm in hiring him. For most people, I would assume that not to be the case.