Can I recover money if I don't have a Green Card and work authorization?

Absolutely yes. In New York State, courts do not check your immigration status in cases involving unpaid wages or accidents. Your work is just as important as the work of a US citizen.

My employer only paid me in cash "under the table". Do I have a chance in court?

Yes, the lack of checks does not close the path to compensation. We use other evidence, such as your notes, schedules, photos, or testimony, to prove working hours. It is the employer’s duty to keep records – if they didn’t, the court often sides with the employee.

How much does it cost to have your law firm handle a case?

We offer a free initial consultation to assess your chances. In most cases, we work on a contingency fee basis – the fee is charged only if we win money for you.

I was fired for cause. Can I still fight for back pay?

Yes. The method of termination does not cancel the obligation to pay for previously worked hours. Even if the termination was your fault (or alleged fault), you are entitled to money for the work performed.

What to do if the company has declared bankruptcy?

Company bankruptcy is often a tactic to avoid paying. We have experience in handling cases against business owners who close one business and open another under a different name. Do not give up without a fight.

Robert Wisniewski, PC

Employment Law, Workplace Injuries

New York, NY

We speak English

Mówimy po polsku

Hablamos español

Send EmailCompany Website

About Us

We recover your money, even if you work “under the table” or don’t have papers

Robert Wisniewski P.C. is not just another law firm that makes empty promises. For nearly 30 years, we have been fighting for the rights of Polish workers in New York – from Greenpoint and Ridgewood to construction sites in Manhattan. We know the tricks of dishonest employers and we know how to force them to pay.

Why do Poles in NY choose Attorney Wisniewski?

Effectiveness without papers: We recover unpaid wages and overtime (up to 6 years back!), even if you don’t have a Green Card, SSN, or were paid in cash.
Million-dollar wins: Our results speak for themselves – $1,050,000 in a class action lawsuit or $960,000 for a construction worker. This is real money that went into our clients’ pockets.
Security: We represent you, even if you were fired for cause or your boss declared bankruptcy to escape liability.
Free consultation: You don’t pay for the call. You call, we evaluate the case, we take action.

You have a right to your money. Don’t let fear of your immigration status paralyze you.

New York, NY

Item 1

1221 Avenue of the Americas 6th Avenue, New York, NY, USA

Send email

Item 2

Services

Unpaid wages and overtime

Were you paid in cash? That does not exempt the boss from the obligation to pay.

Many employers in Brooklyn or Queens think that if they pay “under the table”, labor law does not apply to them. Wrong. We recover your money for overtime and sub-minimum wages, even up to 6 years back. You do not need work authorization or copies of checks. Your word and our experience are enough.

Discrimination and Mobbing at work

No one has the right to humiliate you – neither your boss nor your coworkers.

Do you feel inferior at work? Are you experiencing discrimination from representatives of other national minorities or are you a victim of harassment? New York law is on your side. We fight for high compensation for moral and psychological damages (up to 3 years back), even if “everyone knows, but is afraid to testify”.

Workplace and construction accidents

The accident is not your fault. Compensation is your lifeline.

Construction work in the “City” is risky. If you have had an accident, standard Workers’ Comp is often not enough to cover medical and living expenses. We analyze your case for employer negligence and fight for full compensation that will secure your and your family’s future.

Gallery

Articles

March 6, 2026
Working “off the books” in New York? 4 things your boss won’t tell you when they take your paycheck
You work hard on a construction site in Maspeth or clean offices in Manhattan....

Q&A

Can I recover money if I don't have a Green Card and work authorization?
Absolutely yes. In New York State, courts do not check your immigration status in cases involving unpaid wages or accidents. Your work is just as important as the work of a US citizen.
My employer only paid me in cash "under the table". Do I have a chance in court?
Yes, the lack of checks does not close the path to compensation. We use other evidence, such as your notes, schedules, photos, or testimony, to prove working hours. It is the employer’s duty to keep records – if they didn’t, the court often sides with the employee.
How much does it cost to have your law firm handle a case?
We offer a free initial consultation to assess your chances. In most cases, we work on a contingency fee basis – the fee is charged only if we win money for you.
I was fired for cause. Can I still fight for back pay?
Yes. The method of termination does not cancel the obligation to pay for previously worked hours. Even if the termination was your fault (or alleged fault), you are entitled to money for the work performed.
What to do if the company has declared bankruptcy?
Company bankruptcy is often a tactic to avoid paying. We have experience in handling cases against business owners who close one business and open another under a different name. Do not give up without a fight.