Facing Background Verification Challenges: How Can I Prove My Experience Without Form 16?

Hi, I need urgent suggestions. Recently, I got selected into CTS (Cognizant) and received the offer letter. My background verification process has started. Before discussing the problem, I will provide some information about my previous employer status.

Background Information on Previous Employment

In my first company, where I worked for 2.5 years, I was paid my salary in cash (initially ₹5000 and later increased to ₹12000). The company informed me that my salary was not taxable, so TDS returns were not processed. They provided me with a manual Form 16, and all communication was done internally without email transactions.

In my second company, Unify, I worked for 1.8 years and have all the necessary documents.

Background Verification Issues

During the background verification, I provided all the required documents. The verifiers did not have any issues with the Unify company. However, they requested bank statements or Form 16 from my first company.

I provided the manual Form 16, but they asked for email transactions, which I don't have. Now, they are requesting an application of Form 16, which I also do not possess due to the company's non-taxable status.

Despite having genuine experience of 3.5 years and acceptance from my current employer, they are suspicious of my first company. I have tried communicating with the first company and provided all possible documentation, but they are not cooperating. Consequently, I have resigned from my current job.

Urgent Assistance Needed

My future is at stake, and HR has given me an additional 15 days to submit the requested application of Form 16. If the company fails to provide it, I am unsure how to proceed.

I was just an employee in a very small company at that time. Please assist me. I would be very grateful for any help and am willing to do whatever it takes.

Regards.

Firstly, does your FIRST Company still exist? Next, don't you have the Appointment Letter of the First Company? Or some document that proves you worked there? While Form 16 is one of the documents to prove employment, it's not the only one—so ask CTS for the other documents they will consider as alternatives.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

I provided them with all the documents from the first company: Joining Letter, Relieving Letter, Experience Letter, and Form 16. However, they are still not satisfied (my company also messaged them). They continue to have suspicions.

They are requesting the submission of a request note/application for Form 16, but they had given me a manual Form 16, making it impossible to provide a request note.

I have asked the first company to provide a computerized request note for Form 16, and they mentioned that they will look into it.

I have made all efforts to prove my case by providing all the necessary documents, yet they persist in thinking that our company is on a suspected list. However, our company is not on any such list. I am confused about what to do next. The constant contemplation, day and night, is becoming a form of torture in itself.

I can understand the condition that you are going through. You have already mentioned that you have provided the joining letter, relieving letter, and experience letter of the first company. Have they accepted these letters from the first company? If these (joining letter, relieving letter, and experience letter) have been accepted, then maybe they want to cross-check that you actually received the salary you mentioned from your first company. Assuming that these three letters have been accepted, have you provided the increment letter or salary hike letter? If you have not provided it, and from your replies, I can guess that your first company is helpful, you can request your first company to provide a salary hike letter and a letter where the CTC that you received at the time of leaving the company with your designation is mentioned.

Warm Regards

Hi BlueHAT, they didn't ask for salary hikes. I have documents of salary hikes, but they didn't ask. They are only asking for a request note of Form 16. I have provided joining/relieving/experience letter/Form 16/and a letter from the company regarding Form 16 and work experience. Also, I have submitted a soft copy and the first company email to CTS. They have accepted all but are not satisfied with those. They are looking at these with a suspicious note. Even after the company HR emailed CTS with company existence proof, they are still not satisfied. At present, I asked the company to provide a request note of Form 16. They said they will ask the CA and will inform. Today, they said it in a positive note. So, if they provide it, then I will submit. But I have submitted every document I could. I submitted them all, but they are still not listening.

Have you asked them or judged why they are insisting on a request note for Form 16? As mentioned by BlueHat, they might want to verify your salary. However, your salary hike letters should have served the purpose. I suggest you positively discuss with your new company instead of submitting all the relevant documents to find out specifically what they are looking for. Inform them that you have already resigned and are prepared to join them. Make your position clear. As a last resort, you can provide the contact information for your previous employer and suggest they obtain the required information from them.

Best regards,
Vaishalee Parkhi

I have provided the company number and HR number and told them to go to the company and do a background verification. I asked them clearly what they want. Finally, they said they will extend your joining date if you submit the request note or Form 16; they are sticking to that only. As per my knowledge, the background verification team has given a positive status on me. However, HR postponed the joining date and asked me to submit a request note.

Right now, I am fighting with the first company, asking them to provide the request note. They are helping me in whatever way possible, and they said they will get back to you in 1 or 2 days. I am wondering why the new company is behaving like this towards me; I am not getting any clarity. Currently, I am sitting at home with no work, and I can't go back to the company because I resigned.

I hope for a resolution soon.

Thank you.

Form 16 is just to check the permanent status of an employee with a company. As people suggested here, check for an alternate solution with CTS. Otherwise, if you have a Salary Slip with PF deduction, check with them if you could produce that instead of Form 16. The reason behind this is, "In general, people will ask for a Salary Slip with PF deduction or Form 16." I hope this clarifies things for you. If you need any additional information, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Regards

Hi Citizen, In the first company, they gave me my salary by hand in cash. They didn't provide me with an account, so there was no PF deduction. I received a salary of 5000 and 10000, which is why I am facing problems. I am in communication with the first company to see if they can help me out and also speaking to the CTS HR department. I hope I might find a solution soon. I have submitted more than required, mailing everything, but they are still suspecting something. I have never been in this situation before, sitting at home with no work.

How Did You Learn About the Job Opportunity in Your First Company?

They could have emailed or called you. Hopefully, they sent you emails about the opportunity and the address where you needed to attend the interview (i.e., your first company). Show them that. Also, inform them that Form 16 is only applicable for employees who were earning above 150,000 per month from 2008 to 2011 - now it has changed. What is your status now?

Hi, what's your status now? I am also facing the same issue. Can someone help me with this?

Background Verification Challenges

The same issue occurred during my background verification (BGV). My first employer was on Cognizant's (CTS) suspect list. I don't have Form 16 or a Provident Fund (PF) account from my first employer. They paid me in cash for the first year of employment. After that, I have bank statements for all months. I have submitted all relevant documents, including the first employer's offer letter, appraisal letter, experience letter, and partial bank statements. However, they are not accepting these documents.

I am currently jobless and have had offers from other companies canceled due to the CTS offer. What can I do? Can anyone please help me with this issue? My joining date has already been deferred three times due to the BGV process. I have been without a job for the last six days, sitting in front of my laptop.