EkAurAaya
05-24 12:42 PM
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2072510,prtpage-1.cms
Great immigration debate has Indians steamed up
24 May, 2007 l 2200 hrs ISTlCHIDANAND RAJGHATTA/TIMES NEWS NETWORK
WASHINGTON: The fate of tens of thousands of high-skilled Indian professionals waiting to be permanent US residents is being sidelined in an immigration debate that is heavily tilted in favor of illegal workers, according to advocates of high-tech immigration and Indian activists.
Close to 450,000 Indian professionals are caught up in the H1-B-Green Card gridlock, but the immigration bill currently being debated in Congress will exacerbate their agony instead of resolving the matter, activists
for the skilled immigrants lobby say.
Despite the support of US high-tech companies such as Microsoft and Cisco, and business-industry lobbying groups, the ongoing debate centers mainly on the 12 million mostly illegal immigrants, who, under the new proposals being mooted, will jump ahead of high-skilled Indians and qualify to become US citizens.
"What's being debated here is a pro-illegal worker, anti-skilled professional bill," says Aman Kapoor, co-founder of the advocacy group Immigration Voice(www.immigrationvoice.com)
According to Kapoor and others, some of the new rules being considered will be heartbreaking for skilled Indian professionals. Not only is there a proposal to reduce skilled worker Green Cards from 140,000 to 90,000, there is also a move that would require H1B holders to renew their visas on an annual basis.
A new merit-based points system is also loaded against skilled professionals, they say. For instance, economic contribution by the undocumented is recognized by awarding points for property ownership but not for people working legally.
Even accounting for proposed hike in skilled worker Green Card allocation to individual countries from 7 per cent to ten per cent of the total quota, it will take 45 years to clear the backlog from India at the rate of around 10,000 Green Cards a year, claims Kapoor. "What this country is saying is that it prefers cherry pickers to high skilled work force, not that I have anything against cherry pickers," he said.
Vinod Agarwal's immigration saga is a typical narrative that describes the tortured lives of the nearly half million young Indians mired in the great wrangle currently roiling the United States.
Vinod came to the 'States for his masters' degree in 1997 on an F-1 student visa and changed to an H1-B visa when he was hired by a U.S tech company in 2000. In 2001, his employer started the process to help him secure a permanent resident visa, or Green Card, the first step towards eventual US citizenship.
Thanks to a gridlock arising from complicated rules and a huge backlog, this process, now five years old, could take another two to three years. Among the big hurdles: a yearly limit of 140,000 on employment-based Green Cards for skilled workers.
To further stymie things, no more than seven per cent of Green Cards � less than 10,000 -- are allowed to be allocated to immigrants (including their spouses and children) from any one country. The per-country limitation was meant to avoid monopolization by any one country, but it puts a crimp on countries such as India, China and Russia, which send far more high skilled workers to the US than others.
Because of this mess, Vinod has had to put a hold on some of the most important decisions in his life � like marriage, or making investment commitments. And because his Green Card process is tied to his employer, he cannot make career moves and has to put a lid on his entrepreneurial ambitions and options.
So, a decade after he came to the land of opportunity, Vinod is still a guest, although the contribution of his ilk to the American economy is a matter of record.
According to a recent study, 24% of all the US patents filed from the US are by foreign nationals on temporary visas. Nearly a quarter of tech companies in Silicon Valley are started by skilled professionals who came to the US on H1-B visas.
If Vinod and his type thought the new immigration bill now being debated in the US Congress could address their plight, the were mistaken. The bill, say Immigration Voice activists, has been hijacked by advocates for restricting high-skilled immigrants and those promoting vote bank politics.
"Illegal immigrants are sucking all the air in the room," adds Vikas Chowdhury, a tech professional also caught in the Green Card imbroglio. "The message from the US Senate to legal, skill based immigrants is, 'so long suckers!"
Great immigration debate has Indians steamed up
24 May, 2007 l 2200 hrs ISTlCHIDANAND RAJGHATTA/TIMES NEWS NETWORK
WASHINGTON: The fate of tens of thousands of high-skilled Indian professionals waiting to be permanent US residents is being sidelined in an immigration debate that is heavily tilted in favor of illegal workers, according to advocates of high-tech immigration and Indian activists.
Close to 450,000 Indian professionals are caught up in the H1-B-Green Card gridlock, but the immigration bill currently being debated in Congress will exacerbate their agony instead of resolving the matter, activists
for the skilled immigrants lobby say.
Despite the support of US high-tech companies such as Microsoft and Cisco, and business-industry lobbying groups, the ongoing debate centers mainly on the 12 million mostly illegal immigrants, who, under the new proposals being mooted, will jump ahead of high-skilled Indians and qualify to become US citizens.
"What's being debated here is a pro-illegal worker, anti-skilled professional bill," says Aman Kapoor, co-founder of the advocacy group Immigration Voice(www.immigrationvoice.com)
According to Kapoor and others, some of the new rules being considered will be heartbreaking for skilled Indian professionals. Not only is there a proposal to reduce skilled worker Green Cards from 140,000 to 90,000, there is also a move that would require H1B holders to renew their visas on an annual basis.
A new merit-based points system is also loaded against skilled professionals, they say. For instance, economic contribution by the undocumented is recognized by awarding points for property ownership but not for people working legally.
Even accounting for proposed hike in skilled worker Green Card allocation to individual countries from 7 per cent to ten per cent of the total quota, it will take 45 years to clear the backlog from India at the rate of around 10,000 Green Cards a year, claims Kapoor. "What this country is saying is that it prefers cherry pickers to high skilled work force, not that I have anything against cherry pickers," he said.
Vinod Agarwal's immigration saga is a typical narrative that describes the tortured lives of the nearly half million young Indians mired in the great wrangle currently roiling the United States.
Vinod came to the 'States for his masters' degree in 1997 on an F-1 student visa and changed to an H1-B visa when he was hired by a U.S tech company in 2000. In 2001, his employer started the process to help him secure a permanent resident visa, or Green Card, the first step towards eventual US citizenship.
Thanks to a gridlock arising from complicated rules and a huge backlog, this process, now five years old, could take another two to three years. Among the big hurdles: a yearly limit of 140,000 on employment-based Green Cards for skilled workers.
To further stymie things, no more than seven per cent of Green Cards � less than 10,000 -- are allowed to be allocated to immigrants (including their spouses and children) from any one country. The per-country limitation was meant to avoid monopolization by any one country, but it puts a crimp on countries such as India, China and Russia, which send far more high skilled workers to the US than others.
Because of this mess, Vinod has had to put a hold on some of the most important decisions in his life � like marriage, or making investment commitments. And because his Green Card process is tied to his employer, he cannot make career moves and has to put a lid on his entrepreneurial ambitions and options.
So, a decade after he came to the land of opportunity, Vinod is still a guest, although the contribution of his ilk to the American economy is a matter of record.
According to a recent study, 24% of all the US patents filed from the US are by foreign nationals on temporary visas. Nearly a quarter of tech companies in Silicon Valley are started by skilled professionals who came to the US on H1-B visas.
If Vinod and his type thought the new immigration bill now being debated in the US Congress could address their plight, the were mistaken. The bill, say Immigration Voice activists, has been hijacked by advocates for restricting high-skilled immigrants and those promoting vote bank politics.
"Illegal immigrants are sucking all the air in the room," adds Vikas Chowdhury, a tech professional also caught in the Green Card imbroglio. "The message from the US Senate to legal, skill based immigrants is, 'so long suckers!"
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qualified_trash
06-09 10:34 AM
I agree that capitalism is the first american value..... and IMHO it is the only one that works........ Look at France and the old European countries vs the new EU countries that were part of the Warsaw pact who adopted complete capitalism instead of the hybrid capitalism/socialism........
The only exception to the above rule would be China......... and we need to see where it goes over the next 50 years.
I can bet that if USCIS came up with a plan where they would adjudicate labor, I140 and 485 in one month guaranteed for a premium fee of say 50k, most employers would come up with a way to pay the same and recoup part of it from the employee. Those on an H1 working for consulting companies where they pretty much work for a percentage of the billing would take a loan, max their cards out and do it.
I know I would............... As President Calvin Coolidge said in 1925, "The business of America, is business."
The only exception to the above rule would be China......... and we need to see where it goes over the next 50 years.
I can bet that if USCIS came up with a plan where they would adjudicate labor, I140 and 485 in one month guaranteed for a premium fee of say 50k, most employers would come up with a way to pay the same and recoup part of it from the employee. Those on an H1 working for consulting companies where they pretty much work for a percentage of the billing would take a loan, max their cards out and do it.
I know I would............... As President Calvin Coolidge said in 1925, "The business of America, is business."
CatsintheCraddle
05-04 05:07 PM
Oh, by the way, I did not file for I-140, I went filed I-130 based on marriage to a US citizen. Thanks for the link but I couldn't find anything on my kind of case.
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actonwang
06-16 09:25 PM
thanks! GC4menow,
Kind of surprise and wonder how you get this kind of info. Is it a given rule or you got it from some friends from USCIS? It looks make sense but:
1. What is USDOS for? Department of state? Who decides Retrogression?
2. In summary, if it is "Current", USCIS processes all files by RD (receive date), and if it has retrogresstion, then they change to process files by PD.
Do they churn/reorder all cases each month according to if it is "current" or not? Any logic behind it?
I hope that sb can write "inside gc process":)
Kind of surprise and wonder how you get this kind of info. Is it a given rule or you got it from some friends from USCIS? It looks make sense but:
1. What is USDOS for? Department of state? Who decides Retrogression?
2. In summary, if it is "Current", USCIS processes all files by RD (receive date), and if it has retrogresstion, then they change to process files by PD.
Do they churn/reorder all cases each month according to if it is "current" or not? Any logic behind it?
I hope that sb can write "inside gc process":)
more...
Nil
07-03 11:40 AM
Can we have a conservative idea of the net worth of all folks in the queue.
It can be a compelling arguement on how much folks have built from SCRATCH in this country.
It can be a compelling arguement on how much folks have built from SCRATCH in this country.
psk79
05-30 12:20 AM
My few cents.. I was well aware of this situation from my past.. When you first filed h1 with A in 2006 and got approved, it doesn't mean anything unless u started the job with A. So that 'overridden' stuff is WRONG.
Basically u could continue with univ. as along as ur h1 is with them is valid.. then when u tried to transfer that old employerA's h1 to B, u are in GOOD status as u r working with the univ. However, the reason for using A is only to show uscis that u were counted against the CAP once before and u don't need cap for this new employment with B.
Since the problem here is with B, you better get some more info on why it was denied. See if they can appeal or something.. I didn't know that employer has to be qualified? Do they mean this company doesn't have enough revenue to support u or something?
Also there are different opinions on using employer A's h1 to transfer without actually working with A. Half the people say its not possible as u never worked for A and the other half say its fine as u were counted in CAP. B should have told you to wait until ur H1 was approved as this is a weird situation.
Anyway, since u already left univ, u can try to go back to univ or atleast start with A. Once u go out of the country and get the visa stamped, you should be clear of any out of status issues I believe.
Basically u could continue with univ. as along as ur h1 is with them is valid.. then when u tried to transfer that old employerA's h1 to B, u are in GOOD status as u r working with the univ. However, the reason for using A is only to show uscis that u were counted against the CAP once before and u don't need cap for this new employment with B.
Since the problem here is with B, you better get some more info on why it was denied. See if they can appeal or something.. I didn't know that employer has to be qualified? Do they mean this company doesn't have enough revenue to support u or something?
Also there are different opinions on using employer A's h1 to transfer without actually working with A. Half the people say its not possible as u never worked for A and the other half say its fine as u were counted in CAP. B should have told you to wait until ur H1 was approved as this is a weird situation.
Anyway, since u already left univ, u can try to go back to univ or atleast start with A. Once u go out of the country and get the visa stamped, you should be clear of any out of status issues I believe.
more...
logiclife
10-15 02:12 PM
LuDs are trivial. Sometimes there are LuDs on cases for no apparent reason.
I have had LuDs on my approved 140 even when there was nothing to begin with. Nothing pending since 140, no 485, no H1 extension. Even then there was LuD on 140.
No one really knows what LUD really indicates. Because there is really no pattern in LUDs on cases. NONE.
Rather than asking other blind men to lead you, why dont you take it upon yourself and find out for once and for all.
Let's say LUDs, or lack thereof are bothering you so much that you are losing sleep over it. You are trying to connect dots over LUD, fingerprinting and EAD etc. If you really want something so badly, why dont you stand up and fight for it and ask for it. I am not asking you to help IV or contribute funds or join state chapters. If you dont want to join state chapters, then dont. If you dont want to help IV, then its a different thing. This isnt about that.
But atleast, for your own good, if something bothers you so much, then do something for yourself. Get an appt with ASC and find out what LUD means. Fly to Washington DC, go to director of operations office at USCIS headquarters and ask them what LUD means and why isnt there more transparency in online status. Why do we have to connect dots with LUDS and whey cant there by step-by-step update of each petition. GO AND FIGHT FOR YOURSELF. Ask them why cant we know where my 485 file is at each step of adjudication process. Why is there only 3 possible status for every petition , like case is approved, or case is rejected or we sent request for more info/evidence. Just 3 possible statuses for each petition that really goes thru elaborate stages and statuses.
Sitting here and asking other people, who dont know anything more than you do, is the same thing as one blind man asking another blind man to cross the street because the blind man is too lazy and to shy to ask someone with eyesight for a favor.
Again, I am not doing this to goad you into state chapter or funds. Or joining IV. Dont want to do what IV asks, then dont. But atleast do something FOR YOURSELF. Drive to DC, sit in USCIS HQ and ask them for something better than LUDs.
It is a waste of time to speculate and connect the dots (LUDs) that dont even exist.
I have had LuDs on my approved 140 even when there was nothing to begin with. Nothing pending since 140, no 485, no H1 extension. Even then there was LuD on 140.
No one really knows what LUD really indicates. Because there is really no pattern in LUDs on cases. NONE.
Rather than asking other blind men to lead you, why dont you take it upon yourself and find out for once and for all.
Let's say LUDs, or lack thereof are bothering you so much that you are losing sleep over it. You are trying to connect dots over LUD, fingerprinting and EAD etc. If you really want something so badly, why dont you stand up and fight for it and ask for it. I am not asking you to help IV or contribute funds or join state chapters. If you dont want to join state chapters, then dont. If you dont want to help IV, then its a different thing. This isnt about that.
But atleast, for your own good, if something bothers you so much, then do something for yourself. Get an appt with ASC and find out what LUD means. Fly to Washington DC, go to director of operations office at USCIS headquarters and ask them what LUD means and why isnt there more transparency in online status. Why do we have to connect dots with LUDS and whey cant there by step-by-step update of each petition. GO AND FIGHT FOR YOURSELF. Ask them why cant we know where my 485 file is at each step of adjudication process. Why is there only 3 possible status for every petition , like case is approved, or case is rejected or we sent request for more info/evidence. Just 3 possible statuses for each petition that really goes thru elaborate stages and statuses.
Sitting here and asking other people, who dont know anything more than you do, is the same thing as one blind man asking another blind man to cross the street because the blind man is too lazy and to shy to ask someone with eyesight for a favor.
Again, I am not doing this to goad you into state chapter or funds. Or joining IV. Dont want to do what IV asks, then dont. But atleast do something FOR YOURSELF. Drive to DC, sit in USCIS HQ and ask them for something better than LUDs.
It is a waste of time to speculate and connect the dots (LUDs) that dont even exist.
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shivarajan
02-11 03:37 PM
my advice (from my experience)..if u do USPS Priority (India postal employee deliver it for sure), and chances r high that u may receive it in OPENED, MISSING, LOST (part of docs) state (we had this multiple times from different locations)
Strongly suggest NOT to use Priority unless u have had firsthand good experience!
Using USPS express was little different, fast, and prompt (guess they use some special delivery layer) :mad:
Strongly suggest NOT to use Priority unless u have had firsthand good experience!
Using USPS express was little different, fast, and prompt (guess they use some special delivery layer) :mad:
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eb3_nepa
07-09 10:26 AM
This website is for immigration issues only. Please dont hate me now.
I Agree. Guys not to be mean or anything but let us please restrict ourselves to IMMIGRATION related matters ONLY.
Also whoever started the thread pls start the thread in the miscallaneous section and NOT under IV Agenda and Legislative Updates
I Agree. Guys not to be mean or anything but let us please restrict ourselves to IMMIGRATION related matters ONLY.
Also whoever started the thread pls start the thread in the miscallaneous section and NOT under IV Agenda and Legislative Updates
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kaisersose
08-29 09:22 PM
Un"un: Unknown :)
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coolman
06-22 04:11 PM
Which is the best place(Kinkos,Sears,Ritz) to take photos for I-485?
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meridiani.planum
04-02 03:39 AM
inline...
My employer refuses to give my copy of approve LC.
-- thats not a good sign.. he does not seem to be co-operative...
I had MS + 1.5 yrs of exp.
So not sure if they had exp in the job description as I dont see any job that requires MS + 1 yr of exp.
I am willing to take the risk.
Its upto you. If you feel you'll get through without an RFE, you will be all set, if you feel there is a chance of an RFE, this will be a big mistake. Try to stay on H1-B instead of EAD if you do take a chance... In general people would advice against it, job offers keep coming and going. A chance to file I-485, especially if you are from India might be rare thing.
My employer refuses to give my copy of approve LC.
-- thats not a good sign.. he does not seem to be co-operative...
I had MS + 1.5 yrs of exp.
So not sure if they had exp in the job description as I dont see any job that requires MS + 1 yr of exp.
I am willing to take the risk.
Its upto you. If you feel you'll get through without an RFE, you will be all set, if you feel there is a chance of an RFE, this will be a big mistake. Try to stay on H1-B instead of EAD if you do take a chance... In general people would advice against it, job offers keep coming and going. A chance to file I-485, especially if you are from India might be rare thing.
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reddy77
07-23 08:25 AM
Pittsburg ?? what state CA or PA ?? since there is no "h", I assume you are talking about pittsburg in CA ...
Hi Thanks for your inputs.
But both the employers are consultant.
One is in Fremont CA and other in Pittsburg. Both are offering almost same salary.
So which should be an better option, if they have a similar better client list?
Hi Thanks for your inputs.
But both the employers are consultant.
One is in Fremont CA and other in Pittsburg. Both are offering almost same salary.
So which should be an better option, if they have a similar better client list?
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kartikiran
05-28 03:21 PM
I did it on May 1st and did it again on May 20th.
For any agenda to be pushed forward funds are needed.
Even just to run a portal like this to give us an opportunity to discuss our issues at a single source also costs.
For any agenda to be pushed forward funds are needed.
Even just to run a portal like this to give us an opportunity to discuss our issues at a single source also costs.
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satishku_2000
08-10 05:05 PM
may be he is not from india :D
May be he or she has a spouse whose birth country is non retrogressed .. :)
May be he or she has a spouse whose birth country is non retrogressed .. :)
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calaway42
10-04 12:19 AM
ok! well let me go try your steps .. wish me a luck :)
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tushbush
05-28 09:14 PM
Sounds true. I got RFE on employment verification last week. I am a July 2007 filer.
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fionaapple20
11-27 03:54 PM
I have the same set of questions - posted in another thread - http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15716
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gcformeornot
12-31 11:16 PM
vote..............
fromnaija
01-23 10:39 AM
I think with PERM in place you have to be on the payroll for the employer to apply for the GC. Pre-PERM you were not required to be on payroll..
Thats the info that I know of (Not from lawyers) from friends.. Please correct me if i am wrong.:confused:
No, you are not required to be on the payroll for employer to file PERM since GC is for future employment.
Thats the info that I know of (Not from lawyers) from friends.. Please correct me if i am wrong.:confused:
No, you are not required to be on the payroll for employer to file PERM since GC is for future employment.
chanduv23
08-14 11:14 PM
The fact sheet is a must read for all IV members. Please use this fact sheet and then judge yourself - whether you want to talk about receipt notices or go to the rally.
Singhsa3 and Macaca took a lot of pains and created it with a lot of effort. Good work.
Please distribute the fact sheet as flyers and send the facts as emails, on blogs, various websites etc... and spread the message.
Let the community have a realistic view of the situation.
If you still do not consider doing the rally - the this is ehat will happen - IV will do it with whoever comes - the strength will be low, and opposition will ride over us easily as we are weak.
So - please read the above fact sheet - this fact sheet is your reciept notice, and start heading towards DC.
Singhsa3 and Macaca took a lot of pains and created it with a lot of effort. Good work.
Please distribute the fact sheet as flyers and send the facts as emails, on blogs, various websites etc... and spread the message.
Let the community have a realistic view of the situation.
If you still do not consider doing the rally - the this is ehat will happen - IV will do it with whoever comes - the strength will be low, and opposition will ride over us easily as we are weak.
So - please read the above fact sheet - this fact sheet is your reciept notice, and start heading towards DC.
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