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!"
wallpaper Justin Bieber gives his award
GCAmigo
12-16 06:14 PM
it took 10 months to move one month..
cheg
07-18 02:07 AM
Thanks! This will be very useful. I hope it's accurate. :D
http://www..com/
http://www..com/
2011 Justin Bieber Selena Gomez
vijay1974
07-29 06:06 PM
I think they should change the title on their page to How may I harass you? :)
more...
casinoroyale
09-05 10:11 PM
Yeah, call customer service and ask them to send new copies with correct picture.
Now the funny part is, who is going to get your picture on their AP. :D
Now the funny part is, who is going to get your picture on their AP. :D
ArkBird
07-29 06:29 PM
This is my job description before being director and as per my lawyer (absolute hearsay) , "The very purpose of AC21 is to give us relief from working for same jobs over number of years and this is natural progression of job.you are in your SAME field. If it was Director of Finance of Sale, it's big no no but in this case you are just growing vertically i my professional career. USCIS has very liberal policy in this matter
And yes, you don't have to inform USCIS about it.
Good Luck with your new job!
And yes, you don't have to inform USCIS about it.
Good Luck with your new job!
more...
lostinbeta
10-04 01:00 AM
Did you click the paint bucket inside the marquee area.
If you click outside, it will not fill anything, but if you click inside the selected area, it will fill.
If you click outside, it will not fill anything, but if you click inside the selected area, it will fill.
2010 PHOTOS : Justin Bieber and
485Question
10-30 07:27 PM
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14756
more...
kalyan
02-12 01:45 AM
The statistics showed that $39Billion were sent to India by NRI's (not including enterprises) for 3 quarters of 2008
I believe 70% of it might be from US. I have a smalll share in it.
Without EAD insight, job at risk, i dont see any reason to invest in US either in House or new Car.
They should give some incentives to Legal Immigrants while the Illegals use free state subsidies, they provide most thing illegals than Legals
I believe 70% of it might be from US. I have a smalll share in it.
Without EAD insight, job at risk, i dont see any reason to invest in US either in House or new Car.
They should give some incentives to Legal Immigrants while the Illegals use free state subsidies, they provide most thing illegals than Legals
hair justin-ieber-selena-gomez-
som_yad
08-04 12:53 PM
EB3-India - RD July 16 2007.
I saw LUD on 07/27/2008 But still no luck.:mad:
I saw LUD on 07/27/2008 But still no luck.:mad:
more...
AjP
July 27th, 2005, 11:43 AM
Freddy slow down, I can do anything at work, was thinking work on it after I get home and you................ LOL great work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ruby
08-16 05:24 PM
My I485 was filled with EB3/PD Sep 2002. That time I had EB2/PD-Sep-2004 approved too but my layers said that we should file with “EB3/PD Sep 2002” and when I asked them to combine my EB2 with “EB3/ PD Sep 2002” they said USCIS will reject it.,
Now as EB3 is unavailable, is it possible to use my EB2 approved I-140 with already filled I-485 ( which was filled with EB3/PD-Sep-2002) so that I can retain my EB3/PD-sep 2003 but change the preference category to EB2.
Now as EB3 is unavailable, is it possible to use my EB2 approved I-140 with already filled I-485 ( which was filled with EB3/PD-Sep-2002) so that I can retain my EB3/PD-sep 2003 but change the preference category to EB2.
more...
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chaukas
08-28 03:20 AM
Have sent several mails , but to no avail ....
tattoo Bieber And Gomez Kiss;
singhsa3
12-16 09:26 AM
A freind of mine had two years EAD and don't have H1 anymore. His drivers License was denied as EAD is not considered a valid document for drivers License extention.
This happened in Wayne , NJ.
I too will be going for the renewal soon. Did anyone else faced similar situtation. If yes, how did they resolve?
This happened in Wayne , NJ.
I too will be going for the renewal soon. Did anyone else faced similar situtation. If yes, how did they resolve?
more...
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zinc
07-17 06:57 PM
Great job Guys...way to go. We can accomplish a lot if we work together.
All the best to all!!!
Thanks for making a purchase with Google Checkout! Immigration Voice will process your order shortly.
Order Details - Jul 17, 2007 16:21 GMT-07:00
Google Order #9502434335xxxxx
Shipping Status Qty Item Price
Not yet shipped 1 Contribute 100
All the best to all!!!
Thanks for making a purchase with Google Checkout! Immigration Voice will process your order shortly.
Order Details - Jul 17, 2007 16:21 GMT-07:00
Google Order #9502434335xxxxx
Shipping Status Qty Item Price
Not yet shipped 1 Contribute 100
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Anil777
04-06 10:54 AM
Any help??
Hello Braindrain...(sorry i dont know your original name)
I am also in the same situation as u mentioned in ur post....my wifes passport and D.O.B has her mother's name - short name instead of Full name.
would appreciate what you did in ur case and if u r able to provide the sample content of the affidivit that u prepared for ur parents....pls reply me back at the earliest at - anil.mattupalli@gmail.com as they have visa appointment in another 2 weeks...many thanks
Hello Braindrain...(sorry i dont know your original name)
I am also in the same situation as u mentioned in ur post....my wifes passport and D.O.B has her mother's name - short name instead of Full name.
would appreciate what you did in ur case and if u r able to provide the sample content of the affidivit that u prepared for ur parents....pls reply me back at the earliest at - anil.mattupalli@gmail.com as they have visa appointment in another 2 weeks...many thanks
more...
makeup Selena Gomez congratulates
dealsnet
02-27 09:33 AM
That is why US consulate is not giving visit visa to Indian youths 15-35 years of age.
They know, these guys will come here and work then marry a US citizen to remain legal.
So need legal entry is required, then remain illegal, without any problem, just marry a US citizen.
This is giving a problem to deserving visit visa applicants.
Thank you. I was going to reply to Dealsnet and state that, but you beat me to it.
On a side note, i was going to add that out of status itself does not determine the start of the clock, for the 3 and 10 year bans, .. that would be "unlawful stay" determined from the expiration of the date on the I-94 OR an administrative determination of unlawful stay based on when they discovered the out of status situation. However, for the above purposes [GC based on marriage], this point is moot.
They know, these guys will come here and work then marry a US citizen to remain legal.
So need legal entry is required, then remain illegal, without any problem, just marry a US citizen.
This is giving a problem to deserving visit visa applicants.
Thank you. I was going to reply to Dealsnet and state that, but you beat me to it.
On a side note, i was going to add that out of status itself does not determine the start of the clock, for the 3 and 10 year bans, .. that would be "unlawful stay" determined from the expiration of the date on the I-94 OR an administrative determination of unlawful stay based on when they discovered the out of status situation. However, for the above purposes [GC based on marriage], this point is moot.
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sudhirdd
07-11 04:36 PM
As long as you are employed, and company is paying you decent salary (atleast salary mentioned on the L/C) you are fine, you must be employed at time of RFE/NOID etc..
Thanks a lot for your valuable input.
But I beleive all the input you mentioned, would be applicable for all kind of employer (Bigger or smaller) and get the RFE for ability to pay. I would like to know if you join the real small emplyer (about 35 employee) would it necessarly cause any other postential issue and/or must be a chance of getting the RFE as joining the such a small employer?
Please let me know.
Thanks for all your input in advance.
Thanks a lot for your valuable input.
But I beleive all the input you mentioned, would be applicable for all kind of employer (Bigger or smaller) and get the RFE for ability to pay. I would like to know if you join the real small emplyer (about 35 employee) would it necessarly cause any other postential issue and/or must be a chance of getting the RFE as joining the such a small employer?
Please let me know.
Thanks for all your input in advance.
hairstyles Justin Bieber gives his award
lostinbeta
10-15 10:18 PM
I watch it =)
Haha, just kidding, my niece watches it :) :P
Haha, just kidding, my niece watches it :) :P
marwan234
08-06 12:23 PM
:eek: I-140 application, page3, under paragraph Copies: "Copies may be submitted of all documentation with the exception of the Labor Certification which must be submitted in the original".
:D
:D
valatharv
07-16 01:28 PM
Thank you so much for support...
It has been 11 months since they have received response to RFE, I am planning to take info-pass at Boston office next week and would try to contact senator.
I have heard that it helps.
It has been 11 months since they have received response to RFE, I am planning to take info-pass at Boston office next week and would try to contact senator.
I have heard that it helps.