FinalGC
02-28 04:03 PM
This article was written by IV sometime back. I think this is an excellent article, iIf you have it good, please ignore this posting....
Dude, where's my green card?
By Salil Pradhan
While a fierce battle is raging over immigration reform for unskilled and undocumented workers, we the high-skilled, legal immigrants are struggling for employment-based permanent residency. The wait, intended by Congress to be one year or less, can now be up to 10 years in certain categories.
I am a high-skilled, educated, legal, tax-paying resident of Stillwater, having dual master's degrees from Oklahoma State University. My wife obtained a Ph.D. from OSU and works there as a post-doctoral research scientist. After filing a plethora of immigration forms, paying exorbitant fees and waiting almost 5 years, our permanent residency application process is still in a state of limbo with no end in sight. In the absence of permanent residency and the associated uncertainty, we have missed several opportunities of economic investment and scientific research.
People presume that since we are highly qualified and legal residents, it would be a matter of one to two years to obtain permanent residency. On the contrary, I, my wife and thousands of highly skilled, highly educated legal immigrant members of Immigration Voice ( www.immigrationvoice.org) are stuck in a bureaucratic mess that has shattered our American dreams, stagnated our careers and prevented us from realizing our true potential.
The U.S. employment-based green card process is in need of a major overhaul. Hundreds of thousands of applicants have been stuck in the three-stage green card process � some since 1999. These highly skilled workers take up jobs for which qualified American citizens cannot be found. Though it's hard to imagine that a qualified American worker cannot be found for some high skilled jobs, there are several explanations for this disconnect.
More than 50 percent of American graduate degrees in science and engineering go to foreign students, a majority of whom continue to stay in the United States and work on H1-B visas. A shortage of American graduate students translates to a shortage of American workers in skilled positions such as chip design, materials science, microbiology or nursing. Also, qualified Americans may be unwilling to relocate to a particular location. This is especially true for physicians working in under-served areas.
Many misconceptions about H1-B visa holders have been propagated by largely anti-immigrant lobbies the most prominent being that they take away American jobs and are low-wage workers. The truth is that an H1-B visa holder can only be hired if a similarly qualified American citizen cannot be found. Also, the minimum H1-B wage, determined by the Department of Labor, cannot be less than that offered to an American worker in a similar job.
Another myth is that H1-B workers don't pay taxes. Be assured that all H1-B workers pay taxes equal to what American citizens pay, including Social Security and Medicare taxes.
If Congress passes S. 2691 and H.R. 5744, which Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., have respectively introduced, America would undoubtedly become more competitive by ensuring availability of adequate high-skilled immigrants and by eliminating some of the red tape that plagues our legal immigration system.
Pradhan is a member of Immigration Voice.
Dude, where's my green card?
By Salil Pradhan
While a fierce battle is raging over immigration reform for unskilled and undocumented workers, we the high-skilled, legal immigrants are struggling for employment-based permanent residency. The wait, intended by Congress to be one year or less, can now be up to 10 years in certain categories.
I am a high-skilled, educated, legal, tax-paying resident of Stillwater, having dual master's degrees from Oklahoma State University. My wife obtained a Ph.D. from OSU and works there as a post-doctoral research scientist. After filing a plethora of immigration forms, paying exorbitant fees and waiting almost 5 years, our permanent residency application process is still in a state of limbo with no end in sight. In the absence of permanent residency and the associated uncertainty, we have missed several opportunities of economic investment and scientific research.
People presume that since we are highly qualified and legal residents, it would be a matter of one to two years to obtain permanent residency. On the contrary, I, my wife and thousands of highly skilled, highly educated legal immigrant members of Immigration Voice ( www.immigrationvoice.org) are stuck in a bureaucratic mess that has shattered our American dreams, stagnated our careers and prevented us from realizing our true potential.
The U.S. employment-based green card process is in need of a major overhaul. Hundreds of thousands of applicants have been stuck in the three-stage green card process � some since 1999. These highly skilled workers take up jobs for which qualified American citizens cannot be found. Though it's hard to imagine that a qualified American worker cannot be found for some high skilled jobs, there are several explanations for this disconnect.
More than 50 percent of American graduate degrees in science and engineering go to foreign students, a majority of whom continue to stay in the United States and work on H1-B visas. A shortage of American graduate students translates to a shortage of American workers in skilled positions such as chip design, materials science, microbiology or nursing. Also, qualified Americans may be unwilling to relocate to a particular location. This is especially true for physicians working in under-served areas.
Many misconceptions about H1-B visa holders have been propagated by largely anti-immigrant lobbies the most prominent being that they take away American jobs and are low-wage workers. The truth is that an H1-B visa holder can only be hired if a similarly qualified American citizen cannot be found. Also, the minimum H1-B wage, determined by the Department of Labor, cannot be less than that offered to an American worker in a similar job.
Another myth is that H1-B workers don't pay taxes. Be assured that all H1-B workers pay taxes equal to what American citizens pay, including Social Security and Medicare taxes.
If Congress passes S. 2691 and H.R. 5744, which Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., have respectively introduced, America would undoubtedly become more competitive by ensuring availability of adequate high-skilled immigrants and by eliminating some of the red tape that plagues our legal immigration system.
Pradhan is a member of Immigration Voice.
wallpaper Kate amp; Pippa Middleton Team Up
kowligi
07-23 02:29 PM
Hey Guys,
When applying for CP the consulate we can apply to...does it have to be only the one in your home country (American Embassy in Chennai) or can it be the one in the country of last residence.
I have studied and lived in Canada for 3 years before coming to US. I am wondering if i can choose American Embassy in Montreal as my consulate post (country of last residence) or is my option just the consulate post in country of birth
Any thoughts on this greatly appreciated!!!
When applying for CP the consulate we can apply to...does it have to be only the one in your home country (American Embassy in Chennai) or can it be the one in the country of last residence.
I have studied and lived in Canada for 3 years before coming to US. I am wondering if i can choose American Embassy in Montreal as my consulate post (country of last residence) or is my option just the consulate post in country of birth
Any thoughts on this greatly appreciated!!!
vidyakulkarni
02-01 02:21 PM
If I use my AP , what documents I need to carry? original 485 reciept? my original receipt is with lawer, he send me photocopy.
2011 Pippa Middleton, sister of
EB3_SEP04
05-29 11:25 AM
This is the third time an Indian American has won the competition in a row.
BTW, the huge number of Indian American partcipants is not due to the fact that " Indian Americans" are brilliant... These children (at least most) are partcipating not becasue they have talent but they are being forced to by the aspirations of their parents.
All the Indian American children are crying, sitting on the lap of their parents etc... See any other kid who lost, they were cool.
How do you support your statement? and how many Bee contestants have you met/talked to?
in studies you can not force someone, you can only help them stay focused, having lived in NJ for 6-7 years i have met dozens of india american teenagers, very rarely have i heard them going to so caled "teenage clubs" where they do all the kinds of nasty stuff. teaching kids how to stay away from things that would hurt them in the long run, and spending enough time with them is what most immigrant(not just indians) parents do.
15 years from now when you see more than 50% neurosurgens are of indian origin, please stand at times square with a banner "these neurosurgens are not brilliant but they were forced by their parents" :p
BTW, the huge number of Indian American partcipants is not due to the fact that " Indian Americans" are brilliant... These children (at least most) are partcipating not becasue they have talent but they are being forced to by the aspirations of their parents.
All the Indian American children are crying, sitting on the lap of their parents etc... See any other kid who lost, they were cool.
How do you support your statement? and how many Bee contestants have you met/talked to?
in studies you can not force someone, you can only help them stay focused, having lived in NJ for 6-7 years i have met dozens of india american teenagers, very rarely have i heard them going to so caled "teenage clubs" where they do all the kinds of nasty stuff. teaching kids how to stay away from things that would hurt them in the long run, and spending enough time with them is what most immigrant(not just indians) parents do.
15 years from now when you see more than 50% neurosurgens are of indian origin, please stand at times square with a banner "these neurosurgens are not brilliant but they were forced by their parents" :p
more...
gvenkat
03-19 05:08 PM
Shop lifting has to be the most cheapest crime our indians commit when they land here.. They think the stores dont have anything and try to put it in their pocket and go away..
This is not an accident. there is no justification for what this guy has done. but maybe he can be given a benefit of the doubt that he did a stupid thing, in the rush of blood. I dunno if he inadvertently tried to put something in his pocket , forgot and left the store...if that is the case the guy deserves a break...
if not i cant fathom the fact that a sane person who took so much effort to get here thro F1 or H1 or what not, had this cheap idea... :eek::eek::eek::eek:
I read in one of the posts that they forgot to bill that item and could have been caught. Most cases if u are buying so many items and miss one they will leave u...
BTW, i'm curios as to what u shoplifted and where...? :(
This is not an accident. there is no justification for what this guy has done. but maybe he can be given a benefit of the doubt that he did a stupid thing, in the rush of blood. I dunno if he inadvertently tried to put something in his pocket , forgot and left the store...if that is the case the guy deserves a break...
if not i cant fathom the fact that a sane person who took so much effort to get here thro F1 or H1 or what not, had this cheap idea... :eek::eek::eek::eek:
I read in one of the posts that they forgot to bill that item and could have been caught. Most cases if u are buying so many items and miss one they will leave u...
BTW, i'm curios as to what u shoplifted and where...? :(
leoindiano
05-29 11:25 AM
It is a competition, Indian kids are winning. This is not ultimate thing in life. Still last night it was highly viewed, coveted title and winning it is not a small achievement. I would say just be happy for them.
I am happy for the girl and their family. I wish her best of luck and hope she would become BEST neurosurgeon in USA.
I am happy for the girl and their family. I wish her best of luck and hope she would become BEST neurosurgeon in USA.
more...
gbof
08-24 10:51 AM
voted..
2010 tags: Kate Middleton, Oprah
sanju
01-15 01:21 PM
yeah.. So another reason to keep looking at the visa bulletins now. Once i get a GC I buy a house and get a gun. The american dream. ;-)
Thats my kind of dream. Just one addition to my list of things to do upon receiving my GC.
I will buy a house, get a gun and JOIN A LOCAL RELIGIOUS PLACE and choose my lord and savior. Hey, I want a passport to the heaven from here, I don't want to stand in green card line of heaven or go to hell.
BTW, move over here to WA state and you can buy a gun.
.
Thats my kind of dream. Just one addition to my list of things to do upon receiving my GC.
I will buy a house, get a gun and JOIN A LOCAL RELIGIOUS PLACE and choose my lord and savior. Hey, I want a passport to the heaven from here, I don't want to stand in green card line of heaven or go to hell.
BTW, move over here to WA state and you can buy a gun.
.
more...
just4gc
04-07 07:27 PM
Where's the great predictor "vdlrao"? It looks like he has spent sleepless nights in winter calculating his predictions and is now in spring hibernation.
Looks like ags123 has taken over his role.
Looks like ags123 has taken over his role.
hair Kate Middleton
sanjeev_2004
08-22 11:14 PM
Just Thought
There is 200k application without 140 approval, this is including july filers.
there is lot of chnace for those who got their I-140 approved, even their PD '2006.
you can see people getting approved PD'2005 EB2 cases, even then VB says now 2004'apr for EB2.They are not processing based on PD now and in future also i gues.Since we have already filed.PD will restrict only to File I-485 in future.
- satish
TSC approving old PD I140 first and that is suffient for demand supply ratio. no approval possible with PD'2005 EB2 cases for contries like India.
There is 200k application without 140 approval, this is including july filers.
there is lot of chnace for those who got their I-140 approved, even their PD '2006.
you can see people getting approved PD'2005 EB2 cases, even then VB says now 2004'apr for EB2.They are not processing based on PD now and in future also i gues.Since we have already filed.PD will restrict only to File I-485 in future.
- satish
TSC approving old PD I140 first and that is suffient for demand supply ratio. no approval possible with PD'2005 EB2 cases for contries like India.
more...
krishnam70
03-13 05:29 PM
let us start May 2009 predictions.
EB3-I 2003 October
Do you have any reason for just starting this thread? Anything you can do about the numbers moving by trying predict?
Instead please focus on the efforts by IV core and support it in anyway you can so that we send out an united message.
- cheers
kris
EB3-I 2003 October
Do you have any reason for just starting this thread? Anything you can do about the numbers moving by trying predict?
Instead please focus on the efforts by IV core and support it in anyway you can so that we send out an united message.
- cheers
kris
hot Pippa Middleton, Kate
ganguteli
07-02 12:30 PM
Should we write letters individually stating how this law has been unfair to us personally? I do not think DOJ will respond to each of us individually. This has to be a mass campaign under one umbrella to be effective. I understand that the leaders in IV are pursuing this with congress currently so probably cannot participate in this campaign? What other ways do we have? Could this be an online campaign?
On a separate note, it has been frustrating to see politics in US congress over last two years. I am sure they know about the legal immigrant issues and about retrogression, but clearly say no piecemeal legislation would be passed. They work purely for vote bank which we are not. I would favor working on alteranative means to try to get relief.
Are you willing to put your name in a lawsuit, travel personally spending your own money to the courts, stay up late and do the research with the lawyer and above all spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on expenses of a lawsuit?
When people cannot contribute $25 how can you expect them to contribute 100K+. Even the FOIA campaign 10K amount took about a month to meet. So no point discussing something people cannot do. Let us just focus on writing forum posts. This is the easiest work we can do and it does not cost us money.
On a separate note, it has been frustrating to see politics in US congress over last two years. I am sure they know about the legal immigrant issues and about retrogression, but clearly say no piecemeal legislation would be passed. They work purely for vote bank which we are not. I would favor working on alteranative means to try to get relief.
Are you willing to put your name in a lawsuit, travel personally spending your own money to the courts, stay up late and do the research with the lawyer and above all spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on expenses of a lawsuit?
When people cannot contribute $25 how can you expect them to contribute 100K+. Even the FOIA campaign 10K amount took about a month to meet. So no point discussing something people cannot do. Let us just focus on writing forum posts. This is the easiest work we can do and it does not cost us money.
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house After Kate Middleton and
gc_on_demand
05-29 12:29 PM
Absolutely true, It is torturing the kids for the aspirations of the parents to be seen in the national TV and for award.
It is not the poor kids are not getting the award, it is the parent, especially it is the trend with indians.
why ? ask your kids to do same and see what you feel on that night. can your kids do same ? forget about torturing or anything for a moment. Didn't you see Nupur Lala a past winner where she is now ? if she was torture for that competition she would n't be in MIT. its a competition of brain power to me.
It is not the poor kids are not getting the award, it is the parent, especially it is the trend with indians.
why ? ask your kids to do same and see what you feel on that night. can your kids do same ? forget about torturing or anything for a moment. Didn't you see Nupur Lala a past winner where she is now ? if she was torture for that competition she would n't be in MIT. its a competition of brain power to me.
tattoo Kate Middleton and her sister
bhatt
05-29 12:13 PM
This whole spelling bee thing is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. By any standards, it is pure and simple torture to subject the kids to memorizing thousands of words and their stupid spellings. And what use is that? Have they never heard of something called SPELL-CHECK in Microsoft Word and other email services ?
Or are they afraid that their kid will go to a job interview and someone might ask them to spell the word that no one on the planet ever uses and is only present in the Oxford Dictionary.
Those who subject their kids to such a regimented, rigorous, scripted childhood are preparing a next generation of work-force that would only know how to follow the orders and accept directions.
85 % of the fortune 500 CEOs are not MBAs. And the other 15% that have an MBA, only 3 of the 15 have done MBA from an IVY LEAGUE school.
What that tells you is that too much education and scholarly childhood increases your job security, in that sense that you will never be unemployed, but it decreases the chances that you will be on the top or you will be a billionaire.
The biggest prize goes NOT TO people who can follow directions and know everything, but who can GIVE directions and get things done.
Absolutely true, It is torturing the kids for the aspirations of the parents to be seen in the national TV and for award.
It is not the poor kids are not getting the award, it is the parent, especially it is the trend with indians.
Or are they afraid that their kid will go to a job interview and someone might ask them to spell the word that no one on the planet ever uses and is only present in the Oxford Dictionary.
Those who subject their kids to such a regimented, rigorous, scripted childhood are preparing a next generation of work-force that would only know how to follow the orders and accept directions.
85 % of the fortune 500 CEOs are not MBAs. And the other 15% that have an MBA, only 3 of the 15 have done MBA from an IVY LEAGUE school.
What that tells you is that too much education and scholarly childhood increases your job security, in that sense that you will never be unemployed, but it decreases the chances that you will be on the top or you will be a billionaire.
The biggest prize goes NOT TO people who can follow directions and know everything, but who can GIVE directions and get things done.
Absolutely true, It is torturing the kids for the aspirations of the parents to be seen in the national TV and for award.
It is not the poor kids are not getting the award, it is the parent, especially it is the trend with indians.
more...
pictures kate middleton sister pippa
asp
04-26 05:04 PM
Great job guys! Keep up the good work. The article has given much needed exposure to the problems of Employment Based Green Card Process and the plight of skilled workers from India and China. I am really happy that ImmigrationVoice has taken this endenvor and are pursuing it so professionally. I am going ahead and contributing $200 for the efforts.
All the Best
asp
All the Best
asp
dresses Kate Middleton and sister
cse_us
08-27 02:03 PM
Infopass appt for Interim EAD was not helpful at all.
They suggested the same that I did earlier, ie to fax USCIS hotline about my situation along with letter from emp saying that I am at risk of losing job.
I have done that several times, still no luck.
My EAD expires on aug 30th (yah, just 2 more business days).
Did everything in my hands, now just prepared to lose my job.
Surprising thing is I saw 2 soft LUDs on aug 25th and and 26th but still no approval nor RFE, case status still pending.
I know they are looking at my case, but doing nothing.
My wife's EAD was approved a month ago.
I asked my lawyer (from a big firm) if I will have a case on USCIS in case if I lose my job. She said, USCIS is famous for this kind of processing for 1000's still the cases wont stand against them.
I wld appreciate any suggestions/thoughts?
Efiled @ NSC on may 19th.
FP on july 3rd, still no approval.
My current EAD expires Aug 30th.
1) Requested expedited processing via phone.
Received email saying to wait for next 30 days.
2) Called NSC, agent gave a fax number and asked me to provide Emp letter.
Faxed the Emp letter and also a covering letter.
3) 2 weeks passed, still no reply, called up NSC again, explained situation that I wld lose my job if i dont get EAD extension by this month end. She opened a Expedited request and told me to wait for 10 days.
4) As a back up, I also took infopass appoint for next monday (90 days will be over by then)
Believe me, its not easy going thru these phases.
I do not know how to reach my congressman/senator, Anyone here, pls let me know. I am from fremont, CA.
Regards.
They suggested the same that I did earlier, ie to fax USCIS hotline about my situation along with letter from emp saying that I am at risk of losing job.
I have done that several times, still no luck.
My EAD expires on aug 30th (yah, just 2 more business days).
Did everything in my hands, now just prepared to lose my job.
Surprising thing is I saw 2 soft LUDs on aug 25th and and 26th but still no approval nor RFE, case status still pending.
I know they are looking at my case, but doing nothing.
My wife's EAD was approved a month ago.
I asked my lawyer (from a big firm) if I will have a case on USCIS in case if I lose my job. She said, USCIS is famous for this kind of processing for 1000's still the cases wont stand against them.
I wld appreciate any suggestions/thoughts?
Efiled @ NSC on may 19th.
FP on july 3rd, still no approval.
My current EAD expires Aug 30th.
1) Requested expedited processing via phone.
Received email saying to wait for next 30 days.
2) Called NSC, agent gave a fax number and asked me to provide Emp letter.
Faxed the Emp letter and also a covering letter.
3) 2 weeks passed, still no reply, called up NSC again, explained situation that I wld lose my job if i dont get EAD extension by this month end. She opened a Expedited request and told me to wait for 10 days.
4) As a back up, I also took infopass appoint for next monday (90 days will be over by then)
Believe me, its not easy going thru these phases.
I do not know how to reach my congressman/senator, Anyone here, pls let me know. I am from fremont, CA.
Regards.
more...
makeup Pippa Middleton, Kate
cal_dood
11-04 05:42 AM
I've had both kinds of accounts for years
NRE - you can only deposit funds from abroad, but cannot deposit funds into it from India. Havent repatriated back - so not so sure abt those rules
NRO - you can deposit funds from abroad & any money you receive in India - eg. if u get rent, or your PPF money etc. Bank will also deduct TDS on the interest you earn in this account. Not so with NRE. Legally, when you leave India, if you do not close your accounts, you shd change the status of ur existing a/c to NRO.
As far as the issue being faced by OP - dont know how much money we're talking abt here, but if your folks send u thru legal channels, they will have to explain why the money is being sent.
If you have an NRE or NRO account, the money cannot be deposited into those accounts from India. This is my personal experience.
NRE - you can only deposit funds from abroad, but cannot deposit funds into it from India. Havent repatriated back - so not so sure abt those rules
NRO - you can deposit funds from abroad & any money you receive in India - eg. if u get rent, or your PPF money etc. Bank will also deduct TDS on the interest you earn in this account. Not so with NRE. Legally, when you leave India, if you do not close your accounts, you shd change the status of ur existing a/c to NRO.
As far as the issue being faced by OP - dont know how much money we're talking abt here, but if your folks send u thru legal channels, they will have to explain why the money is being sent.
If you have an NRE or NRO account, the money cannot be deposited into those accounts from India. This is my personal experience.
girlfriend Pippa and sister Kate,
srinivasj
08-10 10:43 PM
But the bulletin still shows only the Aug dates
:mad:
:mad:
hairstyles Kate and Pippa Middleton at
frostrated
08-03 06:18 PM
Hi frostrated,
do you have any source/link to prove your point? Just asking.
Thank you
i got this info when i went on an infopass appointment to check on my EAD and AP application.
do you have any source/link to prove your point? Just asking.
Thank you
i got this info when i went on an infopass appointment to check on my EAD and AP application.
hopefulgc
03-31 10:48 AM
Hopefully EB3 should see some movement in this bulletin
needhelp!
05-07 12:48 PM
Well said.. we, who have not yet made up our minds, have no excuse NOT to support IV.
Right now, there are several things we all can do:
1) write to congressman/woman
2) meet congressman/woman
3) Join Team IV fitness/fund raising group
4) Contribute in the current funding drive
5) Become active and then tell your friends to do the same.
Why are we discussing this subject when it will do nothing to take us closer to getting the GC? In almost each social event, I have heard this subject being talked by my fellow friends. But discussing it on IV forum does not serve much purpose.
To me, it seems in the conversations about this subject (not just this thread, even in social events), each person is trying to find a group of people that agree to his or her thoughts. That makes the group then feel better. But what do we all do the next day, pray that we get the GC fast. People who want to really go back to their country do not take much part in these discussions. They just pack up and go.
If we are spending any time on IV, it should be focussed on our effort to get the GC. Or to help someone of us facing an immigration related issue.
Right now, there are several things we all can do:
1) write to congressman/woman
2) meet congressman/woman
3) Join Team IV fitness/fund raising group
4) Contribute in the current funding drive
5) Become active and then tell your friends to do the same.
Why are we discussing this subject when it will do nothing to take us closer to getting the GC? In almost each social event, I have heard this subject being talked by my fellow friends. But discussing it on IV forum does not serve much purpose.
To me, it seems in the conversations about this subject (not just this thread, even in social events), each person is trying to find a group of people that agree to his or her thoughts. That makes the group then feel better. But what do we all do the next day, pray that we get the GC fast. People who want to really go back to their country do not take much part in these discussions. They just pack up and go.
If we are spending any time on IV, it should be focussed on our effort to get the GC. Or to help someone of us facing an immigration related issue.
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