rick_rajvanshi
03-20 11:27 AM
You can renew your permanent resident card only if you lived in canada for atleast 2 years in 5 years. And to get the card, you need to get a guarantor signature who knows you for atleast 2 years e.g. a physician, attorney, etc
If you dont have guarantor - you can use any public notary - not a big deal . they 'll sign your PR Card application for $60 Canadian per application - This is only for people who are already a landed immigrant and do not have a plastic PR Card. You can also keep traveling to Canada without a Plastic PR Card ( for your US visa renewals etc. ) but in your own car only. But the max limit is 3 years from the date you have first landed - You must start maintaining your residence in Canada with in these 3 years before your residency becomes invalid.
If you dont have guarantor - you can use any public notary - not a big deal . they 'll sign your PR Card application for $60 Canadian per application - This is only for people who are already a landed immigrant and do not have a plastic PR Card. You can also keep traveling to Canada without a Plastic PR Card ( for your US visa renewals etc. ) but in your own car only. But the max limit is 3 years from the date you have first landed - You must start maintaining your residence in Canada with in these 3 years before your residency becomes invalid.
wallpaper Frankie Sandford and Marvin
chanduv23
03-27 03:35 PM
JAB TAK SAMOSAE ME AALO HAI
TAB TAK INDIA MAE LALOO HAI
We never know - Laloo could make it.
TAB TAK INDIA MAE LALOO HAI
We never know - Laloo could make it.
ryan
08-18 03:46 PM
Guys,
In my humble opinion this is the best thing that could have happened!!! I feel bad for Mr. Khan suffering like a common man for a while but his suffering brought to light what we have to deal with every time we travel...
I think extreme cases bring home the point so I would encourage Indian government and the governments of all the south asian countries to take this up with the USCIS / Home land security and ask them to educate their staff...
Peace
btw...given some of the clowns on this form, I just want to say I haven't given you a thumps down (or an up). I respect what you have to say, even though we disagree.
In my humble opinion this is the best thing that could have happened!!! I feel bad for Mr. Khan suffering like a common man for a while but his suffering brought to light what we have to deal with every time we travel...
I think extreme cases bring home the point so I would encourage Indian government and the governments of all the south asian countries to take this up with the USCIS / Home land security and ask them to educate their staff...
Peace
btw...given some of the clowns on this form, I just want to say I haven't given you a thumps down (or an up). I respect what you have to say, even though we disagree.
2011 Frankie Sandford (L-R) Frankie
go_guy123
06-15 01:23 PM
I believe in luck in the GC process. Before 2005 PERM process, many folks applied in states where Labor was fast. They were able to get greencards within a couple of years while others were stuck in Labor Backlog centers (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=50). Some cleared all hurdles and got stuck in namechecks for years. Until 2007 Namecheck was a big scare. (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=81&Itemid=61)
Many people could not file in July 07 for various reasons. Some people were born in India but were brought up in other country. Even they are stuck. Some people decided to rise in their careers and changed jobs on H1. While they did rise, but lost in the grreencard PD race.
So definitely luck pays its role.
Well said pappu....In case 2 of my friends Indian citizens, brought up in India
but were born outside India because their parents were posted there.
Also I know friends whose Labor was processed from "fast" states in 2000 and got there GC by 2003 or so.
Many people could not file in July 07 for various reasons. Some people were born in India but were brought up in other country. Even they are stuck. Some people decided to rise in their careers and changed jobs on H1. While they did rise, but lost in the grreencard PD race.
So definitely luck pays its role.
Well said pappu....In case 2 of my friends Indian citizens, brought up in India
but were born outside India because their parents were posted there.
Also I know friends whose Labor was processed from "fast" states in 2000 and got there GC by 2003 or so.
more...
amitjoey
01-14 12:24 PM
Let us all promise ourselves that we will not get personal with each other. No abusive, foul language.
We can disagree with each other but we have to watch our tone and not engage in personal attacks.
We can disagree with each other but we have to watch our tone and not engage in personal attacks.
villamonte6100
12-14 01:22 PM
Unfortunately, I am not a lawyer. I am a tech guy just like you. I wish I could help.
Our firm deals with corporate cases, either litigation or transactional, but not immigration. In fact, we hired an immigration lawyer to process my GC.
Are you a constitutional lawyer or maybe know someone who can help? Yes, we would appreciate knowledgeable input from experts.
Our firm deals with corporate cases, either litigation or transactional, but not immigration. In fact, we hired an immigration lawyer to process my GC.
Are you a constitutional lawyer or maybe know someone who can help? Yes, we would appreciate knowledgeable input from experts.
more...
newtoearth
05-02 03:13 PM
....
2010 Sandford 447x704. Rhianna
gdilla
05-25 01:09 PM
The logic being applied at the NotCanada website is perplexing. Yes, the Canadian immigration system can be improved, but people who qualify to get in think by stepping foot on the soil their lives will be all peachy are delusional. It would be like any of you EBs coming to the US with no job offer. How long would you survive? I doubt 4 weeks. You wouldn't be able to rent a place, get a credit card, or, duh, have a paycheck. Obviously you think US is easy because when you come here, you're already employed. Canada can improve immigration system by encouraging immigrants to look for jobs before carting their entire families over. But still, the burden is on the immigrant to use their common sense. Canada, nor any country, owes you a job of your liking. YOU have to take care of yourself. It's mind boggling that an educated doctor from another country doesn't ask one colleague, or research the internet, or apply for a job, before immigrating to a country on the otherside of the planet.
more...
maximus777
08-21 12:46 AM
SRK also equally crap to talk about...so lets give this thread rest to peace..
Agreed
Agreed
hair Frankie Sandford and Mollie
ns007
04-28 10:18 PM
From immigration-law.com
04/28/2007: Labor Certification Substitution Elimination Final Rule Approved by OMB 04/27/2007
The OMB approved this final rule. As soon as this rule is released, all those certified labor certification cases which have yet to be filed for substitution I-140 will be no good for substitution.
04/28/2007: Labor Certification Substitution Elimination Final Rule Approved by OMB 04/27/2007
The OMB approved this final rule. As soon as this rule is released, all those certified labor certification cases which have yet to be filed for substitution I-140 will be no good for substitution.
more...
roseball
06-28 08:27 PM
June 28, 2007
USCIS: RUMORS OF EARLY VISA RETROGRESSION
Late Wednesday, rumors emerged that the USCIS may attempt to retrogress the July immigrant visa numbers early in July and reject I- 485 (adjustment of status) applications filed early in the month. USCIS has taken such action already with respect to the �other worker� visa category involving non-professional workers.
Visa availability is based on the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, which is published monthly, not on a rolling basis. If USCIS cuts off visa numbers in mid-month, this would be a clear violation of Federal law and agency policy. If the USCIS were to take this arbitrary action, it would cause significant problems for applicants and employers alike.
If USCIS cuts off applications on a certain date in early July, this will most likely occur without advance warning. In that case, not all applications will be accepted for processing. Be aware that that USCIS will reject an application unless it contains certain minimum supporting documents. For I-485 applications, minimum documents include a completed medical examination and birth certificates (or secondary evidence of birth, which must meet specific USCIS requirements). Applications for dependent spouses must include a marriage certificate. We strongly recommend that I-485 applicants obtain these and other requested documents as soon as possible. Until further notice, please do not plan to travel internationally during the month of July.
We will work as hard and as diligently as possible to get I-485 applications filed quickly. This will require active cooperation by all applicants to obtain needed documents. Again, please understand that the proposed USCIS action is just rumor at this point, but if the USCIS takes such action, it will likely be without warning. Further, it is possible that there could be retroactive rejections of applications once filed. Unfortunately, this is all we know at this time. We do not know when and if any such actions will occur; we will also not know immediately which, if any, cases are rejected once they have been submitted.
The attorneys at XXXXX are shocked and disappointed that the government could take such ill-thought and arbitrary steps and we will work to fight any illegal action by the USCIS. We are continuing to monitor the USCIS� actions and will provide updates as they become available
USCIS: RUMORS OF EARLY VISA RETROGRESSION
Late Wednesday, rumors emerged that the USCIS may attempt to retrogress the July immigrant visa numbers early in July and reject I- 485 (adjustment of status) applications filed early in the month. USCIS has taken such action already with respect to the �other worker� visa category involving non-professional workers.
Visa availability is based on the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, which is published monthly, not on a rolling basis. If USCIS cuts off visa numbers in mid-month, this would be a clear violation of Federal law and agency policy. If the USCIS were to take this arbitrary action, it would cause significant problems for applicants and employers alike.
If USCIS cuts off applications on a certain date in early July, this will most likely occur without advance warning. In that case, not all applications will be accepted for processing. Be aware that that USCIS will reject an application unless it contains certain minimum supporting documents. For I-485 applications, minimum documents include a completed medical examination and birth certificates (or secondary evidence of birth, which must meet specific USCIS requirements). Applications for dependent spouses must include a marriage certificate. We strongly recommend that I-485 applicants obtain these and other requested documents as soon as possible. Until further notice, please do not plan to travel internationally during the month of July.
We will work as hard and as diligently as possible to get I-485 applications filed quickly. This will require active cooperation by all applicants to obtain needed documents. Again, please understand that the proposed USCIS action is just rumor at this point, but if the USCIS takes such action, it will likely be without warning. Further, it is possible that there could be retroactive rejections of applications once filed. Unfortunately, this is all we know at this time. We do not know when and if any such actions will occur; we will also not know immediately which, if any, cases are rejected once they have been submitted.
The attorneys at XXXXX are shocked and disappointed that the government could take such ill-thought and arbitrary steps and we will work to fight any illegal action by the USCIS. We are continuing to monitor the USCIS� actions and will provide updates as they become available
hot frankie sandford saturdays fhm
mihird
10-09 04:24 PM
what if both husband & wife get jobs and come here on TN vsia, then how does TD visa apply because both are working? is that possible for both to work in US without one getting into this TD tangle?
db
You won't get into the TD tangle similar to not getting into the H4 tangle if both are qualified, intending to work and qualify for their respective TNs..
db
You won't get into the TD tangle similar to not getting into the H4 tangle if both are qualified, intending to work and qualify for their respective TNs..
more...
house Frankie Sandford Frankie
PlainSpeak
01-13 01:18 PM
Few questions for the self proclaimed expert analyst who started this thread -
1) How many lawmakers have you met to represent these provisions you claim to be so passionate about?
2) Have you visited capitol hill and tried to understand what the congress thinks about EB legislation? I did - during the IV advocacy event last year with hundreds of eb2 and eb3 members.
3) How many members here have you actually worked worked with? Because the people I know here who actually do the grass root work with me (both eb2 and eb3) do not care about theb category they belong to.
I know you do not have any real responses...only abuses which you responded with on the other thread.
Its funny how plainspeak is the one usually doling out the abuses but claims to be the victim.
Ahhh my friend forever_waiting, how are you. It is good to see your reply to the post. Will be do this the civilized way or the old way??
In direct response to your post
First i am not a expert nor an analyst musch less a self proclaimed expert analyst. Take that as a given and we can procced further
1) How many lawmakers have you met to represent these provisions you claim to be so passionate about?
None because i do not believe in supporting, representing or furthering the agenda of an organization which has loop holes in it and is determental to my case
2) Have you visited capitol hill and tried to understand what the congress thinks about EB legislation?
I did - during the IV advocacy event last year with hundreds of eb2 and eb3 members.
No i have not. Why do i need to visit capitol hill and view in person what congress thinks about EB legislation when i can do the same by watching CSPAN(I am a regular watcher expecially when there is something immigrant related going on. All a process of expanding my knowlesge of immigration or do you think i got up yesterday morning and decided that i want to fight with IV. If you did then i am sorry i gave you more credit then that. And please do not start a new thread about how lazy i am and how i want others to work for me and how i just want the benefit without effort. That would be old and stale. If there is something to be done in which i believe i will be the first to jump in and volunteer
3) How many members here have you actually worked worked with? Because the people I know here who actually do the grass root work with me (both eb2 and eb3) do not care about theb category they belong to.
YES and i never said you are not fair. I know EB2 and EB23 owkr toghether in IV. My efforts of meeting people have been made outside the scope of what you and others do. I am being modest when i say this but i was the first person in my company to make generate awareness about what IV did and how it is helping immigrants like us and encouraged them to visit the website and read about what IV is all about. This is about 75 to 100 indains (EB2 and EB3) in an organization of size 500 during teh time period 2006 to 2007. Now most of them were EB2 so they got their green card and i am sure are no longer on the IV forum anymore. I am sure those who are still on IV forum are EB3 like me. How much they parrticipate, it is hard to tell. Maybe they were smarter than me and got dissalusioned with IV way before i did. They might be porting or they might not be for all i know
Besides that i am pretty much regular on Murthy where i have provided advise or tried to help people with information whne i could (O f course all of this was H1B/ Visit Visa stuff). Even today on IV forum i am trying my level best to help peopl ewith information related to AOS/EAD/140/485 etc
I am sorry because what i did till now is nowhere near what you and other IV volunteers are doing but i do what i can when i can.
My friend forever_waiting, I hope i answered everything to your satisfaction
As to the below
I know you do not have any real responses...only abuses which you responded with on the other thread. Its funny how plainspeak is the one usually doling out the abuses but claims to be the victim. I am sorry i am done trying to explain it to you all over again. May god grant you wisdom
1) How many lawmakers have you met to represent these provisions you claim to be so passionate about?
2) Have you visited capitol hill and tried to understand what the congress thinks about EB legislation? I did - during the IV advocacy event last year with hundreds of eb2 and eb3 members.
3) How many members here have you actually worked worked with? Because the people I know here who actually do the grass root work with me (both eb2 and eb3) do not care about theb category they belong to.
I know you do not have any real responses...only abuses which you responded with on the other thread.
Its funny how plainspeak is the one usually doling out the abuses but claims to be the victim.
Ahhh my friend forever_waiting, how are you. It is good to see your reply to the post. Will be do this the civilized way or the old way??
In direct response to your post
First i am not a expert nor an analyst musch less a self proclaimed expert analyst. Take that as a given and we can procced further
1) How many lawmakers have you met to represent these provisions you claim to be so passionate about?
None because i do not believe in supporting, representing or furthering the agenda of an organization which has loop holes in it and is determental to my case
2) Have you visited capitol hill and tried to understand what the congress thinks about EB legislation?
I did - during the IV advocacy event last year with hundreds of eb2 and eb3 members.
No i have not. Why do i need to visit capitol hill and view in person what congress thinks about EB legislation when i can do the same by watching CSPAN(I am a regular watcher expecially when there is something immigrant related going on. All a process of expanding my knowlesge of immigration or do you think i got up yesterday morning and decided that i want to fight with IV. If you did then i am sorry i gave you more credit then that. And please do not start a new thread about how lazy i am and how i want others to work for me and how i just want the benefit without effort. That would be old and stale. If there is something to be done in which i believe i will be the first to jump in and volunteer
3) How many members here have you actually worked worked with? Because the people I know here who actually do the grass root work with me (both eb2 and eb3) do not care about theb category they belong to.
YES and i never said you are not fair. I know EB2 and EB23 owkr toghether in IV. My efforts of meeting people have been made outside the scope of what you and others do. I am being modest when i say this but i was the first person in my company to make generate awareness about what IV did and how it is helping immigrants like us and encouraged them to visit the website and read about what IV is all about. This is about 75 to 100 indains (EB2 and EB3) in an organization of size 500 during teh time period 2006 to 2007. Now most of them were EB2 so they got their green card and i am sure are no longer on the IV forum anymore. I am sure those who are still on IV forum are EB3 like me. How much they parrticipate, it is hard to tell. Maybe they were smarter than me and got dissalusioned with IV way before i did. They might be porting or they might not be for all i know
Besides that i am pretty much regular on Murthy where i have provided advise or tried to help people with information whne i could (O f course all of this was H1B/ Visit Visa stuff). Even today on IV forum i am trying my level best to help peopl ewith information related to AOS/EAD/140/485 etc
I am sorry because what i did till now is nowhere near what you and other IV volunteers are doing but i do what i can when i can.
My friend forever_waiting, I hope i answered everything to your satisfaction
As to the below
I know you do not have any real responses...only abuses which you responded with on the other thread. Its funny how plainspeak is the one usually doling out the abuses but claims to be the victim. I am sorry i am done trying to explain it to you all over again. May god grant you wisdom
tattoo Frankie Sandford Frankie
vjkypally
09-18 08:44 AM
That is very true that with spill over it will cross 2005 in 2010. But we should not really expect it till Sep2010.
more...
pictures and Frankie Sandford - The
yabadaba
08-04 03:05 PM
seriously...when we are done with our current task of retrogression relief we should modify IV's goals to ensure that loopholes like labor substitution are eliminated.
let us get credible as a citizen effort for fair, reliable and efficient immigration process.
let us get credible as a citizen effort for fair, reliable and efficient immigration process.
dresses Frankie Sandford Una Healy,
ramus
07-04 09:57 AM
Guys... Please help Mecaca.. Please scan all 100 pages of breaking news thread and summarize issues.. Please be very specfic and up to the point..
Should be short.
I meant a scan of the other 100 page thread Breaking news. I did not follow that thread and it has lot of issues. Please summarize issues mentioned in Breaking News thread here.
I will add issues from this thread! thanks
Should be short.
I meant a scan of the other 100 page thread Breaking news. I did not follow that thread and it has lot of issues. Please summarize issues mentioned in Breaking News thread here.
I will add issues from this thread! thanks
more...
makeup Frankie Sandford The Saturdays
thakurrajiv
06-27 07:42 AM
I don't know how much to trust these sources. I am very nervous though.
I understand that the visa number is reduced once 485 is approved. But rememeber that in 2005 dates were current and thousands of applications got filed.Most of the applications were pre-adjusted and just need number to be assigned.So in July, there is possibility that many applications can get approved and they can get approved fast !!
I am in the same boat as everyone else. Just wanted to share my worries.
I understand that the visa number is reduced once 485 is approved. But rememeber that in 2005 dates were current and thousands of applications got filed.Most of the applications were pre-adjusted and just need number to be assigned.So in July, there is possibility that many applications can get approved and they can get approved fast !!
I am in the same boat as everyone else. Just wanted to share my worries.
girlfriend FRANKIE SANDFORD THE SATURDAYS
thomachan72
01-14 08:52 AM
Is AILA doing anything about it? Do they need IV member support? How do we make it clear to the USCIS and Govt that targetting H1b and the free will of the employer to hire H1b is PURE SOCIALISM and anti-capitalism. It is a sure way of destroying the capitalistic engine that is keeping the US ahead. Is US becoming a restrictive economy like China? China is moving slowly but surely out of its old ways and becoming more and more open to capitalistic policies and we are finding the US slipping slowly but surely into protectionism and more socialistic principles.
How can you protect jobs here by taking away the job of another person??
The person was hired in the first place due to a lot of economic reasons that only a capitalist would know/understand. Simply by snatching the job away from one person and attempting to give to another WILL NOT HELP.
This reactive response to unemployment will destroy whatever industry is left here. Even research is now being outsourced. Biotech/research triangles are springing up in china and India and elsewhere. Major US universities are now collaborating or setting up independent shops in India and china. Ofcourse Japan and europe is not at all behind. Where is the US left now? CRYING CRYING ABOUT H1B VISAS???? IS IMMIGRATION IS REAL CAUSE OF UNEMPLOYMENT HERE???????
FINALLY ONE THING I HAVE REALIZED "WHAT IS DESTINED TO HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN".
How can you protect jobs here by taking away the job of another person??
The person was hired in the first place due to a lot of economic reasons that only a capitalist would know/understand. Simply by snatching the job away from one person and attempting to give to another WILL NOT HELP.
This reactive response to unemployment will destroy whatever industry is left here. Even research is now being outsourced. Biotech/research triangles are springing up in china and India and elsewhere. Major US universities are now collaborating or setting up independent shops in India and china. Ofcourse Japan and europe is not at all behind. Where is the US left now? CRYING CRYING ABOUT H1B VISAS???? IS IMMIGRATION IS REAL CAUSE OF UNEMPLOYMENT HERE???????
FINALLY ONE THING I HAVE REALIZED "WHAT IS DESTINED TO HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN".
hairstyles Meanwhile Frankie revealed
kanakabyraju
09-04 07:56 PM
I spent almost an hr going through these massive 12 pages and concluded to support British's saying "Indians are dogs" and I want to add the following,
Indians are dogs and AP is full of mad dogs.
I am from AP and does not belong to either of the casts that people were fighting here.
I like YSR because of his leadership qualities. I like his guts, determination and down to earth personality. This is just his personality and I don't like the way he is spending money and all traps for poor people and making them beg. As many friends here are talking, he is corrupt, kills opponents and land mafia.
From all the posts I have not find a single person to mention JP from Loksatta. If we keep aside the feelings like state, language, caste and religion and encourage JP, we will really see bright India.
URL Here :: Lok Satta Party - New Politics for a New Generation :: (http://loksatta.org/)
We shall stop here and talk some one like JP.
Kanaka
Indians are dogs and AP is full of mad dogs.
I am from AP and does not belong to either of the casts that people were fighting here.
I like YSR because of his leadership qualities. I like his guts, determination and down to earth personality. This is just his personality and I don't like the way he is spending money and all traps for poor people and making them beg. As many friends here are talking, he is corrupt, kills opponents and land mafia.
From all the posts I have not find a single person to mention JP from Loksatta. If we keep aside the feelings like state, language, caste and religion and encourage JP, we will really see bright India.
URL Here :: Lok Satta Party - New Politics for a New Generation :: (http://loksatta.org/)
We shall stop here and talk some one like JP.
Kanaka
okuzmin
10-19 11:28 AM
I just got my medical forms from Canadian Consulate in Buffalo. Our documents were accepted on December 8, 2005, and the letter that accompanied medical forms and request for updated documents (interview has been waived) is dated October 4, 2006. Heh, I wish USCIS had this kind of turnaround. :)
chanduv23
07-04 08:11 AM
I sent this email to around 500 media contacts
Dear Reporter/ Senator/ Congressman,
I am an immigrant who entered this country legally. I�ve been waiting for my US permanent resident visa -also known as green card for the past several years along with 500,000 other educated, highly skilled employment based (EB) immigrants. Many of us have been waiting for our turn to get the green card for 5-10 years while consistently abiding by all the laws of this country. Such long delays are due to tortuous and confusing paper work, back logs due to various quotas and processing delays at US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Several categories of EB immigrant visa numbers have been unavailable (�retrogressed�) since the fall of 2005. Because our immigrant petitions are tied to the sponsoring employer, for many of us these delays have led to indentured servitude. Our professional prospects, job mobility and potential opportunities for entrepreneurship have been shattered.
For the past several decades, the US Department of State (DOS) has been publishing advisories known as visa bulletins once a month to announce the availability of immigrant .visa numbers. On June 13, 2007, after a gap of nearly two years, DOS announced that all EB visa numbers would be �current� for the month of July. This meant, irrespective of our �priority date�, all of us were made eligible to apply for some interim immigration benefits. This �priority date� refers to the date when our labor certification (documentation verifying no US citizen worker was available for a given job) had been filed.
This announcement by DOS on 6/13/2007 would not have led to immediate green card for most of us; but at least it would have ensured us interim benefits such as job mobility, some freedom from the employer, work authorization for our spouses and a travel authorization known as �advance parole�. This authorization would allow us to travel outside US without fear of not being able to re-enter the country.
We spent thousands of dollars in legal fees, immigration medical exams, vaccinations, blood tests, x-rays and getting various supporting documents ready to file our immigrant petitions to USCIS. It has been an agonizing two weeks for us. Some of us to had to fly in our spouses from our native countries. To our shock and dismay, on the morning of July 2nd 2007, USCIS announced that EB visa numbers were not available and all our petitions would be rejected. Within a span of 2 weeks, to be precise -in 12 working days- USCIS claims to have approved 60,000 EB immigrant visa petitions. This unprecedented rapid action of USCIS has led to exhaustion of all the available visa numbers for this fiscal year. Meanwhile it is prognosticated that in the next fiscal year which begins on October 1, 2007 our plight and delays would actually worsen.
Interestingly USCIS has never processed so many applications this fast, and it is unclear why they did not convey this potential exhaustion of visa numbers to DOS before June 13, 2007.
For the legal skilled immigrants this has been a rather traumatizing and disheartening experience.
We sincerely seek immediate congressional/ legislative remedial measures which would
(1)Reduce the enormous backlogs of green card petitions of legal skilled immigrants
(2)Ensure and enable USCIS not to reject our immigrant visa petitions and give us interim benefits of a pending immigrant visa petition.We make this sincere request on this Independence Day with the hope that people who played by the rules will be rewarded.
Yours Sincerely,
Dear Reporter/ Senator/ Congressman,
I am an immigrant who entered this country legally. I�ve been waiting for my US permanent resident visa -also known as green card for the past several years along with 500,000 other educated, highly skilled employment based (EB) immigrants. Many of us have been waiting for our turn to get the green card for 5-10 years while consistently abiding by all the laws of this country. Such long delays are due to tortuous and confusing paper work, back logs due to various quotas and processing delays at US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Several categories of EB immigrant visa numbers have been unavailable (�retrogressed�) since the fall of 2005. Because our immigrant petitions are tied to the sponsoring employer, for many of us these delays have led to indentured servitude. Our professional prospects, job mobility and potential opportunities for entrepreneurship have been shattered.
For the past several decades, the US Department of State (DOS) has been publishing advisories known as visa bulletins once a month to announce the availability of immigrant .visa numbers. On June 13, 2007, after a gap of nearly two years, DOS announced that all EB visa numbers would be �current� for the month of July. This meant, irrespective of our �priority date�, all of us were made eligible to apply for some interim immigration benefits. This �priority date� refers to the date when our labor certification (documentation verifying no US citizen worker was available for a given job) had been filed.
This announcement by DOS on 6/13/2007 would not have led to immediate green card for most of us; but at least it would have ensured us interim benefits such as job mobility, some freedom from the employer, work authorization for our spouses and a travel authorization known as �advance parole�. This authorization would allow us to travel outside US without fear of not being able to re-enter the country.
We spent thousands of dollars in legal fees, immigration medical exams, vaccinations, blood tests, x-rays and getting various supporting documents ready to file our immigrant petitions to USCIS. It has been an agonizing two weeks for us. Some of us to had to fly in our spouses from our native countries. To our shock and dismay, on the morning of July 2nd 2007, USCIS announced that EB visa numbers were not available and all our petitions would be rejected. Within a span of 2 weeks, to be precise -in 12 working days- USCIS claims to have approved 60,000 EB immigrant visa petitions. This unprecedented rapid action of USCIS has led to exhaustion of all the available visa numbers for this fiscal year. Meanwhile it is prognosticated that in the next fiscal year which begins on October 1, 2007 our plight and delays would actually worsen.
Interestingly USCIS has never processed so many applications this fast, and it is unclear why they did not convey this potential exhaustion of visa numbers to DOS before June 13, 2007.
For the legal skilled immigrants this has been a rather traumatizing and disheartening experience.
We sincerely seek immediate congressional/ legislative remedial measures which would
(1)Reduce the enormous backlogs of green card petitions of legal skilled immigrants
(2)Ensure and enable USCIS not to reject our immigrant visa petitions and give us interim benefits of a pending immigrant visa petition.We make this sincere request on this Independence Day with the hope that people who played by the rules will be rewarded.
Yours Sincerely,