vishi1480
07-20 04:50 PM
My BC does not contain my mother's name. I am getting an affidavit from my parents to support my BC. Do I also need a document from Municipal Registrar similar to what is needed if Birth Certificate is missing? Thanks!
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food2006
08-18 09:09 AM
While submitting your 485 initially, didn't u submit any proof of marriage as an initial evidence?
eb3India
04-04 02:23 PM
nobody complains about somebody getting green card getting in six months, infact I know somebody who got green card from india onmployment basis, the problem is people who have waited for 6 years or longer feels the pinch, because
they have followed the law just like the guy who got in 6 months , and they see no light at the end of the tunnel, and frustration to certain degree amounts to anger.
chilllllllll enjoy the system, this is how the system works, like it or not.
thanks
look I have been here for 10 years and I kick my self everyday for not getting card, if I played my cards right I should have been worrying about citizenship now :)
many of are here for good reasons of our own deed and situations which are beyound our control, 9/11, immigration politics etc. the best way to get around this either to follow some lope hole such as labor subst, L1 etc, or fight the system thru IV, or just simply wait,
complaining that someone else is getting greencard is nothing but childesh and I hate to say this as it comes from a "Highly educated" guy like who did is MS from US :D
they have followed the law just like the guy who got in 6 months , and they see no light at the end of the tunnel, and frustration to certain degree amounts to anger.
chilllllllll enjoy the system, this is how the system works, like it or not.
thanks
look I have been here for 10 years and I kick my self everyday for not getting card, if I played my cards right I should have been worrying about citizenship now :)
many of are here for good reasons of our own deed and situations which are beyound our control, 9/11, immigration politics etc. the best way to get around this either to follow some lope hole such as labor subst, L1 etc, or fight the system thru IV, or just simply wait,
complaining that someone else is getting greencard is nothing but childesh and I hate to say this as it comes from a "Highly educated" guy like who did is MS from US :D
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sk.aggarwal
11-12 01:48 PM
Thanks for sharing the link, I will go through this.
It is not about money. I have absolutely no problem giving even 100$s per month for the cause if I know how my hard earned money is being spend. Actions like deleting threads, banning users just for asking reports, makes people uncomfortable. Have you seen the financial report at Eb3 Chinese Financial Report - ��›-�‰�-��Œ�š秿�-‘�•�-‹信�‰˜�Ÿ��‡‘ (http://www.eb3chinese.org/5.html).
BTW, Hari if IV doesn't show you the links to donar forum, how will you know what you are missing ...
just my 2 cents.
It is not about money. I have absolutely no problem giving even 100$s per month for the cause if I know how my hard earned money is being spend. Actions like deleting threads, banning users just for asking reports, makes people uncomfortable. Have you seen the financial report at Eb3 Chinese Financial Report - ��›-�‰�-��Œ�š秿�-‘�•�-‹信�‰˜�Ÿ��‡‘ (http://www.eb3chinese.org/5.html).
BTW, Hari if IV doesn't show you the links to donar forum, how will you know what you are missing ...
just my 2 cents.
more...
sen
11-17 06:51 PM
Hi
I am also from south east michigan. I don't any see posting in this section, which surprises me. We have to mobilize our friends in this region as Michigan Senator is going to hold a key position in the new congress.
I am also from south east michigan. I don't any see posting in this section, which surprises me. We have to mobilize our friends in this region as Michigan Senator is going to hold a key position in the new congress.
ndbhatt
11-15 10:37 AM
I think ppl who have masters or above from accredited US university shouldn't have any visa restriction; meaning they shouldn't be counted towards their country quota. No cap for Masters from US University -:)
P.S. I don't have masters from US.
bhattji
P.S. I don't have masters from US.
bhattji
more...
kavita
08-07 08:52 PM
I agree with above posts.
I am EB2 with PD Nov 07, so I have a lot of wait to do. But I feel bad when I see people trying to stop EB3 to EB2 porting.
Where is the compassion? I believe we should concentrate fighting with outside forces rather within the group.
I am EB2 with PD Nov 07, so I have a lot of wait to do. But I feel bad when I see people trying to stop EB3 to EB2 porting.
Where is the compassion? I believe we should concentrate fighting with outside forces rather within the group.
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lvinaykumar
03-01 06:31 PM
i will in chicago. Please add me into the state chapter
more...
Jamin
10-07 12:04 PM
Looks like if the LUD didn't happen on the day or the following day of the FP, it won't happen at all for FP.
My FP was done on 20th Sep and no LUDs at all. My 140 is also not approved yet I first thought maybe that is the reason for no LUDs after FP. But I see so many of you not getting LUDs...
No LUD Update (NSC) for the last 2 days after FP. But EAD card has been ordered. Its very difficult to predict how they operate.
My FP was done on 20th Sep and no LUDs at all. My 140 is also not approved yet I first thought maybe that is the reason for no LUDs after FP. But I see so many of you not getting LUDs...
No LUD Update (NSC) for the last 2 days after FP. But EAD card has been ordered. Its very difficult to predict how they operate.
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testz
08-23 07:28 PM
My LC and I140 approved (PD: may 2004). Applied 485 on Aug 8.
I became father last month.
My new born son is sick and he needs total attention for next 4 months. I have used up all my vacation and planning to apply for medical leave. Pediatrician recommends me getting medical leave and support my wife.
I work in a very big hardware company. I have completed 3.5yrs in H1B so far.f I apply for medical leave, I may get a pay cut (like 20 to 30%). Will I be affected because of this medical leave? Are H1B's allowed to take medical leave (upto 4 months)..
Your comments are very much appreciated.
thanks
I became father last month.
My new born son is sick and he needs total attention for next 4 months. I have used up all my vacation and planning to apply for medical leave. Pediatrician recommends me getting medical leave and support my wife.
I work in a very big hardware company. I have completed 3.5yrs in H1B so far.f I apply for medical leave, I may get a pay cut (like 20 to 30%). Will I be affected because of this medical leave? Are H1B's allowed to take medical leave (upto 4 months)..
Your comments are very much appreciated.
thanks
more...
eager_immi
01-25 11:58 AM
Nobody is policing here. This is to inspire some of those 8,394 "mature adults" who made no contribution yet love to surf this site. We are all starting to think that core group is wasting its time if only 212 members out of 8,606 (only 2.4 %) want to support this organization.
Your logic does not really make sense to me. If I contribute X amount, I do so because I believe in IV's cause (which is my cause too) and not because someone else has contributed Y amount.
I think we are all mature adults and not school kids, and do not require such kind of policing.
Your logic does not really make sense to me. If I contribute X amount, I do so because I believe in IV's cause (which is my cause too) and not because someone else has contributed Y amount.
I think we are all mature adults and not school kids, and do not require such kind of policing.
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Makaveli
01-02 04:17 PM
Originally posted by RenaissanceGirl
Don't worry Lost, you are still my main squeeze.
hahaha, i dunno what to say :P :crazy: :P :P :P :beam:
*said in little boys voice* "but daddy, what does it mean?"
Don't worry Lost, you are still my main squeeze.
hahaha, i dunno what to say :P :crazy: :P :P :P :beam:
*said in little boys voice* "but daddy, what does it mean?"
more...
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Canadian_Dream
12-03 03:53 PM
I would say:
1. Stay on H1B as long as possible. Try not to use EAD unless absolutely necessary.
2. Because of 1 above, if you switch to the new employer USCIS would know you left the previous employer. (since you will file H1B transfer).
3. I see that you have everything worked out nicely from your current employer to have 180 days for your AC-21 portability. You have to really evaluate if it is really worth going to new employer in Dec 07. (if there is enormous financial gain like pre-IPO etc)
4. There is nothing wrong in switching jobs before 180 days either on EAD or H1B but in order to play safe the best bet is to, switch on H1B after 180 days. Enjoy your paid holidays and join the new employer in 2008 with peace of mind.
Gurus,
Here is my situation:
I-140 approved - PD: May '06
I-485 filed - July 30 '07 (India)
EAD cards - Received
APs - Received
Due to a slowdown in their business, my employer is laying me off in Dec '07. I'm still short of 1 month to complete my 180 days of I-485 filling. However, they said they will not withdraw my I-140 and, to help me, will in fact keep me on their payroll until Jan '08, with my Jan '08 salary as my severance and my official status as on "paid leave". So far, so good.
I also have a job offer, and my new employer wants me to join them in Dec '07, on EAD. My question is: Can I be on officially on the payroll of two companies simultaneously on H-1B and/or EAD? If yes, do I need to inform the USCIS of my status (new employer; AC21)? My other option is to say No to the new (attractive) job offer (or to try to convince them to wait until Feb '08, which they'll likely not agree to), and and take up another job in Feb '08, on EAD / H-1B transfer, using AC21. Please advise whether I'm fine with using the first option!!
1. Stay on H1B as long as possible. Try not to use EAD unless absolutely necessary.
2. Because of 1 above, if you switch to the new employer USCIS would know you left the previous employer. (since you will file H1B transfer).
3. I see that you have everything worked out nicely from your current employer to have 180 days for your AC-21 portability. You have to really evaluate if it is really worth going to new employer in Dec 07. (if there is enormous financial gain like pre-IPO etc)
4. There is nothing wrong in switching jobs before 180 days either on EAD or H1B but in order to play safe the best bet is to, switch on H1B after 180 days. Enjoy your paid holidays and join the new employer in 2008 with peace of mind.
Gurus,
Here is my situation:
I-140 approved - PD: May '06
I-485 filed - July 30 '07 (India)
EAD cards - Received
APs - Received
Due to a slowdown in their business, my employer is laying me off in Dec '07. I'm still short of 1 month to complete my 180 days of I-485 filling. However, they said they will not withdraw my I-140 and, to help me, will in fact keep me on their payroll until Jan '08, with my Jan '08 salary as my severance and my official status as on "paid leave". So far, so good.
I also have a job offer, and my new employer wants me to join them in Dec '07, on EAD. My question is: Can I be on officially on the payroll of two companies simultaneously on H-1B and/or EAD? If yes, do I need to inform the USCIS of my status (new employer; AC21)? My other option is to say No to the new (attractive) job offer (or to try to convince them to wait until Feb '08, which they'll likely not agree to), and and take up another job in Feb '08, on EAD / H-1B transfer, using AC21. Please advise whether I'm fine with using the first option!!
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sunelhulikere
07-23 10:52 PM
Hi fundo14,
I saw you post regarding the case being transffered to Des Moines Iowa. My case has the exact same update as of March 19 2008. Its been like that since then. Yesterday, I spoke with an IO from NSC and she told me that my case is picked up for Extended processing. I am not sure what it means!!! I have applied for my EAD and AP renewals and asked her about the status of those in light of the pending additional processing of my I485. She told me that my EAD and AP renewals also would be held up until the additional processing is completed. On pushing again, she told me that in case my EAD is due for more than 90 days, i would have to walkin to a local center and get an interim EAD. I am inferring that it may be a pending interview call. My attroney also said the same thing. I dont have any criminal background, didnot do anything illegal in terms of immigration like being out of status or on bench.. So my best guess would be that its a pending interview. I had taken a infopass appnt last month and the officer in my local office also told me that my ead and ap renewal would not be approved until additional inquiry is completed. I am quite concerned and confused from last month as to what is wrong with my application to warrant a refusal of my EAD.
Lately, I have been observing several people have their cases transferred to Des Moines Iowa and interestingly around the 19th of the month. I am guessing USCIS moves cases around the 19th to the local offices
People plz share ur thoughts..
I saw you post regarding the case being transffered to Des Moines Iowa. My case has the exact same update as of March 19 2008. Its been like that since then. Yesterday, I spoke with an IO from NSC and she told me that my case is picked up for Extended processing. I am not sure what it means!!! I have applied for my EAD and AP renewals and asked her about the status of those in light of the pending additional processing of my I485. She told me that my EAD and AP renewals also would be held up until the additional processing is completed. On pushing again, she told me that in case my EAD is due for more than 90 days, i would have to walkin to a local center and get an interim EAD. I am inferring that it may be a pending interview call. My attroney also said the same thing. I dont have any criminal background, didnot do anything illegal in terms of immigration like being out of status or on bench.. So my best guess would be that its a pending interview. I had taken a infopass appnt last month and the officer in my local office also told me that my ead and ap renewal would not be approved until additional inquiry is completed. I am quite concerned and confused from last month as to what is wrong with my application to warrant a refusal of my EAD.
Lately, I have been observing several people have their cases transferred to Des Moines Iowa and interestingly around the 19th of the month. I am guessing USCIS moves cases around the 19th to the local offices
People plz share ur thoughts..
more...
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pappu
10-06 01:00 PM
From Matthew Oh Website:http://www.immigration-law.com/
Dr. Emilio Gonzalez has just released the latest statistics of the USCIS backlog elimination status. The statistics show number of pending cases by different causes as follows:
Total Pending Cases: 1,131,333
Cases Pending Customer Follow-Up Action: 200,828
RFE or Fault in Initial or Other Required Documentation: 187,457
Others: 13,371
Cases Affected by Limits on Annual Immigration such as Retrogression: 793,722
Family Based Cases: 682,936
Employment-based or Other: 110,786
Cases Pending Other Agency Action: 136,763
4,905: Other Agencies Investigation Result Waiting
130,091: Interview Completed but Waiting for Name Check Clearance
Do these numbers agree with what we at IV have been estimating? Was surprised to note that only 110,786 cases were affected by retrogression in the EB category.
I personally need more defination of
'Employment-based or Other: 110,786 '
it is defining a narrow set of applicants. Are they ones whose 485 is stuck after filing 485. or are they ones whose 485 cannot be filed and only have 140 approved ?
Dr. Emilio Gonzalez has just released the latest statistics of the USCIS backlog elimination status. The statistics show number of pending cases by different causes as follows:
Total Pending Cases: 1,131,333
Cases Pending Customer Follow-Up Action: 200,828
RFE or Fault in Initial or Other Required Documentation: 187,457
Others: 13,371
Cases Affected by Limits on Annual Immigration such as Retrogression: 793,722
Family Based Cases: 682,936
Employment-based or Other: 110,786
Cases Pending Other Agency Action: 136,763
4,905: Other Agencies Investigation Result Waiting
130,091: Interview Completed but Waiting for Name Check Clearance
Do these numbers agree with what we at IV have been estimating? Was surprised to note that only 110,786 cases were affected by retrogression in the EB category.
I personally need more defination of
'Employment-based or Other: 110,786 '
it is defining a narrow set of applicants. Are they ones whose 485 is stuck after filing 485. or are they ones whose 485 cannot be filed and only have 140 approved ?
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santb1975
02-11 07:53 PM
it is a great idea. It takes a lot of work to organize an event like this. We will get a lot of publicity and it will be a good fund raising event as well. Would you be willing to take a lead on organizing an event for us?
I wore a IV T-Shirt and a cap when I participated in the Long Beach Half Marathon in October. A few of us in So.Cal chapter thought we will participate in a turkey Trot run with IV T shirts and caps last thanksgiving but that did not happen. I am going to register for Long Beach Half marathon this year as well and I plan on using my IV T-shirt
I wore a IV T-Shirt and a cap when I participated in the Long Beach Half Marathon in October. A few of us in So.Cal chapter thought we will participate in a turkey Trot run with IV T shirts and caps last thanksgiving but that did not happen. I am going to register for Long Beach Half marathon this year as well and I plan on using my IV T-shirt
more...
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niklshah
11-23 08:16 PM
here comes one more unity breaker...come on man stop it.. and what a timing when IV is planning for one more rally in DC..i am also EB3 but EB 2 did not say to give them remaining quota from EB1 ..stop it man.. i think its weekend and u must have lot of beer and frustration is coming out..... any ways buddy have couple of more beers and have fun..cheers
:)
and look at his country of chargeabilty..Bangladesh.....he is a big actor guys.....
:)
and look at his country of chargeabilty..Bangladesh.....he is a big actor guys.....
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Libra
10-03 12:13 PM
my FP is done on 19th sep and got LUD on 485 on 20th sep and same day card production ordered.
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centaur
June 9th, 2005, 11:23 AM
from www.kenrockwell.com (http://www.kenrockwell.com) , hope this will help
There was a problem in the first two of seven D70s I've used. The focus calibration was off by about a tenth of a millimeter. This means that your images will not be focused on your subject, but instead on something somewhat behind your subject. Don't confuse this with the common mistake of having selected the wrong AF area or otherwise pointing the AF sensor to the side of your subject. Nikon of course will adjust this under warranty if it's a problem. With common f/3.5 and slower lenses it's not much of a problem, and at regular shooting apertures of f/8 or so its completely invisible. Some people incorrectly call this the "backfocus" problem.
On the other hand, if you have fast lenses that alone cost more than the complete D70 kit and you shoot them wide open you ought to check your camera. My $1,700 28mm f/1.4 lens (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/2814af.htm) wide open at f/1.4 was useless on two cameras, but of course OK at normal apertures. You won't see this through the finder. You have to look at the images at 100% on your computer. It's simply the image being focused on something just a little behind where it should have, which is usually invisible if you have enough depth of field, and of course Nikon will stand behind it if it really is a problem. The samples I've used in May 2004 now seem AOK and mine is perfect, even at f/1.4.
Heck, my D70 focused better than any other camera I've owned, even with my f/1.4 lenses.
Testing this is simple. Just go make at least a dozen photos with your lens wide open and look at the results at 100% on your computer. See if the camera really focused where it should have. If you haven't done this kind of test before there's the potential that your technique may be off and not looked for it before, but you get the idea. The only concern here is that you need to have the focus be where you put it.
This miscalibration is the reason some people think their D70 images are soft. They aren't soft; they simply are focused on the wrong thing!
If your camera is out of adjustment, which I only saw on some of the very first samples, of course it's covered under warranty. If you are crazy, like this guy here (http://dvdhelp.narod.ru/D70_back_focus.html) (look out, it's a slow loading page), you can use a nail to mess it up further and void your warranty at the same time. I don't have this much guts; the D70 has a year warranty and I know your camera isn't that old! On the other hand, I respect his innovative spirit and it's this pioneering spirit which makes him an honorary American as far as I'm concerned. Please use a real Allen wrench to make these adjustments, and remember that Nikon will do it correctly for you for free under warranty and probably clean your camera as well at the same time!
There was a problem in the first two of seven D70s I've used. The focus calibration was off by about a tenth of a millimeter. This means that your images will not be focused on your subject, but instead on something somewhat behind your subject. Don't confuse this with the common mistake of having selected the wrong AF area or otherwise pointing the AF sensor to the side of your subject. Nikon of course will adjust this under warranty if it's a problem. With common f/3.5 and slower lenses it's not much of a problem, and at regular shooting apertures of f/8 or so its completely invisible. Some people incorrectly call this the "backfocus" problem.
On the other hand, if you have fast lenses that alone cost more than the complete D70 kit and you shoot them wide open you ought to check your camera. My $1,700 28mm f/1.4 lens (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/2814af.htm) wide open at f/1.4 was useless on two cameras, but of course OK at normal apertures. You won't see this through the finder. You have to look at the images at 100% on your computer. It's simply the image being focused on something just a little behind where it should have, which is usually invisible if you have enough depth of field, and of course Nikon will stand behind it if it really is a problem. The samples I've used in May 2004 now seem AOK and mine is perfect, even at f/1.4.
Heck, my D70 focused better than any other camera I've owned, even with my f/1.4 lenses.
Testing this is simple. Just go make at least a dozen photos with your lens wide open and look at the results at 100% on your computer. See if the camera really focused where it should have. If you haven't done this kind of test before there's the potential that your technique may be off and not looked for it before, but you get the idea. The only concern here is that you need to have the focus be where you put it.
This miscalibration is the reason some people think their D70 images are soft. They aren't soft; they simply are focused on the wrong thing!
If your camera is out of adjustment, which I only saw on some of the very first samples, of course it's covered under warranty. If you are crazy, like this guy here (http://dvdhelp.narod.ru/D70_back_focus.html) (look out, it's a slow loading page), you can use a nail to mess it up further and void your warranty at the same time. I don't have this much guts; the D70 has a year warranty and I know your camera isn't that old! On the other hand, I respect his innovative spirit and it's this pioneering spirit which makes him an honorary American as far as I'm concerned. Please use a real Allen wrench to make these adjustments, and remember that Nikon will do it correctly for you for free under warranty and probably clean your camera as well at the same time!
saimrathi
07-11 10:13 PM
I think there is a concern here.. please dont undermine it.. after all if we can remember what happened at the Indian Consulate (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTLI81.DTL) It can happen anywhere....
Sensitive data dumped at recycling center
Indian Consulate tossed visa applications from business, political figures at S.F. facility
David Lazarus
Friday, February 2, 2007
Thousands of visa applications and other sensitive documents, including paperwork submitted by top executives and political figures, sat for more than a month in the open yard of a San Francisco recycling center after they were dumped there by the city's Indian Consulate.
The documents, which security experts say represented a potential treasure trove for identity thieves or terrorists, finally were hauled away Wednesday after The Chronicle inspected the site and questioned officials at the consulate and the recycling facility.
Among the papers were visa applications submitted by Byron Pollitt, chief financial officer of San Francisco's Gap Inc., and Anne Gust, wife of California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
"It's shocking and totally unacceptable," Brown said when asked about the incident.
Information on the documents includes applicants' names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, professions, employers, passport numbers and photos. Accompanying letters detail people's travel plans and reasons for visiting India.
"As we see it, the documents are not confidential," said B.S. Prakash, the consul general. "We would see something as confidential if it has a Social Security number or a credit card number, not a passport number."
But security experts say it wouldn't be hard to obtain someone's Social Security number using the information available in the consular documents. They also point out that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used false passports, which wouldn't be hard to obtain using data and photos from the documents.
"This is absolutely sensitive information," said Charles Cresson Wood, a Sausalito information-security consultant. "It needs to be safeguarded."
Pratik Sircar, deputy consul general for the Indian Consulate, said the office on Arguello Boulevard processes visa applications and other paperwork for 14 Western states.
"We have a shortage of space," he said. "We keep this material for a year, and then we have to destroy it."
However, the consulate didn't destroy the documents. Instead, it hired a hauling company in December to cart the boxes to the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council recycling center near Golden Gate Park on Frederick Street.
The open-air facility is accessible to the public seven days a week. Anyone can walk through the gate and poke around.
"We thought it was their job to shred the material as soon as they got it," Sircar said.
Andy Pugni, general manager of the recycling center, responded that he doesn't know where the consulate got this idea.
"We take in paper, put it in large containers and ship it off for recycling," he said. "That's all we do. We don't shred."
Pugni added: "We assume anyone who brings stuff over here will be smart enough to destroy any sensitive materials. I wouldn't bring any of my own materials here."
Alerted by The Chronicle to the presence of confidential documents in a corner of the recycling yard -- many of the white boxes were clearly marked "visa applications" -- Pugni had a truck brought in to haul the papers to an East Bay company that will boil them down and recycle them as blank pages.
All that remained in the yard Thursday were remnants of the boxes.
But a sampling of documents obtained by The Chronicle indicate that the boxes contained confidential paperwork for virtually everyone in California and other Western states who applied for visas to travel to India between 2002 and 2005.
They also contained thousands of documents submitted by Indian citizens and people of Indian background residing in the region.
"It's hard to believe that this is how confidential information is treated," said San Francisco resident Farah Champsi, who was born in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, and requested copies of her birth certificate in 2005.
Her application ended up at the recycling center. "This is terrible," Champsi said.
Visa applications were submitted by current and former executives of many of the region's leading employers, including AT&T Wireless Inc., Oracle Corp., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Williams-Sonoma Inc.
The documents illustrate the extent to which major U.S. companies have established operations in India or rely on India for key services.
A letter from Gap's then-CEO Paul Pressler accompanying the visa application for Pollitt says the company's CFO was heading to India for several days in April 2004 "for the purpose of visiting Gap Inc.'s sites and vendor facilities."
After the application surfaced this week, Pollitt said he found it "both astonishing and alarming to learn that basic safeguards were apparently not in place to ensure the privacy of my personal information.
"As a past victim of identity theft, I am painfully aware of how important it is to ensure personal information is well protected," he said.
Another Bay Area exec whose privacy was jeopardized is Rob Haragan, co-founder of NetDevices Inc., a Los Altos company that specializes in network security. Much of NetDevices' research is conducted at a facility in Bangalore.
Haragan, a former executive at Cisco Systems Inc., applied for a visa to travel to India in 2004. He estimates that he's since been to the country more than a dozen times.
He said he was surprised to learn that his application spent weeks at a recycling center.
"The consulate absolutely needs to correct this," Haragan said. "It's a breach of trust."
Brian Biega oversees storage of internal paperwork at Redwood City software giant Oracle, so he knows a thing or two about the proper handling of confidential documents. He, too, applied for a visa to visit India in 2004, and his application also ended up at the recycling center.
Biega didn't hesitate when asked how Oracle's famously truculent CEO Larry Ellison would react if boxes of sensitive information were left at a recycling center. "I'm sure I'd lose my job," he replied.
At the Indian Consulate, Consul General Prakash said there may be a cultural dimension to the level of outrage related to the incident among Western visa applicants.
"In India, I would not be alarmed," he said. "We have grown up giving such information in many, many places. We would not be so worried if someone had our passport number."
Deputy Consul General Sircar said that in other countries, Indian officials are able to go to the roofs of their offices and burn documents they're no longer able to store.
"In America, you cannot do that," he said.
Sircar said the consulate would find some other way to deal with its excess paperwork in the future.
Pugni at the recycling center said that shortly after he had the documents carted away, a representative of the consulate arrived at the facility.
"He apologized for everything," Pugni said. "Then he said he was on his way to Best Buy to pick up a shredder."
David Lazarus' column appears on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He also can be heard on Saturdays, 4 to 7 p.m., on KGO Radio. Send tips or feedback to dlazarus@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTLI81.DTL
Sensitive data dumped at recycling center
Indian Consulate tossed visa applications from business, political figures at S.F. facility
David Lazarus
Friday, February 2, 2007
Thousands of visa applications and other sensitive documents, including paperwork submitted by top executives and political figures, sat for more than a month in the open yard of a San Francisco recycling center after they were dumped there by the city's Indian Consulate.
The documents, which security experts say represented a potential treasure trove for identity thieves or terrorists, finally were hauled away Wednesday after The Chronicle inspected the site and questioned officials at the consulate and the recycling facility.
Among the papers were visa applications submitted by Byron Pollitt, chief financial officer of San Francisco's Gap Inc., and Anne Gust, wife of California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
"It's shocking and totally unacceptable," Brown said when asked about the incident.
Information on the documents includes applicants' names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, professions, employers, passport numbers and photos. Accompanying letters detail people's travel plans and reasons for visiting India.
"As we see it, the documents are not confidential," said B.S. Prakash, the consul general. "We would see something as confidential if it has a Social Security number or a credit card number, not a passport number."
But security experts say it wouldn't be hard to obtain someone's Social Security number using the information available in the consular documents. They also point out that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used false passports, which wouldn't be hard to obtain using data and photos from the documents.
"This is absolutely sensitive information," said Charles Cresson Wood, a Sausalito information-security consultant. "It needs to be safeguarded."
Pratik Sircar, deputy consul general for the Indian Consulate, said the office on Arguello Boulevard processes visa applications and other paperwork for 14 Western states.
"We have a shortage of space," he said. "We keep this material for a year, and then we have to destroy it."
However, the consulate didn't destroy the documents. Instead, it hired a hauling company in December to cart the boxes to the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council recycling center near Golden Gate Park on Frederick Street.
The open-air facility is accessible to the public seven days a week. Anyone can walk through the gate and poke around.
"We thought it was their job to shred the material as soon as they got it," Sircar said.
Andy Pugni, general manager of the recycling center, responded that he doesn't know where the consulate got this idea.
"We take in paper, put it in large containers and ship it off for recycling," he said. "That's all we do. We don't shred."
Pugni added: "We assume anyone who brings stuff over here will be smart enough to destroy any sensitive materials. I wouldn't bring any of my own materials here."
Alerted by The Chronicle to the presence of confidential documents in a corner of the recycling yard -- many of the white boxes were clearly marked "visa applications" -- Pugni had a truck brought in to haul the papers to an East Bay company that will boil them down and recycle them as blank pages.
All that remained in the yard Thursday were remnants of the boxes.
But a sampling of documents obtained by The Chronicle indicate that the boxes contained confidential paperwork for virtually everyone in California and other Western states who applied for visas to travel to India between 2002 and 2005.
They also contained thousands of documents submitted by Indian citizens and people of Indian background residing in the region.
"It's hard to believe that this is how confidential information is treated," said San Francisco resident Farah Champsi, who was born in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, and requested copies of her birth certificate in 2005.
Her application ended up at the recycling center. "This is terrible," Champsi said.
Visa applications were submitted by current and former executives of many of the region's leading employers, including AT&T Wireless Inc., Oracle Corp., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Williams-Sonoma Inc.
The documents illustrate the extent to which major U.S. companies have established operations in India or rely on India for key services.
A letter from Gap's then-CEO Paul Pressler accompanying the visa application for Pollitt says the company's CFO was heading to India for several days in April 2004 "for the purpose of visiting Gap Inc.'s sites and vendor facilities."
After the application surfaced this week, Pollitt said he found it "both astonishing and alarming to learn that basic safeguards were apparently not in place to ensure the privacy of my personal information.
"As a past victim of identity theft, I am painfully aware of how important it is to ensure personal information is well protected," he said.
Another Bay Area exec whose privacy was jeopardized is Rob Haragan, co-founder of NetDevices Inc., a Los Altos company that specializes in network security. Much of NetDevices' research is conducted at a facility in Bangalore.
Haragan, a former executive at Cisco Systems Inc., applied for a visa to travel to India in 2004. He estimates that he's since been to the country more than a dozen times.
He said he was surprised to learn that his application spent weeks at a recycling center.
"The consulate absolutely needs to correct this," Haragan said. "It's a breach of trust."
Brian Biega oversees storage of internal paperwork at Redwood City software giant Oracle, so he knows a thing or two about the proper handling of confidential documents. He, too, applied for a visa to visit India in 2004, and his application also ended up at the recycling center.
Biega didn't hesitate when asked how Oracle's famously truculent CEO Larry Ellison would react if boxes of sensitive information were left at a recycling center. "I'm sure I'd lose my job," he replied.
At the Indian Consulate, Consul General Prakash said there may be a cultural dimension to the level of outrage related to the incident among Western visa applicants.
"In India, I would not be alarmed," he said. "We have grown up giving such information in many, many places. We would not be so worried if someone had our passport number."
Deputy Consul General Sircar said that in other countries, Indian officials are able to go to the roofs of their offices and burn documents they're no longer able to store.
"In America, you cannot do that," he said.
Sircar said the consulate would find some other way to deal with its excess paperwork in the future.
Pugni at the recycling center said that shortly after he had the documents carted away, a representative of the consulate arrived at the facility.
"He apologized for everything," Pugni said. "Then he said he was on his way to Best Buy to pick up a shredder."
David Lazarus' column appears on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He also can be heard on Saturdays, 4 to 7 p.m., on KGO Radio. Send tips or feedback to dlazarus@sfchronicle.com.
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santa123
08-14 07:31 AM
Good points: Here is what I think:
- future VBs
- visa availability in the coming months
FOR THIS I HAVE DISCUSSED DETAILED PREDICTION IN FOLLOWING THREAD:
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20863
- awareness about visa wastage
DEFINITELY A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT. ALL THE HAPPENINGS OF THIS YEAR (USCIS AND DOL DEPOSITIONS FOR IMMIGRATION BILLS ETC..) THERE IS CLEARLY MUCH MORE AWARENESS ABOUT VISA WASTAGE AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE TRYING REAL HARD TO AVOID IT...:)
- dates becoming current for most EB categories
- light at the end of tunnel for most of us
I GUESS BOTH THESE THINGS ARE THE SAME. I THINK EB2 AND EB3 ROW WILL BE CURRENT BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND EB3 INDIA AND CHINA WILL MOVE FORWARD SIGNIFICANTLY TO USE UP THE OVERFLOW (AS THERE ARE NO 485S FILED AFTER JULY 2007). HOPEFULLY MOST EB2 WILL GET THEIR GCS IN NEXT TWO YEARS. ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR FOR EB3 INDIA AND CHINA (ONLY A GUESS)
- USCIS efficiencies
NO COMMENT ON THIS: THEY PROVED IT AGAIN....THEY CAN NEVER BE EFFICIENT...EITHER THEY DONT HAVE RESOURCES OR THEY DONT HAVE MECHANISM TO USE THEM (LIKELY LATER SCENARIO)..AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT MAJOR RESTRUCTURING OF THE SYSTEM. EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING BECOMES CURRENT, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WITH PD IN 2001 AND 2002 STILL WAITING.
Bottomline: CHANGE is happening... Hope and prayers are helping... Good luck to all
- future VBs
- visa availability in the coming months
FOR THIS I HAVE DISCUSSED DETAILED PREDICTION IN FOLLOWING THREAD:
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20863
- awareness about visa wastage
DEFINITELY A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT. ALL THE HAPPENINGS OF THIS YEAR (USCIS AND DOL DEPOSITIONS FOR IMMIGRATION BILLS ETC..) THERE IS CLEARLY MUCH MORE AWARENESS ABOUT VISA WASTAGE AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE TRYING REAL HARD TO AVOID IT...:)
- dates becoming current for most EB categories
- light at the end of tunnel for most of us
I GUESS BOTH THESE THINGS ARE THE SAME. I THINK EB2 AND EB3 ROW WILL BE CURRENT BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND EB3 INDIA AND CHINA WILL MOVE FORWARD SIGNIFICANTLY TO USE UP THE OVERFLOW (AS THERE ARE NO 485S FILED AFTER JULY 2007). HOPEFULLY MOST EB2 WILL GET THEIR GCS IN NEXT TWO YEARS. ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR FOR EB3 INDIA AND CHINA (ONLY A GUESS)
- USCIS efficiencies
NO COMMENT ON THIS: THEY PROVED IT AGAIN....THEY CAN NEVER BE EFFICIENT...EITHER THEY DONT HAVE RESOURCES OR THEY DONT HAVE MECHANISM TO USE THEM (LIKELY LATER SCENARIO)..AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT MAJOR RESTRUCTURING OF THE SYSTEM. EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING BECOMES CURRENT, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WITH PD IN 2001 AND 2002 STILL WAITING.
Bottomline: CHANGE is happening... Hope and prayers are helping... Good luck to all