Macaca
07-04 10:42 AM
I am developing a general framework in which you can plug in your own traumatic experience. The following is a good start. Please develop your own writeups.
From then on it was a scramble to fulfill a long list of requirements to be able to apply on time. The first task was for my husband to convince his HR to sponsor the process. Since they had already budgeted for the fiscal year and are on a spending freeze , it took a lot of convincing . The HR complied and gratefully we set out to get our Medical exams (at own cost of 150*2).Since we live in a small state with few doctors we drove 2 hours to a neighboring state to get them on time.
Being a mother of 3 small kids, I could not work on important paper works with them around. So after putting them to bed we spent the entire night pulling out the required documents from archives and placing them in order; numerous phone calls to parents back in India to collect their date of birth, place of birth information and completed the questionnaire.
Got passport pictures(60$) and mailed it all to our lawyers praying it will be one of the first to reach the department office on start of business on July 2nd.
The following are very good points that need more polish! The main point here is that we really can not understand this CRAP wih all other things in life which Americans are not facing!
We are raising families here, our everyday life is no different from any other AMERICAN middle class family with same expectations and hopes, so its not easy to presume that we can pull out or get out of this situation and return to our home countries.
Patience is not just a virtue but a way of life for thousands of Legal immigrants who have been living in the US for a number of years . Besides the everyday stress of Job,Mortgage,Health and education of their children they live with the added suspense of when their application for permanent residency ,commonly referred as "Green card" will move ahead from its deep slumber.
From then on it was a scramble to fulfill a long list of requirements to be able to apply on time. The first task was for my husband to convince his HR to sponsor the process. Since they had already budgeted for the fiscal year and are on a spending freeze , it took a lot of convincing . The HR complied and gratefully we set out to get our Medical exams (at own cost of 150*2).Since we live in a small state with few doctors we drove 2 hours to a neighboring state to get them on time.
Being a mother of 3 small kids, I could not work on important paper works with them around. So after putting them to bed we spent the entire night pulling out the required documents from archives and placing them in order; numerous phone calls to parents back in India to collect their date of birth, place of birth information and completed the questionnaire.
Got passport pictures(60$) and mailed it all to our lawyers praying it will be one of the first to reach the department office on start of business on July 2nd.
The following are very good points that need more polish! The main point here is that we really can not understand this CRAP wih all other things in life which Americans are not facing!
We are raising families here, our everyday life is no different from any other AMERICAN middle class family with same expectations and hopes, so its not easy to presume that we can pull out or get out of this situation and return to our home countries.
Patience is not just a virtue but a way of life for thousands of Legal immigrants who have been living in the US for a number of years . Besides the everyday stress of Job,Mortgage,Health and education of their children they live with the added suspense of when their application for permanent residency ,commonly referred as "Green card" will move ahead from its deep slumber.
wallpaper Tags : kate-william-gifts
Rb_newsletter
01-13 03:52 PM
THIS IS BIG AS 30-40% OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS CONTRY ARE RENDERING SOME KIND OF CONSULTING SERVICE TO THE CLIENTS. ALL DESI CONSULTANTS ARE DOOMED FOR GOOD.
In this country it is not the H1bs alone do consultanting/contract. Many staffing companies are there, and even individuals have their own companies and go for contract jobs. I have seen many prefer contract jobs because they make more money when compared to full time. If American businesses got used with consulting/contract even without H1bs, then why this department do not want to accept the practice. Why should small consulting companies get affected?
In this country it is not the H1bs alone do consultanting/contract. Many staffing companies are there, and even individuals have their own companies and go for contract jobs. I have seen many prefer contract jobs because they make more money when compared to full time. If American businesses got used with consulting/contract even without H1bs, then why this department do not want to accept the practice. Why should small consulting companies get affected?
PlainSpeak
01-13 01:19 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
2011 Get Kate Middleton#39;s cool
cal97
07-10 12:47 PM
Wish you all the best. I may follow you too. Have time till Oct 08 to mull on this on-going GC crap.
more...
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.
chintu25
02-13 10:14 AM
I agree with some senior members when they say that no one individual will come forward for the lawsuit . And I ask why should they ??
And I think, even if one single or 2-3 people do come forward it will not be possible.
This is the reason we have forums like our IV so that all can come together and take a decisive step together .
Who can stop IV to file a lawsuit USCIS ? NO ONE
Many members went on blabbering about how long the process is and how expensive it is ... REMINDER if we can come together and collect upwards of 35k FOR "Lobbying Efforts" we can definitely collect funds for a lawsuit.
Some one here rightly said ...If we are retrogessed and there is a queue ..Is it because of you or me NO it is due to the inefficiency of the USCIS.
NO ROAD IS EASY IN THIS BATTLE..... AND ALL OPTIONS SHOULD BE EXPLORED
Again , I want to reiterate , I think if IV core takes lead...hires a good attorney ....we will have funds for it....we have proved it in the past that IVians can contribute
And I think, even if one single or 2-3 people do come forward it will not be possible.
This is the reason we have forums like our IV so that all can come together and take a decisive step together .
Who can stop IV to file a lawsuit USCIS ? NO ONE
Many members went on blabbering about how long the process is and how expensive it is ... REMINDER if we can come together and collect upwards of 35k FOR "Lobbying Efforts" we can definitely collect funds for a lawsuit.
Some one here rightly said ...If we are retrogessed and there is a queue ..Is it because of you or me NO it is due to the inefficiency of the USCIS.
NO ROAD IS EASY IN THIS BATTLE..... AND ALL OPTIONS SHOULD BE EXPLORED
Again , I want to reiterate , I think if IV core takes lead...hires a good attorney ....we will have funds for it....we have proved it in the past that IVians can contribute
more...
sreedhar
09-04 12:13 PM
nik.patelc,
That might be true..revelation of a corrupt politician...masking people deaths for a vicious cause of sympathy.
Just one quick question�?
If you get a chance as politician, Can you say you will not do any corruption? If some try to kill you, if you have power, will you be remain silent �?
Facts:
1) If the person doesn�t want to do corruption even he is politician, He always be calm and do some social work as much as he can.
2) If the person who they want to make big money in easy way�they will choose politics and step by step they grow and do some cheatings like CBN did to NTR Or else as you mentioned YSR kill some people and become powerful politician like CM or some thing else. Even they don�t care about media or people like you keep telling about their cheating, factionist. They will do what they want to do.
3) People who want to do the corruption but they didn�t get a chance to do that. Searching and searching for a chance to do the corruption�But they all �GOOD FOR NOTHINGS�. Those people will always talk about other people corruptions and factionist stories even they don�t have enough knowledge. I men to say JUST LIKE YOU.
Hope you got the point here.
That might be true..revelation of a corrupt politician...masking people deaths for a vicious cause of sympathy.
Just one quick question�?
If you get a chance as politician, Can you say you will not do any corruption? If some try to kill you, if you have power, will you be remain silent �?
Facts:
1) If the person doesn�t want to do corruption even he is politician, He always be calm and do some social work as much as he can.
2) If the person who they want to make big money in easy way�they will choose politics and step by step they grow and do some cheatings like CBN did to NTR Or else as you mentioned YSR kill some people and become powerful politician like CM or some thing else. Even they don�t care about media or people like you keep telling about their cheating, factionist. They will do what they want to do.
3) People who want to do the corruption but they didn�t get a chance to do that. Searching and searching for a chance to do the corruption�But they all �GOOD FOR NOTHINGS�. Those people will always talk about other people corruptions and factionist stories even they don�t have enough knowledge. I men to say JUST LIKE YOU.
Hope you got the point here.
2010 The wedding of Prince William
rishimehta
09-12 05:25 PM
I worked for the company X for 5 Years . During this period My labor was approved in PERM in EB3 PD 05/15/2006. My I - 140 was alos approved Sep 2006 in EB3. I left the company X & started to work for another technology company Y. In July of 2007, I applied for the I-485 via Company X based on Future employment. I-485 is pending since July 2, 2007. Also applied for EAD & Advance parole which latter got approved. Meanwhile, I have an old labor pending with Company X which got approved with PD of Jan 23, 2003 in EB 2 Category. Company X applied for I-140 based In EB2 PD Jan 2003. This I -140 got approved in May 2008. Company X requested Interfiling with USCIS. Meanwhile I Changed jod & started working for company Z with H1B Transfer.
Here are my questions:
Can I revoke AC21 with my new company Z?
What happens if Company X closes before my I-485 is approved or an RFE is received.
What should I do to minimize risk in getting Green card. Note that Company X is not in a very Good financial position currently.
Your response is aapprciated.
Here are my questions:
Can I revoke AC21 with my new company Z?
What happens if Company X closes before my I-485 is approved or an RFE is received.
What should I do to minimize risk in getting Green card. Note that Company X is not in a very Good financial position currently.
Your response is aapprciated.
more...
hiralal
06-11 08:12 AM
ratturani, i am seeing an increasing number of posts that state the facts as clearly as you have stated... thats great... now i think somewhere some day, someone will float a good idea of motivating employers such as MS, Intel, BAC etc to fight for us instead of trying to motivate only the congress... see, we dont have too much of power in congress... :-(
very good points.
this is what we do till infinity ...discuss discuss discuss.
open more threads, discuss discuss discuss.
end.
we discuss more than the congress.
let us come with small numerous campaigns to highlight the contributions of legal immigrants..atleast that will prevent people from getting bored
very good points.
this is what we do till infinity ...discuss discuss discuss.
open more threads, discuss discuss discuss.
end.
we discuss more than the congress.
let us come with small numerous campaigns to highlight the contributions of legal immigrants..atleast that will prevent people from getting bored
hair Wedding of Prince William
rahulpaper
06-27 10:03 PM
Isn�t the visa number limited to a upper threshold for each EB category for each country...How does these number move around between various countries....doesn�t that mean people from India and China (2 countries with most retrogression and paranoia) are looking at a very small number (~2K-4K) and not 40K in July?
Can someone comment on this number issue?
Yes I agree.. But if they don't move date foward then they can't approve those backlog applications.And they don't want to loose 40,000 visas . Now when they made all date current, they can approve all those pending application which are complete and just waiting for date to become current. Now we don't know real number and don't know how long it will take USCIS to do all approvals. But if they approve 40,000 in 2 weeks, I won't be surprised if they make it 'U' like other workers.
But then question still remains why they made all current. They could have just moved it by year or so.. And I am sure they know how many application they can expect in July.. I already saw some where that we have around more then 80,000 approved perm.. All they going to apply.. And what about all whose labor just got approved fro Backlog centers?
Its making everybody confused.. But its not in our hand and we can't do anything. Best thing is to file asap and just hope for best and we are always ready for worst..
Just think if they make date 'U' in middle of july, how many member going to loose money. Each of us spent so much money this month and if nothing happens that we loose all of it.
Can someone comment on this number issue?
Yes I agree.. But if they don't move date foward then they can't approve those backlog applications.And they don't want to loose 40,000 visas . Now when they made all date current, they can approve all those pending application which are complete and just waiting for date to become current. Now we don't know real number and don't know how long it will take USCIS to do all approvals. But if they approve 40,000 in 2 weeks, I won't be surprised if they make it 'U' like other workers.
But then question still remains why they made all current. They could have just moved it by year or so.. And I am sure they know how many application they can expect in July.. I already saw some where that we have around more then 80,000 approved perm.. All they going to apply.. And what about all whose labor just got approved fro Backlog centers?
Its making everybody confused.. But its not in our hand and we can't do anything. Best thing is to file asap and just hope for best and we are always ready for worst..
Just think if they make date 'U' in middle of july, how many member going to loose money. Each of us spent so much money this month and if nothing happens that we loose all of it.
more...
harikris
05-28 11:10 PM
This is precisely not what i wanted to hear.
It puts a damper on hope.
Now we have to hope against hope to see any movement forward.
There are only 3 ways i can see for improvement
1. Legislation
2. New legislation
3. And fast legislation
It puts a damper on hope.
Now we have to hope against hope to see any movement forward.
There are only 3 ways i can see for improvement
1. Legislation
2. New legislation
3. And fast legislation
hot Prince William of Wales and
greenscope
09-24 10:10 AM
When can I get my gc based on these uscis data for sept 2005 eb-2.Please suggest me.
more...
house Kate Middleton and Prince Of
nandakumar
05-28 09:47 PM
1. Employment-Based Visa Number Movement and Predictions
Many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers closely track the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin each month. The most recent Visa Bulletin chart is always available on MurthyDotCom. Given the importance of the cutoff dates in the Visa Bulletin, attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm are often asked for predictions as to the movement of the cutoff dates. There is no better source for this information than Charles Oppenheim, Chief of Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting Division at DOS. Mr. Oppenheim was a guest speaker at a May 20, 2009 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) meeting, which was attended by most of our attorneys. Mr. Oppenheim�s explanations and visa number / Visa Bulletin expectations for the remainder of FY2009 and for FY2010 are explained below. Readers who are unfamiliar with the Visa Bulletin and the role visa numbers play in the permanent residence (commonly referred to as the �green card�) process should review some of the articles on this important topic that can be found on our website; among them, Priority Dates - How Do They Work?
Historical Background
Mr. Oppenheim discussed the historical background that led to the current unavailability of visa numbers, known as retrogression, for certain employment-based (EB) immigrant visa categories. Retrogression is not something new or unfamiliar in immigration law. Most EB numbers were current from July 2001 through January 2005 due to legislative that provided a temporary solution. This legislation authorized unused visa numbers from previous years to be put back into the system. Those additional numbers, along with the annual allotments, were sufficient to meet the demand until January 2005. Since January 2005, the supply of EB visa numbers has fallen short of the demand.
Current Trends in Visa Usage
Mr. Oppenheim stated that immigrant visa applications at U.S. consulates abroad are down seven percent from FY2008. India will use all the visa numbers that are available to its nationals this fiscal year. This is due, in part, to huge increases in the usage of EB4 and EB5 categories. Applicants from India have used twice the number of visas estimated for FY2009. Mr. Oppenheim stated that, because of the excess demand, further retrogression may occur over the summer months.
Predictions for Movement and Usage of EB Visa Numbers
Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1)
Mr. Oppenheim expects that all EB1 visa numbers will be used before the end of FY2009. This may result in the establishment of a cutoff date for the EB1 categories for India and China, beginning in August or September 2009. Usage in the EB1 worldwide category (listed as "all chargeability areas except those listed") is also higher than expected. This may lead to imposition of a cutoff date toward the end of FY2009.
Mr. Oppenheim explained that a trickling effect of unused visa numbers between EB categories has helped keep EB1 and EB2 categories current in prior years. However, due to the processing of a high number of applications, this trickling effect has already occurred, but is not expected to occur again in FY2009. Mr. Oppenheim attributed this to the hard work of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as well as that of the DOS, as they have succeeded in processing enough cases to likely use all available visa numbers from all categories for FY2009. He stated that the DOS and the USCIS are supposed to process enough cases to use the annual allotment of visa numbers and not leave any available visas unused and wasted in any fiscal year.
Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2)
The EB2 category worldwide is also expected to be over-subscribed and will exhaust all allocated visa numbers before the end of FY2009. To date, Mr. Oppenheim estimates that 3,200 EB2 India visa numbers have been used in FY2009. The high usage in the EB1 category has prevented the usual trickle of visas to the EB2 category. Thus, China will experience the same EB2 retrogression as India in July 2009. The EB2 China cutoff date is expected to be set at January 1, 2000.
Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3)
All EB3 categories are currently unavailable; all available visa numbers have been allocated. No change is expected to occur until the beginning of FY2010.
Employment-Based, Fourth Preference / Certain Religious Workers
There has been an unexpectedly heavy usage of visas in the EB4 categories for certain religious worker in FY2009. A cutoff date thus may be set in August or September 2009. Mr. Oppenheim stated that, if the Certain Religious Workers category becomes unavailable, applicants in the ministers category are not affected.
Visa Numbers for Indian Nationals
Mr. Oppenheim has set the cutoff date for EB2 India at January 1, 2000. According to current estimates, out of the approximately 200,000 I-485 applications currently pending with USCIS, 120,000 of them are chargeable to India, with the cases divided evenly between EB2 and EB3. This means that EB2 and EB3 India applicants count for 60 percent of the I-485 cases currently pending with the USCIS.
FY2010 Predictions by Charles Oppenheim of DOS
Mr. Oppenheim stated that he expects the EB3 worldwide category to have a cutoff date of March 1, 2003, beginning with the October 2009 Visa Bulletin. When asked about the potential cutoff dates for EB3 India, China, and Mexico, Mr. Oppenheim said that it would depend on the demand for these categories over the rest of FY2009.
Mr. Oppenheim estimated that there are currently 25,000 EB2 and EB3 cases from Indian nationals that have been reviewed and are only waiting for visa numbers for final processing. He stated that, due to the dramatic increase in employment-based filings, visa cutoff dates for FY2010 will be much more limited to ensure that there will be a steady supply of visa numbers available throughout the year. This will lead to earlier cutoff dates and may help prevent visa categories from becoming unavailable.
Conclusion
We at the Murthy Law Firm appreciate Mr. Oppenheim's commitment to addressing matters related to visa numbers and the Visa Bulletin. The continued shortage of employment-based visa numbers is a source of great frustration for many and Mr. Oppenheim's predictions do not assuage that feeling. It is better to have an understanding of the reality of the situation, however, than to operate in ignorance or with unrealistic expectations. Once again, the shortage of immigrant visa numbers underscores the need for legislation in this area to increase the numbers, change the counting of the numbers (from one per person to one per family), or to revamp the system entirely.
Many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers closely track the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin each month. The most recent Visa Bulletin chart is always available on MurthyDotCom. Given the importance of the cutoff dates in the Visa Bulletin, attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm are often asked for predictions as to the movement of the cutoff dates. There is no better source for this information than Charles Oppenheim, Chief of Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting Division at DOS. Mr. Oppenheim was a guest speaker at a May 20, 2009 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) meeting, which was attended by most of our attorneys. Mr. Oppenheim�s explanations and visa number / Visa Bulletin expectations for the remainder of FY2009 and for FY2010 are explained below. Readers who are unfamiliar with the Visa Bulletin and the role visa numbers play in the permanent residence (commonly referred to as the �green card�) process should review some of the articles on this important topic that can be found on our website; among them, Priority Dates - How Do They Work?
Historical Background
Mr. Oppenheim discussed the historical background that led to the current unavailability of visa numbers, known as retrogression, for certain employment-based (EB) immigrant visa categories. Retrogression is not something new or unfamiliar in immigration law. Most EB numbers were current from July 2001 through January 2005 due to legislative that provided a temporary solution. This legislation authorized unused visa numbers from previous years to be put back into the system. Those additional numbers, along with the annual allotments, were sufficient to meet the demand until January 2005. Since January 2005, the supply of EB visa numbers has fallen short of the demand.
Current Trends in Visa Usage
Mr. Oppenheim stated that immigrant visa applications at U.S. consulates abroad are down seven percent from FY2008. India will use all the visa numbers that are available to its nationals this fiscal year. This is due, in part, to huge increases in the usage of EB4 and EB5 categories. Applicants from India have used twice the number of visas estimated for FY2009. Mr. Oppenheim stated that, because of the excess demand, further retrogression may occur over the summer months.
Predictions for Movement and Usage of EB Visa Numbers
Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1)
Mr. Oppenheim expects that all EB1 visa numbers will be used before the end of FY2009. This may result in the establishment of a cutoff date for the EB1 categories for India and China, beginning in August or September 2009. Usage in the EB1 worldwide category (listed as "all chargeability areas except those listed") is also higher than expected. This may lead to imposition of a cutoff date toward the end of FY2009.
Mr. Oppenheim explained that a trickling effect of unused visa numbers between EB categories has helped keep EB1 and EB2 categories current in prior years. However, due to the processing of a high number of applications, this trickling effect has already occurred, but is not expected to occur again in FY2009. Mr. Oppenheim attributed this to the hard work of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as well as that of the DOS, as they have succeeded in processing enough cases to likely use all available visa numbers from all categories for FY2009. He stated that the DOS and the USCIS are supposed to process enough cases to use the annual allotment of visa numbers and not leave any available visas unused and wasted in any fiscal year.
Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2)
The EB2 category worldwide is also expected to be over-subscribed and will exhaust all allocated visa numbers before the end of FY2009. To date, Mr. Oppenheim estimates that 3,200 EB2 India visa numbers have been used in FY2009. The high usage in the EB1 category has prevented the usual trickle of visas to the EB2 category. Thus, China will experience the same EB2 retrogression as India in July 2009. The EB2 China cutoff date is expected to be set at January 1, 2000.
Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3)
All EB3 categories are currently unavailable; all available visa numbers have been allocated. No change is expected to occur until the beginning of FY2010.
Employment-Based, Fourth Preference / Certain Religious Workers
There has been an unexpectedly heavy usage of visas in the EB4 categories for certain religious worker in FY2009. A cutoff date thus may be set in August or September 2009. Mr. Oppenheim stated that, if the Certain Religious Workers category becomes unavailable, applicants in the ministers category are not affected.
Visa Numbers for Indian Nationals
Mr. Oppenheim has set the cutoff date for EB2 India at January 1, 2000. According to current estimates, out of the approximately 200,000 I-485 applications currently pending with USCIS, 120,000 of them are chargeable to India, with the cases divided evenly between EB2 and EB3. This means that EB2 and EB3 India applicants count for 60 percent of the I-485 cases currently pending with the USCIS.
FY2010 Predictions by Charles Oppenheim of DOS
Mr. Oppenheim stated that he expects the EB3 worldwide category to have a cutoff date of March 1, 2003, beginning with the October 2009 Visa Bulletin. When asked about the potential cutoff dates for EB3 India, China, and Mexico, Mr. Oppenheim said that it would depend on the demand for these categories over the rest of FY2009.
Mr. Oppenheim estimated that there are currently 25,000 EB2 and EB3 cases from Indian nationals that have been reviewed and are only waiting for visa numbers for final processing. He stated that, due to the dramatic increase in employment-based filings, visa cutoff dates for FY2010 will be much more limited to ensure that there will be a steady supply of visa numbers available throughout the year. This will lead to earlier cutoff dates and may help prevent visa categories from becoming unavailable.
Conclusion
We at the Murthy Law Firm appreciate Mr. Oppenheim's commitment to addressing matters related to visa numbers and the Visa Bulletin. The continued shortage of employment-based visa numbers is a source of great frustration for many and Mr. Oppenheim's predictions do not assuage that feeling. It is better to have an understanding of the reality of the situation, however, than to operate in ignorance or with unrealistic expectations. Once again, the shortage of immigrant visa numbers underscores the need for legislation in this area to increase the numbers, change the counting of the numbers (from one per person to one per family), or to revamp the system entirely.
tattoo Wedding of Prince William
manderson
10-18 12:25 PM
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061018.BOARDIMM16/TPStory/National (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061018.BOARDIMM16/TPStory/National)
Immigration board short of staff as backlog grows
GLORIA GALLOWAY
OTTAWA -- The number of immigrants and refugees waiting for permission to stay in Canada has grown since the Conservatives took power last February, the chairman of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada told a Commons committee yesterday.
"This year, the IRB has a complement of 156 members. As of today, we have 40 vacancies," Jean-Guy Fleury said at a meeting of a parliamentary immigration committee.
When he appeared before the committee in May, Mr. Fleury said he was optimistic that the backlog of cases would drop below 20,000. And it did fall to 19,800 a short time later, he said yesterday.
But, because there are not enough people to hear cases, it has since climbed to 20,500 and Mr. Fleury said he expects it will quickly hit 24,500. The government, meanwhile, has made just eight new appointments and 12 reappointments since the January election, he said.
"In the absence of appointments and reappointments, I cannot fulfill my promises to this committee on processing times and innovative reforms," Mr. Fleury said.
Lesley Harmer, spokesperson for Immigration Minister Monte Solberg, said the minister has taken several steps to get the positions filled.
"We have brought in reforms that have reduced the process for applicants down from eight months to four months," Ms. Harmer said.
"As well, at the minister's urging, to cast the net wide and ensure potential candidates are informed, an advertisement was placed in the Canada Gazette and national newspapers to draw in a new pool of applicants for openings on the board. This resulted in more than 350 new candidates. We're also continuing to look for ways to reform the system and get competent, professional members on the board."
But opposition members who sit on the immigration committee said Mr. Solberg must act quickly to fill the vacancies.
"I think it is a very serious issue," said Bill Siksay, the NDP immigration critic. "The vacancies mean that the work's not getting done, that important decisions aren't being made, that people are being left in limbo."
Mr. Fleury said he has met with the minister about eight times since the election and that the only reason for those meetings is to discuss appointments, Mr. Siksay said. "So I think that the minister is a barrier in all of this."
Liberal immigration critic, Raymonde Folco, a former member of the Immigration and Refugee Board, said the backlog that her party started to reduce is now increasing again.
"I know from experience that it takes an awful lot of people to take care of these hundreds and hundreds of refugee claimants who come in every year," Ms. Folco said.
"Just in terms of mathematics, when you divide the number of immigration judges we have now by the number of cases that come in, you realize that gives such a load to people that they can't support it."
Meili Faille, the Bloc's immigration critic, also blamed the minister and the Conservative government for the problem.
There have been many complaints from lawyers, Ms. Faille said, "but also from people in our constituencies where their hearings are being postponed and delayed and what the IRB revealed to us this morning is that backlogs are increasing since the Conservatives have been in place."
Immigration board short of staff as backlog grows
GLORIA GALLOWAY
OTTAWA -- The number of immigrants and refugees waiting for permission to stay in Canada has grown since the Conservatives took power last February, the chairman of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada told a Commons committee yesterday.
"This year, the IRB has a complement of 156 members. As of today, we have 40 vacancies," Jean-Guy Fleury said at a meeting of a parliamentary immigration committee.
When he appeared before the committee in May, Mr. Fleury said he was optimistic that the backlog of cases would drop below 20,000. And it did fall to 19,800 a short time later, he said yesterday.
But, because there are not enough people to hear cases, it has since climbed to 20,500 and Mr. Fleury said he expects it will quickly hit 24,500. The government, meanwhile, has made just eight new appointments and 12 reappointments since the January election, he said.
"In the absence of appointments and reappointments, I cannot fulfill my promises to this committee on processing times and innovative reforms," Mr. Fleury said.
Lesley Harmer, spokesperson for Immigration Minister Monte Solberg, said the minister has taken several steps to get the positions filled.
"We have brought in reforms that have reduced the process for applicants down from eight months to four months," Ms. Harmer said.
"As well, at the minister's urging, to cast the net wide and ensure potential candidates are informed, an advertisement was placed in the Canada Gazette and national newspapers to draw in a new pool of applicants for openings on the board. This resulted in more than 350 new candidates. We're also continuing to look for ways to reform the system and get competent, professional members on the board."
But opposition members who sit on the immigration committee said Mr. Solberg must act quickly to fill the vacancies.
"I think it is a very serious issue," said Bill Siksay, the NDP immigration critic. "The vacancies mean that the work's not getting done, that important decisions aren't being made, that people are being left in limbo."
Mr. Fleury said he has met with the minister about eight times since the election and that the only reason for those meetings is to discuss appointments, Mr. Siksay said. "So I think that the minister is a barrier in all of this."
Liberal immigration critic, Raymonde Folco, a former member of the Immigration and Refugee Board, said the backlog that her party started to reduce is now increasing again.
"I know from experience that it takes an awful lot of people to take care of these hundreds and hundreds of refugee claimants who come in every year," Ms. Folco said.
"Just in terms of mathematics, when you divide the number of immigration judges we have now by the number of cases that come in, you realize that gives such a load to people that they can't support it."
Meili Faille, the Bloc's immigration critic, also blamed the minister and the Conservative government for the problem.
There have been many complaints from lawyers, Ms. Faille said, "but also from people in our constituencies where their hearings are being postponed and delayed and what the IRB revealed to us this morning is that backlogs are increasing since the Conservatives have been in place."
more...
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whitecollarslave
09-23 02:54 PM
Yes, mine was approved a month back without any hassles and bought the home ....
If you don't mind sharing who was the lender?
If you don't mind sharing who was the lender?
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RattuRani
06-03 09:39 PM
Giving an interim GC while visa number is unavailable will have the effect of bypassing the entire GC quota system. How do you want the interim card to be different from the final thing? No way that anyone in Congress will allow for their laws to be overridden through USCIS rulemaking.
more...
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Rb_newsletter
01-13 06:16 PM
GC is for future employment....this memo is only for H1B. Otherwise you can sue them.
haha I wonder if they understand that rule. If they did, then why are they asking for pay stubs for past 2 years?
haha I wonder if they understand that rule. If they did, then why are they asking for pay stubs for past 2 years?
girlfriend Prince William is at the
unseenguy
08-16 06:03 PM
My point is Indians do not have the balls to do it. Forget americans....they can not even touch an indian MP. Every day lots common people going through this security check. Whats so special about SRK. He is king only in his mind/heart. For lot of people he is crap. No special treatment. Whats the big deal if he is detained for 1 hr. The world is not going to end
Its just highlighting the profiling because of name of religion or skin color. I agree world is not going to end but Indians need to be assertive to protect their own dignity.
Its just highlighting the profiling because of name of religion or skin color. I agree world is not going to end but Indians need to be assertive to protect their own dignity.
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msp1976
02-18 10:33 PM
In the past three years; I have seen an administrative assistant get sponsored as a skilled worker; a cook making $8.50 as a specialty cook at an Indian restaurant; 8 phillipinos getting sponsored as cooks with a wage of $9.00 at a restaurant; a convenience store clerk; (from reading administrative appeals decisions; i have seen a driving instructor, horse trainer, etc.). All of these jobs fit into a definition of "skilled worker" and share same eb3 category as professional.
In fact I guess most of the April 2001 245(i) cases are also getting through the Eb3 category...I thought that they would get into the EB3 Other workers category with the 10 K cap........ I guess many of the cases you are referring to must be the 245(i) cases...
As I remember, even when I came to US the first time in 2000, I was interviewed quite rigorously...They made me submit degree certificate and experience certificates and all...
Cooks and driving instructors getting in on H1B??? That is news to me...
In fact I guess most of the April 2001 245(i) cases are also getting through the Eb3 category...I thought that they would get into the EB3 Other workers category with the 10 K cap........ I guess many of the cases you are referring to must be the 245(i) cases...
As I remember, even when I came to US the first time in 2000, I was interviewed quite rigorously...They made me submit degree certificate and experience certificates and all...
Cooks and driving instructors getting in on H1B??? That is news to me...
alisa
07-04 10:57 AM
I am sick and tired of cookie cutter responses from lawmakers staff. They have a standard template, that starts off with how concerned they are that the immigration system is broken, and their concern for American companies and workers and H-1b.
Enough of that freaking rubbish....
Lets send them letters, and specifically ask them
a) Do you condemn USCIS/DOS behavior, or do you commend it?
b) Do you sympathise with the plight of the employment based greencard applicants or not?
Finally, say that their response will be posted on online public forums so that it can be shared with other employment based greencard applicants.
Enough of that freaking rubbish....
Lets send them letters, and specifically ask them
a) Do you condemn USCIS/DOS behavior, or do you commend it?
b) Do you sympathise with the plight of the employment based greencard applicants or not?
Finally, say that their response will be posted on online public forums so that it can be shared with other employment based greencard applicants.
TeddyKoochu
09-15 07:35 AM
My dear friend, always you have to be hopeful, and cheerful.
If you want to build your hope look at people who are waiting with PDs in 2009.
This is a great thread. I don't know how real are the predictions, but this thread gives a great energy. lots of thanks to OP.
You are correct, being hopeful & cheerful is extremely important for all of us here. The spillover really holds the key as to how things would be moving.
If you want to build your hope look at people who are waiting with PDs in 2009.
This is a great thread. I don't know how real are the predictions, but this thread gives a great energy. lots of thanks to OP.
You are correct, being hopeful & cheerful is extremely important for all of us here. The spillover really holds the key as to how things would be moving.