transpass
10-02 12:22 PM
Whenever there is a tech system upgrade, especially of this magnitude, there are bound to have glitches, problems, etc...I wonder how smoothly the integration will go. Hopefully, all will be well and does not affect the productivity at CIS...The productivity is already so low at CIS...Hoping for the best...
Blog Feeds
11-19 03:01 AM
Immigration Law from Houston Immigration Lawyer - Annie Banerjee Has Just Posted the Following:
Computerworld is reporting that USCIS will conduct 25000 H-1B raids up from 5191 last year.
For more details on what the CIS is looking for in these raids please refer to two of my previous blogs.
Two of my clients were "raided" and another one had somebody visit the beneficiary's job site.
In all these cases the officer did not ask for any documents. They seemed satisfied that the job location site actually existed, and that the beneficiary actually worked there. Beneficiaries were not questioned extensively at all.
According to the Computerworld article the USCIS found "various problems including fraud" in nearly one in five H-1B applications last year.
Yes it is important to combat fraud. But much of the fraud is because the USCIS (as does the DOL) does not accept the reality of workplace situations. In the IT business the end user usually contracts with someone, who then contracts with someone else to get the employee. For instance, Computer consulting Company A has an individual ready to work. Computer Consulting Company A has a contract with Consulting Company B. Consulting Company B has an agreement with say Megacorp C to perform the work. So A contracts the employee to B who then place him at C. The CIS holds that Company A cannot petition for the beneficiary, since Company A will not control the beneficiary and hence is not the proper employer. Company B is.
Why should control of a professional matter? Do professionals with at least a Bachelor's Degree need control? Why cant the CIS look into the reality of workplace situations?
Instead the Government is using the $500 fraud fee that it collects from Employers filing for H-1b to hire workers who does not understand the complexities of the problem to act as policeman and visit sites.
Also in keeping with this fraud finding, the CIS gives out ridiculous "requests for evidence" (RFE) to small employers. They need everything under the kitchen sink. The Company's taxes, wage report, pictures, type of toilet tissue they use, coffee maker's name. I only wish I was kidding.
All this only discourages small businesses, the backbone of the US economy from filing H-1B petitions. Yet look at this year. From April 01 to November 13, only 55,600 applications have been filed. Is this not proof that the marketplace takes care of the filings, and that most employers do not file false petitions?
And lets face it, no small employer can afford just the government fees of $1570/- per H-1B candidate, not to mention attorney's fees unless they really want the foreign employee. So these employees are NOT taking US jobs, much as the democrats like to think. And true to the democratic principal, there are no more fraud investigations on family based immigration like "paper marriages", which are far more dangerous than simply not allowing H-1Bs who don't have contracts with end users not to file.
Contact Houston Immigration Lawyer (http://www.visatous.com), Annie Banerjee for more detailshttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8629098317507537197-7403958893559959230?l=usimmigrationmatters.blogspo t.com
More... (http://usimmigrationmatters.blogspot.com/2009/11/h-1b-site-raids-revisited.html)
Computerworld is reporting that USCIS will conduct 25000 H-1B raids up from 5191 last year.
For more details on what the CIS is looking for in these raids please refer to two of my previous blogs.
Two of my clients were "raided" and another one had somebody visit the beneficiary's job site.
In all these cases the officer did not ask for any documents. They seemed satisfied that the job location site actually existed, and that the beneficiary actually worked there. Beneficiaries were not questioned extensively at all.
According to the Computerworld article the USCIS found "various problems including fraud" in nearly one in five H-1B applications last year.
Yes it is important to combat fraud. But much of the fraud is because the USCIS (as does the DOL) does not accept the reality of workplace situations. In the IT business the end user usually contracts with someone, who then contracts with someone else to get the employee. For instance, Computer consulting Company A has an individual ready to work. Computer Consulting Company A has a contract with Consulting Company B. Consulting Company B has an agreement with say Megacorp C to perform the work. So A contracts the employee to B who then place him at C. The CIS holds that Company A cannot petition for the beneficiary, since Company A will not control the beneficiary and hence is not the proper employer. Company B is.
Why should control of a professional matter? Do professionals with at least a Bachelor's Degree need control? Why cant the CIS look into the reality of workplace situations?
Instead the Government is using the $500 fraud fee that it collects from Employers filing for H-1b to hire workers who does not understand the complexities of the problem to act as policeman and visit sites.
Also in keeping with this fraud finding, the CIS gives out ridiculous "requests for evidence" (RFE) to small employers. They need everything under the kitchen sink. The Company's taxes, wage report, pictures, type of toilet tissue they use, coffee maker's name. I only wish I was kidding.
All this only discourages small businesses, the backbone of the US economy from filing H-1B petitions. Yet look at this year. From April 01 to November 13, only 55,600 applications have been filed. Is this not proof that the marketplace takes care of the filings, and that most employers do not file false petitions?
And lets face it, no small employer can afford just the government fees of $1570/- per H-1B candidate, not to mention attorney's fees unless they really want the foreign employee. So these employees are NOT taking US jobs, much as the democrats like to think. And true to the democratic principal, there are no more fraud investigations on family based immigration like "paper marriages", which are far more dangerous than simply not allowing H-1Bs who don't have contracts with end users not to file.
Contact Houston Immigration Lawyer (http://www.visatous.com), Annie Banerjee for more detailshttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8629098317507537197-7403958893559959230?l=usimmigrationmatters.blogspo t.com
More... (http://usimmigrationmatters.blogspot.com/2009/11/h-1b-site-raids-revisited.html)
h1bq
02-08 05:44 PM
Might be slightly more than 6 months...But much faster than EB3/EB2 India/china....
Are you saying this is just 6 months for GC thru L1A ? Wow !:eek:
Are you saying this is just 6 months for GC thru L1A ? Wow !:eek:
rpat1968
09-17 06:07 PM
My PD is July 2004,
RD July 2, 2007 - NSC
ND : Aug 9, 2007
I-140 (EB2) approved in Nov 2006 (Single I140)
NC Cleared Oct 2007
Biometrics Updated by USCIS on Feb 2009
Case Preajudicated on Apr 13 2009 after response to EVL Rfe received by USCIS.
Last slud on Apr 14, 2009.
I opened SR's on 3rd Sept 2009 to check the status of my I-485 and got a disturbing email that I am in EB3 category and visa not available. Opened another SR to clarify this but did not get proper reply. Also they said they cannot correct the EB category.
Went for an infopass today and the IO told that my current EB classification is E37 and my spouse as E39. This means that I am in EB3. (See GC codes - GREEN CARD CATEGORY CODES (http://www..com/usa-discussion-forums/i485-eb/125892951/green-card-category-codes))
Look a like USCIS has put me in incorrect EB classfication. My Attorney said he will write to USCIS but I wanted to know if I can do anything to get this corrected.
I wanted to know if anyone faced similar issue and how to fix this .
Is there a normal/expedited way to contact USCIS-NSC to correct this type of issues?
Because of this mistake I am seriously affected and losing precious time when the dates for EB2 are current.
PLEASE HELP.:confused: :mad:
RD July 2, 2007 - NSC
ND : Aug 9, 2007
I-140 (EB2) approved in Nov 2006 (Single I140)
NC Cleared Oct 2007
Biometrics Updated by USCIS on Feb 2009
Case Preajudicated on Apr 13 2009 after response to EVL Rfe received by USCIS.
Last slud on Apr 14, 2009.
I opened SR's on 3rd Sept 2009 to check the status of my I-485 and got a disturbing email that I am in EB3 category and visa not available. Opened another SR to clarify this but did not get proper reply. Also they said they cannot correct the EB category.
Went for an infopass today and the IO told that my current EB classification is E37 and my spouse as E39. This means that I am in EB3. (See GC codes - GREEN CARD CATEGORY CODES (http://www..com/usa-discussion-forums/i485-eb/125892951/green-card-category-codes))
Look a like USCIS has put me in incorrect EB classfication. My Attorney said he will write to USCIS but I wanted to know if I can do anything to get this corrected.
I wanted to know if anyone faced similar issue and how to fix this .
Is there a normal/expedited way to contact USCIS-NSC to correct this type of issues?
Because of this mistake I am seriously affected and losing precious time when the dates for EB2 are current.
PLEASE HELP.:confused: :mad:
more...
alterego
11-11 09:22 PM
both the parties have decided not to touch immigration at all this year (till elections) they have decided against any increase in any numbers (h1b's, GC's) etc, so much so that the senate are requesting chertoff (homeland security secretary) to increase the OPT time for international student to 2.5 years so they can temp overide the h1b jam.
Did you hear Sen. Grasley last week? There are many bills to be concluded before the end of the year. There is a lot of pressure from corporate America right now. The US economy can ill afford to alienate capitalists at this juncture.
There are also other skill sets like Medicine, Nursing and other areas where there are well documented shortages, the issues of these fields have been held up in the overall debate over H1bs. Legislators are aware they have to address these also.
Did you hear Sen. Grasley last week? There are many bills to be concluded before the end of the year. There is a lot of pressure from corporate America right now. The US economy can ill afford to alienate capitalists at this juncture.
There are also other skill sets like Medicine, Nursing and other areas where there are well documented shortages, the issues of these fields have been held up in the overall debate over H1bs. Legislators are aware they have to address these also.
starving_dog
10-17 06:31 AM
It took me 6 days to get my approval and about another week to get the card in the mail. This happened in September of this year and I was registered in the Texas Service Center.
That is assuming that you have gone through your biometrics appointment.
That is assuming that you have gone through your biometrics appointment.
more...
inskrish
01-30 09:33 AM
I checked online for my daughter's 485 and it shows approved and document(possibly GC):eek: mailed on 12 Jan. But my status shows RFE stage. Another interesting thing is my daughter got fingerprinting for Jan 15. She has already done fingerprinting with us in Dec 07. Even if it was to be approved for my daughter how it can happen that she goes for FP on 15 Jan and they mailed document. I dont know what is going on. Any suggestions?
Hello,
What is your daughter's online case status for I-485?
Hello,
What is your daughter's online case status for I-485?
scubadude
May 25th, 2005, 06:47 PM
Thanks for your replies. I'll see what I can do to improve.
more...
venky08
12-20 11:51 AM
the way i did it is i applied over internet using online AR-11 form. I did not apply by mail. Then, the next day, I called my lawyer's office and told them to contact USCIS to make them aware that my address has been changed on the petitions that are under consideration. For the people who use the online change of address path, i think everybody should know that there is more to it than just hitting submit button to AR-11. It then takes you further to ask whether do you have any pending petitions with USCIS. then you are supposed to say yes (if you do) and then it will take you to a screen where you provide your case numbers etc. however I couldnt get to that step due to some glitch so i decided to call my lawyer's office to have them finish that step. They simply called and informed USCIS of the address change.
hope this helps.
Did you apply online or thru regular mail? Also, if you sent regular mail, was it certified mail or just regular first-class mail?
hope this helps.
Did you apply online or thru regular mail? Also, if you sent regular mail, was it certified mail or just regular first-class mail?
sbabunle
01-04 03:55 PM
So we are over 8000 strong. Lets target 10,000 by Jan 15?
more...
prstudio
04-28 09:54 PM
i liked iron's treads
sina
08-15 09:56 AM
If you belong to India then it depends on the state of residense. You can go to other consulates if you are a returning H1B, meaning this is not your first H1 stamping. For first time stamps they require one to go the consulate of the region they belong to.
more...
njboy
09-07 10:57 AM
Dont Advertise on the board and we are not doing call center jobs here to learn american accent.
by saying this, you are belittling the people who do call center jobs in india.
speaking without a thick indian accent can be great for your career..because, while communication skills may not be important to be a programmer, it does get important when you are speaking in a meeting, or giving a presentation .
having said that, i would ask the admins to delete this thread. This is just advertising. Im sure all of us can google ways to improve our communication skills/improve english/speak in american accent or whatever it is we want to do.
by saying this, you are belittling the people who do call center jobs in india.
speaking without a thick indian accent can be great for your career..because, while communication skills may not be important to be a programmer, it does get important when you are speaking in a meeting, or giving a presentation .
having said that, i would ask the admins to delete this thread. This is just advertising. Im sure all of us can google ways to improve our communication skills/improve english/speak in american accent or whatever it is we want to do.
.jpg "Adriana Lima-Caught without")
Britsabroad
December 2nd, 2008, 06:34 PM
Hey Ed - I chickened out on the Abes deal after reading the reviews - sounds like they make you work hard for your discount. If you went for it, let me know the outcome.
So what made you switch?
Well... A friend of mine has a photography business and uses Nikon kit. For a long time I have been impressed by her out of the camera images (color and skin tones), particularly flash shots. She was achieving good looking images with far less processing than me. Her nikon zooms were great wide open too - mine were just OK (on a 20d) I was hoping that Canon would take a hint, & come up with a feature set to compete with the d300. They didnt do it, so I jumped ship!
So what made you switch?
Well... A friend of mine has a photography business and uses Nikon kit. For a long time I have been impressed by her out of the camera images (color and skin tones), particularly flash shots. She was achieving good looking images with far less processing than me. Her nikon zooms were great wide open too - mine were just OK (on a 20d) I was hoping that Canon would take a hint, & come up with a feature set to compete with the d300. They didnt do it, so I jumped ship!
more...
anu_t
08-27 02:08 PM
The new job role must have a 50% different job duties and if it does have a requirement of EB2 then it is possible.
With the same job role it is not Possible .
With the same job role it is not Possible .
andycool
04-21 01:50 PM
Contributed a small amount for this cause....
more...
eb3retro
08-21 01:15 PM
1) Are there any issues traveling on AP under the following circumstances??
- there's no current H1 stamp, although H1 extension for 3 years has been approved
- AP is expiring within 2-3 days of planned return?
- New AP is filed/pending, Receipt Notice received
- Employer is a Fortune 500
2) I've read previously that they ask you if you've changed employers since filing I-485. Anybody familiar with scenarios where employers have changed??
3) Docs I need to carry, besides... :
- H1 Approval notices?? (All of them since day 1?)
- I-485 Receipt Notice
- I-140 Approval Notice (do i need this?)
- Current AP Approval Notice
- Pending AP Receipt Notice
- Paystub??
- Letter from employer??? (do I need this?)
hi jazzbythebay,
i was in pretty much in the same state like you a couple of months ago. i quit the original employer who sponsored by gc, used AC21 and EAD to join a new employer, and then i had to travel to india within a week of joining the new company. I infact had quit the company since I had an offer with another big multinational and i went to india and came back using AP. no h1 stamping. in both the above situations, i have not informed uscis. so literally when i went out of US and came back, i was unemployed. luckily for me they did not ask me the question of "are you working for the same employer that sponsored ur gc"? this is in SFO airport. as long as u have a valid ap, you could get in, its just that you may get some questions. just be prepared for that. Just show them the documents only if they ask for it. but keep it in hand just for your satisfaction. To me, they dont know much abt ac21 etc (atleast not thoroughly), so we dont need to teach them anything. my only worry in your case is, that you have only 2 days before your expiry of AP. So, make sure you take the ap renewal receipt with you, that alone could just prove them that your renewal is in process. hope this helps..bon voyage...
- there's no current H1 stamp, although H1 extension for 3 years has been approved
- AP is expiring within 2-3 days of planned return?
- New AP is filed/pending, Receipt Notice received
- Employer is a Fortune 500
2) I've read previously that they ask you if you've changed employers since filing I-485. Anybody familiar with scenarios where employers have changed??
3) Docs I need to carry, besides... :
- H1 Approval notices?? (All of them since day 1?)
- I-485 Receipt Notice
- I-140 Approval Notice (do i need this?)
- Current AP Approval Notice
- Pending AP Receipt Notice
- Paystub??
- Letter from employer??? (do I need this?)
hi jazzbythebay,
i was in pretty much in the same state like you a couple of months ago. i quit the original employer who sponsored by gc, used AC21 and EAD to join a new employer, and then i had to travel to india within a week of joining the new company. I infact had quit the company since I had an offer with another big multinational and i went to india and came back using AP. no h1 stamping. in both the above situations, i have not informed uscis. so literally when i went out of US and came back, i was unemployed. luckily for me they did not ask me the question of "are you working for the same employer that sponsored ur gc"? this is in SFO airport. as long as u have a valid ap, you could get in, its just that you may get some questions. just be prepared for that. Just show them the documents only if they ask for it. but keep it in hand just for your satisfaction. To me, they dont know much abt ac21 etc (atleast not thoroughly), so we dont need to teach them anything. my only worry in your case is, that you have only 2 days before your expiry of AP. So, make sure you take the ap renewal receipt with you, that alone could just prove them that your renewal is in process. hope this helps..bon voyage...
whitecollarslave
02-12 12:28 AM
As valid an argument it may be, buying a house as a bargaining tactic will create a lot of bad publicity and would be counter-productive. I think if we want to do gandhigiri, lets send flowers to Senator Grassley. If you want to make an impact, do the unusual.
Imagine how media will report something like that. Even when Grassley is dead against EB people, those very same people are sending flowers to him, not asking for anything, not demanding anything, just respectfully reminding him that not all immigrants are bad, some are really instrumental to making this country great.
We should write a simple, short, positive, and respectful message without sarcasm and without asking for anything. Instead of saying how we can be helpful *if* we have a green card, lets just focus on how we are already a positive contribution to American economy and national interest despite the clouds of uncertainty. Some things are better left unsaid to get the message across. Instead of us saying it, let the media report it - imagine how much more their contribution could be if they had green card.
Here are some suggestions for short messages -
I am a physician with NIW working in town/area which is medically under served. I am not taking away any American jobs.
I am foreign but not cheap. I earn xxx. My income is x% above average wage in my profession; x% above the higher end of prevailing wage standards set by DOL. In addition, my employer is paying 10-20K in immigration costs, some of which goes to train more Americans in STEM.
I am doing research in some field of humanitarian or national interest. e.g. bio medicine, green technologies, etc.
Imagine how media will report something like that. Even when Grassley is dead against EB people, those very same people are sending flowers to him, not asking for anything, not demanding anything, just respectfully reminding him that not all immigrants are bad, some are really instrumental to making this country great.
We should write a simple, short, positive, and respectful message without sarcasm and without asking for anything. Instead of saying how we can be helpful *if* we have a green card, lets just focus on how we are already a positive contribution to American economy and national interest despite the clouds of uncertainty. Some things are better left unsaid to get the message across. Instead of us saying it, let the media report it - imagine how much more their contribution could be if they had green card.
Here are some suggestions for short messages -
I am a physician with NIW working in town/area which is medically under served. I am not taking away any American jobs.
I am foreign but not cheap. I earn xxx. My income is x% above average wage in my profession; x% above the higher end of prevailing wage standards set by DOL. In addition, my employer is paying 10-20K in immigration costs, some of which goes to train more Americans in STEM.
I am doing research in some field of humanitarian or national interest. e.g. bio medicine, green technologies, etc.
roseball
04-04 02:21 PM
Hello Everyone, I have one specific issue.
My Priority date is May 2007, and i am under 3rd category h1b 3-years extension at the moment in the USA. I140 has been approved and i am waiting for priority date to be current so i can apply for i485. but its taking too long because of the backlog. What are my overseas travelling options during this LOOONG waiting period.
Can me and my wife (holding h4) travel overseas while waiting for the priority date to be current? like i said we have an approved i140 and h1b 3-years approval notice, but have not yet applied for i485 as we are waiting for priority date to be current. please help? anyone is the same situation?
Just use your valid H1/H4 visa for travel. If you had applied for I-485, then you would have had an extra option to apply and use AP for travel. Since you haven't filed I-485 yet, you can continue to use H1/H4 visa for travel while you wait to file I-485. Btw, if you are already over your 6 year H1 visa limit, then having an approved I-140 entitles you to get 3 yr H1 extensions whenever you are due for H1 renewal.
My Priority date is May 2007, and i am under 3rd category h1b 3-years extension at the moment in the USA. I140 has been approved and i am waiting for priority date to be current so i can apply for i485. but its taking too long because of the backlog. What are my overseas travelling options during this LOOONG waiting period.
Can me and my wife (holding h4) travel overseas while waiting for the priority date to be current? like i said we have an approved i140 and h1b 3-years approval notice, but have not yet applied for i485 as we are waiting for priority date to be current. please help? anyone is the same situation?
Just use your valid H1/H4 visa for travel. If you had applied for I-485, then you would have had an extra option to apply and use AP for travel. Since you haven't filed I-485 yet, you can continue to use H1/H4 visa for travel while you wait to file I-485. Btw, if you are already over your 6 year H1 visa limit, then having an approved I-140 entitles you to get 3 yr H1 extensions whenever you are due for H1 renewal.
485Mbe4001
03-20 02:56 PM
instructions from Oh's site
03/20/2009: USCIS to Release Answers to Scope of TARP-Funded Employer Restrictions to H-1B New Hire
AILA has reported the USCIS update on this issue dated 03/20/2009. According to this USCIS release which may be released on its website soon, the people will be either subject to the new law or not subject to the new law:
Those Who Are Subject to the New Law:
Any LCA or petition filed on or after 02/17/2009 by such employer for hire as a new employee regardless of whether he/she is already in H-1B status and regardless of concurrent new employment by such a new employer.
New employment based on a petition approved before Feb. 17, 2009 but the H-1B employee had not actually commenced employment before that date.
Those Who Are Not Subject to the New Law:
H-1B petition to extend the H-1B status (EOS) of a current employee with
the same employer (TARP funded).
H-1B petition seeking to change the status (COS) of a current U.S. work authorized employee to H-1B status with the same employer (TARP funded).
It is a huge relief for those nonimmigrants who are currently working with the TARP employers who need extension of their current H-1B status or change of their nonimmigrant status from other nonimmigrant classification to H-1B, particulay in the FY 2010 H-1B cap filing on or after April 1, 2009. We salute the USCIS leaders for such lenient and liberal interpretation of the new law. For details, people are advised to wait until it is published in the agency's website.
03/20/2009: USCIS to Release Answers to Scope of TARP-Funded Employer Restrictions to H-1B New Hire
AILA has reported the USCIS update on this issue dated 03/20/2009. According to this USCIS release which may be released on its website soon, the people will be either subject to the new law or not subject to the new law:
Those Who Are Subject to the New Law:
Any LCA or petition filed on or after 02/17/2009 by such employer for hire as a new employee regardless of whether he/she is already in H-1B status and regardless of concurrent new employment by such a new employer.
New employment based on a petition approved before Feb. 17, 2009 but the H-1B employee had not actually commenced employment before that date.
Those Who Are Not Subject to the New Law:
H-1B petition to extend the H-1B status (EOS) of a current employee with
the same employer (TARP funded).
H-1B petition seeking to change the status (COS) of a current U.S. work authorized employee to H-1B status with the same employer (TARP funded).
It is a huge relief for those nonimmigrants who are currently working with the TARP employers who need extension of their current H-1B status or change of their nonimmigrant status from other nonimmigrant classification to H-1B, particulay in the FY 2010 H-1B cap filing on or after April 1, 2009. We salute the USCIS leaders for such lenient and liberal interpretation of the new law. For details, people are advised to wait until it is published in the agency's website.
jungalee43
03-05 11:36 AM
Something is happening on Hill. One more enforcement only bill in Senate. Its on CNN LIVE VIDEO. All senators are talking about not giving drivers license, not allowing to open bank accounts etc.
Well it is our friend from Alabama: - "individual bill is a right approach this year."
Well it is our friend from Alabama: - "individual bill is a right approach this year."
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