lavanyamohan
03-16 08:39 AM
Please suggest me good immigration attorney-( in seattle area if possible) for my H1B filing. They should be prompt in preparing my application with in 2 wks time.
My employer called Rajiv S khanna's law firm. Those para legals said they cannt gaurantee timely filing by april 1st. I think its the busiest law firm in this time of the season. cannt find fault with them any ways.
I know I am lagging behind a little bit.
As the clock is ticking, I need to rush up.
Please suggest me
Thanks much in advance
My employer called Rajiv S khanna's law firm. Those para legals said they cannt gaurantee timely filing by april 1st. I think its the busiest law firm in this time of the season. cannt find fault with them any ways.
I know I am lagging behind a little bit.
As the clock is ticking, I need to rush up.
Please suggest me
Thanks much in advance
Bpositive
03-05 08:13 AM
My luck is just not good w.r.t GC. Afte long wait my spouse finally had received her FP notice and is scheduled for her FP in couple of days. But today she accidently burnt her finger and that too right at the spot where we give the FP.
Guys , any suggestion as to what needs to be done. Should she still try to give the FP and see if it works. She has a big blister on her finger.
Any similar experiences , please post.
Yep..not to worry..just go there on the date of appt..they'll just ask you to come back when the finger heals...I cut my finger...officer made a notation on my form and asked me to come when it heals..I went after a month and got it done
Guys , any suggestion as to what needs to be done. Should she still try to give the FP and see if it works. She has a big blister on her finger.
Any similar experiences , please post.
Yep..not to worry..just go there on the date of appt..they'll just ask you to come back when the finger heals...I cut my finger...officer made a notation on my form and asked me to come when it heals..I went after a month and got it done
jigsaw
02-19 08:30 PM
Hello
Two years back I was arrested for felony domestic violence. My parents were here visiting. Father was also arrested for felony and mother for misdemeanor. Mothers case came up first. We won the case and jury decided not guilty. Me and my father were not formally charged by DA. Also at that time I was charged with violation of no contact order. I contested the case and the case was dismissed w/o prejudice.
Since then me and my wife are living together. I recently applied for citizenship and declared my arrest and the court documents.
I have also had couple of traffic tickets..one for following too closely and second for speeding like 18 miles above speed limit. Got both the tickets dismissed. I did not declare traffic tickets in N400.
I have been given a date to do the finger prints...
How all of this will affect my application for citizenship. Both me and my wife applied for citizenship..
if my application is denied then could I be deported. I came to us based on immigrant visa granted to the family because wife is a registered nurse. my GC is valid until five more years..
The court finding in violation of no contact order was "dismissed w/o prejudice". I pleaded NOT GUILTY at the time of arraignment and my attorney moved knapstead motion and on lack of action from city to contact the witness, the judge granted the motion and dismissed the case w/o prejudice.
And for charge of "unlawful imprisonment and interference in reporting", the DA sent a letter to my wife saying" this notice is to inform you that the Prosecutor's Office has made a decision not to file criminal charges in th above matter. The decision was made carefully and in accordance with office policy and charging guidelines. A decision not to file charges does not necessarily mean we concluded that no crime was committed. We must consider many factors in making a decision whether to file criminal charges." I on the other hand never got any letter from Prosecutor's Office.
Me and my wife were interviewed on 02-18-10. We were interviewed separately. My wife got the citizenship and I got N-652, saying a decision cannot be made at this time. during my interview I presented all the paperwork I gathered from the courts.i passed both the english and civic exams.
As I already said that I was charged with Violation of no contact order and I contested the case and the case was dismissed w/o prejudice. In the court dockt it was written " THE COURT FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE." but the case was dismissed in the pretrial thru knapstead motion. There is NOTHING wriiten in the dockt that suggest that " COURT HAS FOUND THAT THE VIOLATION OF NO CONTACT ORDER OCCURRED". Could I be deported?
Much thanks in advance
Two years back I was arrested for felony domestic violence. My parents were here visiting. Father was also arrested for felony and mother for misdemeanor. Mothers case came up first. We won the case and jury decided not guilty. Me and my father were not formally charged by DA. Also at that time I was charged with violation of no contact order. I contested the case and the case was dismissed w/o prejudice.
Since then me and my wife are living together. I recently applied for citizenship and declared my arrest and the court documents.
I have also had couple of traffic tickets..one for following too closely and second for speeding like 18 miles above speed limit. Got both the tickets dismissed. I did not declare traffic tickets in N400.
I have been given a date to do the finger prints...
How all of this will affect my application for citizenship. Both me and my wife applied for citizenship..
if my application is denied then could I be deported. I came to us based on immigrant visa granted to the family because wife is a registered nurse. my GC is valid until five more years..
The court finding in violation of no contact order was "dismissed w/o prejudice". I pleaded NOT GUILTY at the time of arraignment and my attorney moved knapstead motion and on lack of action from city to contact the witness, the judge granted the motion and dismissed the case w/o prejudice.
And for charge of "unlawful imprisonment and interference in reporting", the DA sent a letter to my wife saying" this notice is to inform you that the Prosecutor's Office has made a decision not to file criminal charges in th above matter. The decision was made carefully and in accordance with office policy and charging guidelines. A decision not to file charges does not necessarily mean we concluded that no crime was committed. We must consider many factors in making a decision whether to file criminal charges." I on the other hand never got any letter from Prosecutor's Office.
Me and my wife were interviewed on 02-18-10. We were interviewed separately. My wife got the citizenship and I got N-652, saying a decision cannot be made at this time. during my interview I presented all the paperwork I gathered from the courts.i passed both the english and civic exams.
As I already said that I was charged with Violation of no contact order and I contested the case and the case was dismissed w/o prejudice. In the court dockt it was written " THE COURT FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE." but the case was dismissed in the pretrial thru knapstead motion. There is NOTHING wriiten in the dockt that suggest that " COURT HAS FOUND THAT THE VIOLATION OF NO CONTACT ORDER OCCURRED". Could I be deported?
Much thanks in advance
browncow
06-06 02:04 PM
Saturn has plants to produce cars, BUT NO TECHNOLOGY OF THEIR OWN. NO R&D.
Saturn sells rebranded-rebadged OPEL (GM - EUROPE, now sold to Magna) Vehicles.
While Jaguar and Land Rover are very strong brands with their own technologies and research & design capabilities. Besides Tata bought those brands when Rupee was historically high (below 40 per USD). So I don't think Tata made any mistakes.
I think it is Mahindra who is making mistake by not buying Hummer or Volvo or Saturn. I am very excited to see first Indian Vehicle to be sold in US i.e. Mahindra in 2009. No matter what, I will be the first to buy one.
Mahindra has been selling farm vehicles, tractors and stuff, in the USA for quite some time now. I doubt if you want to buy a tractor.
Saturn sells rebranded-rebadged OPEL (GM - EUROPE, now sold to Magna) Vehicles.
While Jaguar and Land Rover are very strong brands with their own technologies and research & design capabilities. Besides Tata bought those brands when Rupee was historically high (below 40 per USD). So I don't think Tata made any mistakes.
I think it is Mahindra who is making mistake by not buying Hummer or Volvo or Saturn. I am very excited to see first Indian Vehicle to be sold in US i.e. Mahindra in 2009. No matter what, I will be the first to buy one.
Mahindra has been selling farm vehicles, tractors and stuff, in the USA for quite some time now. I doubt if you want to buy a tractor.
more...
greyhair
07-01 07:43 AM
Recently I started looking other options in India, Britain, Canada and Australia.
Here is what I found just in last 1 week.
Britain puts new cap on non-European high skilled immigration
United Kingdom, Immigration, Coalition Government Announces Temporary Migration Cap - Newland Chase - 30/06/2010, Government & Public Sector, Labour and Employment, Immigration (http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=104198)
Non-EU immigration to the UK: the statistics visualised | UK news | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jun/26/non-eu-immigration-uk-statistics#zoomed-picture)
The federal government is seeking a limit on the total number of applications for Canada immigration to 20,000 annually
Canada to welcome high skilled and wealthy immigrants | Canada Updates (http://www.canadaupdates.com/content/canada-welcome-high-skilled-and-wealthy-immigrants)
Australia announced new visa ruler to target Indians
New visa rules not targeting Indians: Oz envoy - World News - IBNLive (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/new-visa-rules-not-targeting-indians-oz-envoy/125603-2.html)
This may be the result of global economic slowdown. But China and India are allowing more immigration. Now high skill immigration is a new measure of future economic growth.
Here is what I found just in last 1 week.
Britain puts new cap on non-European high skilled immigration
United Kingdom, Immigration, Coalition Government Announces Temporary Migration Cap - Newland Chase - 30/06/2010, Government & Public Sector, Labour and Employment, Immigration (http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=104198)
Non-EU immigration to the UK: the statistics visualised | UK news | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jun/26/non-eu-immigration-uk-statistics#zoomed-picture)
The federal government is seeking a limit on the total number of applications for Canada immigration to 20,000 annually
Canada to welcome high skilled and wealthy immigrants | Canada Updates (http://www.canadaupdates.com/content/canada-welcome-high-skilled-and-wealthy-immigrants)
Australia announced new visa ruler to target Indians
New visa rules not targeting Indians: Oz envoy - World News - IBNLive (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/new-visa-rules-not-targeting-indians-oz-envoy/125603-2.html)
This may be the result of global economic slowdown. But China and India are allowing more immigration. Now high skill immigration is a new measure of future economic growth.
bluez25
08-11 03:01 PM
Guys,
I got my approval today after the CP appointment. I am still waiting for my passports though. I will update you guys with details once I receive my passports.
I got my approval today after the CP appointment. I am still waiting for my passports though. I will update you guys with details once I receive my passports.
more...
immiusa
08-14 03:00 PM
You did good thing by not sending unnecessary documentation. It is your bad luck to have an RFE for unnecessary documentation.
Some times people do send the few additional document even if they are not required. This could lead to a problem.
Ex: While attending a personal interview at a USA consulate. Every body suggests "Answer to question", not more and not less. The same rule should apply
People send extra documentation as a precautionary measure. But an IO officer may not understand the necessity of the document and send you an RFE. which would potentially delay the approval process.
Some times people do send the few additional document even if they are not required. This could lead to a problem.
Ex: While attending a personal interview at a USA consulate. Every body suggests "Answer to question", not more and not less. The same rule should apply
People send extra documentation as a precautionary measure. But an IO officer may not understand the necessity of the document and send you an RFE. which would potentially delay the approval process.
gbof
02-16 08:48 PM
Guys, Any idea how much time NSC is taking for EAD approval? This is for a fresh application not renewal.
more...
gcpadmavyuh
10-07 11:08 PM
Hi Parimmigv:
Applying for 485 does not affect your H1/H4 status, as these visas are dual intent.
If your H1 is approved, your H4 status will cease to exist from the date of H1 validity (I'm guessing, Oct 1st for you). So, officially from that date, you are on H1.
If you have applied for 485 recently, you are also eligible for EAD which authorizes you to take up "ANY" job of your choice in the US.
485 iteslf is a separate status called the adjustee or parolee status.
Now to your questions:
1. what status am I on right now ?
Since your H1 is approved, effective Oct 1st you are on H1 status. Since you applied for 485 recently you are also on the parolee status. Typically to come out clean of the H1 status, one uses their EAD to work. Then the H1 status is invalidated. To do this, just fill out a new I9 form with your employer showing EAD as the basis of authorization to work.
2. Is it true that only after getting H1 visa stamp I will be moving to H1 visa ?.
No,this is not true. You need not have your H1 stamped to be on H1 status. Your H1 picks up on Oct1st if your 797 went through.
3. How to move to EAD as I don't want to pay payroll fees ?.
Need to fill out a new I9 form with your employer indicating your EAD as the form of authorization to work.
BTW, I gathered that you have'nt received your EAD yet and you may not be in a position to produce it as proof of auth for work for a new I-9. I personally think you dont need to worry about not getting paid from Oct 1st through the day of your EAD approval, as you can claim to be on 485 parolee status during this period and not H1. Please check with a qualified
attorney. I'm 99.99% sure of this.
good luck!
Hello:
Can some please help me here ?.
Iam on H4 and I applied for H1 through a consulting company and got it approved last month. I haven't got my I797 form yet.
I have applied for EAD through my husband's company. I think EAD may take few more months to get approved. My questions are:-
1. what status am I on right now ?
2. Is it true that only after getting H1 visa stamp I will be moving to H1 visa ?.
3. How to move to EAD as I don't want to pay payroll fees ?.
Thanks,
Applying for 485 does not affect your H1/H4 status, as these visas are dual intent.
If your H1 is approved, your H4 status will cease to exist from the date of H1 validity (I'm guessing, Oct 1st for you). So, officially from that date, you are on H1.
If you have applied for 485 recently, you are also eligible for EAD which authorizes you to take up "ANY" job of your choice in the US.
485 iteslf is a separate status called the adjustee or parolee status.
Now to your questions:
1. what status am I on right now ?
Since your H1 is approved, effective Oct 1st you are on H1 status. Since you applied for 485 recently you are also on the parolee status. Typically to come out clean of the H1 status, one uses their EAD to work. Then the H1 status is invalidated. To do this, just fill out a new I9 form with your employer showing EAD as the basis of authorization to work.
2. Is it true that only after getting H1 visa stamp I will be moving to H1 visa ?.
No,this is not true. You need not have your H1 stamped to be on H1 status. Your H1 picks up on Oct1st if your 797 went through.
3. How to move to EAD as I don't want to pay payroll fees ?.
Need to fill out a new I9 form with your employer indicating your EAD as the form of authorization to work.
BTW, I gathered that you have'nt received your EAD yet and you may not be in a position to produce it as proof of auth for work for a new I-9. I personally think you dont need to worry about not getting paid from Oct 1st through the day of your EAD approval, as you can claim to be on 485 parolee status during this period and not H1. Please check with a qualified
attorney. I'm 99.99% sure of this.
good luck!
Hello:
Can some please help me here ?.
Iam on H4 and I applied for H1 through a consulting company and got it approved last month. I haven't got my I797 form yet.
I have applied for EAD through my husband's company. I think EAD may take few more months to get approved. My questions are:-
1. what status am I on right now ?
2. Is it true that only after getting H1 visa stamp I will be moving to H1 visa ?.
3. How to move to EAD as I don't want to pay payroll fees ?.
Thanks,
simple1
06-05 08:09 PM
Looks like everything in GM is on sale.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ae2V3Y.7j85k&refer=news
Saturn is sold for $100 to $200 mn.
Who knows GM may sell the retired brands for 1 or 2 mn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac#End_of_the_Pontiac_brand
Now the important question.
Did tatas overpay for jaguar and landrover ? Looks like they did.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ae2V3Y.7j85k&refer=news
Saturn is sold for $100 to $200 mn.
Who knows GM may sell the retired brands for 1 or 2 mn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac#End_of_the_Pontiac_brand
Now the important question.
Did tatas overpay for jaguar and landrover ? Looks like they did.
more...
shaileshkaria2525@hotmail
09-19 11:30 PM
I want to share the experience of one of my friends who recently went for visa stamping.
He went to Mumbai Consulate with his family for H1B and H4 visa stamping on 08/25/2009. Here are his basic details.
*He got his H1B approved through October 2011.
*He has his GC process on.
*He had originally come here on B1B2 visa about six years back and got the visa converted into H1B visa.
*His current employer is his third change of jobs and have been with this employer for the past 3 years.
*He has his I 140 approved for about a years time and has EAD, and AP valid through October 2008.
His Experience
Their appointed time for visa stamping was 9.00am and their turn came at about 11.00am.The Visa Officer asked my friend routine questions about how he got his first job and he answered exactly as his lawyer had advised. The VO asked him questions about his current employer, what the company was doing, how many employees did the company have et al. She asked him a specific question as to why he went to the US first and why his family joined him later initially although they got the B1B2 visa together. To this he replied that his sons were students in India and they had their terminal exams in September back then.
Then she asked him as to whether he had his credentials with him. He showed her his degree certificates as well as copies of his membership certificates of Chartered Accountancy. She looked at all the originals and then conveyed to him that there were inconsistencies on his certifacates with his original B1B2 visa application and that she will call them later. My friend gave her a copy of his credential evaluation for all the degree certificates.
They were stranded at the consulate for another two hours when another VO announced their names. She was an Indian lady who asked him a silly question about CA institute and as to why he did not mention the name of the city where the institute belonged to. My friend replied that it was an all india institute head quartered in New Delhi. He also conveyed to her that he had given them a copy of his membership as a fellow ( CAs receive the membership certificate as a fellow after they complete public accounting practice as an accountant for five years). She then conveyed to him that she will call him later if required. After about one and half hour further the original visa officer called their name and conveyed to them that there was some further investigation needed to be done on their case. Gave them a yellow letter that stated that he will get an e-mail from the consulate office and they do not need to come back. She gave four VFS envelopes for all of them and asked my friend to wait for the e-mail. She told him that there was nothing to worry about in his case bla bla bla...
My friend and his family had their tickets booked back to US on 08/30/08 from Mumbai. He called his lawyer in US and sought his advise. The lawyer advised that ideally my friend should wait for the e-mail and extend his stay in India. To which my friend replied that he had already availed three weeks of vacation and that he needed to go back to US. They waited with baited breath for the e-mail from the consulate that never came. My friend meanwhile managed an e-mail from his boss that asked him to resume his work on Monday September 02, 2008.
They took the risk and came back to LAX on 08/31/08 and did not encounter any problem using their Advanced Parole documents.
This morning my friend received an e-mail from the Consulate Office in Mumbai that stated that the administrative process for the non-immigrant visa application on his case had been completed and asked him to come at the Consulate on any working day in the morning with yellow letter, VFS envelope, and documents pertaining to visa application. But the last sentence on the e-mail read as under, " Personal appearance is required. Please carry a copy of this email for ready reference."
Gurus! anybody with previous experience like this please share your experience that will help my friend decide as to what he needs to do!
He went to Mumbai Consulate with his family for H1B and H4 visa stamping on 08/25/2009. Here are his basic details.
*He got his H1B approved through October 2011.
*He has his GC process on.
*He had originally come here on B1B2 visa about six years back and got the visa converted into H1B visa.
*His current employer is his third change of jobs and have been with this employer for the past 3 years.
*He has his I 140 approved for about a years time and has EAD, and AP valid through October 2008.
His Experience
Their appointed time for visa stamping was 9.00am and their turn came at about 11.00am.The Visa Officer asked my friend routine questions about how he got his first job and he answered exactly as his lawyer had advised. The VO asked him questions about his current employer, what the company was doing, how many employees did the company have et al. She asked him a specific question as to why he went to the US first and why his family joined him later initially although they got the B1B2 visa together. To this he replied that his sons were students in India and they had their terminal exams in September back then.
Then she asked him as to whether he had his credentials with him. He showed her his degree certificates as well as copies of his membership certificates of Chartered Accountancy. She looked at all the originals and then conveyed to him that there were inconsistencies on his certifacates with his original B1B2 visa application and that she will call them later. My friend gave her a copy of his credential evaluation for all the degree certificates.
They were stranded at the consulate for another two hours when another VO announced their names. She was an Indian lady who asked him a silly question about CA institute and as to why he did not mention the name of the city where the institute belonged to. My friend replied that it was an all india institute head quartered in New Delhi. He also conveyed to her that he had given them a copy of his membership as a fellow ( CAs receive the membership certificate as a fellow after they complete public accounting practice as an accountant for five years). She then conveyed to him that she will call him later if required. After about one and half hour further the original visa officer called their name and conveyed to them that there was some further investigation needed to be done on their case. Gave them a yellow letter that stated that he will get an e-mail from the consulate office and they do not need to come back. She gave four VFS envelopes for all of them and asked my friend to wait for the e-mail. She told him that there was nothing to worry about in his case bla bla bla...
My friend and his family had their tickets booked back to US on 08/30/08 from Mumbai. He called his lawyer in US and sought his advise. The lawyer advised that ideally my friend should wait for the e-mail and extend his stay in India. To which my friend replied that he had already availed three weeks of vacation and that he needed to go back to US. They waited with baited breath for the e-mail from the consulate that never came. My friend meanwhile managed an e-mail from his boss that asked him to resume his work on Monday September 02, 2008.
They took the risk and came back to LAX on 08/31/08 and did not encounter any problem using their Advanced Parole documents.
This morning my friend received an e-mail from the Consulate Office in Mumbai that stated that the administrative process for the non-immigrant visa application on his case had been completed and asked him to come at the Consulate on any working day in the morning with yellow letter, VFS envelope, and documents pertaining to visa application. But the last sentence on the e-mail read as under, " Personal appearance is required. Please carry a copy of this email for ready reference."
Gurus! anybody with previous experience like this please share your experience that will help my friend decide as to what he needs to do!
pd_recapturing
08-03 05:07 PM
What is that thing called as interfiling ? I guess, you need to file an amendment saying that instead of using that labor, use this labor. Somebody explained this process in some other forum. Here is the link:
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5482
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5482
more...
a1b2c3
09-25 01:34 AM
If you need to retain your PD, does the job description need to be similar or can it be different?
Mine is a similar case, I-140 is approved and would like to switch employers on 3 year H1 extension....
My question is can I file for labor through PERM with the new company even if it is in different category and previous I-140 is revoked (worst case, maybe even realistic scenario)? What can my original company do to stop this H1 transfer/filing of new labor from happening?:confused:
Mine is a similar case, I-140 is approved and would like to switch employers on 3 year H1 extension....
My question is can I file for labor through PERM with the new company even if it is in different category and previous I-140 is revoked (worst case, maybe even realistic scenario)? What can my original company do to stop this H1 transfer/filing of new labor from happening?:confused:
inskrish
11-18 05:37 PM
I-485
TSC --- June 27, 2007
NSC --- July 05, 2007
:mad:
TSC --- June 27, 2007
NSC --- July 05, 2007
:mad:
more...
manderson
05-21 02:10 PM
...only problem is they care only about H1:
US-India visa row overshadows Doha talks
By Alan Beattie in London and Jo Johnson in New Delhi
Published: May 17 2007 17:52 | Last updated: May 18 2007 03:23
Tentative signs of progress among the four core negotiating partners in the so-called �Doha round� of world trade talks have been overshadowed by a row over US visas given to Indian information technology workers.
Two days of negotiations between the US, the EU, India and Brazil began in Brussels on Thursday, as officials said talks had accelerated from the sluggish pace they have shown for most of this year.
But Kamal Nath, Indian trade minister, warned that US reluctance to allow Indian IT workers to enter the US on highly skilled �H1-B� visas jeopardised progress. Seeking to shift the emphasis away from India�s intransigence about exposing its farmers to international competition, Mr Nath said a failure to increase the H1-B quota would deny India the export gains it needed to make a deal.
Echoing language often used by the EU and the US, he told the FT on Wednesday: �We agree that the talks cannot move forward with agriculture alone. Our services interests must be satisfied for progress to be made.�
Delhi reacted angrily this week to a letter sent to Indian IT companies by two US senators, alleging fraud and abuse in the H1-B programme. Charles Grassley and Richard Durbin, members of the Senate subcommittee on immigration, said the visas were being used to undercut US workers with lower-paid foreign employees.
In a letter to Susan Schwab, US trade representative, seen by the FT, Mr Nath said that the approach, which was not made through the office of the US trade representative, was surprising and unwelcome.
�Such direct intervention by US senators would only create uncertainties in the minds of these companies and undermine business confidence, especially in the current negotiations on services,� the letter said.
So great is demand for H1B visas from Indian IT companies that this year�s quota of 65,000 was filled in a day. An Indian commerce ministry official said on Thursday that India wanted the annual cap lifted to 115,000.
A USTR spokesperson on Thursday declined to comment on either the senators� letter or the negotiations over visas in the Doha round.
Officials and ministers expressed some guarded optimism ahead of this week�s meetings of the four negotiating partners, though remained non-committal about the substance of talks. Ms Schwab said that some issues, including access to the agricultural markets of developing countries, a key demand of the US, had further to go than others.
The rest of the World Trade Organisation membership, among whom frustration with the �group of four� has been rising, has been trying to increase pressure on them to make the trade-offs necessary to achieve a framework agreement before the traditional WTO summer break in August. �They are moving, but whether they are moving fast enough is another question,� a trade official said.
Crawford Falconer, the New Zealand ambassador who chairs the farm talks, last week released the first of two papers setting out the terms for a possible deal.
US-India visa row overshadows Doha talks
By Alan Beattie in London and Jo Johnson in New Delhi
Published: May 17 2007 17:52 | Last updated: May 18 2007 03:23
Tentative signs of progress among the four core negotiating partners in the so-called �Doha round� of world trade talks have been overshadowed by a row over US visas given to Indian information technology workers.
Two days of negotiations between the US, the EU, India and Brazil began in Brussels on Thursday, as officials said talks had accelerated from the sluggish pace they have shown for most of this year.
But Kamal Nath, Indian trade minister, warned that US reluctance to allow Indian IT workers to enter the US on highly skilled �H1-B� visas jeopardised progress. Seeking to shift the emphasis away from India�s intransigence about exposing its farmers to international competition, Mr Nath said a failure to increase the H1-B quota would deny India the export gains it needed to make a deal.
Echoing language often used by the EU and the US, he told the FT on Wednesday: �We agree that the talks cannot move forward with agriculture alone. Our services interests must be satisfied for progress to be made.�
Delhi reacted angrily this week to a letter sent to Indian IT companies by two US senators, alleging fraud and abuse in the H1-B programme. Charles Grassley and Richard Durbin, members of the Senate subcommittee on immigration, said the visas were being used to undercut US workers with lower-paid foreign employees.
In a letter to Susan Schwab, US trade representative, seen by the FT, Mr Nath said that the approach, which was not made through the office of the US trade representative, was surprising and unwelcome.
�Such direct intervention by US senators would only create uncertainties in the minds of these companies and undermine business confidence, especially in the current negotiations on services,� the letter said.
So great is demand for H1B visas from Indian IT companies that this year�s quota of 65,000 was filled in a day. An Indian commerce ministry official said on Thursday that India wanted the annual cap lifted to 115,000.
A USTR spokesperson on Thursday declined to comment on either the senators� letter or the negotiations over visas in the Doha round.
Officials and ministers expressed some guarded optimism ahead of this week�s meetings of the four negotiating partners, though remained non-committal about the substance of talks. Ms Schwab said that some issues, including access to the agricultural markets of developing countries, a key demand of the US, had further to go than others.
The rest of the World Trade Organisation membership, among whom frustration with the �group of four� has been rising, has been trying to increase pressure on them to make the trade-offs necessary to achieve a framework agreement before the traditional WTO summer break in August. �They are moving, but whether they are moving fast enough is another question,� a trade official said.
Crawford Falconer, the New Zealand ambassador who chairs the farm talks, last week released the first of two papers setting out the terms for a possible deal.
martinvisalaw
01-11 03:52 PM
I was under the impression you could apply for PR from and L1A, I am confused with your reply, why can we not apply for PR from an L1A? If the processing times are shorter then maybe it could be processed before our visa expiration.
Your can apply for PR while in L-1A status, however if the L-1A expires before you have reached the 3rd step, you need to leave the US. That's why it would have been better to change to H-1B, so that the nonimmigrant status could be extended while the PR process was pending. Even if he is EB-2, it will take at least a year, and much longer if you and your husband were born in or China, before you can file the 3rd step.
Your can apply for PR while in L-1A status, however if the L-1A expires before you have reached the 3rd step, you need to leave the US. That's why it would have been better to change to H-1B, so that the nonimmigrant status could be extended while the PR process was pending. Even if he is EB-2, it will take at least a year, and much longer if you and your husband were born in or China, before you can file the 3rd step.
more...
vikram2101
08-02 12:35 PM
My PD is Feb 2002, EB2 and 485 ND: 06/15/2007
I renewed my EAD last month believing that it may trigger GC approval.
Today i received my EAD renewal for 2 years. Expiry date is July 25, 2010
Having oldest PD and receiving 2 yrs EAD, is it a good sign or bad? Please let me know.
Thanks
I suppose your pd has been current for a while now. are you stuck in name check ? do you know why your 485 approval is taking so long ? I'd say you should be getting your GC rather than the ead card.
And why does your public profile say Labor Approval Date: 05/10/2005 where as in your post you say PD is Feb 2002.
I renewed my EAD last month believing that it may trigger GC approval.
Today i received my EAD renewal for 2 years. Expiry date is July 25, 2010
Having oldest PD and receiving 2 yrs EAD, is it a good sign or bad? Please let me know.
Thanks
I suppose your pd has been current for a while now. are you stuck in name check ? do you know why your 485 approval is taking so long ? I'd say you should be getting your GC rather than the ead card.
And why does your public profile say Labor Approval Date: 05/10/2005 where as in your post you say PD is Feb 2002.
[uber]
04-08 02:13 PM
interesting
sin94
06-04 02:04 PM
Isn't this disputable by the Lawyers?
I mean fine ask questions for the company who has filed for the Visa but now going to doubt if their clients are legit 2, much.
Following the link is even more disturbing about the guest comment preparing to answer the RFE where CIS is asking for floor plan OF THE CLIENT.
disturbing trend if true.
I mean fine ask questions for the company who has filed for the Visa but now going to doubt if their clients are legit 2, much.
Following the link is even more disturbing about the guest comment preparing to answer the RFE where CIS is asking for floor plan OF THE CLIENT.
disturbing trend if true.
immm
07-07 01:45 PM
(Admins, please delete this thread if already covered)
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/opinion/story/13765761p-14347307c.html
Our View: Feds play games with immigrants
They said they had an abundance of green cards and then rescinded the offer in a matter of weeks.
Last Updated: July 7, 2007, 03:16:02 AM PDT
If you want to know what's really wrong with our immigration system, consider the July debacle at the Citizen and Immigration Service.
Individuals and businesses typically have to wait years to apply for "green cards" for permanent residency based on job skills. The backlogs have been so severe that an engineer from India or China has had to wait six years to apply for a green card. In other employment categories, the wait can be nine to 11 years. For people from the Philippines, the wait in some work categories is 22 years.
But then in the monthly Visa Bulletin issued June 13, the State Department said that employment-based visas would be available.
This set off a rush among sponsoring businesses and individuals who have waited in line for years to apply for green cards. Thousands prepared applications and mailed them in time for the immigration service to receive them by July 2, the first day of the application window.
Then on that very day, the State Department issued a "never mind" update, announcing that the 60,000 green cards it had expected to offer would no longer be available. The thousands who submitted applications will have their applications sent back to them. As Los Angeles immigration attorney Carl Shusterman said Tuesday, "We're right back to square one, with scientists, engineers, teachers and health care workers having to wait in endless lines for employment-based visas." Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law sent irate letters to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security. She said that changing course midmonth is contrary to years of practice, would result in the loss of thousands of dollars already expended by sponsoring businesses and individuals to prepare applications and, more important, would "threaten the integrity and predictability of our immigration system." This is no way to treat people who try to play by the rules.
The Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman notes in his 2007 annual report to Congress that the nation has a "perpetual backlog" of employment-based green card applications. This backlog means that even green cards that should be available aren't used. This contributes to the backlog; if green cards are not issued in the year they are authorized, they are lost. In 2006, more than 10,000 employment-based green cards were lost, even though the immigration service had 100,000 to 150,000 applications waiting to be processed. Since 1994, nearly 219,000 employment-based green cards have been lost because the immigration service isn't processing enough applications in a timely manner.
It gets worse. The funds appropriated by Congress to jumpstart a backlog elimination project expired Sept. 30. The backlog will continue.
In the long term, this country needs to increase the number of employment-based green cards to meet demand. But if the immigration service cannot even process applications in a timely fashion for the current numbers of employment-based green cards that are supposed to be available, what's the point? In the short term, if Congress and the president do nothing else regarding immigration reform, they should at least make sure that the immigration service processes green card applications in timely fashion. The backlog is inexcusable and contributes to the nation's illegal immigration problem. If we want people to play by the rules, we have to make it possible for them to do so.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/opinion/story/13765761p-14347307c.html
Our View: Feds play games with immigrants
They said they had an abundance of green cards and then rescinded the offer in a matter of weeks.
Last Updated: July 7, 2007, 03:16:02 AM PDT
If you want to know what's really wrong with our immigration system, consider the July debacle at the Citizen and Immigration Service.
Individuals and businesses typically have to wait years to apply for "green cards" for permanent residency based on job skills. The backlogs have been so severe that an engineer from India or China has had to wait six years to apply for a green card. In other employment categories, the wait can be nine to 11 years. For people from the Philippines, the wait in some work categories is 22 years.
But then in the monthly Visa Bulletin issued June 13, the State Department said that employment-based visas would be available.
This set off a rush among sponsoring businesses and individuals who have waited in line for years to apply for green cards. Thousands prepared applications and mailed them in time for the immigration service to receive them by July 2, the first day of the application window.
Then on that very day, the State Department issued a "never mind" update, announcing that the 60,000 green cards it had expected to offer would no longer be available. The thousands who submitted applications will have their applications sent back to them. As Los Angeles immigration attorney Carl Shusterman said Tuesday, "We're right back to square one, with scientists, engineers, teachers and health care workers having to wait in endless lines for employment-based visas." Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law sent irate letters to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security. She said that changing course midmonth is contrary to years of practice, would result in the loss of thousands of dollars already expended by sponsoring businesses and individuals to prepare applications and, more important, would "threaten the integrity and predictability of our immigration system." This is no way to treat people who try to play by the rules.
The Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman notes in his 2007 annual report to Congress that the nation has a "perpetual backlog" of employment-based green card applications. This backlog means that even green cards that should be available aren't used. This contributes to the backlog; if green cards are not issued in the year they are authorized, they are lost. In 2006, more than 10,000 employment-based green cards were lost, even though the immigration service had 100,000 to 150,000 applications waiting to be processed. Since 1994, nearly 219,000 employment-based green cards have been lost because the immigration service isn't processing enough applications in a timely manner.
It gets worse. The funds appropriated by Congress to jumpstart a backlog elimination project expired Sept. 30. The backlog will continue.
In the long term, this country needs to increase the number of employment-based green cards to meet demand. But if the immigration service cannot even process applications in a timely fashion for the current numbers of employment-based green cards that are supposed to be available, what's the point? In the short term, if Congress and the president do nothing else regarding immigration reform, they should at least make sure that the immigration service processes green card applications in timely fashion. The backlog is inexcusable and contributes to the nation's illegal immigration problem. If we want people to play by the rules, we have to make it possible for them to do so.
eb3_nepa
04-03 08:10 PM
Why is it still unaccessible? Are you guys experiencing the same?
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html
Works just fine for me
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html
Works just fine for me
