akilhere
01-21 12:35 PM
If you do invoke AC-21, you might have problems with your petition as there seems to be a big difference between a Sr. Program Manager and a Programmer Analyst.
However, if i were you, i would still take up the new role and send in the AC21. There is a possibilityt hat they will approve it.
What's the point of a GC if you are locked in on your career growth anyways!?! Remember, these are your most productive years!
However, if i were you, i would still take up the new role and send in the AC21. There is a possibilityt hat they will approve it.
What's the point of a GC if you are locked in on your career growth anyways!?! Remember, these are your most productive years!
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sdrblr
10-07 10:52 PM
Based on my experience travelling with my son couple of times, I can answer couple of questions.
PIO card looks just like your Indian Passport, difference being color and has just 1 page.
Just present PIO and the US PP and they will look at both and stamp the immigration seal on the PP. They do not do anything with the PP other than recording the PIO # in addition to the US PP #.
While departing the country, they will just look at it again and hand it back and stamp the immigration seal on the PP.
Usually takes 3-4 weeks to get and if you dont have time, I would go with a visa as you can get it the same day. For an infant, I see no diffrence in PIO or a visa.
My son is a US citizen/passport holder and we are planning on applying for a PIO for him at the SFO consulate. I have the following questions on how he could use the PIO card
1. How can he use the PIO card to enter and exit India?
a. Does he simply show the PIO card, US passport to enter and exit India?
2. Incase if the PIO card processing takes a lot of time I know that he can apply for visa. I was wondering anyone has experience on how visa could be applied if PIO processing takes a long time at the SFO consulate.
a. Do they return the PIO application and its supporting documents before visa could be applied?
b. Should a new visa application+visa supporting documents need to be resent for getting a Indian visa?
PIO card looks just like your Indian Passport, difference being color and has just 1 page.
Just present PIO and the US PP and they will look at both and stamp the immigration seal on the PP. They do not do anything with the PP other than recording the PIO # in addition to the US PP #.
While departing the country, they will just look at it again and hand it back and stamp the immigration seal on the PP.
Usually takes 3-4 weeks to get and if you dont have time, I would go with a visa as you can get it the same day. For an infant, I see no diffrence in PIO or a visa.
My son is a US citizen/passport holder and we are planning on applying for a PIO for him at the SFO consulate. I have the following questions on how he could use the PIO card
1. How can he use the PIO card to enter and exit India?
a. Does he simply show the PIO card, US passport to enter and exit India?
2. Incase if the PIO card processing takes a lot of time I know that he can apply for visa. I was wondering anyone has experience on how visa could be applied if PIO processing takes a long time at the SFO consulate.
a. Do they return the PIO application and its supporting documents before visa could be applied?
b. Should a new visa application+visa supporting documents need to be resent for getting a Indian visa?
praveen2008
02-13 11:39 AM
Hello All,
I am on a 6th year on H1-B with my 140 approved. I am due for renewal on June 2010 with my employer who is a desi consulting company.. My employer has around 100+ employees.
I am recently moving over to a new consulting opportunity which my employer has showed me which is corp � corp with prime vendor in between�
I also have another Full time offer pending with a Big 5 consulting company who promised me to sponsor my H1 and re start my GC process since my 485 is not approved� I need couple of suggestions if somebody could advice
� Is it better to stay with my desi consulting company because my GC is in process with them? I am little afraid with respect to this new USCIS Memo( Employee � employer relationship in terms of H1 processing and travelling to india
OR
� Is it better to move on with the full time offer with top 5 consulting company . This from my career perspective would be growth but only disadvantage is that I need to re start my GC process . Hopefully I should be able to port my PD date�..
I am little torn up on what to choose ( full time or stay on corp to corp ). Can anybody advise if its better to compromise on GC and take the Full time offer because of all this scrutiny that USCIS is doing with ..
Thanks,
I am on a 6th year on H1-B with my 140 approved. I am due for renewal on June 2010 with my employer who is a desi consulting company.. My employer has around 100+ employees.
I am recently moving over to a new consulting opportunity which my employer has showed me which is corp � corp with prime vendor in between�
I also have another Full time offer pending with a Big 5 consulting company who promised me to sponsor my H1 and re start my GC process since my 485 is not approved� I need couple of suggestions if somebody could advice
� Is it better to stay with my desi consulting company because my GC is in process with them? I am little afraid with respect to this new USCIS Memo( Employee � employer relationship in terms of H1 processing and travelling to india
OR
� Is it better to move on with the full time offer with top 5 consulting company . This from my career perspective would be growth but only disadvantage is that I need to re start my GC process . Hopefully I should be able to port my PD date�..
I am little torn up on what to choose ( full time or stay on corp to corp ). Can anybody advise if its better to compromise on GC and take the Full time offer because of all this scrutiny that USCIS is doing with ..
Thanks,
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sravani
05-11 06:00 PM
here is another questions I need to ask, if anyone can plz get them answered it will be great.
1. There was I-94 attached which was also lost. Recently, we transferred H-4 to iGate, so Uscis sent i-94 with approval notice, would that work or we need to get apply form 102 for replacement? Also, is there a way to notify uscis that i-94 is lost and will reapply once we get to ?
It's important to keep the arrival i-94 document. You can use the following document to get the I-94 from Department of Homeland Security.
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-102.pdf
1. There was I-94 attached which was also lost. Recently, we transferred H-4 to iGate, so Uscis sent i-94 with approval notice, would that work or we need to get apply form 102 for replacement? Also, is there a way to notify uscis that i-94 is lost and will reapply once we get to ?
It's important to keep the arrival i-94 document. You can use the following document to get the I-94 from Department of Homeland Security.
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-102.pdf
more...
smaram1
08-11 10:44 PM
It would be great if any one's I485 got approved while their Name Check is Pending?
jasmin45
08-02 04:18 PM
I work as a consultant for one of the big 5 firms implementing SAP applications. What is the job code referenced for this job? I want to know the job category it falls under as per the Dictionary of Occupation Title or the O*Net published by DOL. My company did not provide me this information but any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks everyone in advance,
Madhavi
You have no other way to get this information other than your employer or attorney who filed your case. If your case was filed under PERM process then I remember, few months back I saw an access database floating around in a forum which had the information on companies who filed LC for which position during end of 2005-2006 period. Rightly it did not have any information on candidates. I cannot remember where did I find it.
We can all speculate what it would be but not sure. We also do not know why do you need this info and what is your current status with regard to GC...
Thanks everyone in advance,
Madhavi
You have no other way to get this information other than your employer or attorney who filed your case. If your case was filed under PERM process then I remember, few months back I saw an access database floating around in a forum which had the information on companies who filed LC for which position during end of 2005-2006 period. Rightly it did not have any information on candidates. I cannot remember where did I find it.
We can all speculate what it would be but not sure. We also do not know why do you need this info and what is your current status with regard to GC...
more...
bluez25
07-26 02:44 PM
Guys ... please help. I am trying to get PCC from my local police station and they are giving me hell time here... and I am running out of time. The local police station guys are saying that they will only give a letter in white paper (No letter head) and they are insisting that it will not be used. What shall I do and I have to submit my documents by tuesday by latest.....
Questions for friends around
1.. is the letter given by the local police station with out the letter head will e accepted in the Consulate?
2.. If not can we get a PCC from the commisioner office?
Please give me some directions.
Questions for friends around
1.. is the letter given by the local police station with out the letter head will e accepted in the Consulate?
2.. If not can we get a PCC from the commisioner office?
Please give me some directions.
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arsh007
10-03 03:25 PM
Hello,
My wife is applying for a good job at the European Union, and I do not see why can't she get accepted. We've been stuck in this mess for a while and I am getting tired of irrespectful treatment when entering the country, even when you are here legally, limited career, etc,etc
We can legally work in Europe, but how is the market in Belgium for an electrical engineer (firmware, hardware, project manager exp)?
Anybody have any experience or know something about it? salaries, cost of live, etc
Regards
I am from India and lived in Brussels, Belgium between 2000-2002 before being transferred by my Indian IT company to work in US on H1. Here are some facts on Brussels:
1. Quality of Life: Good place to live, friendly people, close to major cities like Paris, Amsterdam and London.
2. Cost of Living:
Apartment Rent: 900-1000 Euros per month
Lease terms: 6-12 months
Transportation: Public (Bus, subway, trains). You don't need a car.
Some companies offer a car+gas card as part of the overall
compensation package.
3. Salaries: Around Euros 35-45K per year (IT related)
Taxes: More than US (Around 30-35%)
Health Insurance: None
Vacation Time: 20-30 days an year
Education:Schools are mostly french medium. International schools
(English medium) are more expensive.
Desi/Indian population: Limited
4. Additional Information: Good to learn French as it helps in dealing with local people but a lot of them also speak English.
My wife is applying for a good job at the European Union, and I do not see why can't she get accepted. We've been stuck in this mess for a while and I am getting tired of irrespectful treatment when entering the country, even when you are here legally, limited career, etc,etc
We can legally work in Europe, but how is the market in Belgium for an electrical engineer (firmware, hardware, project manager exp)?
Anybody have any experience or know something about it? salaries, cost of live, etc
Regards
I am from India and lived in Brussels, Belgium between 2000-2002 before being transferred by my Indian IT company to work in US on H1. Here are some facts on Brussels:
1. Quality of Life: Good place to live, friendly people, close to major cities like Paris, Amsterdam and London.
2. Cost of Living:
Apartment Rent: 900-1000 Euros per month
Lease terms: 6-12 months
Transportation: Public (Bus, subway, trains). You don't need a car.
Some companies offer a car+gas card as part of the overall
compensation package.
3. Salaries: Around Euros 35-45K per year (IT related)
Taxes: More than US (Around 30-35%)
Health Insurance: None
Vacation Time: 20-30 days an year
Education:Schools are mostly french medium. International schools
(English medium) are more expensive.
Desi/Indian population: Limited
4. Additional Information: Good to learn French as it helps in dealing with local people but a lot of them also speak English.
more...
gc28262
03-09 08:09 AM
I think she need to fill I-9 form to switch to EAD and thus switching out of H1.
Right now she is on H1 as well as AOS.
Right now she is on H1 as well as AOS.
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raamskl
07-04 03:38 PM
Attorney Murthy referred to few cases (I think she said 3) that went thru her law firm, which got approved on the last week of June and also on July 2nd. She said both her client (who were pleasently surprised, good for them) and the law firm were surprised as the dates were not current in June and also not in July due to revised VB.
She mentioned it in the context of lot of crazy things that is happening in USCIS and questioned the 60,000 cases that are being claimed to have been approved in under a month. All these bizarre happenings would get questioned and hopefully explained in the litigation.
Join the litigation was the big message in the conference call today.
Good Luck.
She mentioned it in the context of lot of crazy things that is happening in USCIS and questioned the 60,000 cases that are being claimed to have been approved in under a month. All these bizarre happenings would get questioned and hopefully explained in the litigation.
Join the litigation was the big message in the conference call today.
Good Luck.
more...
eb3retro
06-30 10:05 PM
Eb3Retro, Did you sign G-28 initially for your (previous employer's) attorney to represent? if so how did you change the representation?
i have not changed attorney so far, just wanted to retain the same guy until i extend my EAD this time, (which is pending and awaiting results anytime soon) , once this is done, i am going to file G28 and self file AP myself. My attorney charges exorbitant fees for doing this, just for the safety sake, just for ead extn i used him...few more days and i will say thanks for all his services..
i have not changed attorney so far, just wanted to retain the same guy until i extend my EAD this time, (which is pending and awaiting results anytime soon) , once this is done, i am going to file G28 and self file AP myself. My attorney charges exorbitant fees for doing this, just for the safety sake, just for ead extn i used him...few more days and i will say thanks for all his services..
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sandeepk_c
06-11 11:37 PM
One of the posts said that this was for folks on 6th yr and who have PERM in process (Audit in atlanta/chicago). I do fall into this category but this notice (http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/premiumproc_factsheet_i140_061108.pdf) still confuses/concerns me.
My H1-B expires in 31 Dec'08. The way I understand this bulletin is that Nov 1st 2008, I can file for PPS. But if I get an answer by Nov 20, wouldn't that mean only 40 days to get my H1 extended for another 3 yrs. Too close and I guess my H1-extension should also be PPS. Considering holidays it would be so close to get things in place but $2000 for USCIS.
Let me know what you guys think of this.
Considering that this is the first day of this bulletin, I am sure there will be edits and scenarios that USCIS might have to add to the fact sheet. We should check if one of the attorneys can get on a conference call and give us a better idea.
Another question? If I apply I-140 after my LC approval (hope that comes soon, its been 7 months now), then can I apply for just PPS on Nov1st.
My H1-B expires in 31 Dec'08. The way I understand this bulletin is that Nov 1st 2008, I can file for PPS. But if I get an answer by Nov 20, wouldn't that mean only 40 days to get my H1 extended for another 3 yrs. Too close and I guess my H1-extension should also be PPS. Considering holidays it would be so close to get things in place but $2000 for USCIS.
Let me know what you guys think of this.
Considering that this is the first day of this bulletin, I am sure there will be edits and scenarios that USCIS might have to add to the fact sheet. We should check if one of the attorneys can get on a conference call and give us a better idea.
Another question? If I apply I-140 after my LC approval (hope that comes soon, its been 7 months now), then can I apply for just PPS on Nov1st.
more...
house (281) 301 - 7548. the
RandyK
02-16 10:57 AM
How is the FBI check different for H1 Vs I-485/CP ? Don't they look for criminal history at both times ?
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eastindia
05-18 12:55 PM
I thought about it again and think everyone has the right to post on forum as much as you. If IV does not like it, they will delete it. If you do not like a thread do not read it. Who is forcing you to read a thread? If you want to read something specific to your interest, there is a nice website I found recently. It is called 'Google'. All you have to do is type a keyword and Google will give you back thousands of websites of your interest for free. Isn't this amazing?
more...
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cdeneo
09-21 06:24 PM
The text provided on the link below has the following section:
================
Question 10. Should service centers or district offices deny portability cases on the sole basis that the alien has left his or her employment with the I-140 petitioner prior to the I-485 application pending for 180 days?
Answer: No. The basis for adjustment is not actual (current) employment but prospective employment. Since there is no requirement that the alien have ever been employed by the petitioner while the I-140 and/or I-485 was pending, the fact that an alien left the I-140 petitioner before the I-485 has been pending 180 days will not necessarily render the alien ineligible to port. However, in all cases an offer of employment must have been bona fide. This means that, as of the time the I-140 was filed and at the time of filing the I-485 if not filed concurrently, the I-140 petitioner must have had the intent to employ the beneficiary, and the alien must have intended to undertake the employment, upon adjustment. Adjudicators should not presume absence of such intent and may take the I-140 and supporting documents themselves as prima facie evidence of such intent, but in appropriate cases additional evidence or investigation may be appropriate.
==========================================
Does this mean if I-140 is approved and I-485 petition has been pending less than 180 days, one can still change jobs using AC21?
Can someone please clarify? Thanks!
Look at this document. This should answer lot of questions regarding AC21
http://www.ilw.com/immigdaily/news/2005,0520-ac21.pdf
Thanks
Karthik
================
Question 10. Should service centers or district offices deny portability cases on the sole basis that the alien has left his or her employment with the I-140 petitioner prior to the I-485 application pending for 180 days?
Answer: No. The basis for adjustment is not actual (current) employment but prospective employment. Since there is no requirement that the alien have ever been employed by the petitioner while the I-140 and/or I-485 was pending, the fact that an alien left the I-140 petitioner before the I-485 has been pending 180 days will not necessarily render the alien ineligible to port. However, in all cases an offer of employment must have been bona fide. This means that, as of the time the I-140 was filed and at the time of filing the I-485 if not filed concurrently, the I-140 petitioner must have had the intent to employ the beneficiary, and the alien must have intended to undertake the employment, upon adjustment. Adjudicators should not presume absence of such intent and may take the I-140 and supporting documents themselves as prima facie evidence of such intent, but in appropriate cases additional evidence or investigation may be appropriate.
==========================================
Does this mean if I-140 is approved and I-485 petition has been pending less than 180 days, one can still change jobs using AC21?
Can someone please clarify? Thanks!
Look at this document. This should answer lot of questions regarding AC21
http://www.ilw.com/immigdaily/news/2005,0520-ac21.pdf
Thanks
Karthik
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dba9ioracle
09-23 02:19 PM
an email reply saying " ... Based on your request we researched the status of this case. We are actively processing this case. However, we have to perform additional review on this case and this has caused a longer processing time. If you do not receive a decision or other notice of action from us within 6 months of this letter, please call customer service at the number provided below." :rolleyes:
My understanding ... bullshit! You ain't doing nothing.
I got similar letter for my SR regarding EAD. After I got this letter, my EAD was approved in 80 days. My EAD was pending for more than 270 days when my lawyer opened an SR. I got my EAD exactly after 365 days.
I am sure somebody is working on your case.
My understanding ... bullshit! You ain't doing nothing.
I got similar letter for my SR regarding EAD. After I got this letter, my EAD was approved in 80 days. My EAD was pending for more than 270 days when my lawyer opened an SR. I got my EAD exactly after 365 days.
I am sure somebody is working on your case.
more...
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gc_buddy
11-19 01:17 PM
Thanks everyone for the valuable inputs..
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Blog Feeds
02-05 06:40 PM
AILA Leadership Has Just Posted the Following:
By Eleanor Pelta, AILA First Vice President
H-1B workers certainly seem to be under fire these days on many fronts. A new memo issued by USCIS on the employer-employee relationship imposes new extra-regulatory regulations on the types of activities in which H-1B workers can engage as well as the types of enterprises that can petition for H-1B workers. The memo targets the consulting industry directly, deftly slips in a new concept that seems to prohibit H-1B petitions for employer-owners of businesses, and will surely constitute an open invitation to the Service Centers to hit H-1B petitioners with a new slew of kitchen-sink RFE's. On another front, USCIS continues to make unannounced H-1B site visits, often repeatedly to the same employer. Apart from the "in-terrorem" impact of such visits, I personally cannot see the utility of three different visits to the same employer, particularly after the first one or two visits show that the employer is fully compliant.
But USCIS isn't the only agency that is rigorously targeting H-1B's. An AILA member recently reported that CBP pulled newly-arrived Indian nationals holding H-1B visas out of an immigration inspection line and reportedly placed them in Expedited Removal. The legal basis of those actions is still unclear. However, the tactic is too close to racial profiling for my own comfort.
Finally, recent H-1B "skirmishes" include various U.S. consular posts in India issuing "pink letters" that are, simply put, consular "RFE's" appearing to question the bona fides of the H-1B and requesting information on a host of truly repetitive and/or irrelevant topics. Much of the information that is routinely requested on a pink letter is already in the copy of the H-1B visa petition. Some of the letters request payroll information for all employees of the sponsoring company, a ridiculous request in most instances, particularly for major multi-national companies. One of the most frustrating actions we are seeing from consular officers in this context is the checking off or highlighting of every single category of additional information on the form letter, whether directly applicable or not, in effect a "paper wall" that must be overcome before an applicant can have the H-1B visa issued. Very discouraging to both employer and employee.
How have we come to a point in time where the H-1B category in and of itself is so disdained and mistrusted? Of course I'm aware that instances of fraud have cast this category in a bad light. But I think that vehemence of the administrative attack on the H-1B category is so disproportionate to the actual statistics about fraud. And interestingly, the disproportionate heavy-handed administrative reaction comes not from the agency specifically tasked with H-1B enforcement�the Department of Labor�but from CIS, CBP and State. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and ask myself what makes people so darn angry about a visa category that, at bottom, is designed to bring in relatively tiny number of really smart people to work in U.S. businesses of any size. It has to be a reaction against something else.
Yes, a great number of IT consultants come to the US on H-1B's. It is important to remember that so many of these individuals are extremely well-educated, capable people, working in an industry in which there are a large number of high profile players. And arguably, the high profile consulting companies have the most at stake if they do not focus on compliance, as they are the easiest enforcement target and they need their business model to work in the U.S. in order to survive. Some people may not like the business model, although arguably IT consulting companies provide needed services that allow US businesses, such as banks and insurance companies to focus on their own core strengths. Like it or not, though, this business model is perfectly legal under current law, and the agencies that enforce our immigration laws have no business trying to eviscerate it by policy or a pattern of discretionary actions.
It is true that some IT consulting companies' practices have been the focus of fraud investigations. But DOL has stringent rules in place to deal with the bad guys. Benching H-1B workers without pay, paying below the prevailing wage, sending H-1B workers on long-term assignments to a site not covered by an LCA�these are the practices we most often hear about, and every single one of these is a violation of an existing regulation that could be enforced by the Department of Labor. When an employer violates wage and hour rules, DOL investigates the practices and enforces the regulations against that employer. But no one shuts down an entire industry as a result.
And the IT consulting industry is not the only user of the H-1B visa. Let's not forget how many other critical fields use H-1B workers. In my own career alone, I have seen H-1B petitions for nanoscientists, ornithologists, CEO's of significant not for profit organizations, teachers, applied mathematicians, risk analysts, professionals involved in pharmaceutical research and development, automotive designers, international legal experts, film editors, microimaging engineers. H-1B's are valuable to small and large businesses alike, arguably even more to that emerging business that needs one key expert to develop a new product or service and get the business off the ground.
The assault on H-1B's is not only offensive, it's dangerous. Here's why:
H-1B's create jobs�statistics show that 5 jobs are created in the U.S. for every H-1B worker hired. An administrative clamp-down in the program will hinder this job creation. And think about the valuable sharing of skills and expertise between H-1B workers and U.S. workers�this is lost when companies are discouraged from using the program.
The anti-H-1B assault dissuades large businesses from conducting research and development in the US, and encourages the relocation of those facilities in jurisdictions that are friendlier to foreign professionals.
The anti-H-1B assault chills the formation of small businesses in the US, particularly in emerging technologies. This will most certainly be one of the long-term results of USCIS' most recent memo.
The attack on H-1B's offends our friends and allies in the world. An example: Earlier this year India �one of the U.S.'s closest allies --announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals working there. Surely the treatment of Indian national H-1B workers at the hands of our agencies involved in the immigration process would not have escaped the attention of the Indian government as they issued their own restrictions.
The increasing challenges in the H-1B program may have the effect of encouraging foreign students who were educated in the U.S. to seek permanent positions elsewhere.
Whatever the cause of the visceral reaction against H-1B workers might be�whether it stems from a fear that fraud will become more widespread or whether it is simply a broader reaction against foreign workers that often raises its head during any down economy �I sincerely hope that the agencies are able to gain some perspective on the program that allows them to treat legitimate H-1B employers and employees with the respect they deserve and to effectively enforce against those who are non-compliant, rather than casting a wide net and treating all H-1B users as abusers.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/186823568153827945-7575642888668204601?l=ailaleadership.blogspot.com
More... (http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-is-h-1b-dirty-word.html)
By Eleanor Pelta, AILA First Vice President
H-1B workers certainly seem to be under fire these days on many fronts. A new memo issued by USCIS on the employer-employee relationship imposes new extra-regulatory regulations on the types of activities in which H-1B workers can engage as well as the types of enterprises that can petition for H-1B workers. The memo targets the consulting industry directly, deftly slips in a new concept that seems to prohibit H-1B petitions for employer-owners of businesses, and will surely constitute an open invitation to the Service Centers to hit H-1B petitioners with a new slew of kitchen-sink RFE's. On another front, USCIS continues to make unannounced H-1B site visits, often repeatedly to the same employer. Apart from the "in-terrorem" impact of such visits, I personally cannot see the utility of three different visits to the same employer, particularly after the first one or two visits show that the employer is fully compliant.
But USCIS isn't the only agency that is rigorously targeting H-1B's. An AILA member recently reported that CBP pulled newly-arrived Indian nationals holding H-1B visas out of an immigration inspection line and reportedly placed them in Expedited Removal. The legal basis of those actions is still unclear. However, the tactic is too close to racial profiling for my own comfort.
Finally, recent H-1B "skirmishes" include various U.S. consular posts in India issuing "pink letters" that are, simply put, consular "RFE's" appearing to question the bona fides of the H-1B and requesting information on a host of truly repetitive and/or irrelevant topics. Much of the information that is routinely requested on a pink letter is already in the copy of the H-1B visa petition. Some of the letters request payroll information for all employees of the sponsoring company, a ridiculous request in most instances, particularly for major multi-national companies. One of the most frustrating actions we are seeing from consular officers in this context is the checking off or highlighting of every single category of additional information on the form letter, whether directly applicable or not, in effect a "paper wall" that must be overcome before an applicant can have the H-1B visa issued. Very discouraging to both employer and employee.
How have we come to a point in time where the H-1B category in and of itself is so disdained and mistrusted? Of course I'm aware that instances of fraud have cast this category in a bad light. But I think that vehemence of the administrative attack on the H-1B category is so disproportionate to the actual statistics about fraud. And interestingly, the disproportionate heavy-handed administrative reaction comes not from the agency specifically tasked with H-1B enforcement�the Department of Labor�but from CIS, CBP and State. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and ask myself what makes people so darn angry about a visa category that, at bottom, is designed to bring in relatively tiny number of really smart people to work in U.S. businesses of any size. It has to be a reaction against something else.
Yes, a great number of IT consultants come to the US on H-1B's. It is important to remember that so many of these individuals are extremely well-educated, capable people, working in an industry in which there are a large number of high profile players. And arguably, the high profile consulting companies have the most at stake if they do not focus on compliance, as they are the easiest enforcement target and they need their business model to work in the U.S. in order to survive. Some people may not like the business model, although arguably IT consulting companies provide needed services that allow US businesses, such as banks and insurance companies to focus on their own core strengths. Like it or not, though, this business model is perfectly legal under current law, and the agencies that enforce our immigration laws have no business trying to eviscerate it by policy or a pattern of discretionary actions.
It is true that some IT consulting companies' practices have been the focus of fraud investigations. But DOL has stringent rules in place to deal with the bad guys. Benching H-1B workers without pay, paying below the prevailing wage, sending H-1B workers on long-term assignments to a site not covered by an LCA�these are the practices we most often hear about, and every single one of these is a violation of an existing regulation that could be enforced by the Department of Labor. When an employer violates wage and hour rules, DOL investigates the practices and enforces the regulations against that employer. But no one shuts down an entire industry as a result.
And the IT consulting industry is not the only user of the H-1B visa. Let's not forget how many other critical fields use H-1B workers. In my own career alone, I have seen H-1B petitions for nanoscientists, ornithologists, CEO's of significant not for profit organizations, teachers, applied mathematicians, risk analysts, professionals involved in pharmaceutical research and development, automotive designers, international legal experts, film editors, microimaging engineers. H-1B's are valuable to small and large businesses alike, arguably even more to that emerging business that needs one key expert to develop a new product or service and get the business off the ground.
The assault on H-1B's is not only offensive, it's dangerous. Here's why:
H-1B's create jobs�statistics show that 5 jobs are created in the U.S. for every H-1B worker hired. An administrative clamp-down in the program will hinder this job creation. And think about the valuable sharing of skills and expertise between H-1B workers and U.S. workers�this is lost when companies are discouraged from using the program.
The anti-H-1B assault dissuades large businesses from conducting research and development in the US, and encourages the relocation of those facilities in jurisdictions that are friendlier to foreign professionals.
The anti-H-1B assault chills the formation of small businesses in the US, particularly in emerging technologies. This will most certainly be one of the long-term results of USCIS' most recent memo.
The attack on H-1B's offends our friends and allies in the world. An example: Earlier this year India �one of the U.S.'s closest allies --announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals working there. Surely the treatment of Indian national H-1B workers at the hands of our agencies involved in the immigration process would not have escaped the attention of the Indian government as they issued their own restrictions.
The increasing challenges in the H-1B program may have the effect of encouraging foreign students who were educated in the U.S. to seek permanent positions elsewhere.
Whatever the cause of the visceral reaction against H-1B workers might be�whether it stems from a fear that fraud will become more widespread or whether it is simply a broader reaction against foreign workers that often raises its head during any down economy �I sincerely hope that the agencies are able to gain some perspective on the program that allows them to treat legitimate H-1B employers and employees with the respect they deserve and to effectively enforce against those who are non-compliant, rather than casting a wide net and treating all H-1B users as abusers.
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tempgc
07-06 11:29 AM
Are you aware of July 2nd visa bulletin fiasco. It affected atleast 5-7 00 000 foreign workers each getting a loss of 3-4 000 dollars. DOS and USCIS played a bad game.
Can you http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/us/06visa.html investigate and give us more details
Thanks
Can you http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/us/06visa.html investigate and give us more details
Thanks
prabirmehta
03-22 11:22 AM
Thanks! S1932 might have been the law he was talking about. I think his job was more to reassure people that they were working on the problem... he didn't seem to be aware of the specifics. He did mention that Senator Chambliss is going to support Senator Specter's proposal.
upuaut
09-15 03:27 AM
Are you talking about the "rayoflight" effect?
If so, I built a tutorial on replicating it, which is located here.
http://www.kirupa.com/developer/flash5/rayoflight.asp
if it's not that effect, write back and let me know what you're talking about.
If so, I built a tutorial on replicating it, which is located here.
http://www.kirupa.com/developer/flash5/rayoflight.asp
if it's not that effect, write back and let me know what you're talking about.
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