conundrum
05-25 07:44 AM
It seems the lines to the senator's (Kennedy's) immigration council/staffer is busy, asked me to call them after 5 mins... second time that is happening!!! Very fustrating..........
wallpaper wallpaper of arbie princess.
sidbee
01-02 02:09 PM
Hi Everybody,
I know that nobody has an answer for my question, but still i would like to get the views/inputs from the seniors here , who have experience with USCIS.
When do you think a person with PD of Nov 2007 ,EB3 from India, would be able to file for 485??
I know that nobody has an answer for my question, but still i would like to get the views/inputs from the seniors here , who have experience with USCIS.
When do you think a person with PD of Nov 2007 ,EB3 from India, would be able to file for 485??
webm
11-06 08:47 AM
I believe you are in New York. Next time try the direct flight from Mumbai to Newark. I heard thats the best my friend just tried it and he was going gaga about it. I am sure your inlaws can manage Chennai to Mumbai. What are the chances u can find someone who can speak Tamil ,Telgu in Mumbai than in Brussles or any other stopoever in Europe. :-)
Can we know which airline direct flight from Mumbai to Newark you mentioned something new or is it AirIndia??
Can we know which airline direct flight from Mumbai to Newark you mentioned something new or is it AirIndia??
2011 Barbie Movie Wallpaper
akhilmahajan
04-17 12:09 PM
This topic has been discussed in detail in the following thread.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21556
You can also find the list of documents you need to renew your passport. Please let me know if you have any questions or post on that thread to get feedback from folks who recently got their passport renewed.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21556
You can also find the list of documents you need to renew your passport. Please let me know if you have any questions or post on that thread to get feedback from folks who recently got their passport renewed.
more...
21stIcon
12-21 08:44 AM
Excatly, you got it. at the end of year w2 should have 100k as a salary not after employer deduction.
bipin
03-18 02:45 AM
I worked with a desi consulting company Since Aug 2006. I moved to that company with my current project with the promise of faster GC process. My PERM was approved in Nov 2007, so missed July 2007 filing. I had to leave for India for few months due to an urgent personal issue and came back in April 2008. So I didn't work for 5 months (Nov 2007 - Apr 2008). When I came back he couldn't find any project for me and I realized he was a small company (The company was in NJ and I'm in CA). I found a job on my own in May 2008 and since I realized I'll be in trouble with him again I moved to another consulting company. Since he didn't pay me for 5 months and to prevent me from complaining against him, he said he'll take care of I-140. He said there was an RFE in Mar 2008 and he responded back. He told me it was on my W2 and I asked attorney and he also confirmed it. I didn’t get a copy of I-140 receipt, but I got the receipt number when it was applied.
And he cancelled my H1 in Aug 2008, though it was valid until Sep 2008. I asked him about this and he said, it's Ok now since I transferred the H1 and he'll not withdraw the I-140. Since I could successfully transfer my H1 w/o paychecks, I decided to leave those behind and move on with my life.
I applied my PERM with this new company in May 2009 and it's not yet approved. In Sep 2009 I saw my I-140 was approved with my previous employer and I called him and he never responded back. Then I saw his website also went away. Looks like he closed the shop.
Now in Feb 2010 I saw my I-140 status as withdrawn. This is the worst thing he could do and I'm mad! This is my 8th year in US and I used my I-140 number to extend the H1 and now it's due in Apr 2010 and I don't have a valid I-140 number (my PERM was applied with the new company in May 2009) and it's short of 20 days for 365 days past, I'm in BIG trouble!
I was taking care of all immigration expenses (H1 Fee, H1 & I-140 Attorney Fee). He made free $$$ from me for 15 months. But he was smart enough not to leave any proof that I paid for these expenses!
So I've two issues now to take care of.
- To extend my Visa
- And to sue my ex-employer for screwing my life. Since It's one year past since my H1 validity with him (H1 was valid until Aug 2008) Can I complain against him to get those 5 months bench salary or the statutory limit is over?
PLEASE HELP.
The timeline for you to help me.
On Bench with ex-employer Nov 2007 - April 2008 (5 months)
H1 transferred to new company in May 2008
H1 was valid until Sep 2008 with ex-employer, cancelled it in Aug 2008
And he cancelled my H1 in Aug 2008, though it was valid until Sep 2008. I asked him about this and he said, it's Ok now since I transferred the H1 and he'll not withdraw the I-140. Since I could successfully transfer my H1 w/o paychecks, I decided to leave those behind and move on with my life.
I applied my PERM with this new company in May 2009 and it's not yet approved. In Sep 2009 I saw my I-140 was approved with my previous employer and I called him and he never responded back. Then I saw his website also went away. Looks like he closed the shop.
Now in Feb 2010 I saw my I-140 status as withdrawn. This is the worst thing he could do and I'm mad! This is my 8th year in US and I used my I-140 number to extend the H1 and now it's due in Apr 2010 and I don't have a valid I-140 number (my PERM was applied with the new company in May 2009) and it's short of 20 days for 365 days past, I'm in BIG trouble!
I was taking care of all immigration expenses (H1 Fee, H1 & I-140 Attorney Fee). He made free $$$ from me for 15 months. But he was smart enough not to leave any proof that I paid for these expenses!
So I've two issues now to take care of.
- To extend my Visa
- And to sue my ex-employer for screwing my life. Since It's one year past since my H1 validity with him (H1 was valid until Aug 2008) Can I complain against him to get those 5 months bench salary or the statutory limit is over?
PLEASE HELP.
The timeline for you to help me.
On Bench with ex-employer Nov 2007 - April 2008 (5 months)
H1 transferred to new company in May 2008
H1 was valid until Sep 2008 with ex-employer, cancelled it in Aug 2008
more...
thomachan72
07-06 11:55 AM
Answers to your questions.
(a) That could be tough, but check with your attorney. Or check if you or your husband's company has any unused LCs. Remember that LC substituion can be done only until July 17th (could be 16 or 18th, please get this confirmed), so you have to act fast.
(b) No.
(c) No. I am almost sure even if you have an approved I-140, it still isn't enough to get an H-1B extension. Your best bet would be to work on an EAD if you were eligible to apply for 485. Talk to your attorney.
Good luck
Thanks,
Jayant
?????????
(a) That could be tough, but check with your attorney. Or check if you or your husband's company has any unused LCs. Remember that LC substituion can be done only until July 17th (could be 16 or 18th, please get this confirmed), so you have to act fast.
(b) No.
(c) No. I am almost sure even if you have an approved I-140, it still isn't enough to get an H-1B extension. Your best bet would be to work on an EAD if you were eligible to apply for 485. Talk to your attorney.
Good luck
Thanks,
Jayant
?????????
2010 arbie doll wallpaper. arbie
wandmaker
03-28 11:28 PM
Many thanks for IV to get this fixed for students. I am student member of IV since 2007.
I have posted this message in other forums and urged the student community to join IV.
IV rocks!
Balan
^^^^^^
I have posted this message in other forums and urged the student community to join IV.
IV rocks!
Balan
^^^^^^
more...
qasleuth
01-08 12:52 AM
Thank you qasleuth ..... ..... ..... ..... frack you
Just read your post and you will see the same dastardly mistakes that I supposedly made.
The difference is: I did not pre-suppose my English is perfect.
Supposedly means 'hypothetical'. You did not 'supposedly' make them, you actually did. Sentences do start with capital letters and you need commas when appropriate.
Please dont take this as a personal one off attack. I have read quite a few of your posts. Here is a good reference URL for your perusal.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/01/18/MN73840.DTL
Just read your post and you will see the same dastardly mistakes that I supposedly made.
The difference is: I did not pre-suppose my English is perfect.
Supposedly means 'hypothetical'. You did not 'supposedly' make them, you actually did. Sentences do start with capital letters and you need commas when appropriate.
Please dont take this as a personal one off attack. I have read quite a few of your posts. Here is a good reference URL for your perusal.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/01/18/MN73840.DTL
hair Barbie Wallpaper (4602371)
gene-O
10-20 05:27 PM
Hello! I'm on H1B, and my spouse is on H4. We received an ITIN for my spouse for our taxpaying needs. My spouse managed to get employed using the ITIN. We filed a joint tax return this year. We received a letter from SS administration saying "We cannot put these earnings on your Social Security record until the name and SSN reported agree with our records." My lawyer says: "your spouse is now barred from GC, because when she's worked for more than X amount of days she became OOS."
When the time will come for my employer to process my GC, what consequences will my spouse's unauthorised employment have on Her ability to receive a Greencard? What are the ways to rectify the situation? Appeals? Special provisions/clauses? Cost?
Thank you,
When the time will come for my employer to process my GC, what consequences will my spouse's unauthorised employment have on Her ability to receive a Greencard? What are the ways to rectify the situation? Appeals? Special provisions/clauses? Cost?
Thank you,
more...
logiclife
05-09 10:34 AM
Meet-and-greet fellow
Immigration Voicers
Some of the Core-group members will be converging in Washington DC on Monday, May 15th. Some of us are flying over the weekend (from Florida, Nevada, Seattle etc) and the ones nearby (NY, NJ, DE, MD) are driving there.
The core-group would like to meet Immigration Voice volunteers and members in and around the Washington, DC area. We are arranging a get-together dinner event on May 15th in DC Metro area to facilitate this meet and greet, and to have frank conversations with our current and future members.
You are invited to meet with the core group and network with members, local professionals, and well-wishers of Immigration Voice. Don't lose the fantastic opportunity to learn more about IV's strategy as well as the Capitol Hill meetings first-hand from the core-group.
Attorney Rajiv Khanna would be joining us for this meeting.
The event is arranged at a Bombay Palace at a discounted price of $20 per person. Like all the activities and events, the expenses (food, travel etc) will not be reimbursed by IV, and it would be paid out-of-pocket by volunteers, members and all guests.
If you (your spouse or colleagues at work) would like to join us,
(1) Please RSVP at the following email addresses with subject "RSVP".
(2) Include the following: Name, and TOTAL number of people attending - including yourself.
(3) Children NOT allowed (As this is a professional/organizational event, we advise you not get kids along with you. We apologize for any inconvinience this may cause.)
Venue
Bombay Palace
2020 K St. NW, Washington, DC
Time
6:30pm to 9:30pm
Valet parking available(Free after 5:30 PM)
Metro directions
(Easily accessible by metro.)
Few blocks from the follow. metro stops:
Farragut North (RED line - Connecticut Avenue and K Street) and
Farragut West (BLUE and ORANGE lines - 18th and I street)
RSVP by Friday (05/12) 4:00 p.m.:
(Please include the total number of people. Children not allowed.)
jay@immigrationvoice.org (http://us.f524.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jay@immigrationvoice.org)
info@ immigrationvoice.org (http://us.f524.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@immigrationvoice.org)
Immigration Voicers
Some of the Core-group members will be converging in Washington DC on Monday, May 15th. Some of us are flying over the weekend (from Florida, Nevada, Seattle etc) and the ones nearby (NY, NJ, DE, MD) are driving there.
The core-group would like to meet Immigration Voice volunteers and members in and around the Washington, DC area. We are arranging a get-together dinner event on May 15th in DC Metro area to facilitate this meet and greet, and to have frank conversations with our current and future members.
You are invited to meet with the core group and network with members, local professionals, and well-wishers of Immigration Voice. Don't lose the fantastic opportunity to learn more about IV's strategy as well as the Capitol Hill meetings first-hand from the core-group.
Attorney Rajiv Khanna would be joining us for this meeting.
The event is arranged at a Bombay Palace at a discounted price of $20 per person. Like all the activities and events, the expenses (food, travel etc) will not be reimbursed by IV, and it would be paid out-of-pocket by volunteers, members and all guests.
If you (your spouse or colleagues at work) would like to join us,
(1) Please RSVP at the following email addresses with subject "RSVP".
(2) Include the following: Name, and TOTAL number of people attending - including yourself.
(3) Children NOT allowed (As this is a professional/organizational event, we advise you not get kids along with you. We apologize for any inconvinience this may cause.)
Venue
Bombay Palace
2020 K St. NW, Washington, DC
Time
6:30pm to 9:30pm
Valet parking available(Free after 5:30 PM)
Metro directions
(Easily accessible by metro.)
Few blocks from the follow. metro stops:
Farragut North (RED line - Connecticut Avenue and K Street) and
Farragut West (BLUE and ORANGE lines - 18th and I street)
RSVP by Friday (05/12) 4:00 p.m.:
(Please include the total number of people. Children not allowed.)
jay@immigrationvoice.org (http://us.f524.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jay@immigrationvoice.org)
info@ immigrationvoice.org (http://us.f524.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@immigrationvoice.org)
hot arbie-wallpaper-19.jpg
hemasar
09-12 02:03 PM
My ETA is P-### .... I used the link and my status is IN PROCESS
more...
house wallpapers of arbie.
jsb
03-25 03:47 PM
Give us some relief during the period of recession and make some rules for H1B guys to stay legal and claim unemployment benifits
1. Allow H1B holders to stay unemployed but legal during this time of recession. They should be allowed unemployment insurance for the amount of money they contributed during the years of their work.
2. Don't send RFE to those in EAD during the this time of recession.
I don't know if these points are written as a joke. Technically H1B's are guest workers. If there is no work, they need not be here. "...Don't send RFE to those on EAD...", seems to tell don't do your job of checking whatever you are supposed to check before admitting a new immigrant.
Best thing is do nothing, just wait and hope for the best. Any actions are not likely to favour immigration or speedup GC granting, as these are not favoured in difficult economic times.
1. Allow H1B holders to stay unemployed but legal during this time of recession. They should be allowed unemployment insurance for the amount of money they contributed during the years of their work.
2. Don't send RFE to those in EAD during the this time of recession.
I don't know if these points are written as a joke. Technically H1B's are guest workers. If there is no work, they need not be here. "...Don't send RFE to those on EAD...", seems to tell don't do your job of checking whatever you are supposed to check before admitting a new immigrant.
Best thing is do nothing, just wait and hope for the best. Any actions are not likely to favour immigration or speedup GC granting, as these are not favoured in difficult economic times.
tattoo wallpapers of arbie. arbie
vgayalu
01-24 11:33 AM
Please do not raise old hot topics.
The confusion created is enough. Do not confuse more and more.
Let IV work on one issue which ever is under consideration.
We need not to scare any body by mentioning H4 and nonsense.
Let everybody get some drink first. Then everyone wait for solid stuff.
[QUOTE=dionysus]My view is that IV must reassess and realign its goals. The goal of I-485 filing without a current PD is too ambitious to start with. Remember, I-485 is the most time-consuming and lengthy stage of a GC, what with security and background checks, tax records checks, prior legal stays in US and medical tests to name just a few. CIS is swamped with many I-485 applications as it is. If it opens the flood gates for 485 filing, its system will simply collapse under the stampede of estimated 1 million GC seekers. There is no chance in hell that CIS will throw open the gates of I-485 filing for all and sundry.
The confusion created is enough. Do not confuse more and more.
Let IV work on one issue which ever is under consideration.
We need not to scare any body by mentioning H4 and nonsense.
Let everybody get some drink first. Then everyone wait for solid stuff.
[QUOTE=dionysus]My view is that IV must reassess and realign its goals. The goal of I-485 filing without a current PD is too ambitious to start with. Remember, I-485 is the most time-consuming and lengthy stage of a GC, what with security and background checks, tax records checks, prior legal stays in US and medical tests to name just a few. CIS is swamped with many I-485 applications as it is. If it opens the flood gates for 485 filing, its system will simply collapse under the stampede of estimated 1 million GC seekers. There is no chance in hell that CIS will throw open the gates of I-485 filing for all and sundry.
more...
pictures Barbie Wallpapers, Desktop
mirage
04-27 11:14 AM
Craap!!!! I have visited India 5 times in last 7 years. The officers have been very courteous and help. This mail is to discredit the system. Please stop discrediting your motherland. We are the people who have abondened our motherland, now don't abuse it. I wonder people like Kalloo dada on H1B are abusing India. What they'll do when they get their GC/Citizenship. I think US people are right to keep us in this shit. 'Jab apne desh ke nahee hue tou iss desh ke kya honge' You disown your mother land what will you do with your earned mother land ????
dresses Katrina Barbie
shahsahil
04-17 12:31 AM
Hi
I am new to this group. I have a question regarding my PERM case.
MY PERM case is pending in DOL from last 10 months. I find this very
unusual.
Anybody heard about such a long pending case?
Are there any suggestion for following up on my PERM case?
Any advise will be useful.
Thanks
-Sahil.
I am new to this group. I have a question regarding my PERM case.
MY PERM case is pending in DOL from last 10 months. I find this very
unusual.
Anybody heard about such a long pending case?
Are there any suggestion for following up on my PERM case?
Any advise will be useful.
Thanks
-Sahil.
more...
makeup wallpapers of arbie. arbie is
cchada
09-02 09:50 PM
Congrates ...
Does PCC taken at Indian Consulate in US is vaild or do we need get form local police station and Passport office in India ????
Does PCC taken at Indian Consulate in US is vaild or do we need get form local police station and Passport office in India ????
girlfriend arbie
coloniel60
08-15 01:34 PM
Absolutely right, how otherwise do you explain that they issued card production for people with PD's in 2004, (Dates not current in June) on July 2nd and in an hour and then said the visas are unavailable.
NO FIFO whatsoever.
They just saved themselves by retracting the VB of JULY, or else they would have faced lawsuits, and investigation which would have shown all irregularities and fraud.
If they can't follow FIFO in issuing receipt notices, which is the first and most basic step, then we should not expect them to follow FIFO for the rest of the steps.
NO FIFO whatsoever.
They just saved themselves by retracting the VB of JULY, or else they would have faced lawsuits, and investigation which would have shown all irregularities and fraud.
If they can't follow FIFO in issuing receipt notices, which is the first and most basic step, then we should not expect them to follow FIFO for the rest of the steps.
hairstyles wallpaper of arbie princess.
anu_t
06-16 01:11 AM
http://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&PressRelease_id=5428
GRASSLEY CONTINUES WORK TO CLOSE H-1B AND L VISA LOOPHOLES
WASHINGTON -- Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin today continued their quest to ensure that American workers are protected, and that companies who bring in foreign workers are complying with the law.
The Senators today sent a letter to Emilio Gonzalez, the director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, asking more questions about how the agency is addressing fraud and abuse in the H-1B visa program.
Earlier this month, the Senators sent letters to the top 9 foreign-owned companies to determine the companies' usage of H-1B visas. Today's letter comes on the heels of responses received from several of the foreign companies.
"From the responses we've received thus far, it�s evident that American workers are in the minority at these companies. I expect Citizenship and Immigration Services to take a hard look at their recruiting methods to make sure they are complying with the law," Grassley said. "We cannot just increase the annual allocation of visas without understanding how companies are using them."
"We've begun to question how many companies are complying with H-1B visa requirements," Durbin said. "I look forward to hearing back from Director Gonzalez on what the government is doing to enforce the law."
At this time, Grassley and Durbin will not be releasing the information received from the companies.
Here is a copy of the letter to Gonzalez.
June 13, 2007
The Honorable Emilio T. Gonzalez
Director
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20529
Dear Director Gonzalez:
Recently, we asked the foreign-based companies who obtain the most H-1B visas to answer questions regarding their workforce, wages, recruitment efforts, and usage of H-1B visas in the United States. Our letters were intended to learn more about how some companies are using the H-1B visa program. We remain concerned that the H-1B and L visa programs are facilitating the displacement of Americans by cheaper foreign workers. We continue our effort to understand how the H-1B and L visa programs are being used by U.S. and foreign-based companies, and therefore request that you provide details related to these programs.
Under current law, H-1B-dependent employers are required to attest that they have not displaced comparable workers in the United States before hiring a foreign worker. They must also make a good faith effort to recruit Americans first.
The responses to our letters to foreign-based H-1B users have led us to question how many companies are currently defined as H-1B-dependent, and if these employers who depend on H-1B visa holders are being adequately monitored for compliance with H-1B program requirements. While we understand that the Department of Labor has primary jurisdiction over H-1B dependent employers, we would like to understand your agency�s role in ensuring compliance with laws regarding displacement and recruitment.
We have also become concerned about the use of L visas by companies who also use large numbers of H-1B visas. Many companies are allowed to bring in L visa workers through a Ablanket petition,@ which is approved by USCIS. While the blanket petition is meant to simplify the process, we fear that some foreign workers may be approved for visas by the Department of State without proper oversight by USCIS, which has primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with L visa program requirements.
In order to better understand the nature of the L visa program, we need to have access to better statistics. We would like to know how many L visas are approved each year, and what companies use the program. We would also like to know more about the use of the blanket petition for L visa holders, and USCIS=s ability to monitor individual visa holders who are allowed entry into the United States on a blanket petition.
Finally, we are concerned about the level of fraud monitoring of the H-1B and L visa programs. While we understand that the Fraud Detection and National Security unit is analyzing and writing an assessment of the H-1B program, we are concerned that abuse of both programs is not being addressed adequately. Given that the immigration bill before the Senate includes a provision to allow USCIS to divert special funds to other operations, we would like to know how many dollars have been used specifically for H-1B and L fraud efforts. We also seek more details about how these investigations are being handled within the Department.
Given these concerns, we respectfully ask that the following answers be provided to us by Wednesday, June 20, 2007.
H-1B Dependent Employers
$ Please explain the process of identifying employers as H-1B dependent employers pursuant to INA Section 212(n)(3).
$ How many companies are defined by USCIS to be AH-1B dependent@ employers?
$ How are these H-1B dependent employers being monitored, if at all, by USCIS?
Blanket L Visa Petitions
$ How many L visas have been approved each year since 2000?
$ Please provide lists of companies that have used the L visa program for each of the two most recently available years, and how many visas each company has obtained in each year.
$ Since USCIS has primary jurisdiction over blanket petitions and visa policies, what role has been delegated to the Department of State and how is your agency ensuring that aliens under the blanket petition are being properly screened before entering the U.S.?
$ What role, if any, does USCIS play in monitoring the approval of L visas covered by blanket petitions?
$ Please provide an explanation of USCIS=s ability to track individual L visa holders who are allowed entry into the United States on visas covered by a blanket petition.
Investigations of Fraud and Abuse
$ Annually, what has been the total amount of funds deposited into the Fraud Prevention and Detection Account under INA Section 286(v) since it was established? Of this amount, what amount has been provided to the Department of Homeland Security under 286(v)(2)(B)?
$ How have the funds provided pursuant to 286(v)(2)(B) been used in FY2005, FY2006, and thus far in FY2007? How many funds have not been expended in a given year?
$ How does USCIS plan to spend the remaining funds left in FY2007?
$ How many total fraud and abuse referrals have been sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the last two years? How many of these referrals, to your knowledge, have been pursued? How many referrals, to your knowledge, are pending? Please provide any further details about specific cases or referrals to ICE that may be helpful to understanding the process within the Department.
$ Please provide examples of recent investigative referrals to ICE dealing with H-1B or L visas. Please explain any referrals in the last two years that have not been pursued or that have been closed, and provide information on how many are currently pending.
While we anticipate your concerns about providing such information to us by Wednesday, June 20th, we must stress the fact that the U.S. Senate is considering comprehensive legislation that would change immigration policies for years to come. The H-1B and L visa programs must be better understood before further action is taken on this bill. We appreciate your cooperation in providing us with input in the next week.
Please contact XXXXXXXX if you have any questions regarding this matter. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator United States Senator
GRASSLEY CONTINUES WORK TO CLOSE H-1B AND L VISA LOOPHOLES
WASHINGTON -- Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin today continued their quest to ensure that American workers are protected, and that companies who bring in foreign workers are complying with the law.
The Senators today sent a letter to Emilio Gonzalez, the director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, asking more questions about how the agency is addressing fraud and abuse in the H-1B visa program.
Earlier this month, the Senators sent letters to the top 9 foreign-owned companies to determine the companies' usage of H-1B visas. Today's letter comes on the heels of responses received from several of the foreign companies.
"From the responses we've received thus far, it�s evident that American workers are in the minority at these companies. I expect Citizenship and Immigration Services to take a hard look at their recruiting methods to make sure they are complying with the law," Grassley said. "We cannot just increase the annual allocation of visas without understanding how companies are using them."
"We've begun to question how many companies are complying with H-1B visa requirements," Durbin said. "I look forward to hearing back from Director Gonzalez on what the government is doing to enforce the law."
At this time, Grassley and Durbin will not be releasing the information received from the companies.
Here is a copy of the letter to Gonzalez.
June 13, 2007
The Honorable Emilio T. Gonzalez
Director
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20529
Dear Director Gonzalez:
Recently, we asked the foreign-based companies who obtain the most H-1B visas to answer questions regarding their workforce, wages, recruitment efforts, and usage of H-1B visas in the United States. Our letters were intended to learn more about how some companies are using the H-1B visa program. We remain concerned that the H-1B and L visa programs are facilitating the displacement of Americans by cheaper foreign workers. We continue our effort to understand how the H-1B and L visa programs are being used by U.S. and foreign-based companies, and therefore request that you provide details related to these programs.
Under current law, H-1B-dependent employers are required to attest that they have not displaced comparable workers in the United States before hiring a foreign worker. They must also make a good faith effort to recruit Americans first.
The responses to our letters to foreign-based H-1B users have led us to question how many companies are currently defined as H-1B-dependent, and if these employers who depend on H-1B visa holders are being adequately monitored for compliance with H-1B program requirements. While we understand that the Department of Labor has primary jurisdiction over H-1B dependent employers, we would like to understand your agency�s role in ensuring compliance with laws regarding displacement and recruitment.
We have also become concerned about the use of L visas by companies who also use large numbers of H-1B visas. Many companies are allowed to bring in L visa workers through a Ablanket petition,@ which is approved by USCIS. While the blanket petition is meant to simplify the process, we fear that some foreign workers may be approved for visas by the Department of State without proper oversight by USCIS, which has primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with L visa program requirements.
In order to better understand the nature of the L visa program, we need to have access to better statistics. We would like to know how many L visas are approved each year, and what companies use the program. We would also like to know more about the use of the blanket petition for L visa holders, and USCIS=s ability to monitor individual visa holders who are allowed entry into the United States on a blanket petition.
Finally, we are concerned about the level of fraud monitoring of the H-1B and L visa programs. While we understand that the Fraud Detection and National Security unit is analyzing and writing an assessment of the H-1B program, we are concerned that abuse of both programs is not being addressed adequately. Given that the immigration bill before the Senate includes a provision to allow USCIS to divert special funds to other operations, we would like to know how many dollars have been used specifically for H-1B and L fraud efforts. We also seek more details about how these investigations are being handled within the Department.
Given these concerns, we respectfully ask that the following answers be provided to us by Wednesday, June 20, 2007.
H-1B Dependent Employers
$ Please explain the process of identifying employers as H-1B dependent employers pursuant to INA Section 212(n)(3).
$ How many companies are defined by USCIS to be AH-1B dependent@ employers?
$ How are these H-1B dependent employers being monitored, if at all, by USCIS?
Blanket L Visa Petitions
$ How many L visas have been approved each year since 2000?
$ Please provide lists of companies that have used the L visa program for each of the two most recently available years, and how many visas each company has obtained in each year.
$ Since USCIS has primary jurisdiction over blanket petitions and visa policies, what role has been delegated to the Department of State and how is your agency ensuring that aliens under the blanket petition are being properly screened before entering the U.S.?
$ What role, if any, does USCIS play in monitoring the approval of L visas covered by blanket petitions?
$ Please provide an explanation of USCIS=s ability to track individual L visa holders who are allowed entry into the United States on visas covered by a blanket petition.
Investigations of Fraud and Abuse
$ Annually, what has been the total amount of funds deposited into the Fraud Prevention and Detection Account under INA Section 286(v) since it was established? Of this amount, what amount has been provided to the Department of Homeland Security under 286(v)(2)(B)?
$ How have the funds provided pursuant to 286(v)(2)(B) been used in FY2005, FY2006, and thus far in FY2007? How many funds have not been expended in a given year?
$ How does USCIS plan to spend the remaining funds left in FY2007?
$ How many total fraud and abuse referrals have been sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the last two years? How many of these referrals, to your knowledge, have been pursued? How many referrals, to your knowledge, are pending? Please provide any further details about specific cases or referrals to ICE that may be helpful to understanding the process within the Department.
$ Please provide examples of recent investigative referrals to ICE dealing with H-1B or L visas. Please explain any referrals in the last two years that have not been pursued or that have been closed, and provide information on how many are currently pending.
While we anticipate your concerns about providing such information to us by Wednesday, June 20th, we must stress the fact that the U.S. Senate is considering comprehensive legislation that would change immigration policies for years to come. The H-1B and L visa programs must be better understood before further action is taken on this bill. We appreciate your cooperation in providing us with input in the next week.
Please contact XXXXXXXX if you have any questions regarding this matter. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator United States Senator
admin
03-28 06:03 PM
I agree that you guys should push for an ammendment that one should be able to file 485 and join the queue and get the derivative benefits once 140 is approved. If we get that alone it is better than nothing.
However let me put it to you guys that without the green card in hand, living in limbo land albeit with some mobility is no fun either. Isn't that sort of what the illegals have now at their own labour level. We will be 2nd class citizens to be discarded at a fire brand politician's whim and fancy.If that wait is many years it will not be good. Further those applying later and later will eventually end up with inordinate waits leaving them the choice of waiting for decades like in some family based categories.
I am only saying this since it was stated that this should be the number one priority. The absolute number one priority for all of us should be to quicken the time to a GREEN CARD.
posmd,
If we're able to make every category current, then this amendment for filing I-485 will be moot. But then again our goals will have to tempered with ground reality. While we're fighting very hard against the hard country limit, there is no guarantee that it will be revoked. In the house-senate conference again, we cannot be sure that all of the exemptions like the ones for Dependents, STEM will not be stripped. So there is a very high chance that priority dates are not going to become current. So with that in mind, we need to make sure that atleast our life during the time that we're waiting for GC is much easier.
However let me put it to you guys that without the green card in hand, living in limbo land albeit with some mobility is no fun either. Isn't that sort of what the illegals have now at their own labour level. We will be 2nd class citizens to be discarded at a fire brand politician's whim and fancy.If that wait is many years it will not be good. Further those applying later and later will eventually end up with inordinate waits leaving them the choice of waiting for decades like in some family based categories.
I am only saying this since it was stated that this should be the number one priority. The absolute number one priority for all of us should be to quicken the time to a GREEN CARD.
posmd,
If we're able to make every category current, then this amendment for filing I-485 will be moot. But then again our goals will have to tempered with ground reality. While we're fighting very hard against the hard country limit, there is no guarantee that it will be revoked. In the house-senate conference again, we cannot be sure that all of the exemptions like the ones for Dependents, STEM will not be stripped. So there is a very high chance that priority dates are not going to become current. So with that in mind, we need to make sure that atleast our life during the time that we're waiting for GC is much easier.
vnsriv
03-31 04:32 PM
I am taking a guess that what Ronnie meant to say was that, Tax filing (whether or not you file jointly) has no implications on your immigration process... which is true.
If you filed 'married filing separately' does not mean that you dont want to support your spouse anymore as a derivative of your I-485 !
I second this. Tax Filing has no implications on your immigration status.
If you filed 'married filing separately' does not mean that you dont want to support your spouse anymore as a derivative of your I-485 !
I second this. Tax Filing has no implications on your immigration status.