Maverick_2008
02-23 09:10 PM
- My 485 is filed more than 6 months ago
- My is 140 not approved yet
- I get laid off
- My employer doesn't revoke my 140
- I'm already in the 8th year of my H
So, I can go find another employer since I have my EAD and my 485 is filed for more than 180 days. Now, if my 140 is approved, no problem. If, however, my 140 gets an RFE or if my 140 is not too strong, I can find out alternatives including (but not limited to :-)) finding a decent job in my home country while I still have a job here in the US.
Is it logical or should I go take a nap? :p
Maverick_2008
Ummm, how exactly is delayed I 140 good if they are about to be laid off? To be able to use AC21 these guys need need their I 140 approved and have worked for the employer 6 months after receipt date.
I don't see the logic in your statement.
- My is 140 not approved yet
- I get laid off
- My employer doesn't revoke my 140
- I'm already in the 8th year of my H
So, I can go find another employer since I have my EAD and my 485 is filed for more than 180 days. Now, if my 140 is approved, no problem. If, however, my 140 gets an RFE or if my 140 is not too strong, I can find out alternatives including (but not limited to :-)) finding a decent job in my home country while I still have a job here in the US.
Is it logical or should I go take a nap? :p
Maverick_2008
Ummm, how exactly is delayed I 140 good if they are about to be laid off? To be able to use AC21 these guys need need their I 140 approved and have worked for the employer 6 months after receipt date.
I don't see the logic in your statement.
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amitjoey
02-03 07:52 PM
Hi EveryOne,
I got my Green card in mail yesterday.
Thanks.
Congrats!!
I got my Green card in mail yesterday.
Thanks.
Congrats!!
aamchimumbai
12-08 12:16 PM
Vik352,
I am in the same situation as yours. I am assuming that this is your first AP application and not renewal, right?
In my case, I am on H1 and my wife is on H4. For both, visa is NOT stamped in our passports. We received a letter from NSC saying that both our AP applications were approved on 10/21/08. I received my approved AP application but we never received hers. We followed up with the NSC and local USCIS office both confirmed that our application were approved. Therefore, she left US to visit India on 11/15/08. Two days later after her departure we received RFE on photos. Weird. Anyways. We did respond her RFE few days ago.
But now the question is can she return with her approved AP, which may have a later date than her departure OR we need to go for H1/H4 stamping. I am not sure what will happen at the POE when we show up with our APs.
Anyone in similar situation?
Thanks.
My wife is not H4, she is working on EAD and we applied her I-485 last July. She has to travel to India for an emegency. We applied for AP last month, have the receipt but it is not approved. Is it okay if she travels to India without AP approval? I will be here and I can take her approved AP when I go there after two months.
I heard that if she travels without AP, her I-485 is considered abonded. Is this true? Can we apply for her H4 (as I am still on H1). Any advice on how to get her back?
Thanks!
I am in the same situation as yours. I am assuming that this is your first AP application and not renewal, right?
In my case, I am on H1 and my wife is on H4. For both, visa is NOT stamped in our passports. We received a letter from NSC saying that both our AP applications were approved on 10/21/08. I received my approved AP application but we never received hers. We followed up with the NSC and local USCIS office both confirmed that our application were approved. Therefore, she left US to visit India on 11/15/08. Two days later after her departure we received RFE on photos. Weird. Anyways. We did respond her RFE few days ago.
But now the question is can she return with her approved AP, which may have a later date than her departure OR we need to go for H1/H4 stamping. I am not sure what will happen at the POE when we show up with our APs.
Anyone in similar situation?
Thanks.
My wife is not H4, she is working on EAD and we applied her I-485 last July. She has to travel to India for an emegency. We applied for AP last month, have the receipt but it is not approved. Is it okay if she travels to India without AP approval? I will be here and I can take her approved AP when I go there after two months.
I heard that if she travels without AP, her I-485 is considered abonded. Is this true? Can we apply for her H4 (as I am still on H1). Any advice on how to get her back?
Thanks!
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kminkeller
03-09 04:17 PM
Thanks guys. Thanks a lot for all these information.
So for Consular processing I need to go back to my country and get it done through the Embassy right? What are the chances of getting denied? Also, what are the chances of getting your labor and I140 denied? If GOD forbid, it got denied, will my EAD still be valid and my EB3 application still be in the place? will it jeopardize my EB3 application?
Thanks.
So for Consular processing I need to go back to my country and get it done through the Embassy right? What are the chances of getting denied? Also, what are the chances of getting your labor and I140 denied? If GOD forbid, it got denied, will my EAD still be valid and my EB3 application still be in the place? will it jeopardize my EB3 application?
Thanks.
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optimystic
03-19 05:55 PM
May be this is the general process, but I know of a case with RD in June last week and PD in 2003 Mar got approved last Nov/Dec area. It is an EB3 India case.
That would be quite surprising (but not unusual with USCIS :confused: ).
If the case has RD in last week of June then theoretically it had some windows where its PD would have been current
June last week - July 2 and
July 17 - Aug 17th.
But looks like the approval happened in Nov/Dec 07...nowhere near the possible PD current time frames I mentioned above. And also during Nov/Dec 07, EB3- India was 'U' ...so how did the case get adjudicated, and Visa number assigned during that time frame ??? !! One could not even argue that the case got adjudicated and visa assigned during July/Aug timeframes but got stuck for a while before the approval was mailed....'cos its about 3-4 months difference to the time the actual approval was mailed!
Should people who get such unusual approvals be worried that USCIS may realise their mistake later and retract the asssigned Visa numbers and put the case back into adjustment of status mode?? I hope not for the sake of sanity of those people who got the approval !
More the reason for me to get the Infopass in April and hopefully force them to open up my case and look if it can be adjudicated.. :( . I wonder what my company's immigration attorneys would say. They usually do not recommend the applicants directly contacting USCIS.
That would be quite surprising (but not unusual with USCIS :confused: ).
If the case has RD in last week of June then theoretically it had some windows where its PD would have been current
June last week - July 2 and
July 17 - Aug 17th.
But looks like the approval happened in Nov/Dec 07...nowhere near the possible PD current time frames I mentioned above. And also during Nov/Dec 07, EB3- India was 'U' ...so how did the case get adjudicated, and Visa number assigned during that time frame ??? !! One could not even argue that the case got adjudicated and visa assigned during July/Aug timeframes but got stuck for a while before the approval was mailed....'cos its about 3-4 months difference to the time the actual approval was mailed!
Should people who get such unusual approvals be worried that USCIS may realise their mistake later and retract the asssigned Visa numbers and put the case back into adjustment of status mode?? I hope not for the sake of sanity of those people who got the approval !
More the reason for me to get the Infopass in April and hopefully force them to open up my case and look if it can be adjudicated.. :( . I wonder what my company's immigration attorneys would say. They usually do not recommend the applicants directly contacting USCIS.
pandu_hawaldar
06-04 11:09 AM
I don't think its necessary to have kind of a verification letter from bank. I only sent paper statements for past 6 months, that's it. I printed the same online and also did order in mail through 1-800 number of BOA free of charge. As a matter of fact, in my situation at that time, I was not worried about sending this verification letter, because we give enough docs for our genuineness and I thought monthly statements would suffice.
I guess you should close the account with that bank (or atleast make it non-active) and open one locally.
My $0.02 :).
I guess you should close the account with that bank (or atleast make it non-active) and open one locally.
My $0.02 :).
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harrydr
06-13 04:00 PM
BimmerFan, my wife is planning to apply for the med school and mostly the hospitals tend to apply for J visa instead of H1-B. Of course my preference is to get H1-B for her to avoid the J1 waiver process and who knows how tough their policy might turn out to be once you apply.
From your expreince it seems like you have lived this process inside out. Can you please PM me with your phone number so that i can have a more private correspondence with you. I would be greatly thankful to you for assisting me with this.
From your expreince it seems like you have lived this process inside out. Can you please PM me with your phone number so that i can have a more private correspondence with you. I would be greatly thankful to you for assisting me with this.
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485Mbe4001
05-19 01:07 AM
honest opinion, talk to a good lawyer about this. your case is unique so dont depend comments from us. Companies have always used the carrot and stick aproach, with GCs, its just our luck that we roll the dice with this process and how we are exploited. You can stand your ground and negotiate with your firm, to a certain extent they need you too. Your I-40 is owned by the company, so they are the ones sponsoring you. Besides your current lawyers will probably have all your papers and approvals. Our lawyer did not even give us the I 140 number as we did not file it. I guess you might need all the 140 papers when you file for 485
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signin241
04-04 02:36 PM
My wife couldn't file her 485 as we got married in September. That's why I've to wait for her to get a valid visa (H1 if her file is picked in the lottery), else
F1 later.
Then If I use EAD, Is there any risk to her or myself ??
Is it Possible for me to come back to H1 once I start using EAD. (I have H1 valid till November 2010). ??
Thanks again for your response.
F1 later.
Then If I use EAD, Is there any risk to her or myself ??
Is it Possible for me to come back to H1 once I start using EAD. (I have H1 valid till November 2010). ??
Thanks again for your response.
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guesswho
11-12 11:47 AM
What was your previous status (before 1st oct). If you still have valid visa for say H-4, just go out of country and come back using your previous valid visa. On your return you will get a new I-94 with H-4 status. Then you can apply for H-4 to H-1 transfer (you won't need any paystubs) and you will not be subjec to H1 quota either.
Ofcourse, I am assuming your previous status was H-4. If it was F-1 or something else, I don't know if you have valid permit to return to that status.
Hi Gurus,
It's amazing to see all the good work here! Please keep it up.
My question is:
I graduated with a Master's (MBA) from US in Dec. 06, have H1B approved from Oct. 1st 2007, through Comp. A (consultant). However, I have never worked with Comp. A, as they couldn't secure a project for me. Now, Comp. B has come forward to possibly hire me (non-consultant). How do I get my H1B transferred without the pay stubs, considering that Comp. B is a non-consulting company, and would need a very smooth transfer?
Ofcourse, I am assuming your previous status was H-4. If it was F-1 or something else, I don't know if you have valid permit to return to that status.
Hi Gurus,
It's amazing to see all the good work here! Please keep it up.
My question is:
I graduated with a Master's (MBA) from US in Dec. 06, have H1B approved from Oct. 1st 2007, through Comp. A (consultant). However, I have never worked with Comp. A, as they couldn't secure a project for me. Now, Comp. B has come forward to possibly hire me (non-consultant). How do I get my H1B transferred without the pay stubs, considering that Comp. B is a non-consulting company, and would need a very smooth transfer?
more...
snathan
04-08 04:16 PM
Does July 1st include the weekend till 3rd July or it just hardstop @ July 1st?
Hard stop at June 30th....
Hard stop at June 30th....
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chi_shark
03-30 09:34 AM
yawn!
Ok sorry if I post this in the wrong place. So I married my wife in 2004 and we began the immigration fillings right away. so you know I was turned away at the border in 2000 because I was going to stay with my wife and her family for 3 months.
When they asked why they would put me up for that long, I told them they were like my adopted family. they still turned me away saying that the money I had at the time $300 was not enough to support my self for that time. this was summer break from school. So that is from my record and the officer who interviewed me wrote in his report that I intended to be adopted for immigration purposes. I think he just mis understood me. ok so that is in the noid. when we went to the first interview the woman was hostile towards my wife and I asking about our age and how we met we are 22 years apart in age. we provided her with documents some bills, photos and joint bank account statement. this is all we had in the first 4 months of out marriage. she asked repeatedly why we had not made any major joint purchases Why we didn't have joint health care. both because I had just started working and had not saved money yet.
We had a second interview to which we took the same documents and more. This interview was short. The interviewer was professional and asked alot of yes and yes questions and would stop us from going on more then that. he said that he had to talk with his supervisor and we would hear from him with in six months. So nothing from them from them for 4 years I called the help line once a year and kept up my EAD and worked full time. Then 2 guys showed up and asked to be showed around the house. we let them in and they interviewed us they took some photos and said have a good day.
Then 6 months later we received our first NOID. Stating that I had been turned away the one time and that I had said I was to be adopted. That I was in a relationship with a person that does not exists. They pointed out that there were photos of my wife with her ex-husband on the walls.
So we go see some lawyers talk to like 6 of them and picked the one who seemed best. talked to people in out community friends who had immigrated. ects. so his plan was to withdraw and file anew to get a fresh first interview. So we refiled with a stack of documents 4 inches thick. insurance, all of our bill, tax returns, car payments. anything we could think of.
So we get anther interview dude takes us back to his office. asked me the basic security questions. and sent me away. Then told my wife and lawyer that the first filing was denied and letters sent. and that they never received our letter withdrawing the first filing. we never received their denial letter. He said he would review out case and the new documents. he sent a NOID for the second filing like 4 months later. So we responded to the noid with a letter from my wife and I refuting the noid line by line. And with letters from friends PHD professors at the local collages. about 10 - 15 all in all and we have not had a reply from them. So the layer said that we had to wait on the USCIS to make the next move. is this so is there anything we can do to move this along? should we switch lawyers? we really like the man we have but I dont know its been over a year now.
sorry for the poor grammar its really late here. thanks for your health.
Ok sorry if I post this in the wrong place. So I married my wife in 2004 and we began the immigration fillings right away. so you know I was turned away at the border in 2000 because I was going to stay with my wife and her family for 3 months.
When they asked why they would put me up for that long, I told them they were like my adopted family. they still turned me away saying that the money I had at the time $300 was not enough to support my self for that time. this was summer break from school. So that is from my record and the officer who interviewed me wrote in his report that I intended to be adopted for immigration purposes. I think he just mis understood me. ok so that is in the noid. when we went to the first interview the woman was hostile towards my wife and I asking about our age and how we met we are 22 years apart in age. we provided her with documents some bills, photos and joint bank account statement. this is all we had in the first 4 months of out marriage. she asked repeatedly why we had not made any major joint purchases Why we didn't have joint health care. both because I had just started working and had not saved money yet.
We had a second interview to which we took the same documents and more. This interview was short. The interviewer was professional and asked alot of yes and yes questions and would stop us from going on more then that. he said that he had to talk with his supervisor and we would hear from him with in six months. So nothing from them from them for 4 years I called the help line once a year and kept up my EAD and worked full time. Then 2 guys showed up and asked to be showed around the house. we let them in and they interviewed us they took some photos and said have a good day.
Then 6 months later we received our first NOID. Stating that I had been turned away the one time and that I had said I was to be adopted. That I was in a relationship with a person that does not exists. They pointed out that there were photos of my wife with her ex-husband on the walls.
So we go see some lawyers talk to like 6 of them and picked the one who seemed best. talked to people in out community friends who had immigrated. ects. so his plan was to withdraw and file anew to get a fresh first interview. So we refiled with a stack of documents 4 inches thick. insurance, all of our bill, tax returns, car payments. anything we could think of.
So we get anther interview dude takes us back to his office. asked me the basic security questions. and sent me away. Then told my wife and lawyer that the first filing was denied and letters sent. and that they never received our letter withdrawing the first filing. we never received their denial letter. He said he would review out case and the new documents. he sent a NOID for the second filing like 4 months later. So we responded to the noid with a letter from my wife and I refuting the noid line by line. And with letters from friends PHD professors at the local collages. about 10 - 15 all in all and we have not had a reply from them. So the layer said that we had to wait on the USCIS to make the next move. is this so is there anything we can do to move this along? should we switch lawyers? we really like the man we have but I dont know its been over a year now.
sorry for the poor grammar its really late here. thanks for your health.
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webpromo
03-27 12:36 PM
this is not a game , this happened really to me .I am Indian .They did not gave my passport back . They took my passport and send me to Bangalore Airport back .I know they don't have any right to hold any one's property that too a country citizenship passport.I am looking for an answer and advice , not question for a question
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rheoretro
11-09 11:39 AM
Now that the restrictionists blew the election for the Republicans, they're desperately trying to rally their remaining troops and keep up their morale using immigration scare tactics....
If the Dems could vote against HR 4437 and for S 2611 in an election year and still win the majority, whose going to care for this piece of S#*t?
Another interesting observation: Its back to being called a Bush-McCain-Kennedy Amnesty....not the Reid-Kennedy Amnesty...
�* Mark Krikorian is executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies and an NRO contributor.
Nice work, purgan. Center for Immigration studies has long been opposed to legal immigration (in that it wants to decrease numbers). I personally can't stand Steve Camarota's sick/twisted views...
Interestingly enough, this article appeared in NR, founded by none other than Bill Buckley, himself, the arch conservative. Somehow these guys don't get it...
If the Dems could vote against HR 4437 and for S 2611 in an election year and still win the majority, whose going to care for this piece of S#*t?
Another interesting observation: Its back to being called a Bush-McCain-Kennedy Amnesty....not the Reid-Kennedy Amnesty...
�* Mark Krikorian is executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies and an NRO contributor.
Nice work, purgan. Center for Immigration studies has long been opposed to legal immigration (in that it wants to decrease numbers). I personally can't stand Steve Camarota's sick/twisted views...
Interestingly enough, this article appeared in NR, founded by none other than Bill Buckley, himself, the arch conservative. Somehow these guys don't get it...
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arrarrgee
07-13 11:29 AM
Read on CNN that west coast is hitting 125 in some places...if thats the case guess you guys should be good not wearing any suits...would look odd:eek:
Its a good idea but make sure you guyz are comfortable. It must be hot out there.
Its a good idea but make sure you guyz are comfortable. It must be hot out there.
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harryom
04-10 11:16 AM
Gurus:
I am into 8th year of my H1b and getting it approved every year becuase of pending I-140/I-485 application.
Situation1-->I recently I noticed my I-94 number with new I-797 approval notice does not match with the one I had only passport. New I-94# does belong to me in tha past I-797 approvals.
Q1: Is it major problem and do i need to fix it right away or I can wait to apply for extension for next year? My immigration depatment is silent on this , may be because they made a mistake in I-129 petition form.
Situation2: Even my paspport in I-129 has typo...but I have recetnly got new passport from NYC as it was due for renewal.
Question2: Do I need to update USCIS with new passport#, if Yes..how?
Situation3: While submitting I-129 form my immigration dept also did not put in Alien number and I noticed that its not showing up on my I-797 approval notice.
Question: Is it something that also need fix or shall I wait form next year extension. Is it required in H1b notice as I have pending I-140/485.
Any suggestions/advice..please share it if any one had similar experience..
Thanks
I am into 8th year of my H1b and getting it approved every year becuase of pending I-140/I-485 application.
Situation1-->I recently I noticed my I-94 number with new I-797 approval notice does not match with the one I had only passport. New I-94# does belong to me in tha past I-797 approvals.
Q1: Is it major problem and do i need to fix it right away or I can wait to apply for extension for next year? My immigration depatment is silent on this , may be because they made a mistake in I-129 petition form.
Situation2: Even my paspport in I-129 has typo...but I have recetnly got new passport from NYC as it was due for renewal.
Question2: Do I need to update USCIS with new passport#, if Yes..how?
Situation3: While submitting I-129 form my immigration dept also did not put in Alien number and I noticed that its not showing up on my I-797 approval notice.
Question: Is it something that also need fix or shall I wait form next year extension. Is it required in H1b notice as I have pending I-140/485.
Any suggestions/advice..please share it if any one had similar experience..
Thanks
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Jaime
09-04 10:40 AM
With 100,000 already gone, and with frustrations growing at a boiling point, the pressure being applied upon us will force us onto the path of least resistance. How long before we are all gone? If you are an American reading this, did you know that every other industralized country faces declining population? Do you really want the future population growth of the U.S>to come solely from illegal Salvadorean maids? Do you wnat the high-skilled people to move away to China and India and then see your quality of life deteriorate?
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/23/Business/US_faces_decline_in_s.shtml
U.S. faces decline in skilled workers
New study says the wait for a green card frustrates immigrants.
By Madhusmita Bora, Times Staff Writer
Published August 23, 2007
The only barrier stalling Arun Shanmugam's ascent in the corporate world is a small card that would proclaim him a permanent resident of the United States.
The green card, which isn't green in color, would help him snag the next best opportunity, launch his own company, and enjoy homestead tax rebates.
So, this year the Tampa software engineer joined a queue of more than 300,000 immigrants vying for the coveted card. But a severe backlog is forcing high-skilled workers to question their American dream.
On Wednesday, a Kansas-based private, nonpartisan foundation released a study warning that America could face a sizable reverse brain drain unless the government eases visa restrictions, increases the quota and speeds up the process. The Kauffman Foundation said that there are more than 1-million skilled immigrants including doctors, engineers, and scientists competing for the approximately 120,120 green cards issued each year.
The uncertainty of the process and the imbalance in the demand and supply could trigger a trend of highly trained immigrants returning to their country and moving elsewhere.
"It's the first time in American history that we are faced with the prospect of a reverse brain drain," said Vivek Wadhwa, Wertheim fellow with the Harvard Law School and a co-author of the study.
"There are so many business opportunities in Shanghai and Bangalore, why put up with all the immigration crap?"
Many of the green card applicants are on a six-year H-1 B visa. The non-immigrant work permit keeps them wedded to a single employer. Immigrants who have applied for a green card can continue working on an extended H-1 B visa until the card arrives. But they can't change employers, or start their own companies. Their wait time is open-ended, made longer by a Congress-mandated quota for the visas and severe backlogs in the system.
Frustrated with the system, in the last three to five years, 100,000 highly skilled Chinese and Indian immigrants have returned to their home country, Wadhwa said.
In a fiercely competitive global economy, this is the worst time for such an exodus, experts say.
"Our previous studies document that highly skilled workers accounted for one quarter of all successful high-tech start-ups in the last decade," said Robert Litan, vice president of research and policy at the Kauffman Foundation. "If we send a lot of these people back home, we will lose a disproportionate number of entrepreneurs."
And the ripple affects are already emerging in the Tampa Bay area.
"It's a huge problem," said Ray Weadock, CEO and president of Persystent Technologies. "The guys in Washington don't think much and their initial reaction is this will impact Cisco and Microsoft."
But smaller companies take a bigger hit, because they don't often have the capital to send jobs to where the labor is, Weadock said. Weadock's company, which employs Shanmugam, is toying with the idea of setting up a subsidiary in India.
Companies aren't the only ones chasing the labor market. Schools and universities are also jumping into the wagon. The population of international students in MBA programs across the country continues to dwindle, said Bob Forsythe, dean of the College of Business at University of South Florida.
"And the demand for American business schools to go deliver programs in other countries have increased," he said.
Harvard University and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management are among a growing number of schools that have a presence in India. At USF, Forsythe's team is negotiating a venture in Romania.
The visa problems here have encouraged governments worldwide to ease visa restrictions in their countries and nab the high skilled workforce.
"There's a lot of mention of Canada," said Chandra Mitchell, an immigration attorney with Tampa-based Neil F. Lewis.
Amar Nayegandhi, a USF graduate and a contract employee with the U.S. Geological Survey, has been waiting for his green card since 2002.
He may soon give up, he said. The long wait has cost him job opportunities, forced upon him a commuter marriage and restricted his economic mobility. His H1-B visa runs out in February, and even though he can extend it and continue awaiting the green card, he's contemplating leaving the country.
"I have friends who have gone back simply frustrated with the setup," he said. "I am asking myself if this is really worth it."
Shanmugam of Persystent Technologies says he, too, will only wait for about a year before considering giving up his spot in the line and heading back to his native India.
"This is not the only place to be anymore," he said. "You can find better opportunities everywhere."
By the numbers
200,000: Employment-based applicants waiting for labor certification in 2006 - the first step in the U.S. immigration process.
50,132: Pending I-140 applications - the second step of the immigration process. That's seven times the total in 1996 of 6,743.
125,421: Estimated applicants residing abroad who were waiting for permanent residency status.
100,000: Estimated number of highly skilled Chinese and Indian immigrants who have returned to their home country in recent years.
Highlights of Kauffman Foundation reports
- Foreign nationals are contributing to one out of four of all the global patents filed in the United States.
- One quarter of all tech companies nationwide and 52 percent of tech companies in the Silicon Valley were founded by immigrants.
- More than 1-million skilled workers and their families (scientists, doctors, engineers, Ph.D. researchers) are waiting for green cards. About 120,0000 green cards are issued each year with a 7 percent limit per country.
-Hundreds of thousands of skilled immigrant workers may get frustrated with the waiting process that could be 6 to 10 years and leave the United States. The reverse brain drain could be critical to Americans corporations and hurt the country's competitiveness in a global economy.
- Immigrant-founded companies produced $52-billion in revenues and employed 450,000 workers in 2006.
Madhusmita Bora can be reached at mbora@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3112.
[Last modified August 22, 2007, 23:19:43]
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/23/Business/US_faces_decline_in_s.shtml
U.S. faces decline in skilled workers
New study says the wait for a green card frustrates immigrants.
By Madhusmita Bora, Times Staff Writer
Published August 23, 2007
The only barrier stalling Arun Shanmugam's ascent in the corporate world is a small card that would proclaim him a permanent resident of the United States.
The green card, which isn't green in color, would help him snag the next best opportunity, launch his own company, and enjoy homestead tax rebates.
So, this year the Tampa software engineer joined a queue of more than 300,000 immigrants vying for the coveted card. But a severe backlog is forcing high-skilled workers to question their American dream.
On Wednesday, a Kansas-based private, nonpartisan foundation released a study warning that America could face a sizable reverse brain drain unless the government eases visa restrictions, increases the quota and speeds up the process. The Kauffman Foundation said that there are more than 1-million skilled immigrants including doctors, engineers, and scientists competing for the approximately 120,120 green cards issued each year.
The uncertainty of the process and the imbalance in the demand and supply could trigger a trend of highly trained immigrants returning to their country and moving elsewhere.
"It's the first time in American history that we are faced with the prospect of a reverse brain drain," said Vivek Wadhwa, Wertheim fellow with the Harvard Law School and a co-author of the study.
"There are so many business opportunities in Shanghai and Bangalore, why put up with all the immigration crap?"
Many of the green card applicants are on a six-year H-1 B visa. The non-immigrant work permit keeps them wedded to a single employer. Immigrants who have applied for a green card can continue working on an extended H-1 B visa until the card arrives. But they can't change employers, or start their own companies. Their wait time is open-ended, made longer by a Congress-mandated quota for the visas and severe backlogs in the system.
Frustrated with the system, in the last three to five years, 100,000 highly skilled Chinese and Indian immigrants have returned to their home country, Wadhwa said.
In a fiercely competitive global economy, this is the worst time for such an exodus, experts say.
"Our previous studies document that highly skilled workers accounted for one quarter of all successful high-tech start-ups in the last decade," said Robert Litan, vice president of research and policy at the Kauffman Foundation. "If we send a lot of these people back home, we will lose a disproportionate number of entrepreneurs."
And the ripple affects are already emerging in the Tampa Bay area.
"It's a huge problem," said Ray Weadock, CEO and president of Persystent Technologies. "The guys in Washington don't think much and their initial reaction is this will impact Cisco and Microsoft."
But smaller companies take a bigger hit, because they don't often have the capital to send jobs to where the labor is, Weadock said. Weadock's company, which employs Shanmugam, is toying with the idea of setting up a subsidiary in India.
Companies aren't the only ones chasing the labor market. Schools and universities are also jumping into the wagon. The population of international students in MBA programs across the country continues to dwindle, said Bob Forsythe, dean of the College of Business at University of South Florida.
"And the demand for American business schools to go deliver programs in other countries have increased," he said.
Harvard University and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management are among a growing number of schools that have a presence in India. At USF, Forsythe's team is negotiating a venture in Romania.
The visa problems here have encouraged governments worldwide to ease visa restrictions in their countries and nab the high skilled workforce.
"There's a lot of mention of Canada," said Chandra Mitchell, an immigration attorney with Tampa-based Neil F. Lewis.
Amar Nayegandhi, a USF graduate and a contract employee with the U.S. Geological Survey, has been waiting for his green card since 2002.
He may soon give up, he said. The long wait has cost him job opportunities, forced upon him a commuter marriage and restricted his economic mobility. His H1-B visa runs out in February, and even though he can extend it and continue awaiting the green card, he's contemplating leaving the country.
"I have friends who have gone back simply frustrated with the setup," he said. "I am asking myself if this is really worth it."
Shanmugam of Persystent Technologies says he, too, will only wait for about a year before considering giving up his spot in the line and heading back to his native India.
"This is not the only place to be anymore," he said. "You can find better opportunities everywhere."
By the numbers
200,000: Employment-based applicants waiting for labor certification in 2006 - the first step in the U.S. immigration process.
50,132: Pending I-140 applications - the second step of the immigration process. That's seven times the total in 1996 of 6,743.
125,421: Estimated applicants residing abroad who were waiting for permanent residency status.
100,000: Estimated number of highly skilled Chinese and Indian immigrants who have returned to their home country in recent years.
Highlights of Kauffman Foundation reports
- Foreign nationals are contributing to one out of four of all the global patents filed in the United States.
- One quarter of all tech companies nationwide and 52 percent of tech companies in the Silicon Valley were founded by immigrants.
- More than 1-million skilled workers and their families (scientists, doctors, engineers, Ph.D. researchers) are waiting for green cards. About 120,0000 green cards are issued each year with a 7 percent limit per country.
-Hundreds of thousands of skilled immigrant workers may get frustrated with the waiting process that could be 6 to 10 years and leave the United States. The reverse brain drain could be critical to Americans corporations and hurt the country's competitiveness in a global economy.
- Immigrant-founded companies produced $52-billion in revenues and employed 450,000 workers in 2006.
Madhusmita Bora can be reached at mbora@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3112.
[Last modified August 22, 2007, 23:19:43]
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abhijitp
01-25 04:59 PM
I live and take bart from fremont. let us know time and day or days of this event. I will plan to stop by or stop for hours to help IV friends.
THAT is the spirit, thank you my friend!
The drive will happen on
all weekday evenings (5pm - 7pm)
between
Tuesday 1/29/2008- Friday 2/8/2008
Are you a part of the NorCal yahoogroup?
Thanks again!
THAT is the spirit, thank you my friend!
The drive will happen on
all weekday evenings (5pm - 7pm)
between
Tuesday 1/29/2008- Friday 2/8/2008
Are you a part of the NorCal yahoogroup?
Thanks again!
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Lucky7
12-04 08:24 AM
I am a Commercial/Industrial Architect and have allready had to turn down 2 jobs this year making double what i make here in hicksville Fresno CA due to the fact that i do not have a green card.
As far as the investor visa,i have looked into this too with my attorney and i am not elligible,even though i have the funds,due to the fact that my previous attorney did not file my papers on time in 2000 and therfore had to refile under 245i in 2001 and i am paying the price along with 30 other clients of the crooked attorney who ran away to another state.
My earnings this yr were above your guys fugures but Uncle Sam takes a very large chunk due to being single,no real estate in my name and no tax write offs.
As far as the investor visa,i have looked into this too with my attorney and i am not elligible,even though i have the funds,due to the fact that my previous attorney did not file my papers on time in 2000 and therfore had to refile under 245i in 2001 and i am paying the price along with 30 other clients of the crooked attorney who ran away to another state.
My earnings this yr were above your guys fugures but Uncle Sam takes a very large chunk due to being single,no real estate in my name and no tax write offs.
linuxra
07-23 02:31 PM
I got an rfe on employment v l and history of 5 year in oct 2009 replied dec 2009
after that no update?how abt u?
after that no update?how abt u?
rc0878
09-23 10:35 AM
I think as far it does not say unknown, we should be good....but still we should atleast discuss this wit our respective attorneys and post our findings in here.
BTW, mine is blank also.
To answer your question the Priority date column is NULL ( i mean blank) for most of us in 485 Receipt Notice.
But the "Section : " is showing UNKNOWN for some of us and showing something else for others...
I'm wondering if that could be an issue - shall we call USCIS to fix this ?
BTW, mine is blank also.
To answer your question the Priority date column is NULL ( i mean blank) for most of us in 485 Receipt Notice.
But the "Section : " is showing UNKNOWN for some of us and showing something else for others...
I'm wondering if that could be an issue - shall we call USCIS to fix this ?
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