immi_twinges
09-19 12:22 PM
Where did Gandhiri go...
It seems like every one is yelling and trying to make others feel low if they didn't attend rally or didn't contribute...
The website is free and its up to individuals to do what ever they want ...
May be they will feel the heat or retrogression after 2 years or so and start doing something about it (like contributing..
All i am saying is do not chase visitors away with your anger...
Peace...
------
I am just a visitor....who likes iV
I used to visit the forum now and then as it was a good forum where people encourage and support each other..It gave me a sense of belonging to something...
It seems like every one is yelling and trying to make others feel low if they didn't attend rally or didn't contribute...
The website is free and its up to individuals to do what ever they want ...
May be they will feel the heat or retrogression after 2 years or so and start doing something about it (like contributing..
All i am saying is do not chase visitors away with your anger...
Peace...
------
I am just a visitor....who likes iV
I used to visit the forum now and then as it was a good forum where people encourage and support each other..It gave me a sense of belonging to something...
wallpaper Zodiac symbols tattoo designs.
duncanidaho
02-01 05:48 AM
There is a seperate thread on this. Look it up.
My 2 c:
- Stay away from Murthy. They've screwed up at least 2 cases that I know of. And their response is slow.
- Thomas Fan in MD: Run like you've seen the devil. I have no idea why malpractice suits has not been filed against him yet.
- Clark Trevor in CA - Guy is awesome but expensive.
- Ellen Krengel in CA - Decent.
- Gowda in MI - Slow, inefficient.
- Rajeev Khanna - seems to be good, efficient and responsive.
- Jon Wu, CA - Slow as hell but knows the ins/outs
My 2 c:
- Stay away from Murthy. They've screwed up at least 2 cases that I know of. And their response is slow.
- Thomas Fan in MD: Run like you've seen the devil. I have no idea why malpractice suits has not been filed against him yet.
- Clark Trevor in CA - Guy is awesome but expensive.
- Ellen Krengel in CA - Decent.
- Gowda in MI - Slow, inefficient.
- Rajeev Khanna - seems to be good, efficient and responsive.
- Jon Wu, CA - Slow as hell but knows the ins/outs
ishakapoor
02-16 01:56 PM
I don't understand ur reply. I haven't asked question of maintaining legal status. I am maintaining legal status. My question is very simple.
What documents are required for COS from H1 to H4?
Where is this question of maintaining legal status coming from?
What documents are required for COS from H1 to H4?
Where is this question of maintaining legal status coming from?
2011 Zodiac Tattoos
mantagon
07-22 04:22 PM
The attorney and Roseball are correct - maintaining H4 status and working on EAD are mutually exclusive!
Your options are:
(1) Do not extend your H1. Contiinue working on EAD. Your status will be AOS.
(2) Convince your employer that if you don't extend the H1, then in the event that your I-485 is denied for some reason in the future, then you will be immidiately out of status and cannot work thereafter.
Hope this helps!
I am currently on H1b visa and have filed I-485 as primary. My spouse is also on H1B and is derivative. We both have EAD's but are still maintaining H1B status.
My employer is reluctant to file H1B extension as there are lots of RFE's and client/vendor letter requirements and paper work he does not want to do.
He has asked me to change my status to H4 and work on EAD.
Can I work on EAD without filing H1B-H4.
or
After the new memo regarding unlawful status, it is better to file H1 to H4 and continue working on EAD for my employer.
Will this affect anyhow on my chances of approval of my AOS?
Appreciate your response.
Your options are:
(1) Do not extend your H1. Contiinue working on EAD. Your status will be AOS.
(2) Convince your employer that if you don't extend the H1, then in the event that your I-485 is denied for some reason in the future, then you will be immidiately out of status and cannot work thereafter.
Hope this helps!
I am currently on H1b visa and have filed I-485 as primary. My spouse is also on H1B and is derivative. We both have EAD's but are still maintaining H1B status.
My employer is reluctant to file H1B extension as there are lots of RFE's and client/vendor letter requirements and paper work he does not want to do.
He has asked me to change my status to H4 and work on EAD.
Can I work on EAD without filing H1B-H4.
or
After the new memo regarding unlawful status, it is better to file H1 to H4 and continue working on EAD for my employer.
Will this affect anyhow on my chances of approval of my AOS?
Appreciate your response.
more...
provine
08-19 05:35 PM
I file pwd around the end of Feb this year. It's still pending. Anyone else is having the same issue? What can I do for this? Ask for tracking number from lawyer and call DOL? Please advise.
I am so frustrated...
I am so frustrated...
Antonio Trivelin
June 16th, 2006, 01:16 PM
i like the 4th one of the percussionist but my favorite is the last one for some reason. have you photographed concerts before? these are pretty good.
eu vou ver o seu jorge amana em los angeles. voce o conhece? ele e um musico carioca.
have a great weekend. vai brasil este domingo!!!! 5-0! :)
kevin
Kevin,
This my second time at concert photos. You can see another ones at my "site" here: http://actrivelin.multiply.com/photos/album/10
About "Seu Jorge", yes ! He is famous musician here in Brazil, but i really don�t know well his work. You can see more details about him at his site: http://www.seujorge.com/
My cousin has a amateur band and he loves this kind of music, if you want see: http://www.ofinodabola.com/ This site will be better soon, but there you can listen some musics, its great !!
Domingo espero que o Brasil jogue o verdadeiro futebol !!!! :)
Abra��o !
Antonio
eu vou ver o seu jorge amana em los angeles. voce o conhece? ele e um musico carioca.
have a great weekend. vai brasil este domingo!!!! 5-0! :)
kevin
Kevin,
This my second time at concert photos. You can see another ones at my "site" here: http://actrivelin.multiply.com/photos/album/10
About "Seu Jorge", yes ! He is famous musician here in Brazil, but i really don�t know well his work. You can see more details about him at his site: http://www.seujorge.com/
My cousin has a amateur band and he loves this kind of music, if you want see: http://www.ofinodabola.com/ This site will be better soon, but there you can listen some musics, its great !!
Domingo espero que o Brasil jogue o verdadeiro futebol !!!! :)
Abra��o !
Antonio
more...
yabadaba
07-09 12:35 PM
cnn has pretty much decided to stick with the rheotric of loo dobbs. he brings in the highest viewership and the highest ratings. the widow article was huge amongst many bloggers.. some personal finance bloggers like boston gal. i guess cnn is now the Censational News Network.
i guess it helps their ratings to demonize us more
i guess it helps their ratings to demonize us more
2010 a tattoo of your zodiac
anilsal
10-10 02:00 PM
You got your GC.
more...
number30
10-31 04:06 PM
Hello Number30,
For taxation purposes, you are considered just like US citizen as soon as you spend more than 180 days within US.
You can claim all the standard tax deductions/exemptions that are available to any US citizen like EIC (irrespective of your status - on visa, in AOS, PR or citizen) if you file taxes as a resident.
Yes I thought the same.
I am asking this because i did a tax return for one of my friend. He got EIC. But Questionire is not asking for residency status. But was asking like Were you a U.S. citizen or resident alien for all of year?
That year he was laid off and had very little income So he took the money.
Hope he will not have any trouble.
For taxation purposes, you are considered just like US citizen as soon as you spend more than 180 days within US.
You can claim all the standard tax deductions/exemptions that are available to any US citizen like EIC (irrespective of your status - on visa, in AOS, PR or citizen) if you file taxes as a resident.
Yes I thought the same.
I am asking this because i did a tax return for one of my friend. He got EIC. But Questionire is not asking for residency status. But was asking like Were you a U.S. citizen or resident alien for all of year?
That year he was laid off and had very little income So he took the money.
Hope he will not have any trouble.
hair astrology-zodiac-tattoo-
voldemar
06-27 11:53 AM
EAD is not required for invoking AC-21. If your lawyer says so, then go for second opinion.
His lawyer was right. If he has H1 he can do H1 transfer to another employer and invoke AC21 to continue AOS.
His lawyer was right. If he has H1 he can do H1 transfer to another employer and invoke AC21 to continue AOS.
more...
doudou
07-26 12:40 PM
mambarg wrote
Nebraska is processing Apps received June 29th
So in next few days, as expected we may start seeing processing or receipts for July 2nd filers on Aug 1st at least at nebraska.
I saw it on __________________
Do you know if some June 29th filers received their recipt numbers?
Thank you!
Nebraska is processing Apps received June 29th
So in next few days, as expected we may start seeing processing or receipts for July 2nd filers on Aug 1st at least at nebraska.
I saw it on __________________
Do you know if some June 29th filers received their recipt numbers?
Thank you!
hot Chinese Zodiac is a scheme
madanreddy
03-14 08:09 PM
I was 5 years with this company. paid all GC and every legal expenses from my pocket, filed GC couple of times, big time screwups.
flight tickets! If they pay my pay checks I will be happy.
Only mistake I did was to follow rules :)
flight tickets! If they pay my pay checks I will be happy.
Only mistake I did was to follow rules :)
more...
house zodiac tattoo,
jingi1234
08-19 05:58 PM
Di you submit all F1, H1, EAD documents to the USCIS with your original I0485 submission? Did you send any W2 forms?
Didn't submit anything related to F1 (Only grad certificate). I did submit paystubs + W2's...
Don't know what triggered USCIS for these RFEs..
Didn't submit anything related to F1 (Only grad certificate). I did submit paystubs + W2's...
Don't know what triggered USCIS for these RFEs..
tattoo Tattoo Designs of Zodiac Signs
diptam
06-04 01:04 PM
Hey,
Anyone else is like me - My 9th yr H extension was receipted from VERMONT on Jan9th '08 and its almost June 9th '08 and I'm still "Pending"... The peoples i know of got it in 2-3 months , worst case is 4 months.
Earlier i had Extension from VERMONT within 1-2 months , don't know what special stuff they have found for me this time !! :rolleyes:
Hello diptam,
I am on H1 with AOS pending. I will be applying for H1 extension for first time. Could you give me a link for the procedure and documentaion. My period expires on Sept 2008.
Thanks
Anyone else is like me - My 9th yr H extension was receipted from VERMONT on Jan9th '08 and its almost June 9th '08 and I'm still "Pending"... The peoples i know of got it in 2-3 months , worst case is 4 months.
Earlier i had Extension from VERMONT within 1-2 months , don't know what special stuff they have found for me this time !! :rolleyes:
Hello diptam,
I am on H1 with AOS pending. I will be applying for H1 extension for first time. Could you give me a link for the procedure and documentaion. My period expires on Sept 2008.
Thanks
more...
pictures Zodiac Symbol Tattoo
dixie
11-07 02:09 PM
If you have maintained status all along, you have nothing to fear.Since you have an approved H1, you are free to stop taking classes now. However, when you go for visa stamping be prepared with all the documents to show that you have maintained status. You will surely have a few tough questions to answer so be prepared to convince the visa officer of your continued legal status.Also, avoid going to a consulate in a third country like Mexico or Canada. In my opinion, for non-standard cases like yours its safer to get it done in your home country.
My H1 is approved on Oct 23, 2006. I was on F1. Before my OPT grace period expired on July 20, 2006, I enrolled in a school with new I-20 on July 5th, 2006. I have been taking one class every month for last three months to maintain full time status. If I stop taking classes now, would it be a some kind of problem when I go for visa stamping?
My H1 is approved on Oct 23, 2006. I was on F1. Before my OPT grace period expired on July 20, 2006, I enrolled in a school with new I-20 on July 5th, 2006. I have been taking one class every month for last three months to maintain full time status. If I stop taking classes now, would it be a some kind of problem when I go for visa stamping?
dresses tattoo zodiac signs.
ramus
05-30 08:32 PM
While other members helping you can you also help IV and send some web-faxes..
Thanks.
Please help....I am in a little bit precarious situation here...
I am frustrated working for Company A and I have a job offer from Company B..
My question is if
1: my I140 is approved from company A and
2: have H1b extended for 3 years for company A
3: get the H1b transferred over to Company B and then
leave the Company A and join Company B
Now Company A revokes I140
Will by H1B with Company B still valid?
Thanks.
Please help....I am in a little bit precarious situation here...
I am frustrated working for Company A and I have a job offer from Company B..
My question is if
1: my I140 is approved from company A and
2: have H1b extended for 3 years for company A
3: get the H1b transferred over to Company B and then
leave the Company A and join Company B
Now Company A revokes I140
Will by H1B with Company B still valid?
more...
makeup Symbol Tattoos
ArkBird
10-28 02:05 AM
If it is EB2, forget about it. EB2 and 3 yr degree is big No No. If it is EB3 (seems unlikely as you filed in 04/2007 and EB3 was not current) consult good lawyer and file MTR.
HTH
- Pre-approved labor dated 03/2004
- Filed 140 in 04/2007 and filed 485 in 08/2007. Got EADs as well
- RFE on 140 after 2 years waiting (in fact it was on the last day of 2nd year. In between, it was passed thru all the 4 centers and came back to same place where it was filed). Education mismatch and other stuff. Employer responded in 21 days
- 2nd RFE on 140 after 30 days - Education mismatch - Again responded
- There was no response even after 60 days, so we called and created a service request.
- Finally the 140 has been denied today. I did not get the notice yet. I'm thinking, it is because of Education mismatch
The labor was for 4years degree and I have 3 years degree + 1 year post graduate diploma with 8 years experience by the time filing 140. And I did my masters in US, but I got this after couple of months of I filed my 140.
Please advice what are options available for me.
HTH
- Pre-approved labor dated 03/2004
- Filed 140 in 04/2007 and filed 485 in 08/2007. Got EADs as well
- RFE on 140 after 2 years waiting (in fact it was on the last day of 2nd year. In between, it was passed thru all the 4 centers and came back to same place where it was filed). Education mismatch and other stuff. Employer responded in 21 days
- 2nd RFE on 140 after 30 days - Education mismatch - Again responded
- There was no response even after 60 days, so we called and created a service request.
- Finally the 140 has been denied today. I did not get the notice yet. I'm thinking, it is because of Education mismatch
The labor was for 4years degree and I have 3 years degree + 1 year post graduate diploma with 8 years experience by the time filing 140. And I did my masters in US, but I got this after couple of months of I filed my 140.
Please advice what are options available for me.
girlfriend Tribal Zodiac 2 - Extreme
andy garcia
09-15 10:43 PM
Do we have any guesstimate for the number of attendies for the rally?
Around 2500
Around 2500
hairstyles Tattoo Designs Zodiac Signs.
gbof
10-16 10:13 AM
This is what I can speculate from logical point of view. There can be an 2nd RFE which is basically seeking more clarification on an earlier RFE. These kind of RFE will be pretty much immediate to the preceeding RFE (within 1 -2 months)
After that hopefully there should not be any unrelated RFE with the assumption that IO has taken a complete look at the file before issuing a RFE. We do not want a RFE for BC and when that is replied IO sending another one for Medical or Marriage Certificate. We should reasonably assume that IO has taken a good look at the application before sending RFE.
But we can expect RFE for cases that are current. The reason being most of these cases might be lying with CIS for over 2-3 years before getting current and considering the current state of economy they might issue a RFE for updated EVL to check if the person is still working. That is again just a pure guess no one knows how CIS works in reality
eb2_mumbai,
Most your recent postings are logical but still so much red here- I gave you green.
After that hopefully there should not be any unrelated RFE with the assumption that IO has taken a complete look at the file before issuing a RFE. We do not want a RFE for BC and when that is replied IO sending another one for Medical or Marriage Certificate. We should reasonably assume that IO has taken a good look at the application before sending RFE.
But we can expect RFE for cases that are current. The reason being most of these cases might be lying with CIS for over 2-3 years before getting current and considering the current state of economy they might issue a RFE for updated EVL to check if the person is still working. That is again just a pure guess no one knows how CIS works in reality
eb2_mumbai,
Most your recent postings are logical but still so much red here- I gave you green.
Jaime
09-14 05:25 PM
To attend the rally:
1- I canceled a business meeting - employer didn't like it
2- I moved business travel around the rally, my boss also had to reschedule
3- I am flying in from Texas
Those of us near Washington, it will be so much easier than this for you to make it! Just get in your car or the train and go to DC for the day!
WE REALLY REALLY NEED YOU!!! THIS IS NO JOKE GUYS!!!! PLEASE MAKE UP YOUR MIND AND ATTEND, YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID! ALREADY WE HAVE SOME GOOD PRESS BUZZ AND ARE BACKED BY HIGHER-UPS LIKE THE GOVERNORS AND SEN. CORNYN WITH HIS LATEST LEGISLATION. NOW ALL WE NEED IS YOU!!!!! PLEASE JOIN US!!!! YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID AND WE WILL SUCCEED TOGETHER!!! LET'S GO GUYS! THIS WILL BE HISTORIC!!!!
1- I canceled a business meeting - employer didn't like it
2- I moved business travel around the rally, my boss also had to reschedule
3- I am flying in from Texas
Those of us near Washington, it will be so much easier than this for you to make it! Just get in your car or the train and go to DC for the day!
WE REALLY REALLY NEED YOU!!! THIS IS NO JOKE GUYS!!!! PLEASE MAKE UP YOUR MIND AND ATTEND, YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID! ALREADY WE HAVE SOME GOOD PRESS BUZZ AND ARE BACKED BY HIGHER-UPS LIKE THE GOVERNORS AND SEN. CORNYN WITH HIS LATEST LEGISLATION. NOW ALL WE NEED IS YOU!!!!! PLEASE JOIN US!!!! YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID AND WE WILL SUCCEED TOGETHER!!! LET'S GO GUYS! THIS WILL BE HISTORIC!!!!
jags_e
08-30 02:58 PM
There is a main article on the reverse brain drain in EE Times and it mentions the IV's September 18 rally too.
The link is http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=314X3PTACJUWMQSNDLOSK HSCJUNN2JVN;?articleID=201802703
EE Times: Latest News
Green-card red tape sends valuable engineers packing
Disenchanted with life in immigration limbo, San Antonio resident Praveen Arumbakkam is abandoning his American dream and returning to his native India.
A senior programmer at a fast-growing IT company, Arumbakkam volunteered for the Red Cross in Texas after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He worked on disaster recovery management software to locate displaced persons, track donations and organize aid distribution.
He had hoped to start a nonprofit disaster recovery management solutions company in the United States, but now he's decided he doesn't want to wait any longer for his green card.
When professionals such as Arumbakkam give up on the States, it creates serious economic consequences, said Vivek Wadhwa, lead author of a study on the subject released last week.
"We've set the stage here for a massive reverse brain drain," said Wadhwa, Wertheim Fellow at Harvard Law School's Labor and Worklife Program.
By the end of fiscal 2006, half a million foreign nationals living in the U.S. were waiting for employment-based green cards, according to the study, released by the nonprofit Kauffman Foundation. Titled "Intellectual Property, the Immigration Backlog, and a Reverse Brain-Drain," the study was based on research by Duke, Harvard and New York University. If spouses and children are included, the number exceeds 1 million.
The study looked at the three main types of employment-based green cards, which cover skill-based immigrants and their immediate families. Including pros- pective immigrants awaiting U.S. legal permanent resident status but living abroad, the numbers hit almost 600,000 in the first group and almost 1.2 million in the second.
The number of available green cards in the three categories totals approximately 120,000. "If there are over a million persons in line for 120,000 visas a year, then we have already mortgaged almost nine years' worth of employment visas," said study author Guillermina Jasso, an NYU sociology professor.
The report also notes that foreign nationals were listed as inventors or co-inventors on 25.6 percent of the international-patent app-lications filed from the United States in 2006, up from 7.6 percent in 1998.
U.S. companies bring in many highly skilled foreigners on temporary visas and train them in U.S. business practices, noted Wadhwa, an executive in residence at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. Those workers are then forced to leave, and "they become our competitors. That's as stupid as it gets," he said. "How can this country be so dumb as to bring people in on temporary visas, train them in our way of doing business and then send them back to compete with us?"
Many in the engineering profession argue that American tech employers take advantage of the work visa system for their own benefit. They state that though there is plenty of American engineering talent available, employers use the programs to hire cheaper foreign labor.
And others counter the concern that large numbers of foreign residents will depart America. Most immigrants who have waited years for green cards will remain firm in their resolve, given the time and effort they have already invested, believes Norm Matloff, a computer science professor at the University of California at Davis. "People are here because they want to be here," he said. "They place a high value on immigrating."
But while Arumbakkam wants to be here, he has had enough of waiting. And his story is typical of those foreign-born tech professionals who return home.
In July 2001, the then 27-year-old Arumbakkam arrived on a student visa to get his master's in information technology at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. He has a bachelor's degree from the highly ranked University of Madras in southern India.
Arumbakkam said he "pretty much loved the society and the infrastructure for advanced education" in the States. In the post-Sept. 11 climate toward foreigners, however, he found it difficult to get work. After sending out countless resumes, he took an internship in Baltimore, followed by a job in Michigan.
That post didn't bring him any closer to his goal of permanent residency, however. He next took a job in San Antonio and insisted his employer secure him a green card. About that time, the government established an "application backlog elimination" center. "My application went straight into this chasm. I don't know what happened after that," he said. "That was pretty much a blow."
In 2005, he landed his current job, where he's happy with the work environment and the salary. His employer applied for a green card when the government rolled out an online system that was supposed to streamline the process.
But since then, with two applications in the works, Arumbakkam has been waiting-and waiting. In the meantime, his work status can't change, meaning no pay raises or promotions.
Page 2 of 2
Arumbakkam knows plenty of others in the same boat. In early 2006, he ran across Immigration Voice, a nonprofit national group that supports changes in immigration law affecting highly skilled workers. The 22,000-member organization includes professionals in a wide range of fields, from engineers and doctors to architects. Many have families, and all are stuck in the legal process.
"I heard horror stories," said Arumbakkam. One is the tale of a quality assurance engineer employed by a midsized consulting firm in Oklahoma working with Fortune 50 companies. The Indian engineer was hired at a salary that was 30 percent lower than he expected. This was in exchange for the promise that his employer would file a green card application. He was told the money would go to attorneys' fees.
For four years, the engineer asked about his application and was repeatedly told it was coming along. The employer blamed the slow progress on the law firm. In fact, the employer had never filed the application. Finally, the engineer found other work and restarted his efforts to obtain permanent residence.
In another case, a senior strategic projects manager who has an engineering background and is working for a Fortune 100 company has been waiting 13 years for his green card, Arumbakkam said.
That manager, also Indian, applied for permanent residency in Canada at the same time he applied for it in the States. After 18 months, Canada offered it to him and his family. His wife and children moved to Vancouver, B.C., where he visits regularly while waiting for a change in his U.S. residency status.
Indians in the United States often have too much trust in their employers and lack knowledge of resources that could help them understand their immigration options, Arumbakkam said. He plans to attend an Immigration Voice rally in Washington on Sept. 18 to urge congressional action on immigration.
But he isn't optimistic. "I just feel that I'm getting pushed further down as far as my career is concerned," he said.
...................
The link is http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=314X3PTACJUWMQSNDLOSK HSCJUNN2JVN;?articleID=201802703
EE Times: Latest News
Green-card red tape sends valuable engineers packing
Disenchanted with life in immigration limbo, San Antonio resident Praveen Arumbakkam is abandoning his American dream and returning to his native India.
A senior programmer at a fast-growing IT company, Arumbakkam volunteered for the Red Cross in Texas after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He worked on disaster recovery management software to locate displaced persons, track donations and organize aid distribution.
He had hoped to start a nonprofit disaster recovery management solutions company in the United States, but now he's decided he doesn't want to wait any longer for his green card.
When professionals such as Arumbakkam give up on the States, it creates serious economic consequences, said Vivek Wadhwa, lead author of a study on the subject released last week.
"We've set the stage here for a massive reverse brain drain," said Wadhwa, Wertheim Fellow at Harvard Law School's Labor and Worklife Program.
By the end of fiscal 2006, half a million foreign nationals living in the U.S. were waiting for employment-based green cards, according to the study, released by the nonprofit Kauffman Foundation. Titled "Intellectual Property, the Immigration Backlog, and a Reverse Brain-Drain," the study was based on research by Duke, Harvard and New York University. If spouses and children are included, the number exceeds 1 million.
The study looked at the three main types of employment-based green cards, which cover skill-based immigrants and their immediate families. Including pros- pective immigrants awaiting U.S. legal permanent resident status but living abroad, the numbers hit almost 600,000 in the first group and almost 1.2 million in the second.
The number of available green cards in the three categories totals approximately 120,000. "If there are over a million persons in line for 120,000 visas a year, then we have already mortgaged almost nine years' worth of employment visas," said study author Guillermina Jasso, an NYU sociology professor.
The report also notes that foreign nationals were listed as inventors or co-inventors on 25.6 percent of the international-patent app-lications filed from the United States in 2006, up from 7.6 percent in 1998.
U.S. companies bring in many highly skilled foreigners on temporary visas and train them in U.S. business practices, noted Wadhwa, an executive in residence at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. Those workers are then forced to leave, and "they become our competitors. That's as stupid as it gets," he said. "How can this country be so dumb as to bring people in on temporary visas, train them in our way of doing business and then send them back to compete with us?"
Many in the engineering profession argue that American tech employers take advantage of the work visa system for their own benefit. They state that though there is plenty of American engineering talent available, employers use the programs to hire cheaper foreign labor.
And others counter the concern that large numbers of foreign residents will depart America. Most immigrants who have waited years for green cards will remain firm in their resolve, given the time and effort they have already invested, believes Norm Matloff, a computer science professor at the University of California at Davis. "People are here because they want to be here," he said. "They place a high value on immigrating."
But while Arumbakkam wants to be here, he has had enough of waiting. And his story is typical of those foreign-born tech professionals who return home.
In July 2001, the then 27-year-old Arumbakkam arrived on a student visa to get his master's in information technology at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. He has a bachelor's degree from the highly ranked University of Madras in southern India.
Arumbakkam said he "pretty much loved the society and the infrastructure for advanced education" in the States. In the post-Sept. 11 climate toward foreigners, however, he found it difficult to get work. After sending out countless resumes, he took an internship in Baltimore, followed by a job in Michigan.
That post didn't bring him any closer to his goal of permanent residency, however. He next took a job in San Antonio and insisted his employer secure him a green card. About that time, the government established an "application backlog elimination" center. "My application went straight into this chasm. I don't know what happened after that," he said. "That was pretty much a blow."
In 2005, he landed his current job, where he's happy with the work environment and the salary. His employer applied for a green card when the government rolled out an online system that was supposed to streamline the process.
But since then, with two applications in the works, Arumbakkam has been waiting-and waiting. In the meantime, his work status can't change, meaning no pay raises or promotions.
Page 2 of 2
Arumbakkam knows plenty of others in the same boat. In early 2006, he ran across Immigration Voice, a nonprofit national group that supports changes in immigration law affecting highly skilled workers. The 22,000-member organization includes professionals in a wide range of fields, from engineers and doctors to architects. Many have families, and all are stuck in the legal process.
"I heard horror stories," said Arumbakkam. One is the tale of a quality assurance engineer employed by a midsized consulting firm in Oklahoma working with Fortune 50 companies. The Indian engineer was hired at a salary that was 30 percent lower than he expected. This was in exchange for the promise that his employer would file a green card application. He was told the money would go to attorneys' fees.
For four years, the engineer asked about his application and was repeatedly told it was coming along. The employer blamed the slow progress on the law firm. In fact, the employer had never filed the application. Finally, the engineer found other work and restarted his efforts to obtain permanent residence.
In another case, a senior strategic projects manager who has an engineering background and is working for a Fortune 100 company has been waiting 13 years for his green card, Arumbakkam said.
That manager, also Indian, applied for permanent residency in Canada at the same time he applied for it in the States. After 18 months, Canada offered it to him and his family. His wife and children moved to Vancouver, B.C., where he visits regularly while waiting for a change in his U.S. residency status.
Indians in the United States often have too much trust in their employers and lack knowledge of resources that could help them understand their immigration options, Arumbakkam said. He plans to attend an Immigration Voice rally in Washington on Sept. 18 to urge congressional action on immigration.
But he isn't optimistic. "I just feel that I'm getting pushed further down as far as my career is concerned," he said.
...................
No comments:
Post a Comment