Mike Tyson Tattoos

The next set of people who decide to write to the President should send him flowers as well. Also there is a DC based org called SAALT who wants to hear our stories + struggles and working to effect policy change on a national level.

Tell Us Your Immigration Story (http://www.saalt.org/pages/Tell-Us-Your-Immigration-Story.html)

Lets participate in this too.

Via The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/us-violated-gats-by-increasing-h1b-l1-visa-fee/articleshow/7232740.cms)

An article in the Economic Times discusses the findings of a think-tank which indicated that the United States may have violated its obligations unde the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) by the newly implemented H and L fee increase for certain US Petitioners, "As a result, a WTO Member whose companies use H-1B and L-1 visas to perform services in the United States may challenge this provision at the World Trade Organization."

Read article (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/us-violated-gats-by-increasing-h1b-l1-visa-fee/articleshow/7232740.cms)


More... (http://ashwinsharma.com/2011/01/13/us-violated-gats-by-increasing-h1b-l1-visa-fee---via-the-economic-times.aspx?ref=rss)

So other WTO member countries need to challenge based on that.

Hi. I have been on H1b with Company A since May, 2008. My visa and I797 are valid till Sept 24, 2009. There is no bench/pay roll break in my employment. I want to transfer my H1b to Company B. Should I use premium processing or regular processing? I have heard that many premium processing cases get a RFE. Is it true? This is particularly important given the bad economic landscape and news/rumors of large number of H1b transfer/extension refusals.

thanks, gc chahiye!

Pretty fast as most(if not all) of Apr 01 cases are stuck in P/DBEC...

Priority date : May 2006
EAD : 2 yrs

I have ben working with employer A on an H1B ( even labor and I-140 approved, PD-April2009) and planning to apply for H1 transfer now through employer B.

After the transfer is approved for B, if I change my mind and decide to continue to work with curent employer A, can I do that ?

Thanks,
Kumar

u can stay with A, no problem.

Alright all,

Celebrating the good news here.

Question: Did anybody receive confirmation about their AOS applications being returned after filling in early July (Say on the 2nd or 3rd)? I know there have been rumors about a few returned applications but I haven't actually found anyone in such situation + my attorneys confirmed today that USCIS specifically instructed not to return/reject them.

An answer will magically appear after you have contributed to the IV cause.

AILA Leadership Has Just Posted the Following:


As many regular readers of this blog know, I am impressed by the amazing work of Vivek Wadhwa, research associate at Harvard, and an entrepreneur in residence at Duke. This week his most recently published article, The University Of Competition (http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20090622&fname=GCol+Vivek+Wadhwa+(F)&sid=1), in Outlook India, points out the obvious--"with its flawed immigration policies, the U.S. has exported part of its economic stimulus and is providing a windfall of premium talent to these countries (India and China)."

Vivek also appeared in a NPR's Marketplace segment on how sophisticated engineering jobs are disappearing from the U.S. and moving to India (http://marketplace.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=marketplace/pm/2009/06/17/marketplace_cast2_20090617_64). The report by Janet Babin starts with an unemployed Silicon Valley engineer and ends with Wim Elfrink � Cisco�s Chief Globalization Officer who is based in Bangalore. In that piece, Vivek discusses how the world has changed and how companies now need to be near growth markets.

This pieces and other recent pieces show that plodding ideas about commissions and study groups to recommend visa numbers are relics of a past age. The question is, will Congress act quickly enough on immigration reform to actually make a difference in helping our economy recover. Every immigration lawyer knows these simple truths--lazy people do not walk across the desert. And, its corollary--the Hope that is American attracts those willing to work hard to succeed. Well, the former principle is still true, at least for now. The latter is giving way to hopelessness--backlogged visa numbers ("encased in amber"), and a growing and vibrant economy in China and India. The failure to act quickly is going to cost America in the long run. Let's pray someone in the White House and on Capitol starts this immigration reform discussion moving before it is too late.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/186823568153827945-2392842088350390333?l=ailaleadership.blogspot.com


More... (http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2009/06/vivek-wadwha-voice-in-wilderness.html)

My status is the same as you folks "Document mailed to applicant".Based on responses from other forums it means that the approval notice has been sent.

Will keep you guys posted.

to be frank with you guys my friend have a good bank statment and business in his own country he wanna apply for a tourist visa and i recomended for him to have a hotels .... flight reservation but i am still confused about the purpose of the visit actually its not about the purpose its about his chance to get a visa he never been in the US never apply for a visa , dont have any relatives in the US he wanna try his chances to get a visa only ?????

thats all , any insight :confused:

Complain? Nah, I am a D70 fan, nice camera.....

In my opinion,
Once a person starts working on EAD, his H1 status becomes void. I have read in forum that people still switch from EAD to H1, but I am not entirely sure on that one.

But here is what your friend need to do:

All who are planning to use AC21 or already switched job using AC21 (using EAD). Following is very important:

If you think you are immune, think twice, especially if you are making an investment (American Dream) by buying house, please read the following, help keep your dream intact....


check out http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22182

We request all the members to start sending the following 4 letters. For your convenience the letters have been completely written including addresses to be sent � all you have to do is download following 4 google documents � add the date, your name and address � and send it to the address provided on each letter.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcqssdt7_1d3mzhr6c

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcqssdt7_2fp3nrhvb

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcqssdt7_3d8h2x7dr

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcqssdt7_4fxnvq9tw

To reiterate: You have to send 4 letters � these letters can be downloaded at the above URL�s. Edit the document to add current date, name, address etc. and mail it (regular mail). After doing that, please update the poll so we know how many letters are being sent.

To get more background on this issue and see what has been done so far, please see these two threads:
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...d.php?t=22052;
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...ad.php?t=21716

Hi,
One of my friends is saying Job experience with the same company would not count towards? So this means will i have to change jobs and hope that my I-140 for the current employer is not withdrawn. Pl. advise.

Thanks,

It would be interesting to split the poll as: Apr-May, June-July, Sept-Oct and Nov-Dec 05. I know there r not many between apr 05 and sept 05. but there is a lot in mar05 and sept to dec05 as labors under perm started clearing after sept 05.

Guys,

Friend of mine has got H1B1 visa stamped now. But we just found out that on his passport ECNR is not deleted. ECNR is still required there.

Can you guys help us to understand what this is? Do we need to remove ECNR before he travel to UR? He has BE (Mech).

When I came to US my ECNR was deleted and I am also graduate.

Your help appreciated.

Thanks,

Share experience about Vonage about calling India.



Vonage, a provider of voice over Internet protocol phone service, has reached a settlement with Kentucky, Indiana and 30 other states over allegations of deceptive marketing and unscrupulous customer service procedures.

Under the agreement, Vonage will make �significant� changes to its marketing practices and handling of consumer cancellation requests. It also will provide refunds to eligible customers.

The company will pay the states a total of $3 million for reimbursement of legal and investigative costs. Kentucky�s portion of the reimbursement is $45,000, according to a news release from Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway�s office.

Vonage officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Vonage was ordered to provide refunds to customers who did not receive rebates they believed they were due because their accounts weren�t open long enough to qualify or because they spent a portion of their trial periods waiting to receive or return equipment.

Refunds also will be provided to customers who were assessed excess usage charges without being informed of usage limits, received additional monthly service charges because of difficulty in canceling service, or received charges for unordered services and equipment offered as free.

Under the settlement, Holmdel, N.J.-based Vonage (NYSE: VG) must revise its disclosures for offers of free services, money-back guarantees and trial periods, according to the release. The company also must follow strict guidelines in dealing with customers wishing to cancel their service.

Through their investigation, the states found that Vonage paid bonuses to customer service representatives who retained customers. As a result, many customers had difficulty canceling their service.

Now, Vonage must record and verify conversations between customers and the company�s customer service representatives, according to the release.

Vonage customers who believe they are eligible for a refund under the settlement can call the Kentucky Attorney General�s Office of Consumer Protection hotline at (888) 432-9257, or download a complaint form at Kentucky: Attorney General Jack Conway - Forms (http://ag.ky.gov/civil/consumerprotection/complaints/forms.htm).

Vonage reaches settlement with states - Business First of Louisville: (http://louisville.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2009/11/16/daily11.html)

I have I-140 approved and also based on I-140, I have 3 years H1B approved which expires in 2010.
My I-485 was rejected and I have re-submitted which is obviously pending and not further news on that (refiled on 10/10/07 at CSC)

I have following questions:

1. If I want to travel to INDIA for 6-8 weeks, Is there any problem?
2. Can I get H1B VSIA stampled at BOMBAY?
3. Do I need any other document except H1B approval notice & I-140 approval notice?
4. Do I need to mention about I-485 been filed?

Please help. Thank you in advance.

Hi folks
Hi Folks
Assuming & God Willing I get my GC then , how long does it take to get US Citizenship. Does it matter which state you are working in and the Queues , State Wide Differ OR its the same slab.
Can someone point me to the webpage on USCIS that tells you how long the Q is . Does it matter , what your prev. nationality before GC was like to Priority Date my country or no relation.
HOW can I get US Citizenship Fastest ? AND HOW LONG, friends, does it take to get your family here as a dependent of a US Citizen

I am also in a similar situation. My dad's brother filed for my dad in 1983. However my dad did not go for his visa interview as he was no longer interested in moving to US and due to him I am stuck reading immigrationvoice.org forums everyday.

Since your application is filed before 1998 you are eligible for 245(i) as a grandfathered alien . Suppose you fall out of status for any amount of time during your h1 period you can use 245(i) , pay 1000$ and still file for i-485 .

245(k) which is available for everybody and protects an out of status person for 180 days while 245(i) is available for persons only who were a beneficiary or a derivative beneficiary of a i-130 application or i-140 application before 1998.
I did extensive research on porting of priority dates. Priority dates can be ported in the following situations
a) Family petition when a son/daughter turns 21.
b) Employment based petition when an i-140 is approved and will not be revoked by the previous employer before this i-140 priority date is transferred to another i-140 petition.
c) Employment based petition when 180 days have passed since i-485 is filed and i-140 is approvable due to AC 21 regulations (note the word approvable)
d) Priority dates before 1977.

However I do know of any recapture mechanism for priority dates from family based petitions to employment based petitions. However if you do find any interesting information about porting dates from family based application to employment based information pls do post it.

Hello All,

I have applied for my 485 in July 2007 and I have received receipt notice for 485 application as well. I also got the appointmnet for FP. I moved to a new location and address has chaged now. If I update my address in USCIS, What are the consequences?

I still have access to the mail in my old address as my friend lives there.

Please suggest.

Thanks!!