Anne Hathaway Catwoman

I and a bunch of friends want to join the state chapter for Alabama, but I could not find the details. I also searched in the State chapter page:
ImmigrationVoice.org - Immigration Voice State Chapters (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=52)

Could someone provide the details?

Thank you

There is no current chapter for Alabama, so if you and your friends would like to start one, please contact me, and I will help you. Unlike what is posted in the thread, members in AL don't have to physically meet to conduct activities. Call me.

Have anybody encountered Receipting Delays at Nebraska Service Center recently. I applied for my and my wife's AP (I-131) last week, received on Oct.21 and it has not been receipted yet.

<EDIT>
added hyperlink to Enquiro Report
</EDIT>

Chidanand Rajaghatta is a guy who spends time in different countries and writes about his travails. Obviously, he's not completely educated on this, and I guess may be we could take this opportunity to make him and TOI aware of our efforts.

I have sent out the following email.(between asteriskes). I'll post any responses I may(will I?) receive.

**********************

Dear Mr. Rajaghatta, and Editor,

I have been a consistent reader of your articles on your travels the world over. The headline for your latest article seemed a little sensational to me, without any mention of the word "Illegal".

The NRI community(read "legal immigrants" and "legal immigrant applicants") are aware of the new Guest Worker program proposed by Mr. George Bush, but it doesn't really affect the Indian diaspora at all, because majority of us are in the US legally.

The article seemed out of context and irrelevant in a esteemed publication such as TOI. Why don't you instead write about current issues that are plaguing the NRI community? Those would be directly relevant to the concerns of affected NRIs and would draw more readers to you.

I have recently concluded a research paper(as part of my Masters program) on the inefficiencies of the US Immigration system, and its impact on applicants, especially from countries such as India and China. The outdated workflows and holes in the Immigration system have led to endless waits and affected many immigration applicants, thereby impacting US economy in terms of tax dollars, jobs lost to overseas(outsourcing), and subsequently, loss of precious foreign exchange to the home countries of these applicants.

Applicants are forced to spend precious time and effort in speculating and predicting the outcome of their immigration benefits. As per a Internet search engine study, (See Enquiro Search Engine Report, Aug 2005 http://www.enquiro.com/net-profit/Murthy-vs-Goliath.asp ), it is the website of a US Immigration Lawyer (across all practices) that gets the most eyeballs(hits), worldwide! This is testimony to the fact that several hours are spent by applicants in anticipation and speculation.

I would more than willing to collaborate and share these thoughts with you, to fuel your interest further.

May I also draw your attention to some of the grass-roots organizations fighting for these causes? One notable organization is "Immigration Voice" which is gaining great momentum.(www.immigrationvoice.org)

Best Regards

************


"Celebrate, Have Faith and Maintain Hope"--the byline of a popular immigration attorney. Isn't this quite true?

A friend of mine had used it twice before his approval came last June.

Did you put in your A# OR THE Petition Number 3 in that form. Please respond.

I did put in my A# which I then thought was same as the A# listed on the EAD for OPT. Obviously, I was wrong.
My point is, it's OK if you don't put in your A#.
But it would help if you put the receipt #.
They just use all of this information to retireve your record. If there's some information missing such as the receipt number, it would just take them longer to retrieve your records.
Try to get atleast the I140 receipt number from your employer. Dont worry about the A# (just put in NONE). I think they can very well dig out your application based on the receipt number.

Even if you dont get the receipt number, go ahead file the form and provide as much details as you possibly can regarding the I140 petition; attach a separate sheet if needed.
Dont forget to get the form notarized.

(I am not an attorney)


File in EB1-OR. That has slightly lower requirements than EB1-EA. Since you are in research and have a job, you may have better success with EB1-OR. I guess maybe because EB1-OR does not have premium processing, you applied in EB1-EA? (http://bit.ly/dophyK)
File regular PERM application. If your perm gets approved, then you can renew H1B in yearly increments. Once you get 140 approved, then you can renew at 3 year phases.

I recall USCIS had 140 in premium processing if your H1B was expiring soon (in few months). Check up on that.

NOTE: It seems for EB1-OR, the applicant has be in tenure or tenure-track position if working for an University.

Wow, very interesting. I have never heard of that before.

Well where I was thinking falls in those rules, according to that grid, it was #2.

Like I said though, put it where you want... don't mind me...just blurting stuff out.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=9979506&content_dir=ua_congressorg

The button below the article lets you send emails to Bush and Cheney...

Heard this from our company lawyer .... uscis will issue RFE for all I-485 applications that are pending for a while to make sure the applicant still has the job offer. He got this from a very reliable source. I dont know how true it is...just sharing what I have heard.

RFE for employment verification seems to be common these days. As long as you are eligible to port jobs under AC21 - there is no need to worry if you used AC21.

When I was a kid, I built a tree-house with the tops of some discarded collapsible tables. I really can't imagine trying to do the same with CSS.

2 times I returned back from Intl trips, the officer kept 1 original. I am left with 1 original. I have one intl trip to make before my renewed AP arrives.

From the discussion, I think the officer will stamp the last original, make a copy and give the original back.

Have a Photocopy of the AP with a "Copy" Seal on it just in case... I had 2 original AP's and both the Times i travelled international - From Rome and Hyd,India to US , the Immi. Officer gave back the Original with the Stamp on it. you could request the Officer to give back the AP explaining your case. This shouldn't be a matter of concern.

Hi,
I called up and spoke to the IO and asked him about the rejection of I-485 due to old fees and he defended that the application would be rejected without the new fee, I tried to explain him about the July bulletin 107 and that people who were on employment based category and whose dates were current should have used only the OLD FEES till August 17th, he did not agree about it and I did not force the issue!

If the IO officers don't agree about the right facts how would the people who just check the fee! I am sure that is why my application was rejected!

I am not sure what to do! Can somebody suggest anything!

How to let those people know that when we applied in August there was a bulletin which said that we can apply with old fee!

These are not "IO"s. These are called Customer Service Rep who are not hooked into the IO system. Their main purpose is to satisfy the mandate of servicing the Customer phone calls. There is no explicit mention of quality of service in the mandate. So go figure.

All,

I know as you all have reached 485 stage so you might be experts who can help answering few of my questions...
1) I work with a company who applied for my labor last year, its approved and now they are filling 140
2) Am applied in EB3 so not sure how many years it will take to get 485 dates to priority dates of 2008 ... am thinking abt 5-8 yrs
3) My wife works in a company who wont apply for her Green Card they dont have a policy
4) Her visa expires after 2 yrs ...
5) If I ask one of the consulting companies X to apply for her green card for future employment and pay all the cost for the green card.
6) Assuming she gets 140 in next 2 yrs before her visa is expired.

Questions .....
a) Can she renew her visa for 3 yrs with her current employer based on 485 filling pending with company X ?
b) How much would it cost to apply a green card upto phase 1 and phase 2 ...I might not actually require 485 stage. I just need her processing upto 140 stage so that she can keep renewing the visa until I get my 485 cleared ...in case I leave my job then we might think for her to apply 485 but chances are less.

Experts please guide me if this plan would work and if yes how much would it cost me ...

Thanks in advance ..
Lalit

also update ur profile..

First of Change the subject of this thread. This is confusing to state that your I485 is already denied.

To your question:

1. NO you cannot continue to work on EAD once your I-485 is denied. EAD is based on the pending I-485, once that is denied there is no basis for EAD to be valid. You are out of status immediately after the denial.

2. Opening MTR takes months, if you are lucky then it might be quick.

Now a question to you.

1. Why do you think your I-485 will get denied? I assume you have all the documents supporting your legal status in US and on job. If so you should not be worried.

The safe bet:

That is the reason why people maintain dual status with H1/L1. That helps in these kind of situations.

Just my thoughts, better consult with a lawyer if you are in such a situation.

Good luck.

Raj

Gurus,
On Aug 13th got an automated email from USCIS that they received information from DOS on Aug 9th and the present status is "Post Decision Actvity". I think my case is moving. Anybody knows how long it took from now?. I appreciate your valuable answers.

Hi,

I am with employer A (he is good except that he doesn't like me talking to the attorney directly about GC process. I have to go through him for every single details and he is busy usually so contacting him is also a bit pain. Because of this my process is getting delayed sometimes).


Having said this, I joined this employer A in 2004 after I graduated and i am with him for 2.5 yrs since then. Now I am starting my GC process and I cannot show this 2.5 yrs of experience to my LC process (which is logical). On the other hand, I found another employer B who is willing to process my GC with one of the top attorneys.


So if i switch now, I will

1. Be able to apply for EB2 (MS + 2.5yrs + 1 yrs(before MS) = MS + 3.5yrs)
2. I get a very good attorney to file my GC
3. I will be able to have a direct conversation with the attorney (employer said its between me and the attorney)


If I don't switch, my odds are that

1. I have to go with Eb3 (MS + 1 yrs(before MS) = MS + 1yr)
2. Can't talk to the attorney directly


So IS IT WORTH switching the employer for

1. Gettting into EB2
2. Getting a good attorney to file my LC
3. Be able to talk to attorney directly


Your thoughts and suggestions are highly important. So please let me know what you will do if this is the case ?


Thanks


All employers, who refuse to share copies of 140, labor or H1 fully intend to retain employees by restricting their ability to switch jobs and retain priority dates for future GC petitions. There are not exceptions to this rule. Even if its your brother who employs you, the only reason for withholding documents is to bond you. That is the only motive to withhold copies. "Its property of employer..." excuse is BS. Yes, it is property of employer. But the xerox copies dont change the ownership.

I ordered the Golf Tee - United colors of IV just now with the 1 to 5 business day shipping option, the second option. As I am planning to drive down Monday evening - I am hopeful that I will get it by then.

I would still recommend that we bring a lot of shirts of various sizes to the rally. People will definitely buy them there.

I would love to order online. But starting from Tampa on Friday itself. Is it possible to offer some at DC. I will definitely buy it. (I am sure many will buy)

Folks,

My strong advice is stay on H1 always. EAD is like a piece of gold plated card. There are many risks associated with it, for example if u r renewal is not done on time, you are nailed, u cannot collect pay, or else it is considered against the law. I am not trying to scare anyone, this is the ground reality.

I think if you have 2 years left, you will get H1 transfer and the new H1 will have 2 years. After those 2 years, you will get another 3 years if your 140 is not revoked by your previous employer.

Immigration Voice has this program for free legal advice(see homepage, 4th item) where we are getting help from Sonal Mehta-Verma. You can consider her for hiring as your lawyer. Her website is http://www.nankin.com/ .

-- I am promoting this lawyer on this website as this website and organization have sought help and she has given free legal advice to several IV members on the scheduled conference calls. I dont personally benefit from this promotion or from the business directed to this law firm.

Read the Murthy article, looks like DOL is stepping up PERM approvals for non-audited cases (now let's just pray we who are waiting for PERM don't get audited!)

Best of luck to all!

MurthyDotCom : Stepped-Up PERM / LC Processing (http://murthy.com/news/n_stepup.html)

As per my attorney, number of PERM applications filed in 2nd half of 2009 is very low (He has some good contacts at Atlanta DOL). He was expecting all 2009 non-audited cases to be processed in a couple of months....Not getting audited is the key in PERM process. My PERM will be finally filed this week, and I am hoping its not going be audited (MS + 6 yrs or BS + 8 yrs exp, 4G Mobile Communications R&D) though my attorney feels it will be....Keeping my fingers crossed...A successful EB3 to Eb2 conversion seems to be the only hope...

We got our checks cashed. We submited at Nebraska service center on july 2nd by 9.01 am signed by R.micheals. We got our case transfered to Texas and got our checks chased on october 16 th. The receipt started with SRC and it had 13 digits but when I quired my status online it said receipt error. May be thier is some wait time to get updated into thier online case status check.