ElectricGrandpa
06-15 01:05 AM
Ok here's a much better one than my last one, I'd like this one in the poll...
-Matt
-Matt
wallpaper Actress Amanda Peet and her
iptel
04-26 09:49 PM
Contributed $200 so far contribured $650. Urge other member to make $150K happen
Michael chertoff
11-26 01:08 PM
I filed on July 2, when my 6 months will be completed.. from what date we have start counting 6 months.
2011 TMZ caught Amanda Peet leaving
Jaime
03-20 02:37 PM
They do care about employees. They just can't handle immigration and visa issues. It is too complicated for a lot of employees. For a lot of employers, the term H1b visa or sponsership gives "jitters".
While a lot of employers look at things from their perspective, they do understand all issues that you face. It all depends on how important you are and if your absence would make a difference. If you are irreplacable, and employer thinks they must keep you at any cost, then they will do it, or you have to take care of yourself.
Thanks, you are right. It's like the water bucket analogy. Put your hand inside the bucket, and then take it out, and you won't see much difference in the water level. That's how expendable we are to our employers.
While a lot of employers look at things from their perspective, they do understand all issues that you face. It all depends on how important you are and if your absence would make a difference. If you are irreplacable, and employer thinks they must keep you at any cost, then they will do it, or you have to take care of yourself.
Thanks, you are right. It's like the water bucket analogy. Put your hand inside the bucket, and then take it out, and you won't see much difference in the water level. That's how expendable we are to our employers.
more...
spirit
07-18 04:42 PM
Date Delivered To USCIS: July 2
Time Delivered To USCIS: 7.55 AM
Service Center: Nebraska
Rejected: Dont Know
Checks Cashed: No
Time Delivered To USCIS: 7.55 AM
Service Center: Nebraska
Rejected: Dont Know
Checks Cashed: No
chicago60607
09-17 11:29 AM
Sorry it is about Impeachement of U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous
more...
GCwaitforever
03-13 09:59 AM
Defintely good news. Now that namecheck problem is gone, we see bit of movement.
2010 Amanda Peet and Daughter
satyasaich
12-07 04:00 PM
Hope the Change will come for us as well
more...
gunsnkars
11-02 12:15 PM
Couldn't agree more. The problem lies here in the US..Just pure politics...The cost of education is just too high for an american to get a degree whereas a foreign born is able to get it for cheap. Politicians know it and they want to keep it that way. America will just do fine with or without you.
hair Amanda Peet preparing for
GCwaitforever
06-07 12:27 PM
So you guys are saying that because you are on a H1B you are working harder than others? Let me tell you that working hard does not guarantee your job. I have seen hard workers laid off left and right, be it US citizens, green card holders or H1Bs. In fact one of my GC friends said that it is a constant fear for him to be employed at all times, he was unemployed for 10 months after the dot com bust. That changed him completely, he said what will I do with my GC, can I feed my kids with a GC? I need a job. So it is everyone's perspective. I look at him and say at least you have a GC, he says at least you have a job. :)
Probably most of you are aware of these things. So, let me say this advice is for newbies in the job. Lay-offs are done for business reasons and cost considerations. An American friend of mine lost his managerial job after 18 years of loyalty and experience. Company did not see the reason to continue to be in that business and the entire division related to the business was laid off. So working hard is good. Definitely a deserved trait. Do it for self-satisfaction, but not out of fear of loosing the job. At the same time, we should not be cloistered within the company working long hours. There are other things imprtant in life apart from the eight hours we spend at the office. I tend to my hobbies to keep my sanity after work. I look out for business indicators/news regarding how my company is doing. Good financial planning mandates savings around 6-12 months of living expenses which would lessen the impact of lay-off.;)
Probably most of you are aware of these things. So, let me say this advice is for newbies in the job. Lay-offs are done for business reasons and cost considerations. An American friend of mine lost his managerial job after 18 years of loyalty and experience. Company did not see the reason to continue to be in that business and the entire division related to the business was laid off. So working hard is good. Definitely a deserved trait. Do it for self-satisfaction, but not out of fear of loosing the job. At the same time, we should not be cloistered within the company working long hours. There are other things imprtant in life apart from the eight hours we spend at the office. I tend to my hobbies to keep my sanity after work. I look out for business indicators/news regarding how my company is doing. Good financial planning mandates savings around 6-12 months of living expenses which would lessen the impact of lay-off.;)
more...
diptam
08-25 11:18 AM
You can't do anything to ICICI - they are private banks and the way they have agreements when you send money - they can tweak dates when to actually dump the cash , change exchange rates anytime ( within a reasonable range) to increase their Profit margins. Its just a smart way of doing business and making - i wont call that 'stealing money'
If you want to be smarter than them jump to online SBI boat , they have the best Online rate and let ICICI know next time that you switched loyalty because they were getting smarted beyond range.
www.onlinesbi.com/glsus/
I used to transfer money earlier by Remit2India (R2i) and sometimes C2i but since then they started making ( or your stealing) more brokerage money out of my hard earned dollars - i switched :cool:
Let me know how you feel the online SBI - they are always 15-10 p more than ICICI or CITI so at the end of year if you save average $25k you are anyway saving Rs 2.5-3k. Not a big thing but they maintain some ethics about tweaking rates and the exact day they dump the cash to your account - i got about 43.25 when market rate was 43.57 and those smart banks ( or thieves) were doing around 43.07..43.12
Hope this helps.
I have sent money using icicibank's M2I service . Usually they take 5 working days to remit the money(atleast 8 days to transfer). I made four transactions last week(mon, tue, wed, thu) and they already remitted the money using low conversion rate.
It just took less than three days to remit the money this time. Bank deliberately did this just to steal money from me. I have lost more than 35 paise per dollar and it comes close to Rs 10,000. This is ridiculous and its a big robbery.
How do i get my money back? How do i make a compliant about this bank? They have no one to assist me over the phone.
What to do now?. Rs 10,000 may look too small for us. But how can we let banks to act like a criminals.
Any help/suggestion/comment?
If you want to be smarter than them jump to online SBI boat , they have the best Online rate and let ICICI know next time that you switched loyalty because they were getting smarted beyond range.
www.onlinesbi.com/glsus/
I used to transfer money earlier by Remit2India (R2i) and sometimes C2i but since then they started making ( or your stealing) more brokerage money out of my hard earned dollars - i switched :cool:
Let me know how you feel the online SBI - they are always 15-10 p more than ICICI or CITI so at the end of year if you save average $25k you are anyway saving Rs 2.5-3k. Not a big thing but they maintain some ethics about tweaking rates and the exact day they dump the cash to your account - i got about 43.25 when market rate was 43.57 and those smart banks ( or thieves) were doing around 43.07..43.12
Hope this helps.
I have sent money using icicibank's M2I service . Usually they take 5 working days to remit the money(atleast 8 days to transfer). I made four transactions last week(mon, tue, wed, thu) and they already remitted the money using low conversion rate.
It just took less than three days to remit the money this time. Bank deliberately did this just to steal money from me. I have lost more than 35 paise per dollar and it comes close to Rs 10,000. This is ridiculous and its a big robbery.
How do i get my money back? How do i make a compliant about this bank? They have no one to assist me over the phone.
What to do now?. Rs 10,000 may look too small for us. But how can we let banks to act like a criminals.
Any help/suggestion/comment?
hot amanda peet - Strollerderby
black_logs
04-08 11:23 AM
Did we mention this on forums ?? 2 core team members were interviewed by NPR on wednesday. I don't know what hapened after that. I'll ask these members and update the forums.
more...
house David Benioff and Amanda Peet
husker
07-19 06:32 PM
I am sorry, not a computer guy, but can mass mailing for funding alerts from IV be possible to "loyal customers only"? I am not sure I am giving the right idea/ thought. But what I am thinking is lets say this Administrative cost re-imbursment works, can we send to selected 1000- 2000 non-core member like anzerraja or khodalmd (for example) and ask them to send money? Like how these sticky works...just a solid click and send money sticky. Or I dont know ask everyone...see how many people come in and divide the money...it can be 100 or more.
tattoo Amanda Peet is expecting Baby
PresidentO
05-14 12:45 PM
bringing bk the discussion to more serious point. We can all agree that on the surface immigration system here is seems unfair towards Indian, Chinese and Mexicans. Whats the reason behind it? why only three countries which suffers from long waits. Its demand and supply. If there were no country caps, all the visa's will be absorbed by these three countries. Even though it has cost me time and money, i think its the right policy. for a moment imagine there was no country limit, can you imagine for few years to come immigration will be from only these three countries. i think its only fair to limit how many people can come from one specific country.
and one more point, we are never going to get treated with respect and equality, just get used to it. every American knows we left our country to come to his. he is always gonna look down upon us. Immigrants are never treated with love, respect and dignity, no matter which country they go to. Case in point, Bangladeshi and Nepali migrant workers in India. We treat them like dirt back home, so discrimination against immigrants is part of immigration process. hopefully our ABCD offspring's will face less of it :)
Ehh! Perspective. Do you think you can make a case for that?
You asked all of those who are making their case with the US Congress or doing some sort of advocacy to get a life. In other words, in one single sentence, your perspective is that all of us who are working towards improving the system do not have a life. Wow! Did I start off by saying that you dont have a life because you chose to go canada and not India after 6 years of stint in US? NO!. Saying "Get a life" or other catchy phrases is easy. F Y I, hear your ears blared" WE DO HAVE A LIFE". We heard your perspective. Now this is not your evangelizing ground for your perspectives. Damn it! Aren't IV's objectives clear? What harm has IV's objectives caused you? You dont believe them fine. Do what ever you want.
You chose to go to canada because US GC system sucks and you are saying that we are all hypocrites. Got some sense? What are you trying to say? We should all follow your lead and go back to where we came from while you preach one thing and do the quite opposite. Still be a turn coat to your home land and be a boot licker (your own idea of immigrant's not mine ) to canada. Perspective ehh?
You argue that immigrants are treated like dirt. I tell you what, look at the president of United States and say that one more time. As a kid born here out of the main land and raised in the most populous islamic country in the world, he went on to become the president of united states. You are one of those who do not want to become the change you want to see. you just want others and system to change and you will take that change. Go figure Mr Slime. Oh B T W there is no one such as American, except for the native american. You showed your 10 fingers in your mouth with your basic lack of understanding about the country and how it formed.
>>> If there were no country caps, all the visa's will be absorbed by these three countries. Even though it has cost me time and money, i think its the right policy. y. for a moment imagine there was no country limit, can you imagine for few years to come immigration will be from only these three countries. i think its only fair to limit how many people can come from one specific country. <<<
you argue that three countries will dominate immigration. how ever you dont point out the fact or cleverly ignore that all these people were not limited by the system through which they enter but limited by the system only after they enter. Hey we, those from those three countries, are already here. lets implement the country caps through out the high skilled immigration or get rid of them. Enough of your disguise as some one who is logically and rationally for country caps. There is no rationale or logic what so ever in your argument. Perspective. Ehhh! forget that word.
and one more point, we are never going to get treated with respect and equality, just get used to it. every American knows we left our country to come to his. he is always gonna look down upon us. Immigrants are never treated with love, respect and dignity, no matter which country they go to. Case in point, Bangladeshi and Nepali migrant workers in India. We treat them like dirt back home, so discrimination against immigrants is part of immigration process. hopefully our ABCD offspring's will face less of it :)
Ehh! Perspective. Do you think you can make a case for that?
You asked all of those who are making their case with the US Congress or doing some sort of advocacy to get a life. In other words, in one single sentence, your perspective is that all of us who are working towards improving the system do not have a life. Wow! Did I start off by saying that you dont have a life because you chose to go canada and not India after 6 years of stint in US? NO!. Saying "Get a life" or other catchy phrases is easy. F Y I, hear your ears blared" WE DO HAVE A LIFE". We heard your perspective. Now this is not your evangelizing ground for your perspectives. Damn it! Aren't IV's objectives clear? What harm has IV's objectives caused you? You dont believe them fine. Do what ever you want.
You chose to go to canada because US GC system sucks and you are saying that we are all hypocrites. Got some sense? What are you trying to say? We should all follow your lead and go back to where we came from while you preach one thing and do the quite opposite. Still be a turn coat to your home land and be a boot licker (your own idea of immigrant's not mine ) to canada. Perspective ehh?
You argue that immigrants are treated like dirt. I tell you what, look at the president of United States and say that one more time. As a kid born here out of the main land and raised in the most populous islamic country in the world, he went on to become the president of united states. You are one of those who do not want to become the change you want to see. you just want others and system to change and you will take that change. Go figure Mr Slime. Oh B T W there is no one such as American, except for the native american. You showed your 10 fingers in your mouth with your basic lack of understanding about the country and how it formed.
>>> If there were no country caps, all the visa's will be absorbed by these three countries. Even though it has cost me time and money, i think its the right policy. y. for a moment imagine there was no country limit, can you imagine for few years to come immigration will be from only these three countries. i think its only fair to limit how many people can come from one specific country. <<<
you argue that three countries will dominate immigration. how ever you dont point out the fact or cleverly ignore that all these people were not limited by the system through which they enter but limited by the system only after they enter. Hey we, those from those three countries, are already here. lets implement the country caps through out the high skilled immigration or get rid of them. Enough of your disguise as some one who is logically and rationally for country caps. There is no rationale or logic what so ever in your argument. Perspective. Ehhh! forget that word.
more...
pictures This new GAP ad of Amanda Peet
SGP
03-31 02:08 PM
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$GOOD AFTERNOON GC$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Deadline = April 30th, 2011
Goal = 5000 votes on survey (see I-485 filing w/o current PD thread) and momentum to continue with this campaign.The survey is a platform to gather and push for launching action items. Based on response by 04/30/2011 - IV will decide whether to even proceed with initiative or not.
Actions - 1) Vote on survey.
2)Email ivcoordinator@gmail.com with PD, ph#,email & subject "I485 filing impacted�,
3)Print/Circulate Fliers and spread FB, wiki link (see "support thread")
Dear IV Members,
If you believe that your success depends on your immigration process - whether it's the ability to file I-485 earlier or to get green-card and citizenship sooner or whether it's the ability of your spouse to work - then you have to believe that your success somehow depends on the success of Immigration voice and these 170 volunteers in DC next week.
As you may know, we are just one more week away from hosting Advocacy day in Washington DC where about 170 members of Immigration Voice will conduct nearly 250 meetings with offices of Senators and Congressmen. Such events cost money. If we have enough contributions, we can spend as per our budget of nearly $ 50,000. If not, we will have to cut back on the event spending and reduce the magnitude and size of the event.
If you are not coming to DC next week, please do your part and contribute funds to Immigration Voice. It not only finances the event properly, it instills pride and confidence in the members who will be there in DC that there are thousands of willing supporters behind them who could not be there physically but are 100% with them in their determination and resolve.
For background click here -> Announcement about April 2011 Advocacy Days (http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/forum85-action-items-for-everyone/1901186-action-item-advocacy-days-in-washington-dc-in-april-2011-a.html#post2301599)
Contribute to Advocacy Event on the Capitol Hill (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=44#onetimepaypal) (All one-time contributions will go towards organizing the Advocacy Days event)
Deadline = April 30th, 2011
Goal = 5000 votes on survey (see I-485 filing w/o current PD thread) and momentum to continue with this campaign.The survey is a platform to gather and push for launching action items. Based on response by 04/30/2011 - IV will decide whether to even proceed with initiative or not.
Actions - 1) Vote on survey.
2)Email ivcoordinator@gmail.com with PD, ph#,email & subject "I485 filing impacted�,
3)Print/Circulate Fliers and spread FB, wiki link (see "support thread")
Dear IV Members,
If you believe that your success depends on your immigration process - whether it's the ability to file I-485 earlier or to get green-card and citizenship sooner or whether it's the ability of your spouse to work - then you have to believe that your success somehow depends on the success of Immigration voice and these 170 volunteers in DC next week.
As you may know, we are just one more week away from hosting Advocacy day in Washington DC where about 170 members of Immigration Voice will conduct nearly 250 meetings with offices of Senators and Congressmen. Such events cost money. If we have enough contributions, we can spend as per our budget of nearly $ 50,000. If not, we will have to cut back on the event spending and reduce the magnitude and size of the event.
If you are not coming to DC next week, please do your part and contribute funds to Immigration Voice. It not only finances the event properly, it instills pride and confidence in the members who will be there in DC that there are thousands of willing supporters behind them who could not be there physically but are 100% with them in their determination and resolve.
For background click here -> Announcement about April 2011 Advocacy Days (http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/forum85-action-items-for-everyone/1901186-action-item-advocacy-days-in-washington-dc-in-april-2011-a.html#post2301599)
Contribute to Advocacy Event on the Capitol Hill (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=44#onetimepaypal) (All one-time contributions will go towards organizing the Advocacy Days event)
dresses Mom Celeb Quote: Amanda Peet
wellwishergc
12-16 06:20 AM
That was a very interesting roller-coaster ride. By the way, if you ever decide to make movies, count on me to watch them:). Your story-telling talent is fabulous.
Your experience does give hope to lot of us. Thanks for posting. Enjoy your freedom and the holiday season!!!
When GCSOON-Ihope becomes GC-IgotIt!
Guys, guess what I am holding in my hand? Yes, that bit of plastic, object of our fantasies �.and nightmares. After filing Writ of Mandamus on November 1st, things went amazingly quickly and smoothly: on December 1st, the US attorney gave confirmation that the case has been approved and I received the card in the mail on 12/07.
What did I feel then? Really indescribable�Happy? It goes way beyond that.
I feel more relieved than anything else, like if I had a ton of lead off my shoulders�
May my story inspire, give hope and faith to all of you guys who are so depressed at the moment because of what happened, or did not happen should I say, in that shameful Congress.
As you will see, I had my head in a brick wall more than once. More than once, I was devastated and, still, I never gave up and made it through.
So, please, enjoy the holidays: as long as there is life, there is hope.
I know something about it:
Come here in 1993 as a student on F1 visa. Graduate and got Work Permit (OPT).
Find dream job in dream company. Hired directly by CEO himself.
Company loves me and applies right away for H1 and then Labor Cert.
Life is beautiful. The start of the American Dream. Not for long.
Attorney has been working for company for years. Always successfully.
Picks me for his first failure: screws up completely.
H1 denied. Labor Cert denied. Company gets mad: attorney is fired.
OPT runs out: company still loves me but�I am now out of status and�fired too.
Welcome to America. Life has turned dark. The start of my American Nightmare.
I am disgusted. Decide to go back to my home country (France).
I miss California. Find new company that loves me: apply for H1 again (this time, I am paying all fees, out of my meager savings).
H1 is approved, got stamp at embassy in Paris. I am back. Life is beautiful again.
Not for long. Exactly 2 hours (no kidding).
Find out that company is a sweat-shop and boss is a crook.
Pays me half (yes, half) what he was supposed to.
Go to INS to complain: �If you are not happy, go back to your home country�.
I swear that it is exactly what I am told.
Consult attorneys for a possible lawsuit: � Alas, your situation happens more often than you can imagine. Many unscrupulous employers use and abuse of would-be immigrants like you. Don�t waste your time and money in a lawsuit, just find yourself a new job�and be more careful this time�.
I am broke. Can�t even go back �home� and anyway I don�t want to.
Not with just my tail between my legs for the second time.
Home is here. I want my American Dream and I will get it, no matter what.
Decide to swallow my pride and endure the humiliation until I can find new employer willing to sponsor new H1 and pay all fees. I just can�t afford anything as I am hardly surviving.
Employer wants to fire me: �you are always complaining about the money�.
I have to threaten him (yes I did) to report his company to Dept. of Labor (most his employees are illegals and as abused as I am, not getting paid for overtime and so on�).
Imagine in what kind of atmosphere I am working�but I need this job to remain legal until I can find something else.
For sure, I will be out of there within a couple months at the most.
Don�t know yet that this nightmare will last�2 years. Still can�t believe it.
Had I known, I would have fled the first day, no matter what.
In my specialty, jobs are not easy to find.
Not to mention that this time, I have to be very �choosy��
Companies that I approach:
a) don�t want to hear about immigration or
b) don�t want to pay attorney fees or
c) don�t want to pay at least prevailing wage or
d) all of the above
All doors seem to be closed.
I have never felt that bad in my life: go see the doctor.
�You have all the symptoms of someone who is having�a nervous depression.
Do you want me to refer you to a good psy who could help you?�
No, thanks. I know why I am sick.
Finally find new company that loves me: apply for new H1 and they pay all fees.
H1 approved.
This time, I am holding my breath. We are now in December 2000. Seven years since I first came in the US. Time flies�and no GC in sight.
Job is nice, company is nice. Recovering from depression.
Boss loves me: decides to start for me RIR Labor in�.May 2001.
Yes, one month after that damn month of April 2001. You know what I mean.
Six months of advertising.
PD is January 2002.
Labor Cert approved �in July 2004. Concurrent filing I-140/I-485 in August 2004.
Get EAD. FP in September 2004.
Things change: company is now going down. Boss still loves me but�lays me off.
(Re)(Re) Start of my American Nightmare?
Attorney says: �Don�t worry (!!!) Employer loves you. Won�t revoke I-140. GC is for future job. Find new H1 job to maintain status and see what happens�.
This time, I am lucky (!) and find right away new H1 job. Company is OK, job is OK.
Later, previous company nicely recovers: got rehired!
Only thing: I will have to pay all fees from now on. Don�t care. Back on the right track.
Do Medical in April 2005.
I-140 approved in May 2005�but visas are now �Unavailable�. Nothing to worry about.
October is around the corner and new numbers will be available, right?
Just a few more months and I will have my GC. Wrong.
October bulletin comes out. EB3 World is back to March 2001 (PD is 01/2002).
I swear that I almost s..t in my pants. When is too much�just too much?
How much more frustration and anguish can I endure? More, much more.
By rage and stress, I pack up an extra 20 lbs in just a few months.
Most people lose weight when they are under extreme stress and/or depression, I do the opposite. I am now 40 lbs overweight.
Second EAD. FP again in October 2005. Life is paced by visa bulletins�
September 2006 bulletin comes out: EB3 World has now passed my PD.
I am holding my breath again. Rightly so, for the umpteenth time.
Third EAD.
Wait 2 weeks and start inquiring about the status of my application.
Call so-called �Customer service�: as usual they know jack s..t.
�Your application is still pending�. Thanks, I already knew that.
Make Infopass appointment at Los Angeles downtown office.
�Sir, I can�t tell you anything specific because your case is at the Laguna Niguel office.
Contact them at: CSC-XII@dhs.gov�
E-mail #1 on 09/18: (�) Status of my case? (�)
Response on 09/27: �the I-485 at question is still pending FBI name check clearance.
Once the file has been cleared by FBI, it will be adjudicated. The service has no control on how long it takes FBI to clear the case�.
E-mail #2 on 09/27: (�) When was that initiated? (�)
Response on 10/02: (�) On or about 08/19/2004. (�)
This time, I surprise myself: I am one more time devastated but remain strangely calm.
Even laugh about it. Nervously. Too much is just too much.
I had heard about that Name Check aberration before but had ignored it.
Like most people involved in that GC mess, I refused to worry in advance.
One bridge to cross at the time, please.
Weirdly enough, I am now almost relieved. Why? Because for the first time ever, I can be proactive and I CAN ACT!
I call my lawyer and tell her about those 2 e-mails: �That�s good enough to file Writ of Mandamus. That summarizes the whole situation, we don�t need anything else�.
WOM is filed on November 1st.
(I requested FOIPA and contacted Senators, President, Vice-President etc, etc�
only later just in case we would have needed more ammunitions).
After that, things go fast:
11/ 29: without any warning (!), LUD: �Your card has been ordered�.
12/01: confirmation from the Assistant US Attorney that my case has been approved.
12/04 LUD: �Your case has been approved�.
(So, they notify you that the card has been ordered�before notifying that the case has been approved�).
12/05: receive Approval Notice in the mail and my attorney indicates that she will then dismiss the Mandamus complaint.
12/07: receive the Magic Card in the mail (regular mail, even not certified, unbelievable�).
What a timing! Could I dream of a better Christmas Gift?
Who said Papa Noel/Santa or Banta Claus/Little Red Riding Hood did not exist?
:) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :)
Your experience does give hope to lot of us. Thanks for posting. Enjoy your freedom and the holiday season!!!
When GCSOON-Ihope becomes GC-IgotIt!
Guys, guess what I am holding in my hand? Yes, that bit of plastic, object of our fantasies �.and nightmares. After filing Writ of Mandamus on November 1st, things went amazingly quickly and smoothly: on December 1st, the US attorney gave confirmation that the case has been approved and I received the card in the mail on 12/07.
What did I feel then? Really indescribable�Happy? It goes way beyond that.
I feel more relieved than anything else, like if I had a ton of lead off my shoulders�
May my story inspire, give hope and faith to all of you guys who are so depressed at the moment because of what happened, or did not happen should I say, in that shameful Congress.
As you will see, I had my head in a brick wall more than once. More than once, I was devastated and, still, I never gave up and made it through.
So, please, enjoy the holidays: as long as there is life, there is hope.
I know something about it:
Come here in 1993 as a student on F1 visa. Graduate and got Work Permit (OPT).
Find dream job in dream company. Hired directly by CEO himself.
Company loves me and applies right away for H1 and then Labor Cert.
Life is beautiful. The start of the American Dream. Not for long.
Attorney has been working for company for years. Always successfully.
Picks me for his first failure: screws up completely.
H1 denied. Labor Cert denied. Company gets mad: attorney is fired.
OPT runs out: company still loves me but�I am now out of status and�fired too.
Welcome to America. Life has turned dark. The start of my American Nightmare.
I am disgusted. Decide to go back to my home country (France).
I miss California. Find new company that loves me: apply for H1 again (this time, I am paying all fees, out of my meager savings).
H1 is approved, got stamp at embassy in Paris. I am back. Life is beautiful again.
Not for long. Exactly 2 hours (no kidding).
Find out that company is a sweat-shop and boss is a crook.
Pays me half (yes, half) what he was supposed to.
Go to INS to complain: �If you are not happy, go back to your home country�.
I swear that it is exactly what I am told.
Consult attorneys for a possible lawsuit: � Alas, your situation happens more often than you can imagine. Many unscrupulous employers use and abuse of would-be immigrants like you. Don�t waste your time and money in a lawsuit, just find yourself a new job�and be more careful this time�.
I am broke. Can�t even go back �home� and anyway I don�t want to.
Not with just my tail between my legs for the second time.
Home is here. I want my American Dream and I will get it, no matter what.
Decide to swallow my pride and endure the humiliation until I can find new employer willing to sponsor new H1 and pay all fees. I just can�t afford anything as I am hardly surviving.
Employer wants to fire me: �you are always complaining about the money�.
I have to threaten him (yes I did) to report his company to Dept. of Labor (most his employees are illegals and as abused as I am, not getting paid for overtime and so on�).
Imagine in what kind of atmosphere I am working�but I need this job to remain legal until I can find something else.
For sure, I will be out of there within a couple months at the most.
Don�t know yet that this nightmare will last�2 years. Still can�t believe it.
Had I known, I would have fled the first day, no matter what.
In my specialty, jobs are not easy to find.
Not to mention that this time, I have to be very �choosy��
Companies that I approach:
a) don�t want to hear about immigration or
b) don�t want to pay attorney fees or
c) don�t want to pay at least prevailing wage or
d) all of the above
All doors seem to be closed.
I have never felt that bad in my life: go see the doctor.
�You have all the symptoms of someone who is having�a nervous depression.
Do you want me to refer you to a good psy who could help you?�
No, thanks. I know why I am sick.
Finally find new company that loves me: apply for new H1 and they pay all fees.
H1 approved.
This time, I am holding my breath. We are now in December 2000. Seven years since I first came in the US. Time flies�and no GC in sight.
Job is nice, company is nice. Recovering from depression.
Boss loves me: decides to start for me RIR Labor in�.May 2001.
Yes, one month after that damn month of April 2001. You know what I mean.
Six months of advertising.
PD is January 2002.
Labor Cert approved �in July 2004. Concurrent filing I-140/I-485 in August 2004.
Get EAD. FP in September 2004.
Things change: company is now going down. Boss still loves me but�lays me off.
(Re)(Re) Start of my American Nightmare?
Attorney says: �Don�t worry (!!!) Employer loves you. Won�t revoke I-140. GC is for future job. Find new H1 job to maintain status and see what happens�.
This time, I am lucky (!) and find right away new H1 job. Company is OK, job is OK.
Later, previous company nicely recovers: got rehired!
Only thing: I will have to pay all fees from now on. Don�t care. Back on the right track.
Do Medical in April 2005.
I-140 approved in May 2005�but visas are now �Unavailable�. Nothing to worry about.
October is around the corner and new numbers will be available, right?
Just a few more months and I will have my GC. Wrong.
October bulletin comes out. EB3 World is back to March 2001 (PD is 01/2002).
I swear that I almost s..t in my pants. When is too much�just too much?
How much more frustration and anguish can I endure? More, much more.
By rage and stress, I pack up an extra 20 lbs in just a few months.
Most people lose weight when they are under extreme stress and/or depression, I do the opposite. I am now 40 lbs overweight.
Second EAD. FP again in October 2005. Life is paced by visa bulletins�
September 2006 bulletin comes out: EB3 World has now passed my PD.
I am holding my breath again. Rightly so, for the umpteenth time.
Third EAD.
Wait 2 weeks and start inquiring about the status of my application.
Call so-called �Customer service�: as usual they know jack s..t.
�Your application is still pending�. Thanks, I already knew that.
Make Infopass appointment at Los Angeles downtown office.
�Sir, I can�t tell you anything specific because your case is at the Laguna Niguel office.
Contact them at: CSC-XII@dhs.gov�
E-mail #1 on 09/18: (�) Status of my case? (�)
Response on 09/27: �the I-485 at question is still pending FBI name check clearance.
Once the file has been cleared by FBI, it will be adjudicated. The service has no control on how long it takes FBI to clear the case�.
E-mail #2 on 09/27: (�) When was that initiated? (�)
Response on 10/02: (�) On or about 08/19/2004. (�)
This time, I surprise myself: I am one more time devastated but remain strangely calm.
Even laugh about it. Nervously. Too much is just too much.
I had heard about that Name Check aberration before but had ignored it.
Like most people involved in that GC mess, I refused to worry in advance.
One bridge to cross at the time, please.
Weirdly enough, I am now almost relieved. Why? Because for the first time ever, I can be proactive and I CAN ACT!
I call my lawyer and tell her about those 2 e-mails: �That�s good enough to file Writ of Mandamus. That summarizes the whole situation, we don�t need anything else�.
WOM is filed on November 1st.
(I requested FOIPA and contacted Senators, President, Vice-President etc, etc�
only later just in case we would have needed more ammunitions).
After that, things go fast:
11/ 29: without any warning (!), LUD: �Your card has been ordered�.
12/01: confirmation from the Assistant US Attorney that my case has been approved.
12/04 LUD: �Your case has been approved�.
(So, they notify you that the card has been ordered�before notifying that the case has been approved�).
12/05: receive Approval Notice in the mail and my attorney indicates that she will then dismiss the Mandamus complaint.
12/07: receive the Magic Card in the mail (regular mail, even not certified, unbelievable�).
What a timing! Could I dream of a better Christmas Gift?
Who said Papa Noel/Santa or Banta Claus/Little Red Riding Hood did not exist?
:) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :)
more...
makeup But Amanda Peet says she#39;s not
optimist578
02-12 01:59 PM
Just because a large number of IV members are EB2 Indians (based on the comments posted) doesn't mean that we should ignore the interest of EB3 ROW or EB3 Indian/Chinese.
Any talk about moving visa numbers from EB3-ROW to benefit EB2-India only divides us therefore should be despised. Let's focus on the real issue (supply & demand of EB visa in general) and serves the interest of all people suffering from this.
I am considering changing my queue from EB3 India to EB2 India, PD 2003. Given the heavy traffic in both queues, does this idea sound worth taking the risk? For me, it involves changing employers and refiling Labor with I-140 and port PD. I have an approved I-140. Thanks for any honest inputs.
Any talk about moving visa numbers from EB3-ROW to benefit EB2-India only divides us therefore should be despised. Let's focus on the real issue (supply & demand of EB visa in general) and serves the interest of all people suffering from this.
I am considering changing my queue from EB3 India to EB2 India, PD 2003. Given the heavy traffic in both queues, does this idea sound worth taking the risk? For me, it involves changing employers and refiling Labor with I-140 and port PD. I have an approved I-140. Thanks for any honest inputs.
girlfriend Amanda Peet takes daughter
sobers
02-20 12:23 PM
Friends,
I'm starting a new thread where I'll post research and stats that lend more credibility and/or support skilled, legal immigration. This should also be added to our presentation material for lawmakers!
Thanks!
-----------
Starting off, here is a recent study by the influential Kauffman Foundation which clearly backs the rationale for expanding skilled, legal immigration...
http://www.kauffman.org/news.cfm?itemID=678
New Kauffman Foundation Study Identifies Key Factors Driving Offshoring of Corporate R&D
Contacts:
Wendy Guillies, Kauffman Foundation, 816-932-1046, wguillies@kauffman.org
Tom Phillips, Communication Partners, 212-935-4655, comptwp@aol.com
KANSAS CITY, MO, February 16, 2006 - Contrary to popular belief, it is intellectual capital and university collaboration, not just lower costs, that primarily attract companies to locate R&D activities in locations away from their home country, according to a new study sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The study of more than 200 multinational companies across 15 industries, mostly headquartered in the United States and Western Europe, finds that emerging countries such as China and India will continue to be major beneficiaries of R&D expansion over the next three years as companies seek new market opportunities, access to top scientists and engineers, and collaborative research relationships with leading universities.
The study was released at a meeting of the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) of the National Academies. It was conducted by Marie Thursby, Ph.D., Professor of Strategic Management, Georgia Tech College of Management, and Jerry Thursby, Chair of the Department of Economics, Emory University, with sponsorship by the Kauffman Foundation.
Designed to identify and rank the importance of different factors feeding into the corporate decision-making process as to where to locate R&D facilities, the study also tracked R&D work coming into the United States from abroad, as well as R&D work going in the reverse direction; addressed favored countries for locating R&D work and why; and outlined trends industry expects for R&D expansion in the future.
Among the top factors going into new R&D siting decisions in both developed and emerging countries are market growth potential, quality of R&D talent, collaboration with universities and IP protection. How these factors influence the decision, however, depend on whether the site is in a developed or emerging country. In neither emerging nor developed countries was cost consideration the most important factor, which runs contrary to what has been reported by the media (according to an analysis of media coverage over the past few years in The Wall Street Journal and New York Times on multinational R&D locations).
Among the study's more surprising findings, according to the researchers, was the role university collaboration plays in the decision-making process for locating R&D facilities. In fact, collaboration with universities was particularly prevalent as a factor for expanding to emerging countries, even though these countries provide lesser degrees of IP protection.
"The study underscores the critical role universities play in a country's national innovation system, not just in the training of new scientists and access to the best talent, but in the ease of developing and licensing technology," said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation.
More than half of the corporate respondents who identify the United States as their home country report that they have either recently expanded or planned to locate R&D facilities in China and India vs. other developed countries. Of 63 Western European companies responding, 13 plan on expanding or locating new R&D facilities to the United States. The issue of collaborative research between universities and corporations has been a growing concern within the United States, with some observers saying legal wrangling over intellectual property rights is not only slowing the pace of innovation but also prompting companies to seek university research partners in other countries.
The study indicates, however, that while the trend toward R&D offshoring to Asia will continue despite concerns over IP protection, companies are keeping their most cutting-edge research in developed countries where IP protection is the strongest. According to the study, only 22 percent of the R&D effort in emerging countries is for new science.
"The United States would seem to have a comparative advantage in maintaining its innovative leadership through the high caliber of its scientists and its strong protection of IP," said Lesa Mitchell, vice president of Advancing Innovation at the Kauffman Foundation. "Industry and universities must be alert to removing obstacles to joint research, or emerging countries will overtake us in innovation breakthroughs, and the burst of discovery that has been driving our economy for the past half-century will be over."
Another public policy implication of the findings, say the researches, is that the United States must focus on highly skilled worker immigration.
"We are educating the best and the brightest, but make it impossible for them to stay in America and immigrate. We need major immigration reform that welcomes, instead of pushes out, highly skilled workers," said Dr. Marie Thursby.
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City is a private, nonpartisan foundation that works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and improve the education of children and youth. The Kauffman Foundation was established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion
I'm starting a new thread where I'll post research and stats that lend more credibility and/or support skilled, legal immigration. This should also be added to our presentation material for lawmakers!
Thanks!
-----------
Starting off, here is a recent study by the influential Kauffman Foundation which clearly backs the rationale for expanding skilled, legal immigration...
http://www.kauffman.org/news.cfm?itemID=678
New Kauffman Foundation Study Identifies Key Factors Driving Offshoring of Corporate R&D
Contacts:
Wendy Guillies, Kauffman Foundation, 816-932-1046, wguillies@kauffman.org
Tom Phillips, Communication Partners, 212-935-4655, comptwp@aol.com
KANSAS CITY, MO, February 16, 2006 - Contrary to popular belief, it is intellectual capital and university collaboration, not just lower costs, that primarily attract companies to locate R&D activities in locations away from their home country, according to a new study sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The study of more than 200 multinational companies across 15 industries, mostly headquartered in the United States and Western Europe, finds that emerging countries such as China and India will continue to be major beneficiaries of R&D expansion over the next three years as companies seek new market opportunities, access to top scientists and engineers, and collaborative research relationships with leading universities.
The study was released at a meeting of the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) of the National Academies. It was conducted by Marie Thursby, Ph.D., Professor of Strategic Management, Georgia Tech College of Management, and Jerry Thursby, Chair of the Department of Economics, Emory University, with sponsorship by the Kauffman Foundation.
Designed to identify and rank the importance of different factors feeding into the corporate decision-making process as to where to locate R&D facilities, the study also tracked R&D work coming into the United States from abroad, as well as R&D work going in the reverse direction; addressed favored countries for locating R&D work and why; and outlined trends industry expects for R&D expansion in the future.
Among the top factors going into new R&D siting decisions in both developed and emerging countries are market growth potential, quality of R&D talent, collaboration with universities and IP protection. How these factors influence the decision, however, depend on whether the site is in a developed or emerging country. In neither emerging nor developed countries was cost consideration the most important factor, which runs contrary to what has been reported by the media (according to an analysis of media coverage over the past few years in The Wall Street Journal and New York Times on multinational R&D locations).
Among the study's more surprising findings, according to the researchers, was the role university collaboration plays in the decision-making process for locating R&D facilities. In fact, collaboration with universities was particularly prevalent as a factor for expanding to emerging countries, even though these countries provide lesser degrees of IP protection.
"The study underscores the critical role universities play in a country's national innovation system, not just in the training of new scientists and access to the best talent, but in the ease of developing and licensing technology," said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation.
More than half of the corporate respondents who identify the United States as their home country report that they have either recently expanded or planned to locate R&D facilities in China and India vs. other developed countries. Of 63 Western European companies responding, 13 plan on expanding or locating new R&D facilities to the United States. The issue of collaborative research between universities and corporations has been a growing concern within the United States, with some observers saying legal wrangling over intellectual property rights is not only slowing the pace of innovation but also prompting companies to seek university research partners in other countries.
The study indicates, however, that while the trend toward R&D offshoring to Asia will continue despite concerns over IP protection, companies are keeping their most cutting-edge research in developed countries where IP protection is the strongest. According to the study, only 22 percent of the R&D effort in emerging countries is for new science.
"The United States would seem to have a comparative advantage in maintaining its innovative leadership through the high caliber of its scientists and its strong protection of IP," said Lesa Mitchell, vice president of Advancing Innovation at the Kauffman Foundation. "Industry and universities must be alert to removing obstacles to joint research, or emerging countries will overtake us in innovation breakthroughs, and the burst of discovery that has been driving our economy for the past half-century will be over."
Another public policy implication of the findings, say the researches, is that the United States must focus on highly skilled worker immigration.
"We are educating the best and the brightest, but make it impossible for them to stay in America and immigrate. We need major immigration reform that welcomes, instead of pushes out, highly skilled workers," said Dr. Marie Thursby.
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City is a private, nonpartisan foundation that works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and improve the education of children and youth. The Kauffman Foundation was established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion
hairstyles Amanda Peet Playing With
CADude
07-19 07:05 PM
Look in home and post.
Can you please post the link
Can you please post the link
vsrinir
09-17 12:07 PM
I guess after this step "it has to go to Rules Committee and await determinations by the Rules Committee as to how much debate will be allowed and whether floor amendments will be allowed, and if so , how many.
"
Just for the clarification of some of our friends (corrections are welcome) -
The current discussion is in the House Judiciary Committee. After this, the major steps for the bill will be to go through the House and Senate for discussions and voting.
There is still a long way to go, but sure this is an important milestone to pass the Judiciary Committee.
And it might not even be possible to get it to the House before the Pres elections. But the good thing is it will not have to go through the Judiciary commitee again.
Just wanted to state it for the benefit of the people who are not aware, as we are not building hopes that it will be all over today or in the next few days.
"
Just for the clarification of some of our friends (corrections are welcome) -
The current discussion is in the House Judiciary Committee. After this, the major steps for the bill will be to go through the House and Senate for discussions and voting.
There is still a long way to go, but sure this is an important milestone to pass the Judiciary Committee.
And it might not even be possible to get it to the House before the Pres elections. But the good thing is it will not have to go through the Judiciary commitee again.
Just wanted to state it for the benefit of the people who are not aware, as we are not building hopes that it will be all over today or in the next few days.
sledge_hammer
07-18 11:05 AM
You mean EAD, not AP, right? AP can be used in conjunction with EAD.
Also, you can file for both EAD and AP and not use it. Just having the two will not force you to have 1 year extenstions. You can still get 3 year extensions if you don't use EAD and AP.
Am I right, friends?
After you apply for AP its only 1 year H1 increments.
Also, you can file for both EAD and AP and not use it. Just having the two will not force you to have 1 year extenstions. You can still get 3 year extensions if you don't use EAD and AP.
Am I right, friends?
After you apply for AP its only 1 year H1 increments.