Ted Kennedy - Tributes To Immigration Champion
"Lion of Senate" - Ted Kennedy is no more but his legacy of immigration related laws changed many lives in US. One such law that changed US immigration is - "Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965".
The cosponsored law ended the preference of Canadians and Western Europeans as immigrants and allowed people from all parts of the world to come to America and get permanent residency (Green Card) based on their skills (EB1, EB2 and EB3 Categories) and family relations. The law abolished the quota system limiting immigration from Asia.
This law changed the percent of foreign born in US - In 1960 it was estimated that 5.4% of US population is foreign born of which majority are Europeans. In 2000, it was 11.1% of which only 16% are from Europe.
The loss of Edward "Ted" Kennedy is a big blow to all future US immigration reforms laws.
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The cosponsored law ended the preference of Canadians and Western Europeans as immigrants and allowed people from all parts of the world to come to America and get permanent residency (Green Card) based on their skills (EB1, EB2 and EB3 Categories) and family relations. The law abolished the quota system limiting immigration from Asia.
This law changed the percent of foreign born in US - In 1960 it was estimated that 5.4% of US population is foreign born of which majority are Europeans. In 2000, it was 11.1% of which only 16% are from Europe.
"Even this decade, Kennedy worked to establish guest worker programs that would allow illegal immigrants to come out of the shadows without fear of the wrath of the crazier elements of society."
The loss of Edward "Ted" Kennedy is a big blow to all future US immigration reforms laws.
Labels: GreenCard, Immigration
written by Kalyan @ 1:44 AM,
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May 2009 Visa Bulletin India Dates - EB3 Unavailable
In May 2009 Visa bulletin the bad news came too early , May 2009 bulletin retrogressed India Employment Third preference to unavailable cut-off date which clearly indicates demand for EB3 numbers - (AOS)adjustment of status cases. May 2009 Bulletin released reflected the big drop not only for India but also to other countries EB3 category as "Unavailable" where as EB2 category for India is at 15FEB04. Remind you that this is just half of the fiscal year for visa numbers and this demand puts water on the hopes of many who are waiting to get US Green Cards.
This is unexpected and is reported by all immigration lawyers that they have NOT seen such thing happened so early in all of their career.
Shusterman writes :
And it should be noted that USCIS would not stop sending RFEs for all pending i-485 cases even though the EB3 category becomes unavailable. So expect RFEs sent to your employer during these visa numbers "unavailable" times too.
All the best for those who are waiting for dates to become current.
Why did EB3 become unavailable so early May Bulletin?
This is unexpected and is reported by all immigration lawyers that they have NOT seen such thing happened so early in all of their career.
Shusterman writes :
This is the earliest that the category has become unavailable in my 33 years of practicing immigration law
And it should be noted that USCIS would not stop sending RFEs for all pending i-485 cases even though the EB3 category becomes unavailable. So expect RFEs sent to your employer during these visa numbers "unavailable" times too.
All the best for those who are waiting for dates to become current.
Labels: 2009, GreenCard, H1-B, Immigration, India
written by Kalyan @ 8:25 PM,
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Huge Drop in H1-B Visa Applications
After first week of opening visa applications, USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) reports that it received only 42,000 H!-B visa applications from foreigners for high skill jobs in US. The total available visas are 65000. Last year the cap of 65K is reached within few days.For year 2008 USCIS received 163,000 H1-B applications.
The fall of economy and no signs of recovery may be the reasons for drop in demand for US work visas. The companies who took government bail out money is restricted not to hire foreign workers in H1-B visas. This may be one of the causes that is effecting in the reduction of H1-B visa applicants.
But advanced degree quota of 20,000 visas are filled up fast. These work visas are for students who completed MS or other graduate degrees in US.
Source : Economic Times , PTINews
Labels: 2009, GreenCard, H1-B, Immigration, India
written by Kalyan @ 8:20 PM,
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Greencard typo costs driver's license
Karla Cunningham's Greencard has one mis-typed letter that almost costed her Indiana's driver's license. Fox reports that Karla, a Jamaican citizen became US permanent resident at age 5. She had in her name one letter mistyped - instead of Karla, the greencard has it karia. ("L" instead of "i"). The trouble started when she relocated from Kentucky state to Indian state.
As per Indian state rules , she applied for driving license that's where her application was denied because of a typo in her green card. This case highlights how important are the names on identification cards like - Greencard. For Karla it took almost a year to resolve this issue with the DMV.
Make sure all your names (including the long Indian family names) are correct on Greencards. Otherwise we very know how crippled the working person in US is without a valid driving license.
Related posts : Wrong name on EAD , 485 , Advance Parole documents
As per Indian state rules , she applied for driving license that's where her application was denied because of a typo in her green card. This case highlights how important are the names on identification cards like - Greencard. For Karla it took almost a year to resolve this issue with the DMV.
Make sure all your names (including the long Indian family names) are correct on Greencards. Otherwise we very know how crippled the working person in US is without a valid driving license.
Related posts : Wrong name on EAD , 485 , Advance Parole documents
Labels: GreenCard, Immigration, tips
written by Kalyan @ 10:40 PM,
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GreenCard Holders fingerprinted from January 18 2009 at Port of Entry
US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) was a program implemented in year 2003 that fingerprints and photographs non-immigrants at the US border and that helped immigration officials to remove document fraud done by immigrants.
From 2003 to till date, US-VISIT took the information from non-immigrant visa holders like H1-B, B1, F1 visa types. But from January 18 2009 - DHS (Department Of Homeland Security) is making it mandatory for even permanent residents (or Green Card holders) to be fingerprinted and photographed at the border. Persons paroled into the US meaning I485 applicants like ones holding Advance Paroles have to submit fingerprints. Privacy groups are raising concerns with the whole technology right from its inception in 2003.
Here is DHS News release - Expansion of US-VISIT to other non-US citizens categories-
From 2003 to till date, US-VISIT took the information from non-immigrant visa holders like H1-B, B1, F1 visa types. But from January 18 2009 - DHS (Department Of Homeland Security) is making it mandatory for even permanent residents (or Green Card holders) to be fingerprinted and photographed at the border. Persons paroled into the US meaning I485 applicants like ones holding Advance Paroles have to submit fingerprints. Privacy groups are raising concerns with the whole technology right from its inception in 2003.
Here is DHS News release - Expansion of US-VISIT to other non-US citizens categories-
Additional non‑U.S. citizens required to provide biometrics are:
* Lawful permanent residents of the United States (LPRs);
* Persons entering the United States who seek admission on immigrant visas;
* Persons entering the United States who seek admission as refugees and asylees;
* Canadian citizens who are currently required to obtain a Form I-94, Arrival / Departure Document upon entry or require a waiver of inadmissibility to enter the United States (This excludes most Canadian citizens entering the United States for purposes of shopping, visiting friends and family, vacation or short business trips);
* Persons paroled into the United States; and
* Persons applying for admission under the Guam Visa Waiver Program.
Labels: GreenCard, H1-B, i485, Immigration
written by Kalyan @ 1:40 AM,
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December 2008 Visa Bulletin EB2, EB3 dates unchanged
The December 2008 visa bulletin is released by USCIS today and to no surprise the dates are unchanged compared to November 2008. EB2 dates are 1 June 2003 where as EB3 its 1 October 2001. These dates are important for persons who are in green card process so that they can go to next stage of green card process.
The only surprise is that this months bulletin is released little early of the month. This kinds of gives idea that probably USCIS is having good prediction of numbers and we may not see any significant changes going into next year.
Now that elections are over we should see some long pending bills may get some breathing air
Visa bulletin can be found here
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The only surprise is that this months bulletin is released little early of the month. This kinds of gives idea that probably USCIS is having good prediction of numbers and we may not see any significant changes going into next year.
Now that elections are over we should see some long pending bills may get some breathing air
Visa bulletin can be found here
Labels: eb-2, eb-3, GreenCard, Immigration, USCIS, visa bulletin
written by Kalyan @ 8:34 PM,
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Diversity Visa online Lottery 2010 ends December 1 2008
The diversity lottery 2010 makes available 50,000 permanent resident (or GreenCard) visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The 60-day application period started on October 2' 2008 and ends on noon December 1 2008. Approximately up to 10 million online applications are expected from six geographic regions with a maximum of seven percent available to persons born in any single country.
Countries excluded from DV-2010 lottery visas are -- Natives of the following Asian countries are not eligible for this year’s diversity program: China (mainland-born), India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam. Hong Kong S.A.R and Taiwan do qualify and are listed above. Macau S.A.R. also qualifies and is listed below (Europe).
Once the applicants get a lottery visa then at the visa interview a proof of high school education and two years of work experience in the past five years are required for person to qualify and get a GC through DV program.
In DV-2009 lottery Bangladesh got 6,023 PR visas through DV lottery from Asia geographic region followed by Nepal 1,891 and with Iran taking 1,689 visas.
Make sure you access only http://www.travel.state.gov for DV-2010 online applications. As there has been instances of con artists creating fake websites as written on travel.state.gov website.
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Countries excluded from DV-2010 lottery visas are -- Natives of the following Asian countries are not eligible for this year’s diversity program: China (mainland-born), India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam. Hong Kong S.A.R and Taiwan do qualify and are listed above. Macau S.A.R. also qualifies and is listed below (Europe).
Once the applicants get a lottery visa then at the visa interview a proof of high school education and two years of work experience in the past five years are required for person to qualify and get a GC through DV program.
In DV-2009 lottery Bangladesh got 6,023 PR visas through DV lottery from Asia geographic region followed by Nepal 1,891 and with Iran taking 1,689 visas.
Make sure you access only http://www.travel.state.gov for DV-2010 online applications. As there has been instances of con artists creating fake websites as written on travel.state.gov website.
Labels: GreenCard, Immigration, lottery, United States, visas
written by Kalyan @ 7:54 PM,
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US Immigration flowchart for Greencard and Citizenship takes up to 16 years
What it takes to become an US immigrant ?
Here are some of the (long waiting) routes :
Family Sponsorship:
Relative is a US citizen
a) Spouse or minor child -- Greencard - 3 to 5 years, Citizenship - 6 to 7 years
b) For all other family sponsorships -- Green card - 7 to 15 years (Married adult children) and 11 to 22 years (Siblings of US citizens), Citizenship -- 12 to 28 years
Relative is a Lawful Permanent Resident:
a) Spouse or minor child -- Green card - 6 years, Citizenship - 11 to 13 years
b) For all other family sponsorships -- Green card (only if they are single) - 9 to 14 years, Citizenship - 14 to 20 years
Skilled Immigrants:
a) Extremely genius or star athletes or investor with $1 million -- Green card - 5 to 6 years, Citizenship - 6 to 7 years
b) Skilled worker with college degree in specialty occupation (Computer engineers or nurses) -- Green card - 6 to 10 years, Citizenship - 11 to 16 years
If you are a computer engineer from India then it may take 11 to sweet 16 years to become a US citizen.
Here is the flowchart explanation from Reason of getting into long line with a fresh face only to get waited in the long lines of years and coming out with grown and aging beards.
Kudos to the Reason and Mike Flynn, Shikha Dalmia & Terry Colon for putting together this wonderful immigration chart that clears up all doubts that any one might have on the US immigrations process with caricatures of a Indian Singh or a Mexican.
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Here are some of the (long waiting) routes :
Family Sponsorship:
Relative is a US citizen
a) Spouse or minor child -- Greencard - 3 to 5 years, Citizenship - 6 to 7 years
b) For all other family sponsorships -- Green card - 7 to 15 years (Married adult children) and 11 to 22 years (Siblings of US citizens), Citizenship -- 12 to 28 years
Relative is a Lawful Permanent Resident:
a) Spouse or minor child -- Green card - 6 years, Citizenship - 11 to 13 years
b) For all other family sponsorships -- Green card (only if they are single) - 9 to 14 years, Citizenship - 14 to 20 years
Skilled Immigrants:
a) Extremely genius or star athletes or investor with $1 million -- Green card - 5 to 6 years, Citizenship - 6 to 7 years
b) Skilled worker with college degree in specialty occupation (Computer engineers or nurses) -- Green card - 6 to 10 years, Citizenship - 11 to 16 years
If you are a computer engineer from India then it may take 11 to sweet 16 years to become a US citizen.
Here is the flowchart explanation from Reason of getting into long line with a fresh face only to get waited in the long lines of years and coming out with grown and aging beards.
Kudos to the Reason and Mike Flynn, Shikha Dalmia & Terry Colon for putting together this wonderful immigration chart that clears up all doubts that any one might have on the US immigrations process with caricatures of a Indian Singh or a Mexican.
Labels: GreenCard, H1-B, Immigration
written by Kalyan @ 3:20 PM,
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Bill to reduce Greencard wait times due this week
Current Green card approvals are taking anywhere between 6 to 10 years causing trouble to immigrants and employers to retain the immigrant talent in US.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) authored bill to reduce wait times for green cards which is due this week. The proposal is to re-use previously allotted unused green cards.
This legislation helps US to retain the talent and remove bureaucratic obstacles.
Cesar Conda writes citing the reports from National Venture Capital Association that
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Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) authored bill to reduce wait times for green cards which is due this week. The proposal is to re-use previously allotted unused green cards.
This legislation helps US to retain the talent and remove bureaucratic obstacles.
Cesar Conda writes citing the reports from National Venture Capital Association that
in 2006, 73% of new electrical engineering Ph.D.s in the U.S. were granted to international students, according to the National Science Foundation, while in 2005, foreign nationals received 55 percent of electrical engineering master’s degrees and 42 percent of computer science master’s degrees.
Labels: Doctor of Philosophy, Electrical engineering, GreenCard, Immigration, Jim Sensenbrenner, National Science Foundation, National Venture Capital Association, United States, US, Zoe Lofgren
written by Kalyan @ 2:12 AM,
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H1-B, GC employer salary and info is searchable now
Linked8 provides databases of business, career, and education which can be searcheable. Linked8 tapped into additional sectors of H1-B and GC databases available for search. The site claims they have more than 9000 recruiters and hiring companies that have signed-up at Linked8.
Currently only year 2006 and 2007 data is available for search at these sites - H1-B & GreenCard.
If I am on H1-B and is looking for a job then here are numerous possibilities of using this search information from linked8 -
- Search by state and know all the employers who are sponsoring H1-Bs
- Search by employer and see the trending of their recruitments
- Get Job title information
- Get salary information
- For Job seekers the links helps search for similar jobs in the area or Jobs available at employer
Similarly Greencard data helps if the employer is sponsoring GCs.
For recruiters this is gold as they can ping these employers and match H1-B candidates to the jobs. For employers this gives a good info of what salaries are being offered by the industry for the job positions.
Image via Wikipedia -- H1-B visa demographics and which country used the most H1-Bs in 2005 -- India topping the list with 100000
Currently only year 2006 and 2007 data is available for search at these sites - H1-B & GreenCard.
If I am on H1-B and is looking for a job then here are numerous possibilities of using this search information from linked8 -
- Search by state and know all the employers who are sponsoring H1-Bs
- Search by employer and see the trending of their recruitments
- Get Job title information
- Get salary information
- For Job seekers the links helps search for similar jobs in the area or Jobs available at employer
Similarly Greencard data helps if the employer is sponsoring GCs.
For recruiters this is gold as they can ping these employers and match H1-B candidates to the jobs. For employers this gives a good info of what salaries are being offered by the industry for the job positions.
Image via Wikipedia -- H1-B visa demographics and which country used the most H1-Bs in 2005 -- India topping the list with 100000
Labels: GreenCard, H-1B visa, Immigration, Job Search
written by Kalyan @ 12:12 PM,
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Green Card : priority dates , visa numbers , EAD for all categories current
Update: Click me for Green Card Drama: Visa numbers are unavailable again
WOW still can't believe they have become current ...indeed a real good day for immigrants who are in Green Card process retrogression.
This news is significant and all those who are effected with retrogression should start rejoicing as the wait is over for all applicants who are waiting to file I485 for EAD.
Please check July Visa Bulletin.
All our H1-B and travel hassels will end once we get EAD.My guess is we get probably EAD fast but GC might take a bit longer who cares ...
Get your documents ready do it as soon as possible before things change ..my guess as monthly bulletins we have one month time to do apply.Come August who knows what the bulletin looks like.
Here is the immihelp documents link for I485/EAD/AOS
I'll post all the updates here ..check back soon
WOW still can't believe they have become current ...indeed a real good day for immigrants who are in Green Card process retrogression.
This news is significant and all those who are effected with retrogression should start rejoicing as the wait is over for all applicants who are waiting to file I485 for EAD.
Please check July Visa Bulletin.
All our H1-B and travel hassels will end once we get EAD.My guess is we get probably EAD fast but GC might take a bit longer who cares ...
Get your documents ready do it as soon as possible before things change ..my guess as monthly bulletins we have one month time to do apply.Come August who knows what the bulletin looks like.
Here is the immihelp documents link for I485/EAD/AOS
I'll post all the updates here ..check back soon
Labels: eb-2, eb-3, GreenCard, Immigration, priority dates, retrogression, visa bulletin, VisaNumbers
written by Kalyan @ 7:49 PM,
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My reflections on new CIR law
Desicritics article analyzed the effects of new CIR law introduced:
1. Instead of the current allocation of 140,000 immigrant visas (green card) to skilled workers, this bill brings it down to 90,000.My Comment : This will hugely impact Indian applicants as out of 90,000 visa numbers there are only few % allocated to India, the best case scenario is availability of around only 20,000 visa numbers which will further retrogress the dates.
2. It will require H1B holders to renew their visas on an annual basis.My Comment : Never ending saga , renew and renew and no wonder after few years if we hear the words " I'm in my 12th year extension"
3. Under its merit based points system, an agriculture worker can earn 25 points for working 100 days a year for 5 years, while a skilled individual will get 10 points for working the same number of years!My Comment :Promoting other fields is not a issue but neglecting skilled workers at this crucial juncture of globalisation transformation will adversely effect American future skilled workers.
4. Economic contribution by the undocumented is recognized by awarding points for property ownership but not for people working legally.My Comment : Politicising the issue for votes does good only to politicians and seriously effects US talent pool shortage.
Labels: CIR bill, eb-2, eb-3, GreenCard, Immigration
written by Kalyan @ 11:48 AM,
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Green Card : Talk of the town - priority dates for EB2 , EB3 advanced significantly
Update : Priority dates have become current.Please check the July visa bulletin
Yesterday was in deed a real good day for immigrants who is in Green Card process as long-awaited priority dates movement appeared in US Department of State's current Visa bulletin for June 07.
This is what happened for India applicants : EB-2: Jumped from 01/08/03 to 04/01/2004 , EB-3 From 08/01/2002 to 06/01/2003 and Other Workers from Unavailable to 10/01/2001.
This news is significant and all those who are effected with retrogression should start rejoicing as the wait is over for some people (with priority dates less than what was mentioned in bulletin) who are waiting to file I485 for EAD.
For others too this is a good news if we see the same pace in the numbers movement then there is a high chance that priority dates may become current.
Please check June Visa Bulletin and see for your case if retrogression is over for you.
Labels: eb-2, eb-3, GreenCard, Immigration, priority dates, retrogression, visa bulletin, VisaNumbers
written by Kalyan @ 10:33 AM,
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CIR - Green Card Movement updates
CIR - Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill may get introduced quicker than planned.It means a lot to many non-immigrant visa holders (H1-Bs) who can expect the labor prirority dates for India to move forward for all categories (EB3 and EB2) so that all applications waiting to file 480 (Adjustment of status) can file so once visa numebers are available they get their EADs.Lots of technology groups like recently Bill Gates of Microsoft corp. is advocating for this bill.
I'll be blogging regularly and lets track this news and see where we head with this latest set of immigration rumors.
I'll be blogging regularly and lets track this news and see where we head with this latest set of immigration rumors.
Labels: GreenCard, H1-B, Immigration, VisaNumbers
written by Kalyan @ 2:03 PM,
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I'm Kalyan from Chicago, Illinois, United States. I write articles about Cricket matches and their reviews, Money saving Deals and tips, Immigration info related to Green Card or EAD or AP or H1-B, Road to MBA degree and afterwards. I'm writing in hope and passion that one person will be better because he or she benefits from these posts.
