cox
October 28th, 2005, 11:47 PM
The one with the red roses is a bit too shallow depth of field, both in the first one and the one posted later. It looks like you focused on the central/foreground rose, and the one at the back looks just a little bit too much (or too little) out of focus to me. I know it's not easy to do these things...
Thanks for the feedback, Mats. It may sound like an excuse, but the client actually wanted this. She brought a couple of Japanese catalogs as examples of these sorts of preserved flower arrangements, and they all tended to a shallow DoF, overexposed, soft look. For the arrangements, I didn't much care for the style, but for the single rose, I rather liked the result.
I convinced her that having some sharp detail was good, but she really liked the shallow, overexposed look. Hence the light colored backgrounds in most of the shots, and a central blossom. I am rather glad of that, since, when left to myself, I was having a devil of a time trying to get a DoF that kept the subject sharp, and put the background OoF. I think I need a bigger "studio" next time (instead of my dining table...).
OTOH, maybe studio work isn't really for me...
Thanks for the feedback, Mats. It may sound like an excuse, but the client actually wanted this. She brought a couple of Japanese catalogs as examples of these sorts of preserved flower arrangements, and they all tended to a shallow DoF, overexposed, soft look. For the arrangements, I didn't much care for the style, but for the single rose, I rather liked the result.
I convinced her that having some sharp detail was good, but she really liked the shallow, overexposed look. Hence the light colored backgrounds in most of the shots, and a central blossom. I am rather glad of that, since, when left to myself, I was having a devil of a time trying to get a DoF that kept the subject sharp, and put the background OoF. I think I need a bigger "studio" next time (instead of my dining table...).
OTOH, maybe studio work isn't really for me...
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gsc999
01-25 03:02 PM
Good work. Thanks for doing this.
I am happy to inform all of you in NORCAL that the permit to conduct a signature/letter campaign at Fremont BART is with us!!!
NOTE: This cannot be used by another member at another station-- this is a non-transferrable permit SOLELY for the campaign at Fremont at the said times, but you can request a similar permit for any BART station!
Now, I need at least ONE other member to be there on a weekday evening of your choice (I am planning to go there EVERY weekday evening for 2 weeks) and help me conduct this campaign!
PLEASE.... this is the last call.. don't let us down!
I am happy to inform all of you in NORCAL that the permit to conduct a signature/letter campaign at Fremont BART is with us!!!
NOTE: This cannot be used by another member at another station-- this is a non-transferrable permit SOLELY for the campaign at Fremont at the said times, but you can request a similar permit for any BART station!
Now, I need at least ONE other member to be there on a weekday evening of your choice (I am planning to go there EVERY weekday evening for 2 weeks) and help me conduct this campaign!
PLEASE.... this is the last call.. don't let us down!
pmat
04-10 04:32 PM
I don't get what caused the sudden spike in the Master's quota. Earlier it used to be open for at least 15 days... Can it be because of increase in number of international students or people loosing in previous year lotteries going for Masters??? I seriously believe that H1B visa program needs reform - a valid job offer (read project for consultancies) must be necessary for applying AND a joining date within 2 months of starting FY. This is true madness going on.
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texanmom
08-31 12:58 PM
You guys are all silly! But thanks for the much needed amusement factor! I had a good laugh reading all your posts!
more...
gc_dream07
08-05 06:30 AM
I am in similar situation.
I have AP valid till Oct 3rd, 2010. My new AP application is with USCIS and have not received the approval. I will be traveling to Canada on August 15th for one week. I am planning to return on current AP. My question is: if my new AP gets approved when I am in Canada, will that cause any issue in my I-485 or re-entry to US.
i was in same situation. couldn't get new AP in time. went for stamping in India.
my attorney's advise was, u can't use the new AP, if u weren't here in US when it was approved. but after u come back using old valid AP or H stamp, u can use the new AP, for travel next time.
if u read 131 instructions, it talks about abandoning app.
basically, if u have no other status like H status, if u are using EAD for work and AP for travel,
and if u leave US before approval of AP, ur 485 considered abandoned.
Ref:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-131instr.pdf
Page 4, Section E.
I have AP valid till Oct 3rd, 2010. My new AP application is with USCIS and have not received the approval. I will be traveling to Canada on August 15th for one week. I am planning to return on current AP. My question is: if my new AP gets approved when I am in Canada, will that cause any issue in my I-485 or re-entry to US.
i was in same situation. couldn't get new AP in time. went for stamping in India.
my attorney's advise was, u can't use the new AP, if u weren't here in US when it was approved. but after u come back using old valid AP or H stamp, u can use the new AP, for travel next time.
if u read 131 instructions, it talks about abandoning app.
basically, if u have no other status like H status, if u are using EAD for work and AP for travel,
and if u leave US before approval of AP, ur 485 considered abandoned.
Ref:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-131instr.pdf
Page 4, Section E.
clifford
02-03 05:43 PM
Probably 1929 depression and current times are not similar. So BTW were those 400K maxicans holding any type of Visa ? Currently as far I know all the 65K H1b Patitions were approved, I do not know for what reason ? If situation was that bad may be only 10,000 k could have been approved and limit could be dropped to 15k for say a period of next 5 years. I am pretty sure that is not going to happen. The Anti H1 wave was probably started by Nobel Laureate Obama when he pointed to Bangalore and then Lou Dobbs and then Senator Grassley and so on. Now if you look at job boards it is clearly mentioned by many job postings "Please no H1Bs".
Lets not forget that H1B had been misused by many desi firms as well.
Lets not forget that H1B had been misused by many desi firms as well.
more...
oliTwist
01-10 08:46 PM
I had gone through the layoff thing during 2001-2002 time. Maybe, I might be mistaken. But I feel that time it was even worse.
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m.e.g.
03-31 03:07 PM
That is a good question....because I have tried to save it as PDF and an EPS as well seeing if that would work, but it doesn't even show up as an option to open on the Blend side. Only the .ai file showed up. But I will try to export it with the PDF options.
I will mess around with it a bit...Be back in a sec...
I will mess around with it a bit...Be back in a sec...
more...
Googler
06-22 12:44 PM
Didn't want to start a new thread for this (perhaps this thread should be re-titled Media Coverage of Name Check Mess)
Today's NPR story about name checks
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11271832
A New Spin:
"The problem isn't entirely of the FBI's making, according to the bureau's assistant director, John Miller. A background check used to consist of looking to see whether a person was under investigation by the FBI. Now immigration officials want to know if the person's name has come up in any other investigations.
That meant the FBI suddenly had to redo some 2.7 million checks. Miller said that load was added to the 3 million background checks the FBI typically gets every year; the result was that the bureau was overwhelmed.
"When you hand someone � with a staff of 30 [people] � 2.7 million names and say, 'Do them over' � and not just do them over, but where there are issues and questions and missing files, 'Resolve those issues' � you are going to have a challenge on your hands," Miller says.
To combat the problem, Miller says the FBI is raising the fees they charge various agencies so they can hire more staff. A typical background check costs about $2. The FBI is raising the fee to $9.
FBI officials are also talking to the Department of Homeland Security about borrowing some of their employees to clear out the backlog. And they are discussing how they might change FBI criteria to make the process more efficient.
"There is a perception born of these stories that we're indifferent," Miller says. He adds, "But we're processing them faster than we are taking them in."
"According to Miller, only about 30 percent of applicants are running into such difficulties."
ONLY??!! Since when did 1/3 of something become "only"?
Today's NPR story about name checks
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11271832
A New Spin:
"The problem isn't entirely of the FBI's making, according to the bureau's assistant director, John Miller. A background check used to consist of looking to see whether a person was under investigation by the FBI. Now immigration officials want to know if the person's name has come up in any other investigations.
That meant the FBI suddenly had to redo some 2.7 million checks. Miller said that load was added to the 3 million background checks the FBI typically gets every year; the result was that the bureau was overwhelmed.
"When you hand someone � with a staff of 30 [people] � 2.7 million names and say, 'Do them over' � and not just do them over, but where there are issues and questions and missing files, 'Resolve those issues' � you are going to have a challenge on your hands," Miller says.
To combat the problem, Miller says the FBI is raising the fees they charge various agencies so they can hire more staff. A typical background check costs about $2. The FBI is raising the fee to $9.
FBI officials are also talking to the Department of Homeland Security about borrowing some of their employees to clear out the backlog. And they are discussing how they might change FBI criteria to make the process more efficient.
"There is a perception born of these stories that we're indifferent," Miller says. He adds, "But we're processing them faster than we are taking them in."
"According to Miller, only about 30 percent of applicants are running into such difficulties."
ONLY??!! Since when did 1/3 of something become "only"?
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Desertfox
11-09 05:33 PM
Is it possible to change this thread title to "Indian doctors win legal battle in UK"??
more...
gkaplan
04-21 04:43 PM
Hello
My story is:
I've been on J2 for a while, it expires in May 2011. I have a EAD and currentlt I'm working for a company as a professional.I have a 5 years of Bs degree.
Questions are:
1. Can my employer apply for a Perm Cert for me if they want.
2. After getting the perm cert. can my employer file I 140 under EB3 for me?
3. Will I be eligible for premium processing for I 140 application, in 15 days?
4. Lets say all the above steps are accomplished and I got approved for I 140, all happened prior to May 2011 (this is the actual date my J visa and EAD expires).
a. Then I'll still be working with my current EAD, right?
b. Then what happens after May 2011?
c. DO I need to wait to file I 485 or can I file it right after my I 140 approved?
d. how can I legally work in the USA after my EAD from J visa expires, but if I have approved I 140.
thank you very much
My story is:
I've been on J2 for a while, it expires in May 2011. I have a EAD and currentlt I'm working for a company as a professional.I have a 5 years of Bs degree.
Questions are:
1. Can my employer apply for a Perm Cert for me if they want.
2. After getting the perm cert. can my employer file I 140 under EB3 for me?
3. Will I be eligible for premium processing for I 140 application, in 15 days?
4. Lets say all the above steps are accomplished and I got approved for I 140, all happened prior to May 2011 (this is the actual date my J visa and EAD expires).
a. Then I'll still be working with my current EAD, right?
b. Then what happens after May 2011?
c. DO I need to wait to file I 485 or can I file it right after my I 140 approved?
d. how can I legally work in the USA after my EAD from J visa expires, but if I have approved I 140.
thank you very much
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seeking_GC
07-11 10:56 PM
This is beginning to look more and more like a organized and deliberate attempt to block people from filing for AOS.If the mysterious "knowledgeable official" quoted on the website can be summoned in court- that would be game over for the USCIS right there......
http://www.usimmlaw.com/current_information.htm
Copying the contents of the website below :
Visa numbers WERE available July 2nd!!
We have confirmed with a knowledgeable official in the Department of State Visa Office that USCIS was requesting visa numbers on Sunday July 1st, and Monday morning July 2nd - and that visa numbers were still being issued as late as the morning of July 2nd!
In fact, close to 30,000 visa numbers were requested and issued in July - through the morning of July 2nd. And we believe that many - if not most - of the requests made in the first two days of July were for applicants whose priority dates were not current in June!
So how can USCIS refuse to accept I-485 filings received BEFORE the State Department issued its notice that all visa numbers had been used???? We have not yet confirmed the return of any I-485s filed in July. But we do know that applications were reaching the USCIS before the State Department announcement - and while the USCIS was frantically working to use up the entire year's allocation.
USCIS did not use all visa numbers before July 2nd.
Did USCIS actually use the visa numbers it requested????
Historically, the USCIS doesn't request a visa number from the Department of State until it is ready to grant the adjustment of status application. US Consuls overseas request visa numbers the month before they intend to issue the immigrant visa. This is the reason why consuls return about ten percent of the visa numbers requested - and why USCIS does not generally return any numbers.
In fact, in making allocations of visa numbers, the Department of State factors in an expected return rate for consuls - but not for the USCIS. And the USCIS - before this June - used about 85% of the total immigrant visa numbers available.
However, already this month, the USCIS has been returning visa numbers. This confirms our earlier suspicion that the only way the USCIS could request 68,000 visa numbers in a matter of weeks was to request them in advance of adjudicating cases.
We believe USCIS exhausted the visa numbers by simply requesting them - not by using them. If so, and for reasons we will post shortly, we believe that over 30,000 visa numbers requested by USCIS will go unused - and will be wasted this year!
http://www.usimmlaw.com/current_information.htm
Copying the contents of the website below :
Visa numbers WERE available July 2nd!!
We have confirmed with a knowledgeable official in the Department of State Visa Office that USCIS was requesting visa numbers on Sunday July 1st, and Monday morning July 2nd - and that visa numbers were still being issued as late as the morning of July 2nd!
In fact, close to 30,000 visa numbers were requested and issued in July - through the morning of July 2nd. And we believe that many - if not most - of the requests made in the first two days of July were for applicants whose priority dates were not current in June!
So how can USCIS refuse to accept I-485 filings received BEFORE the State Department issued its notice that all visa numbers had been used???? We have not yet confirmed the return of any I-485s filed in July. But we do know that applications were reaching the USCIS before the State Department announcement - and while the USCIS was frantically working to use up the entire year's allocation.
USCIS did not use all visa numbers before July 2nd.
Did USCIS actually use the visa numbers it requested????
Historically, the USCIS doesn't request a visa number from the Department of State until it is ready to grant the adjustment of status application. US Consuls overseas request visa numbers the month before they intend to issue the immigrant visa. This is the reason why consuls return about ten percent of the visa numbers requested - and why USCIS does not generally return any numbers.
In fact, in making allocations of visa numbers, the Department of State factors in an expected return rate for consuls - but not for the USCIS. And the USCIS - before this June - used about 85% of the total immigrant visa numbers available.
However, already this month, the USCIS has been returning visa numbers. This confirms our earlier suspicion that the only way the USCIS could request 68,000 visa numbers in a matter of weeks was to request them in advance of adjudicating cases.
We believe USCIS exhausted the visa numbers by simply requesting them - not by using them. If so, and for reasons we will post shortly, we believe that over 30,000 visa numbers requested by USCIS will go unused - and will be wasted this year!
more...
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gccovet
08-22 03:09 PM
I am changing my employer and wanted to retain the services of legal firm representing current employer. Upon asking that I want to retain their services after I leave current employer, I have been told to pay upfront retainer fee of $2500.
- Is it normally the case? I have been told that this fee will be put in my account with the firm and used to pay the charges for the services I request.
- If with God's grace my case is approved without requiring attorney's help, is this retainer refundable in full (I have asked attorney this question and waiting for thier reply). Anybody has a similar experience.
The firm is trying to milk you. looks like better switch the lawyer, appears to be greedy.
my 2 cents...
GCCovet
- Is it normally the case? I have been told that this fee will be put in my account with the firm and used to pay the charges for the services I request.
- If with God's grace my case is approved without requiring attorney's help, is this retainer refundable in full (I have asked attorney this question and waiting for thier reply). Anybody has a similar experience.
The firm is trying to milk you. looks like better switch the lawyer, appears to be greedy.
my 2 cents...
GCCovet
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augustus
07-13 01:33 PM
You are right. Suits are the way to go. Let them know we are no scum bags!!!! GO PEOPLE! Dress up... Have your day!!
more...
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sanin
01-16 05:51 PM
Hi,
I was working with company A since June to Dec 07. and Now I got offer with company B which they are filing my H1 transfer.
but i dont have the last 2 months (Nov & Dec) paystubs from company A (have paystubs from June to Oct). because my employer always give me latest 2 months the paystubs but i have proof of Bank Acccount mentioning the payroll information in bank account for month of Nov & Dec 07.
So does the Bank Account statement will be valid for H1 transfer ?
Please reply me ASAP.
sanin.
I was working with company A since June to Dec 07. and Now I got offer with company B which they are filing my H1 transfer.
but i dont have the last 2 months (Nov & Dec) paystubs from company A (have paystubs from June to Oct). because my employer always give me latest 2 months the paystubs but i have proof of Bank Acccount mentioning the payroll information in bank account for month of Nov & Dec 07.
So does the Bank Account statement will be valid for H1 transfer ?
Please reply me ASAP.
sanin.
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a1b2c3
06-16 12:27 AM
I think your best bet would be that your parents apply for visa alone. I believe this will improve their chances of getting visa and once they get the visa then your siblings can apply. Good luck!
I think so too. I think its good to ask the immigration officer why the visa is being denied.
I think its best your parents apply by themselves and leave your brothers out.
When they see so many family members travelling all together for an extended period of time, they smell something. They feel your entire family wants to be out of Indonesia and will apply for asylum.
Another thing to do is to ask for a short duration visa like a month or so. It might help.
And forget abt the elderly granddad. No one will buy all that. Make sure the reasons for coming back are rock solid.
Sorry to hear about this and wish you the best luck next time. Don't give up hope and ask your folks to schedule another appt without delay.
I think so too. I think its good to ask the immigration officer why the visa is being denied.
I think its best your parents apply by themselves and leave your brothers out.
When they see so many family members travelling all together for an extended period of time, they smell something. They feel your entire family wants to be out of Indonesia and will apply for asylum.
Another thing to do is to ask for a short duration visa like a month or so. It might help.
And forget abt the elderly granddad. No one will buy all that. Make sure the reasons for coming back are rock solid.
Sorry to hear about this and wish you the best luck next time. Don't give up hope and ask your folks to schedule another appt without delay.
more...
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buddhaas
02-02 03:57 PM
Why Is H-1B A Dirty Word?
By Eleanor Pelta, AILA First Vice President
H-1B workers certainly seem to be under fire these days on many fronts. A new memo issued by USCIS on the employer-employee relationship imposes new extra-regulatory regulations on the types of activities in which H-1B workers can engage as well as the types of enterprises that can petition for H-1B workers. The memo targets the consulting industry directly, deftly slips in a new concept that seems to prohibit H-1B petitions for employer-owners of businesses, and will surely constitute an open invitation to the Service Centers to hit H-1B petitioners with a new slew of kitchen-sink RFE's. On another front, USCIS continues to make unannounced H-1B site visits, often repeatedly to the same employer. Apart from the "in-terrorem" impact of such visits, I personally cannot see the utility of three different visits to the same employer, particularly after the first one or two visits show that the employer is fully compliant.
But USCIS isn't the only agency that is rigorously targeting H-1B's. An AILA member recently reported that CBP pulled newly-arrived Indian nationals holding H-1B visas out of an immigration inspection line and reportedly placed them in Expedited Removal. The legal basis of those actions is still unclear. However, the tactic is too close to racial profiling for my own comfort.
Finally, recent H-1B "skirmishes" include various U.S. consular posts in India issuing "pink letters" that are, simply put, consular "RFE's" appearing to question the bona fides of the H-1B and requesting information on a host of truly repetitive and/or irrelevant topics. Much of the information that is routinely requested on a pink letter is already in the copy of the H-1B visa petition. Some of the letters request payroll information for all employees of the sponsoring company, a ridiculous request in most instances, particularly for major multi-national companies. One of the most frustrating actions we are seeing from consular officers in this context is the checking off or highlighting of every single category of additional information on the form letter, whether directly applicable or not, in effect a "paper wall" that must be overcome before an applicant can have the H-1B visa issued. Very discouraging to both employer and employee.
How have we come to a point in time where the H-1B category in and of itself is so disdained and mistrusted? Of course I'm aware that instances of fraud have cast this category in a bad light. But I think that vehemence of the administrative attack on the H-1B category is so disproportionate to the actual statistics about fraud. And interestingly, the disproportionate heavy-handed administrative reaction comes not from the agency specifically tasked with H-1B enforcement—the Department of Labor—but from CIS, CBP and State. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and ask myself what makes people so darn angry about a visa category that, at bottom, is designed to bring in relatively tiny number of really smart people to work in U.S. businesses of any size. It has to be a reaction against something else.
Yes, a great number of IT consultants come to the US on H-1B's. It is important to remember that so many of these individuals are extremely well-educated, capable people, working in an industry in which there are a large number of high profile players. And arguably, the high profile consulting companies have the most at stake if they do not focus on compliance, as they are the easiest enforcement target and they need their business model to work in the U.S. in order to survive. Some people may not like the business model, although arguably IT consulting companies provide needed services that allow US businesses, such as banks and insurance companies to focus on their own core strengths. Like it or not, though, this business model is perfectly legal under current law, and the agencies that enforce our immigration laws have no business trying to eviscerate it by policy or a pattern of discretionary actions.
It is true that some IT consulting companies' practices have been the focus of fraud investigations. But DOL has stringent rules in place to deal with the bad guys. Benching H-1B workers without pay, paying below the prevailing wage, sending H-1B workers on long-term assignments to a site not covered by an LCA—these are the practices we most often hear about, and every single one of these is a violation of an existing regulation that could be enforced by the Department of Labor. When an employer violates wage and hour rules, DOL investigates the practices and enforces the regulations against that employer. But no one shuts down an entire industry as a result.
And the IT consulting industry is not the only user of the H-1B visa. Let's not forget how many other critical fields use H-1B workers. In my own career alone, I have seen H-1B petitions for nanoscientists, ornithologists, CEO's of significant not for profit organizations, teachers, applied mathematicians, risk analysts, professionals involved in pharmaceutical research and development, automotive designers, international legal experts, film editors, microimaging engineers. H-1B's are valuable to small and large businesses alike, arguably even more to that emerging business that needs one key expert to develop a new product or service and get the business off the ground.
The assault on H-1B's is not only offensive, it's dangerous. Here's why:
* H-1B's create jobs—statistics show that 5 jobs are created in the U.S. for every H-1B worker hired. An administrative clamp-down in the program will hinder this job creation. And think about the valuable sharing of skills and expertise between H-1B workers and U.S. workers—this is lost when companies are discouraged from using the program.
* The anti-H-1B assault dissuades large businesses from conducting research and development in the US, and encourages the relocation of those facilities in jurisdictions that are friendlier to foreign professionals.
* The anti-H-1B assault chills the formation of small businesses in the US, particularly in emerging technologies. This will most certainly be one of the long-term results of USCIS' most recent memo.
* The attack on H-1B's offends our friends and allies in the world. An example: Earlier this year India –one of the U.S.'s closest allies --announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals working there. Surely the treatment of Indian national H-1B workers at the hands of our agencies involved in the immigration process would not have escaped the attention of the Indian government as they issued their own restrictions.
* The increasing challenges in the H-1B program may have the effect of encouraging foreign students who were educated in the U.S. to seek permanent positions elsewhere.
Whatever the cause of the visceral reaction against H-1B workers might be—whether it stems from a fear that fraud will become more widespread or whether it is simply a broader reaction against foreign workers that often raises its head during any down economy –I sincerely hope that the agencies are able to gain some perspective on the program that allows them to treat legitimate H-1B employers and employees with the respect they deserve and to effectively enforce against those who are non-compliant, rather than casting a wide net and treating all H-1B users as abusers.
source link : http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-is-h-1b-dirty-word.html#comment-form
By Eleanor Pelta, AILA First Vice President
H-1B workers certainly seem to be under fire these days on many fronts. A new memo issued by USCIS on the employer-employee relationship imposes new extra-regulatory regulations on the types of activities in which H-1B workers can engage as well as the types of enterprises that can petition for H-1B workers. The memo targets the consulting industry directly, deftly slips in a new concept that seems to prohibit H-1B petitions for employer-owners of businesses, and will surely constitute an open invitation to the Service Centers to hit H-1B petitioners with a new slew of kitchen-sink RFE's. On another front, USCIS continues to make unannounced H-1B site visits, often repeatedly to the same employer. Apart from the "in-terrorem" impact of such visits, I personally cannot see the utility of three different visits to the same employer, particularly after the first one or two visits show that the employer is fully compliant.
But USCIS isn't the only agency that is rigorously targeting H-1B's. An AILA member recently reported that CBP pulled newly-arrived Indian nationals holding H-1B visas out of an immigration inspection line and reportedly placed them in Expedited Removal. The legal basis of those actions is still unclear. However, the tactic is too close to racial profiling for my own comfort.
Finally, recent H-1B "skirmishes" include various U.S. consular posts in India issuing "pink letters" that are, simply put, consular "RFE's" appearing to question the bona fides of the H-1B and requesting information on a host of truly repetitive and/or irrelevant topics. Much of the information that is routinely requested on a pink letter is already in the copy of the H-1B visa petition. Some of the letters request payroll information for all employees of the sponsoring company, a ridiculous request in most instances, particularly for major multi-national companies. One of the most frustrating actions we are seeing from consular officers in this context is the checking off or highlighting of every single category of additional information on the form letter, whether directly applicable or not, in effect a "paper wall" that must be overcome before an applicant can have the H-1B visa issued. Very discouraging to both employer and employee.
How have we come to a point in time where the H-1B category in and of itself is so disdained and mistrusted? Of course I'm aware that instances of fraud have cast this category in a bad light. But I think that vehemence of the administrative attack on the H-1B category is so disproportionate to the actual statistics about fraud. And interestingly, the disproportionate heavy-handed administrative reaction comes not from the agency specifically tasked with H-1B enforcement—the Department of Labor—but from CIS, CBP and State. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and ask myself what makes people so darn angry about a visa category that, at bottom, is designed to bring in relatively tiny number of really smart people to work in U.S. businesses of any size. It has to be a reaction against something else.
Yes, a great number of IT consultants come to the US on H-1B's. It is important to remember that so many of these individuals are extremely well-educated, capable people, working in an industry in which there are a large number of high profile players. And arguably, the high profile consulting companies have the most at stake if they do not focus on compliance, as they are the easiest enforcement target and they need their business model to work in the U.S. in order to survive. Some people may not like the business model, although arguably IT consulting companies provide needed services that allow US businesses, such as banks and insurance companies to focus on their own core strengths. Like it or not, though, this business model is perfectly legal under current law, and the agencies that enforce our immigration laws have no business trying to eviscerate it by policy or a pattern of discretionary actions.
It is true that some IT consulting companies' practices have been the focus of fraud investigations. But DOL has stringent rules in place to deal with the bad guys. Benching H-1B workers without pay, paying below the prevailing wage, sending H-1B workers on long-term assignments to a site not covered by an LCA—these are the practices we most often hear about, and every single one of these is a violation of an existing regulation that could be enforced by the Department of Labor. When an employer violates wage and hour rules, DOL investigates the practices and enforces the regulations against that employer. But no one shuts down an entire industry as a result.
And the IT consulting industry is not the only user of the H-1B visa. Let's not forget how many other critical fields use H-1B workers. In my own career alone, I have seen H-1B petitions for nanoscientists, ornithologists, CEO's of significant not for profit organizations, teachers, applied mathematicians, risk analysts, professionals involved in pharmaceutical research and development, automotive designers, international legal experts, film editors, microimaging engineers. H-1B's are valuable to small and large businesses alike, arguably even more to that emerging business that needs one key expert to develop a new product or service and get the business off the ground.
The assault on H-1B's is not only offensive, it's dangerous. Here's why:
* H-1B's create jobs—statistics show that 5 jobs are created in the U.S. for every H-1B worker hired. An administrative clamp-down in the program will hinder this job creation. And think about the valuable sharing of skills and expertise between H-1B workers and U.S. workers—this is lost when companies are discouraged from using the program.
* The anti-H-1B assault dissuades large businesses from conducting research and development in the US, and encourages the relocation of those facilities in jurisdictions that are friendlier to foreign professionals.
* The anti-H-1B assault chills the formation of small businesses in the US, particularly in emerging technologies. This will most certainly be one of the long-term results of USCIS' most recent memo.
* The attack on H-1B's offends our friends and allies in the world. An example: Earlier this year India –one of the U.S.'s closest allies --announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals working there. Surely the treatment of Indian national H-1B workers at the hands of our agencies involved in the immigration process would not have escaped the attention of the Indian government as they issued their own restrictions.
* The increasing challenges in the H-1B program may have the effect of encouraging foreign students who were educated in the U.S. to seek permanent positions elsewhere.
Whatever the cause of the visceral reaction against H-1B workers might be—whether it stems from a fear that fraud will become more widespread or whether it is simply a broader reaction against foreign workers that often raises its head during any down economy –I sincerely hope that the agencies are able to gain some perspective on the program that allows them to treat legitimate H-1B employers and employees with the respect they deserve and to effectively enforce against those who are non-compliant, rather than casting a wide net and treating all H-1B users as abusers.
source link : http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-is-h-1b-dirty-word.html#comment-form
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garyzero
06-06 03:26 PM
Never heard of this contest?? Looks like a few good one's there.
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gcformeornot
05-14 10:20 AM
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/forum5-all-other-green-card-issues/1403687-new-blow-for-us.html
abhijitp
01-25 04:59 PM
I live and take bart from fremont. let us know time and day or days of this event. I will plan to stop by or stop for hours to help IV friends.
THAT is the spirit, thank you my friend!
The drive will happen on
all weekday evenings (5pm - 7pm)
between
Tuesday 1/29/2008- Friday 2/8/2008
Are you a part of the NorCal yahoogroup?
Thanks again!
THAT is the spirit, thank you my friend!
The drive will happen on
all weekday evenings (5pm - 7pm)
between
Tuesday 1/29/2008- Friday 2/8/2008
Are you a part of the NorCal yahoogroup?
Thanks again!
map_boiler
07-15 04:57 PM
Since you have an approved I-140 through your previous employer, the PD is yours to keep.
Has the attorney requested USCIS to port to the older PD when they filed your pending I140 application? Also, since you're in 6th year of H1B, it might be better to request premium processing on the pending I-140, get it approved...confirm that PD has been ported, and then apply for I-485 before end of August. Move quickly, and good luck!
I was searching on internet and this is what i found on Murthy.com.
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Recently, the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) provided instructions on how to notify them regarding an earlier priority date (PD) when filing the I-140 and I-485 for an individual. It is possible to transfer a PD from one employment-based green card case to another, filed for the same individual, if the first case has reached the point where the 1-140 petition has been approved. Similarly, it is possible, in certain limited situations, to transfer a priority date from an approved I-130 petition to a later family-based filing. On occasion, however, it is difficult to make the service centers aware that the beneficiary has an earlier priority date.
The NSC, on June 14, 2005, provided instructions for a person filing a petition and requesting an earlier priority date based upon a previous case. A brightly-colored, flagged sheet of paper should be included to indicate that there is an earlier priority date. A copy of the prior I-797 Approval Notice of the I-140 petition should be inserted directly behind the brightly-colored sheet of paper. Though the NSC did not indicate where this should go in the filing, it is generally best to put such requests on the top of the filing or directly behind the cover sheet, to maximize the chance that it will be seen and acknowledged. This will avoid a rejection of the file, based on the priority date not being current, and a needless delay in processing the new filing.
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Is that mean i can file I-485 with my previously approved I-140? I have also drop an email to my HR regarding the same. We do not have direct access to Attorney as every thing has to be directed by HR.
Has the attorney requested USCIS to port to the older PD when they filed your pending I140 application? Also, since you're in 6th year of H1B, it might be better to request premium processing on the pending I-140, get it approved...confirm that PD has been ported, and then apply for I-485 before end of August. Move quickly, and good luck!
I was searching on internet and this is what i found on Murthy.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recently, the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) provided instructions on how to notify them regarding an earlier priority date (PD) when filing the I-140 and I-485 for an individual. It is possible to transfer a PD from one employment-based green card case to another, filed for the same individual, if the first case has reached the point where the 1-140 petition has been approved. Similarly, it is possible, in certain limited situations, to transfer a priority date from an approved I-130 petition to a later family-based filing. On occasion, however, it is difficult to make the service centers aware that the beneficiary has an earlier priority date.
The NSC, on June 14, 2005, provided instructions for a person filing a petition and requesting an earlier priority date based upon a previous case. A brightly-colored, flagged sheet of paper should be included to indicate that there is an earlier priority date. A copy of the prior I-797 Approval Notice of the I-140 petition should be inserted directly behind the brightly-colored sheet of paper. Though the NSC did not indicate where this should go in the filing, it is generally best to put such requests on the top of the filing or directly behind the cover sheet, to maximize the chance that it will be seen and acknowledged. This will avoid a rejection of the file, based on the priority date not being current, and a needless delay in processing the new filing.
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Is that mean i can file I-485 with my previously approved I-140? I have also drop an email to my HR regarding the same. We do not have direct access to Attorney as every thing has to be directed by HR.
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