gxr
10-03 06:58 PM
So, is that when you got the background check ?
Here is why I am asking the question:
My RD was 10/06, LUD was 10/26 and I am now afraid that mine may be another background check case.
Here is why I am asking the question:
My RD was 10/06, LUD was 10/26 and I am now afraid that mine may be another background check case.
txh1b
08-18 05:31 PM
They would however have to disclose that period of out of stay when they file the GC as G325 A asks for all status history. In other words, you will get screwed.
Whoever has some approval by means of luck or fluke does not make it the law. They will take the bite when time comes. A COS is not the way to go. A visa stamp or travel and re-entry may be a better way and note that it does not erase any earlier out of stay period.
Whoever has some approval by means of luck or fluke does not make it the law. They will take the bite when time comes. A COS is not the way to go. A visa stamp or travel and re-entry may be a better way and note that it does not erase any earlier out of stay period.
mzdial
March 15th, 2004, 01:37 AM
I'm guessing this topic was spurred by my post about the cameras I carry.. :-)
I didn't buy that particular phone for the camera, it was built-in.. Quality isn't great and you know that going in that -- it's a toy.
It does have some nice options on the phone, especially when the phone is reprogrammed. (I have a buddy that works for Motorola up in Chicago.) All the options on the phone are open now on it. That was my particular motivation in the phone. I use the GPRS on the phone to transmit pictures on occasion from my powerbook (plugs in via USB -- works as a GPRS modem or a standard 9600 baud analog modem) .. Very nice. It's got the built-in POP/IMAP message center and all that good stuff too.
I'll take a couple pictures with it and post it here tomorrow when I get a chance.
-- Matt
I didn't buy that particular phone for the camera, it was built-in.. Quality isn't great and you know that going in that -- it's a toy.
It does have some nice options on the phone, especially when the phone is reprogrammed. (I have a buddy that works for Motorola up in Chicago.) All the options on the phone are open now on it. That was my particular motivation in the phone. I use the GPRS on the phone to transmit pictures on occasion from my powerbook (plugs in via USB -- works as a GPRS modem or a standard 9600 baud analog modem) .. Very nice. It's got the built-in POP/IMAP message center and all that good stuff too.
I'll take a couple pictures with it and post it here tomorrow when I get a chance.
-- Matt
quizzer
11-04 01:11 PM
Guru's
My I140 is approved on October 24 2007 and original document has got my lawyer and employer, but I have not received any original document. My question is: Does I can get original document or I have to ask to my lawyer or employer?
EB2 or EB3?
NSC or TSC?
when was it filed?
My I140 is approved on October 24 2007 and original document has got my lawyer and employer, but I have not received any original document. My question is: Does I can get original document or I have to ask to my lawyer or employer?
EB2 or EB3?
NSC or TSC?
when was it filed?
more...
suryamnb
12-07 04:11 PM
If you are taking online classes, why would your status matter?? i understand you need to have legal status to take regular (in-class) courses, but dont really feel an online university would really care. when you can pretty much log in from any where in the world, why would they worry about you being here illegally?
just my opinion.
I was worried because in the application, the admissions advisor was asking em to fill SSN & Visa status information. I was a bit worried to give that information if that is going to be voilated in any way.
just my opinion.
I was worried because in the application, the admissions advisor was asking em to fill SSN & Visa status information. I was a bit worried to give that information if that is going to be voilated in any way.
terpcurt
November 2nd, 2003, 10:46 AM
i don't normally go for tricked-up stuff, but this one kind of hooked me. I did the "Ansel Adams" conversion to B&W which gave me a contrasty and "antique' look. Then I merged it with the original at about 45%.
This gave the shot a very surreal look.
Don
Nice technique Don......... definitley gave it a ~look~ to it
This gave the shot a very surreal look.
Don
Nice technique Don......... definitley gave it a ~look~ to it
more...
RanchCharm
07-17 08:47 PM
Hi Sivamayam,
Thanks for the information. I will listen to the calls. It is soothing though to here something favourable.
I will keep checking this forum & others for similar questions & replies.
Thanks,
Nachi
Thanks for the information. I will listen to the calls. It is soothing though to here something favourable.
I will keep checking this forum & others for similar questions & replies.
Thanks,
Nachi
NKR
06-11 08:13 AM
I had to reclaim all the days that I was outside the country for my 7th year H1 Extension. I submitted photocopies of all the stampings on my passport. Please note that the passport will be stamped upon arrival here and upon departure/arrival in India. That should be sufficient evidence for proof your valid stay here.
more...
NKR
04-15 08:50 PM
Congratulations, I am happy for you.
Suva
04-17 02:43 PM
hey dude there's nothing in the url u posted once go to the website and click the the pressure list url.that is the actual Noc codes that are active.Today morning when i spoke to the immigraton officer in alberta he was the one who told me ok.
It was mentioned last month in the AINP website that some changes would be there in the NOC list after April 15. Everybody whoever followed this thread saw the message earlier. On April 15 they removed the message from AINP website and apparantly there was no change in NOC list till now. OP gave us correct information when he/she created this thread. See my post in April 15 in this thread and I mentioned that nothing was changed in NOC list. Again going back to my original question did you follow this thread from start? I objected to this comment "I donno why people place messages with Half Knowledge". Apparantly you had the half knowlodge about this whole issue.
It was mentioned last month in the AINP website that some changes would be there in the NOC list after April 15. Everybody whoever followed this thread saw the message earlier. On April 15 they removed the message from AINP website and apparantly there was no change in NOC list till now. OP gave us correct information when he/she created this thread. See my post in April 15 in this thread and I mentioned that nothing was changed in NOC list. Again going back to my original question did you follow this thread from start? I objected to this comment "I donno why people place messages with Half Knowledge". Apparantly you had the half knowlodge about this whole issue.
more...
GrndMasterFlash
03-26 09:34 AM
i can haz added plzzzz
http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323032
http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323032
GC08
07-08 08:37 PM
Correct - None is the answer! My law firm (Fragomen) didnt ask for them when they submitted my docs on JUly 2. Maybe they are needed if the USCIS comes back with an RFE.
I think if your case is pretty straight forward, there should be no problem without W2. What's the point to have it anyway? Some people do not even work for the petition employer since GC is for a future job. Right?
I think if your case is pretty straight forward, there should be no problem without W2. What's the point to have it anyway? Some people do not even work for the petition employer since GC is for a future job. Right?
more...
feedfront
02-01 11:07 AM
Enjoy the freedom.
skv
07-18 01:51 PM
Atlanta PERM Center belongs to DOL not USCIS
We need more people to know about the issue at the Atlanta PERM center.
I'm sure, our immigrationvoice will support as always. :-)
We need more people to know about the issue at the Atlanta PERM center.
I'm sure, our immigrationvoice will support as always. :-)
more...
rubinop
04-15 01:46 PM
You are not loosing anything. Continue on H-1B with current salary as long as it satisfies LCA made for H-1B petition.
You do not have to say anything to DOL. Your LC might be approved after the audit process. Then comes I-140, where the ability to pay comes into question. This could be difficult to get approved based on the situation you described.
If you have more time on H-1B, try to switch to different employer and restart the Greencard process.
Yes, if my LC will get approved in the iterim, I might be safe, but with no time left on the H1-B, and with the reduction of salary that will be applied very soon, I don''t think this is going to happen. Unless, as you said, I won't be lucky enough to get approved really soon.
You do not have to say anything to DOL. Your LC might be approved after the audit process. Then comes I-140, where the ability to pay comes into question. This could be difficult to get approved based on the situation you described.
If you have more time on H-1B, try to switch to different employer and restart the Greencard process.
Yes, if my LC will get approved in the iterim, I might be safe, but with no time left on the H1-B, and with the reduction of salary that will be applied very soon, I don''t think this is going to happen. Unless, as you said, I won't be lucky enough to get approved really soon.
nomi
12-08 08:20 AM
DEAR FRIENDS OF AMERICAN PROGRAMMERS, ENGINEERS, NURSES, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND SCIENTISTS,
Our citizen network did quite a job again today.
I cannot predict. But as the Senate offices begin to close their phones down for the evening (even as the Senate continues to do business), our friends on the Hill are feeling much more confident that we will wake up tomorrow morning and find that Sen. Cornyn and and the tech industry lobbyists will NOT yet have succeeded.
Some, though, believe Cornyn will make another attempt tonight to get a vote on his bill to almost double H-1B visas and employment-based greencards next year. Once the phone lines are down, however, you just have to take a rest and know you did what you could and hope that your efforts were enough to pull us through this evening.
Your thousands of phone calls made a major impression on all Senate offices and on both Republican and Democratic leadership offices in the House.
Our Capitol Hill Team is hearing from many staffers that this has been one of those "Phone Phenomenon" days in which one issue practically ties every office up in knots.
AND NEARLY 100% OF THE CALLS ARE ON OUR SIDE -- AGAINST HELPING THE TECH COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES AND HOSPITALS TO USE MORE FOREIGN LABOR TO DEPRESS THE WAGES OF THEIR AMERICAN WORKERS
You may not have any idea how important that has been.
Perhaps most importantly, it has made our best Senator allies exceptionally determined to block Sen. Cornyn (R-TX). Our latest nose count is that nobody is backing off their "holds" that are keeping the Cornyn SKIL Act legislation from reaching the floor of the Senate.
Cornyn and the tech industry lobbyists continue to try to strike deals with the Senators to get them to remove their HOLDS. But backed by what they see as an overwhelming constituency knowledge of the issue and constituency opposition to increased foreign importation, the "holding" Senators are not budging. We are unaware of any of them accepting a deal to change their position.
The reason individual Senators are able to exercise such power with these holds is because Cornyn has to get a lot of normal precedure waived in order to bring up his bill at the last minute like this.
Our understanding is that Majority Leader Frist (R-TN) could go ahead and bring Cornyn's bill to the floor even with the holds if he wants to. But then he would have to get at least 60 of the 100 votes to break the holds of their colleagues -- which is kind of a personal thing.
The more that you make this bill seem totally radioactive the less likely Sen. Frist will want to end his Senate career on such an explosive note, or that 60 Senators would want to vote to break the holds.
A big thank you to all who have helped again today. There are hundreds of thousands of households this evening spread across the country that will have a much happier Christmas if we succeed in blocking the threat to their jobs, wages and standard of living that Cornyn's bill represents.
Our nation's nurses, physical therapists, scientists, engineers and programmers have studied hard and worked hard and invested considerable money to be able to do these jobs. Why should our government import massive numbers of foreign workers (which no independent study has shown are needed) when that action would cause so many middle class American households to suffer?
At NumbersUSA, we spend a lot of our time championing better treatment for the poor. But we also believe in the protection of middle-class Americans. You who have acted today have done a great service to these households.
I expect to have marching orders for you first thing tomorrow morning based on what the situation has become by that time.
THANKS,
ROY
P.S. If you didn't read Prof. Norm Matloff's San Francisco Chronicle op-ed today, please do so now because it explains so well why we consider this fight against major increases in legal foreign workers to be as important as our fight against illegal immigration.
Read the article here:
http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/hightech.html
Our citizen network did quite a job again today.
I cannot predict. But as the Senate offices begin to close their phones down for the evening (even as the Senate continues to do business), our friends on the Hill are feeling much more confident that we will wake up tomorrow morning and find that Sen. Cornyn and and the tech industry lobbyists will NOT yet have succeeded.
Some, though, believe Cornyn will make another attempt tonight to get a vote on his bill to almost double H-1B visas and employment-based greencards next year. Once the phone lines are down, however, you just have to take a rest and know you did what you could and hope that your efforts were enough to pull us through this evening.
Your thousands of phone calls made a major impression on all Senate offices and on both Republican and Democratic leadership offices in the House.
Our Capitol Hill Team is hearing from many staffers that this has been one of those "Phone Phenomenon" days in which one issue practically ties every office up in knots.
AND NEARLY 100% OF THE CALLS ARE ON OUR SIDE -- AGAINST HELPING THE TECH COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES AND HOSPITALS TO USE MORE FOREIGN LABOR TO DEPRESS THE WAGES OF THEIR AMERICAN WORKERS
You may not have any idea how important that has been.
Perhaps most importantly, it has made our best Senator allies exceptionally determined to block Sen. Cornyn (R-TX). Our latest nose count is that nobody is backing off their "holds" that are keeping the Cornyn SKIL Act legislation from reaching the floor of the Senate.
Cornyn and the tech industry lobbyists continue to try to strike deals with the Senators to get them to remove their HOLDS. But backed by what they see as an overwhelming constituency knowledge of the issue and constituency opposition to increased foreign importation, the "holding" Senators are not budging. We are unaware of any of them accepting a deal to change their position.
The reason individual Senators are able to exercise such power with these holds is because Cornyn has to get a lot of normal precedure waived in order to bring up his bill at the last minute like this.
Our understanding is that Majority Leader Frist (R-TN) could go ahead and bring Cornyn's bill to the floor even with the holds if he wants to. But then he would have to get at least 60 of the 100 votes to break the holds of their colleagues -- which is kind of a personal thing.
The more that you make this bill seem totally radioactive the less likely Sen. Frist will want to end his Senate career on such an explosive note, or that 60 Senators would want to vote to break the holds.
A big thank you to all who have helped again today. There are hundreds of thousands of households this evening spread across the country that will have a much happier Christmas if we succeed in blocking the threat to their jobs, wages and standard of living that Cornyn's bill represents.
Our nation's nurses, physical therapists, scientists, engineers and programmers have studied hard and worked hard and invested considerable money to be able to do these jobs. Why should our government import massive numbers of foreign workers (which no independent study has shown are needed) when that action would cause so many middle class American households to suffer?
At NumbersUSA, we spend a lot of our time championing better treatment for the poor. But we also believe in the protection of middle-class Americans. You who have acted today have done a great service to these households.
I expect to have marching orders for you first thing tomorrow morning based on what the situation has become by that time.
THANKS,
ROY
P.S. If you didn't read Prof. Norm Matloff's San Francisco Chronicle op-ed today, please do so now because it explains so well why we consider this fight against major increases in legal foreign workers to be as important as our fight against illegal immigration.
Read the article here:
http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/hightech.html
more...
tinoue
09-27 09:52 AM
I have approved I140 notice ... i dont see A# can you pls help me find that number in approval notice (797)
It is in "Beneficiary" section, right above my name. But I heard some people do not have numbers on thier approved I-140. I do not know why, though.
It is in "Beneficiary" section, right above my name. But I heard some people do not have numbers on thier approved I-140. I do not know why, though.
Kevin Sadler
May 23rd, 2005, 05:17 AM
Gary, they're all good. The sky and clouds in the first one are spectacular. You could lose that tree and all the scrub in the front and have a strong image with just the sky and those hills.
walking_dude
11-25 11:52 AM
Dear Friend,
Immigration Voice (IV) [http://www.immigrationvoice.org] (http://www.immigrationvoice.org%5D), a grassroots organization working to solve the issues faced by employment-based immigrants, is planning a DC Rally during the first week of March 2009 to bring the issues faced by our community to the notice of US lawmakers.
Details of this initiative are provided here - http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22519
I request you to join IV as a member and support this initiative by indicating your interest to participate in the DC Rally and Lobby Day (visiting lawmaker offices to seek their support)
As you might know our community is facing the following situation
1) 140,000 total numbers per year worldwide vs. 1 million applicants and their families waiting in the line. Some from 2001 and may be before that ! It's common sense that it will take at least 6 years to clear just the current backlog, if there were no per country quotas.
2) Per country quotas of 7% exacerbate the situation to applicants from high-demand countries like India, China, Mexico and Phillipines. Approximately just 10,000 visa numbers are available to India where as it's estimated that at least 44% of the applicants may be from India ( based on USCIS statistics of around 44% of H1bs being granted to India every year). As spouse and children are counted, considering 4 members per family, on an average only 2500 Indian applicants get Green cards in a year. As you can see the numbers are dismal.
Meaning, if you are from India, China, Mexico or Phillipines, you may have to wait 10 to 12 years to get your Green Card or more
3) Between USCIS and DOS (Department of State that runs the Visa bulletin) a number visas get wasted every year, worsening the already BAD situation. For instance between 1994 and now 218,000 GCs were wasted by USCIS. ]If the trend continues, it may well mean 15+ years for India/China/Mexico/Phillipines
Now I know the problems ! What's the solution?
1) Increase worldwide EB GC numbers to 290,000 per year or more
2) Eliminate country quotas
3) Exempt spouses and children ( dependents) from the GC quota (this will effectively double the quota)
4) Since USCIS inefficiency cannot be fixed by us, implement a 'Rollover' of unused visas to the next year(s)
5) Recapture the unused number of 218,000 visas . This may mean you'll get GC or at least see PDs jump forward by a few years (reducing your wait time tremendously)
6) Lobby USCIS to relax USCIS strict determination of 'same and similar jobs' (defined by AC21 law) to provide job mobility and promotions.
I know the solution. But, pray, who'll bell the cat?
Fortunately for us, there is an organization that is working 100% exclusively for our cause. Immigration Voice ( http://www.immigrationvoice.org) a non-profit organization formed by EB immigrants to work for our cause. Starting with barely 200 members when it was formed in 2005, now it boasts a membership of 30,000 members and around 30 state chapters serving every US state with significant EB immigrant population.
Immigration Voice ( fondly called IV by it's members) lobbies the US Congress and USCIS to provide relief to us. They have hired a high-profile lobbying firm Patton Bloggs to do lobbying for our cause. In addition they also do grassroots lobbying at State chapter level with the local Congressmen.
What's Lobbying? Is it Legal for non-citizens ?
Lobbying or 'Advocacy' is the act of Petitoning the US Government to redress issues faced by any person living in the United States. It's a right guaranteed by US Constitution (First Amendment) to every person living in the United States, citizen or not.
Just like you can argue your own case in a court of law (if you choose to do it), you can also lobby or petition the US Government on your own. If you chose so, you can also hire a professional lobbying firm to do it for you, just like you can hire a lawyer to represent you in the court. Both are legally guaranteed rights. It's common sense that a professional does a better job - be it an experienced lawyer or a lobbying firm. Getting professional help greatly increases the chances of success.
Boy, It must be really COSTLY to hire those DC Lobbyists?
You are right. They are costly, but IV has been managing to keep the effort funded through sacrifices of it's Leadership (IV Core group), voluntary contributions from it's members, local fundraising campaigns by State chapters and selling IV-branded merchandise.
Contributions are what keep IV ticking and working for you.
I understand IV has been doing all this? Have they had any success so far? I don't want to invest in a campaign destined for failure !
IVs success record so far in the order of signifance to EB community
1) July Visa bulletin Reversal - Due to flip-flop by USCIS 350,000 applicants were denied the promised ability to file I-485 in July 2007. Chances are you might have been one of them ! We faced the grim prospect of losing thousands of dollars and countless hours of effort .
IV conducted 'Flower Campaign', i.e sending Flowers to USCIS director Emilio Ganzales to request redressal of this unfair decision (in the spirit of passive resistance movement of Mahatma Gandhi). It provided wide media coverage to the issue nationwide.
IV through it's California chapter, conducted the successful 'San Jose Rally' to highlight the isue to the Congressmen through the media. It also took an active role in petitioning San Jose Congresswoman Rep. Zoe Lofgren to help fix the issue. As it turns out Madame Lofgren, who also happens to be the Chairwoman of House sub-commitee on Immigration, was instrumental in forcing USCIS to rescind (revert) it's prior unjust decision ! An IV effort that paid rich dividends.
IV actively particpated in discussions with USCIS in deciding the modality of reversing the decision, and was the first group to announce it, even before USCIS and US Department of State !
IV Walked the Talk and helped the EB Community immensely
3) Lobbying USCIS for administrative reforms - IV participated in the FBI Namecheck backlog reduction meeting ( when it approached alarming figures with some waiting for 1-3 years), where USCIS announced increased FBI funding to expedite the checks and other process improvements to increase efficiency.
IV also successfully lobbied USCIS to increase validity of EAD/AP to 2 years from the previous validity period of 1 year. It has resulted in a saving of at least $1400 per year for every EB immigrant family that has filed I-485
IV continues to lobby USCIS to relax USCIS strict determination of 'same and similar jobs' (defined by AC21 law) to provide job mobility and promotions
All right. Is there anything I can do to help IV?
Definitely ! IV is an organization of volunteers just like you and me. There are several ways you can help IV. For starters by participating in the very important upcoming DC Rally and the Lobby Day.
Just spread the word. Forward this E-mail to all your friends waiting for GCs.
1) Join : IV forums are a good source for finding answers to Immigration related matters and exchange information. IV also conducts pro-bono (FREE) lawyer conferences for members on a regular basis.
Website link - http://www.immigrationvoice.org.
Member registration - http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/register.php
2) Contribute : As you have understood, Lobbying requires lot of funding. IV needs your support to keep the good work running.
You can contribute either one time or join as a monthly (recurring) contributor [preferred] here -
http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=44
You can send ANY AMOUNT to IV as a contribution. All you need to do it create a PayPal account (if you don't have one), register a bank acount/Credit Card with PayPal (if not already done). Send money to IV using E-mail id - donations@immigrationvoice.org
3) Volunteer : If you are open to volunteering, you can join your local State Chapter of IV. State chapters conduct activities such -
a) Lawmaker meetings with Congressmen to discuss issues faced by EB immigrants
b) Fundraising at local Events
c) IV publicity through Flyers at public places & Events
d) Local media outreach to get media coverage for EB community
Benefits of joining : State Chapters provide more detailed coverage of IV updates issued from time to time than available at IV forums (restricted due to presence of anti-immigrants). They also provide updates early ( 2-3 days before stuff gets posted on IV)
How to join ? : Yahoo/Google groups for the State chapters are listed here.
http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=52 ( Scroll to the bottom !)
Submit a request to join your State chapter with your - IV id, Full Name, E-mail, Telephone number (mandatory to filter anti-immigrants). State chapter leaders will call to verify and you are in !
You have covered it in detail. Yet, I have many unanswered questions! Whom should I contact to get more info?
Ask IV !
Call - (202) 386-6250
E-mail - info@immigrationvoice.org
Immigration Voice (IV) [http://www.immigrationvoice.org] (http://www.immigrationvoice.org%5D), a grassroots organization working to solve the issues faced by employment-based immigrants, is planning a DC Rally during the first week of March 2009 to bring the issues faced by our community to the notice of US lawmakers.
Details of this initiative are provided here - http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22519
I request you to join IV as a member and support this initiative by indicating your interest to participate in the DC Rally and Lobby Day (visiting lawmaker offices to seek their support)
As you might know our community is facing the following situation
1) 140,000 total numbers per year worldwide vs. 1 million applicants and their families waiting in the line. Some from 2001 and may be before that ! It's common sense that it will take at least 6 years to clear just the current backlog, if there were no per country quotas.
2) Per country quotas of 7% exacerbate the situation to applicants from high-demand countries like India, China, Mexico and Phillipines. Approximately just 10,000 visa numbers are available to India where as it's estimated that at least 44% of the applicants may be from India ( based on USCIS statistics of around 44% of H1bs being granted to India every year). As spouse and children are counted, considering 4 members per family, on an average only 2500 Indian applicants get Green cards in a year. As you can see the numbers are dismal.
Meaning, if you are from India, China, Mexico or Phillipines, you may have to wait 10 to 12 years to get your Green Card or more
3) Between USCIS and DOS (Department of State that runs the Visa bulletin) a number visas get wasted every year, worsening the already BAD situation. For instance between 1994 and now 218,000 GCs were wasted by USCIS. ]If the trend continues, it may well mean 15+ years for India/China/Mexico/Phillipines
Now I know the problems ! What's the solution?
1) Increase worldwide EB GC numbers to 290,000 per year or more
2) Eliminate country quotas
3) Exempt spouses and children ( dependents) from the GC quota (this will effectively double the quota)
4) Since USCIS inefficiency cannot be fixed by us, implement a 'Rollover' of unused visas to the next year(s)
5) Recapture the unused number of 218,000 visas . This may mean you'll get GC or at least see PDs jump forward by a few years (reducing your wait time tremendously)
6) Lobby USCIS to relax USCIS strict determination of 'same and similar jobs' (defined by AC21 law) to provide job mobility and promotions.
I know the solution. But, pray, who'll bell the cat?
Fortunately for us, there is an organization that is working 100% exclusively for our cause. Immigration Voice ( http://www.immigrationvoice.org) a non-profit organization formed by EB immigrants to work for our cause. Starting with barely 200 members when it was formed in 2005, now it boasts a membership of 30,000 members and around 30 state chapters serving every US state with significant EB immigrant population.
Immigration Voice ( fondly called IV by it's members) lobbies the US Congress and USCIS to provide relief to us. They have hired a high-profile lobbying firm Patton Bloggs to do lobbying for our cause. In addition they also do grassroots lobbying at State chapter level with the local Congressmen.
What's Lobbying? Is it Legal for non-citizens ?
Lobbying or 'Advocacy' is the act of Petitoning the US Government to redress issues faced by any person living in the United States. It's a right guaranteed by US Constitution (First Amendment) to every person living in the United States, citizen or not.
Just like you can argue your own case in a court of law (if you choose to do it), you can also lobby or petition the US Government on your own. If you chose so, you can also hire a professional lobbying firm to do it for you, just like you can hire a lawyer to represent you in the court. Both are legally guaranteed rights. It's common sense that a professional does a better job - be it an experienced lawyer or a lobbying firm. Getting professional help greatly increases the chances of success.
Boy, It must be really COSTLY to hire those DC Lobbyists?
You are right. They are costly, but IV has been managing to keep the effort funded through sacrifices of it's Leadership (IV Core group), voluntary contributions from it's members, local fundraising campaigns by State chapters and selling IV-branded merchandise.
Contributions are what keep IV ticking and working for you.
I understand IV has been doing all this? Have they had any success so far? I don't want to invest in a campaign destined for failure !
IVs success record so far in the order of signifance to EB community
1) July Visa bulletin Reversal - Due to flip-flop by USCIS 350,000 applicants were denied the promised ability to file I-485 in July 2007. Chances are you might have been one of them ! We faced the grim prospect of losing thousands of dollars and countless hours of effort .
IV conducted 'Flower Campaign', i.e sending Flowers to USCIS director Emilio Ganzales to request redressal of this unfair decision (in the spirit of passive resistance movement of Mahatma Gandhi). It provided wide media coverage to the issue nationwide.
IV through it's California chapter, conducted the successful 'San Jose Rally' to highlight the isue to the Congressmen through the media. It also took an active role in petitioning San Jose Congresswoman Rep. Zoe Lofgren to help fix the issue. As it turns out Madame Lofgren, who also happens to be the Chairwoman of House sub-commitee on Immigration, was instrumental in forcing USCIS to rescind (revert) it's prior unjust decision ! An IV effort that paid rich dividends.
IV actively particpated in discussions with USCIS in deciding the modality of reversing the decision, and was the first group to announce it, even before USCIS and US Department of State !
IV Walked the Talk and helped the EB Community immensely
3) Lobbying USCIS for administrative reforms - IV participated in the FBI Namecheck backlog reduction meeting ( when it approached alarming figures with some waiting for 1-3 years), where USCIS announced increased FBI funding to expedite the checks and other process improvements to increase efficiency.
IV also successfully lobbied USCIS to increase validity of EAD/AP to 2 years from the previous validity period of 1 year. It has resulted in a saving of at least $1400 per year for every EB immigrant family that has filed I-485
IV continues to lobby USCIS to relax USCIS strict determination of 'same and similar jobs' (defined by AC21 law) to provide job mobility and promotions
All right. Is there anything I can do to help IV?
Definitely ! IV is an organization of volunteers just like you and me. There are several ways you can help IV. For starters by participating in the very important upcoming DC Rally and the Lobby Day.
Just spread the word. Forward this E-mail to all your friends waiting for GCs.
1) Join : IV forums are a good source for finding answers to Immigration related matters and exchange information. IV also conducts pro-bono (FREE) lawyer conferences for members on a regular basis.
Website link - http://www.immigrationvoice.org.
Member registration - http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/register.php
2) Contribute : As you have understood, Lobbying requires lot of funding. IV needs your support to keep the good work running.
You can contribute either one time or join as a monthly (recurring) contributor [preferred] here -
http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=44
You can send ANY AMOUNT to IV as a contribution. All you need to do it create a PayPal account (if you don't have one), register a bank acount/Credit Card with PayPal (if not already done). Send money to IV using E-mail id - donations@immigrationvoice.org
3) Volunteer : If you are open to volunteering, you can join your local State Chapter of IV. State chapters conduct activities such -
a) Lawmaker meetings with Congressmen to discuss issues faced by EB immigrants
b) Fundraising at local Events
c) IV publicity through Flyers at public places & Events
d) Local media outreach to get media coverage for EB community
Benefits of joining : State Chapters provide more detailed coverage of IV updates issued from time to time than available at IV forums (restricted due to presence of anti-immigrants). They also provide updates early ( 2-3 days before stuff gets posted on IV)
How to join ? : Yahoo/Google groups for the State chapters are listed here.
http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=52 ( Scroll to the bottom !)
Submit a request to join your State chapter with your - IV id, Full Name, E-mail, Telephone number (mandatory to filter anti-immigrants). State chapter leaders will call to verify and you are in !
You have covered it in detail. Yet, I have many unanswered questions! Whom should I contact to get more info?
Ask IV !
Call - (202) 386-6250
E-mail - info@immigrationvoice.org
skagitswimmer
June 7th, 2005, 08:00 AM
Thanks again. What threw me was that even though the detail was blown there was lots of colour. It is not like when it gets blown to white by direct sunlight.
The shot we are all talking about was originally in RAW, by the way.
This is the time in a while that I have identified a problem that wouldn't be solved with a large expenditure of cash
The shot we are all talking about was originally in RAW, by the way.
This is the time in a while that I have identified a problem that wouldn't be solved with a large expenditure of cash