EB3_SEP04
05-26 05:11 PM
I wonder what are the required documents for America born citizens if they don't have passports. Just a driver license? or they have to carry birth certificates always?
US citizens are not required to prove that they are citizens, only the non-citizens are required to prove their status, and that's what angers me. If you answer the question as "Citizen" no further question is asked, and that is the RULE. Hence illegal people are trained to say the word "citizen" no matter what question they are asked. But as law abiding people most legal immigrants/non-immigrants won't lie just for the sake of avoiding the hassel of showing papers.
US citizens are not required to prove that they are citizens, only the non-citizens are required to prove their status, and that's what angers me. If you answer the question as "Citizen" no further question is asked, and that is the RULE. Hence illegal people are trained to say the word "citizen" no matter what question they are asked. But as law abiding people most legal immigrants/non-immigrants won't lie just for the sake of avoiding the hassel of showing papers.
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zuhail
04-04 12:48 PM
Hello,
I would like to clarify that this thread is not about discussing IV donations.
Initially I proposed a special fund raising for Recapturing Visa Numbers to pay for the lobbying efforts and all expenses that would incurred by the IV team.
For people who question why money is needed to do these activities, I recommend doing a google search to understand how bills get formulated and passed, on how lobbying works etc. Or they could open a special thread to discuss these things.
Can you imagine how this organization could be run, how the IV team could meet with the lawmakers and USCIS authorities etc. Everybody have their family and work commitments/schedules. Sacrificing your personal time to do something that would benefit an entire community is an exemplary and commendable deed. It is always easy to ask questions or type in few comments from the comfort of one's home. Pursuing a common goal and acting upon it with dedication and sincerity is something else.
Simply put, by making donations we are helping the IV team to achieve our goals in the arena of legal immigration reform. It may not be the most efficient organization in the world, but it has been effective and I have personally benefited by IV's effort since July 2007 and have made regular donations to the IV fund. Of course there would be people like Snathan who would want to kill ideas and proposals. These are to be simply ignored, as we already deal with lot of shit in our lives.
Saralayar, to help generate statistics I have updated my profile with the important dates now. I will update them with more info later on. Thanks.
This thread is to discuss efforts to achieve the goal of recapturing visa numbers for EB categories. Any new ideas, proposals, recommendations for the IV team are welcome. It also includes fund raising and ways to pay for this effort.
The least we could do is to make donations to help achieve the goal.
If you can contribute some ideas, some money etc, wonderful, great!. Otherwise please don't say anything negative that is of no use to anybody.
I would like to clarify that this thread is not about discussing IV donations.
Initially I proposed a special fund raising for Recapturing Visa Numbers to pay for the lobbying efforts and all expenses that would incurred by the IV team.
For people who question why money is needed to do these activities, I recommend doing a google search to understand how bills get formulated and passed, on how lobbying works etc. Or they could open a special thread to discuss these things.
Can you imagine how this organization could be run, how the IV team could meet with the lawmakers and USCIS authorities etc. Everybody have their family and work commitments/schedules. Sacrificing your personal time to do something that would benefit an entire community is an exemplary and commendable deed. It is always easy to ask questions or type in few comments from the comfort of one's home. Pursuing a common goal and acting upon it with dedication and sincerity is something else.
Simply put, by making donations we are helping the IV team to achieve our goals in the arena of legal immigration reform. It may not be the most efficient organization in the world, but it has been effective and I have personally benefited by IV's effort since July 2007 and have made regular donations to the IV fund. Of course there would be people like Snathan who would want to kill ideas and proposals. These are to be simply ignored, as we already deal with lot of shit in our lives.
Saralayar, to help generate statistics I have updated my profile with the important dates now. I will update them with more info later on. Thanks.
This thread is to discuss efforts to achieve the goal of recapturing visa numbers for EB categories. Any new ideas, proposals, recommendations for the IV team are welcome. It also includes fund raising and ways to pay for this effort.
The least we could do is to make donations to help achieve the goal.
If you can contribute some ideas, some money etc, wonderful, great!. Otherwise please don't say anything negative that is of no use to anybody.
mi2
01-17 03:43 PM
Setup through my bank.
Good job IV!
Good job IV!
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spaceguy
10-26 09:29 AM
Eb3 India
PD- Jan 2004
Got EAD,FP and AP
PD- Jan 2004
Got EAD,FP and AP
more...
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GCard_Dream
12-13 11:58 AM
Well ... that's the sad part. Everyone in core team is probably reading this but no significant feedback or suggestion has come from them. May be they are all too busy or this topic doesn't have any merit or has been discussed in depth already before. I am not sure what's going on.
Nomi my friend, looks like we are on our own on this one. ;)
Do you think no one from core team reading this thread??
Nomi my friend, looks like we are on our own on this one. ;)
Do you think no one from core team reading this thread??

mallu
07-07 09:07 PM
Today I have received my GC approval email. Dependants approval is awaited. I am in this country from Jan 2001. Good luck to all.
No LUD till final approval. Last LUD on I-485 on August 2007 on finger print day. Last week I did call Nebraska by POJ method and speak with IO. She told me my file is off the shelf and in line for adjudication. I think EAD filing on June last week did the trick. (file taken from the USCIS's never ending shelf).
The USCIS shelf looks like : http://www.usaimmigrationattorney.com/NationalRecordsCenter.html
No LUD till final approval. Last LUD on I-485 on August 2007 on finger print day. Last week I did call Nebraska by POJ method and speak with IO. She told me my file is off the shelf and in line for adjudication. I think EAD filing on June last week did the trick. (file taken from the USCIS's never ending shelf).
The USCIS shelf looks like : http://www.usaimmigrationattorney.com/NationalRecordsCenter.html
more...
humdesi
03-19 07:09 PM
Any chance of EB2 India moving forward to April 05 by October 2008??
NO, no way.
There are tens of thousands of EB2 India applicants from 2000 to 2002. Add labor substituters, EB2 converters, and you'll be lucky to see EB-2 India at even Dec 2002. Most likely within a few weeks of Apr, all EB-2 India visas will get used up. Keep in mind the new EB-2 numbers are from EB-1 India flowover. So it's going to last even less time than Oct-Nov last year.
NO, no way.
There are tens of thousands of EB2 India applicants from 2000 to 2002. Add labor substituters, EB2 converters, and you'll be lucky to see EB-2 India at even Dec 2002. Most likely within a few weeks of Apr, all EB-2 India visas will get used up. Keep in mind the new EB-2 numbers are from EB-1 India flowover. So it's going to last even less time than Oct-Nov last year.
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gauravsh
03-09 06:45 PM
Quick question guys :- My PD is feb 2008 and I140 was approved in july 08.
I also want to call my congessman, can you please tell what are the things you talk to them?
A brief guidance will help many others like me to make a call.
~
I also want to call my congessman, can you please tell what are the things you talk to them?
A brief guidance will help many others like me to make a call.
~
more...
reddymjm
09-10 02:04 PM
They can make a category current when Demand < Supply. So once all I-485s prior to 2007 are approved the monthly demand data they publish will show demand Prior to CY2011 = 200.
Yes True. This can happen only in the last quarter. I guess in August or Sept 2011 bulliten. Probably USCIS would love to put C instead of moving it a year by year as they love the flood of applications and backlogs.
Yes True. This can happen only in the last quarter. I guess in August or Sept 2011 bulliten. Probably USCIS would love to put C instead of moving it a year by year as they love the flood of applications and backlogs.
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vin
06-12 03:02 PM
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immig13jun13,1,432583.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
There are splits within the Republican and Democratic parties over the issue, but both sides say they think they can muster 60 votes -- the number needed to overcome a filibuster -- if they can resolve their procedural issues.
McConnell said he thought it was unlikely the president's visit would sway many Republicans. "I think most senators have pretty well made up their minds where they are on this, and I think there are a reasonable number of Republicans who in the end are likely to help get us get it through," McConnell said in a conference call with reporters.
There are splits within the Republican and Democratic parties over the issue, but both sides say they think they can muster 60 votes -- the number needed to overcome a filibuster -- if they can resolve their procedural issues.
McConnell said he thought it was unlikely the president's visit would sway many Republicans. "I think most senators have pretty well made up their minds where they are on this, and I think there are a reasonable number of Republicans who in the end are likely to help get us get it through," McConnell said in a conference call with reporters.
more...
GreenLantern
02-15 06:52 PM
Anybody want to post what they have so far? Please?
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sanju
01-16 09:19 PM
I actually don't think this is the main concern of many people who have not contributed. I have talked with many friends who got stuck with their GC applications regarding IV and urged them to contribute. However, not many of them were very passionate about this. They just simply believed that they could not achieve their GCs faster with IV's effort than without. $20 per month is not a big deal for them. But without any confidence and hope, they did not even want to bother to register and contribute. Most of my friends are EB2 with PD 2004 or later. Some who have filed 485s see no sign for SKIL being passed and are fine with their APs and EADs. Those who have not filed their 485 truly believe that they could file their 485s in about 2 years and got used to this waiting.
So I think maybe we can let people know what IV has achieved in the past one year(not just how many members or how much money IV has achieved..., but things really matter to people) and inspire them.
waitingGC, Well said. Your assessment about this group of people may be correct. These are mostly apathy-stricken people with indifferent attitudes towards the events and surroundings around them. No change can be made with such an attitude. If it were for such lazy people, no revolution/change could have been organized and this world would still be be under imperialistic forces. Sloth is the biggest sin and an example to sloth is well demonstrated by the behavior of these people who refuse to participate.
What Results?
I joined IV recently and I visit IV website several times a day. Few days back I had the patience to search and read earlier forum discussions on IV and immigrationportal. I read the forum threads in which it was discussed how IV delivered all the amendments in the last year Senate bill. What more results do these people want? I admit that I don't understand all the amendments and all the provisions that IV got for us in the Senate bill. But isn't it a big deal to simply organize in the matter of few months and then get our provisions passed in the Senate. What more results should we expect to judge IV? The only other result is when IV will get all our amendments in the next immigration bill that will be passed by the congress. By then, it would be too late for these people, who refuse to participate at this time. And I don’t plan to wait for them. So I just signed up for $50/month monthly subscription. More importantly, my wife and I will request all our friends to sign-up for monthly subscription.
So I think maybe we can let people know what IV has achieved in the past one year(not just how many members or how much money IV has achieved..., but things really matter to people) and inspire them.
waitingGC, Well said. Your assessment about this group of people may be correct. These are mostly apathy-stricken people with indifferent attitudes towards the events and surroundings around them. No change can be made with such an attitude. If it were for such lazy people, no revolution/change could have been organized and this world would still be be under imperialistic forces. Sloth is the biggest sin and an example to sloth is well demonstrated by the behavior of these people who refuse to participate.
What Results?
I joined IV recently and I visit IV website several times a day. Few days back I had the patience to search and read earlier forum discussions on IV and immigrationportal. I read the forum threads in which it was discussed how IV delivered all the amendments in the last year Senate bill. What more results do these people want? I admit that I don't understand all the amendments and all the provisions that IV got for us in the Senate bill. But isn't it a big deal to simply organize in the matter of few months and then get our provisions passed in the Senate. What more results should we expect to judge IV? The only other result is when IV will get all our amendments in the next immigration bill that will be passed by the congress. By then, it would be too late for these people, who refuse to participate at this time. And I don’t plan to wait for them. So I just signed up for $50/month monthly subscription. More importantly, my wife and I will request all our friends to sign-up for monthly subscription.
more...
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ujayra01
03-17 10:41 AM
EB3-India
PD: Dec 2003
EAD-AP approved, FP done
PD: Dec 2003
EAD-AP approved, FP done
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GCWish
03-09 07:31 PM
It is the right time to do some concrete action to bring out the facts that
1. Approving the EBs would not add to any significant shift in employment demographics, given that all these people are in the US already
2. The benefit that this would bring on the demand side esp.housing market
Let�s start a letter campaign to the attention of the Obama administration and the USCIS secretary Janet Napolitano
1. Approving the EBs would not add to any significant shift in employment demographics, given that all these people are in the US already
2. The benefit that this would bring on the demand side esp.housing market
Let�s start a letter campaign to the attention of the Obama administration and the USCIS secretary Janet Napolitano
more...
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sunnymit
08-02 03:34 PM
At times we forget who we really are - Immigrants. Of course when the going gets tough, we will be the first ones to get hit. Why is that even under question? Do we expect any country to first worry about immigrants and then worry about its own citizens? I don't think so... We don't have the same rights as citizens or even GC holders, rightfully so. There are times when we will be discriminated against in the most polished way possible. For e.g. the President while giving out the TARP money to the banks mentioned that any banks receiving the loan can't hire any foreign worker (I don't remember the exact verbiage but it was something on these lines). Did people on H1s or other temporary work permits not pay taxes that consituted a portion (however small) of the TARP money handed out to the banks and car companies? So what? Some people complain about paying SS tax while they are not even eligible to receive any benefits unless they get GCs/Citizenships etc. So what?Now, all of these points can be argued in multiple ways but the bottom line is that us immigrants do have a lot of boundaries that we need to work within. Some of them are just, others aren't. Honestly, we are lucky that the govt hasn't come out with a rule yet that will send all the H1-Bs and other temporary work permit workers packing till the economy is back on its feet again. Guess what, we will all be angry about it when it happens to us, but the moment this coutnry opens the doors again to immigrants, we will be standing in the line right outisde the US embassy for new stamp.
Why am I saying all this - just to put things in perspective. As someone rightfully said earlier, filing for your GC process is an incentive by the company just like giving out a bonus - even that has a more certainity than GC. The company can anytime decide not to fulfill its obligations towards you if its not in its best interest.
Please believe me when I say that I am not writing this to lecture anyone about the realities of life. I have gone through the thick and thin of the immigration process just like all of you. I have spent countless hours thinking "agar aisa hoga, to phir kaisa hoga" (sounds filmy, I know) but its true. IMO, the sooner we understand the realities, the less painful it becomes for us...
Why am I saying all this - just to put things in perspective. As someone rightfully said earlier, filing for your GC process is an incentive by the company just like giving out a bonus - even that has a more certainity than GC. The company can anytime decide not to fulfill its obligations towards you if its not in its best interest.
Please believe me when I say that I am not writing this to lecture anyone about the realities of life. I have gone through the thick and thin of the immigration process just like all of you. I have spent countless hours thinking "agar aisa hoga, to phir kaisa hoga" (sounds filmy, I know) but its true. IMO, the sooner we understand the realities, the less painful it becomes for us...
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onemorecame
09-17 01:49 PM
I am still waiting called 800 number they said wait for 15 days from the day RFE issued?
I am in touch with my attorney.. not sure what going on... :confused:
I am in touch with my attorney.. not sure what going on... :confused:
more...
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inthehole
07-18 12:07 PM
Called USCIS just 5 mins back.. first a lady answered and asked me questions about the reason of calling..
I explained that i am calling to find out the status of my i-485 application that i filed on June 25th. And I would like to know when will i get my receipt no.
The lady asked me to stay on the line and transferred to another person.
Another lady picked up and asked my last name.. I told my last name. (i did not spell my last name)
She asked for reason for calling..
I said to I filed i-485 on June 25th and I did not get my receipt no yet..i said
i would like to know when can i expect my receipt no..
She put me on hold for few mins and came back and said
"You have till August 17 to file your i-485. If we have visa numbers available and if your application is accepted, you will receive your receipt no before August 17"
I said I aready filed my application on June 25, before the July bulletin.
She said "listen carefully" and explained the same thing again.
I said thank you and hung up..
It doesn't make any sense.. I think(hope) she doesn't understand my question properly or she doesn't know the process..
I explained that i am calling to find out the status of my i-485 application that i filed on June 25th. And I would like to know when will i get my receipt no.
The lady asked me to stay on the line and transferred to another person.
Another lady picked up and asked my last name.. I told my last name. (i did not spell my last name)
She asked for reason for calling..
I said to I filed i-485 on June 25th and I did not get my receipt no yet..i said
i would like to know when can i expect my receipt no..
She put me on hold for few mins and came back and said
"You have till August 17 to file your i-485. If we have visa numbers available and if your application is accepted, you will receive your receipt no before August 17"
I said I aready filed my application on June 25, before the July bulletin.
She said "listen carefully" and explained the same thing again.
I said thank you and hung up..
It doesn't make any sense.. I think(hope) she doesn't understand my question properly or she doesn't know the process..
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shreekhand
08-15 06:05 PM
That is a fairly correct list of has_to_happen! but do you know there is a significant number or June 07 filers who have passed all these and have got their I-485 approved in the past week or so from the TSC. See and immigrationportal!
thats provided
a. their I-140 is approved
b. fingerprinting is done.
c. passed the fbi name check.
d. their case made it to the hands of adjudicator who is taking a final look at it.
it is difficult to finish all these in less than two months.
but you may never know, there might be some lucky ones.
just hope that we all are that lucky :)
thats provided
a. their I-140 is approved
b. fingerprinting is done.
c. passed the fbi name check.
d. their case made it to the hands of adjudicator who is taking a final look at it.
it is difficult to finish all these in less than two months.
but you may never know, there might be some lucky ones.
just hope that we all are that lucky :)
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neverbefore
07-29 02:23 AM
Hi all,
I am not sure whether I should add this over here or not but I could not resist and I don't know any other way.
I went to a wine shop and was shocked to see cartoon of Ganesha used on the bottle of India Pale Beer. I am not a religious person but this thing made me nervous. Please let me know how this can be protested.
Thanks
Please desist from such irrelevant postings here. If you have a personal problem, at least display the intelligence to find the proper forum for it.
To answer your irrelevant question, such a thing can be protested best by not consuming the beer and most of all, to not give it publicity by laying bare your intellect at the wrong fora.
I am not sure whether I should add this over here or not but I could not resist and I don't know any other way.
I went to a wine shop and was shocked to see cartoon of Ganesha used on the bottle of India Pale Beer. I am not a religious person but this thing made me nervous. Please let me know how this can be protested.
Thanks
Please desist from such irrelevant postings here. If you have a personal problem, at least display the intelligence to find the proper forum for it.
To answer your irrelevant question, such a thing can be protested best by not consuming the beer and most of all, to not give it publicity by laying bare your intellect at the wrong fora.
delhiguy
07-04 08:03 PM
Excellent
I agree with you 100 % , I believe having excessive media coverage and lawsuits , would bring the GC number and process in the open , and most americans would oppose the GC as they oppose H1B.
If i was a american i would surely be happy with USCIS/DOS creating so much trouble for the immigrants to my country , who i believe are taking my job.
Everyone blaming CIS/DOS needs to understand some basics behind this mess. Before going to conclude anything, first, one should read all the ombudsman reports for last 3 or 4 years. Former INS or current USCIS�s functions and operations were not questionable and not known to public till ombudsman office was established. Ombudsman has helped customers and keep helping to improve efficiency of CIS. Ombudsman main concern (or goal) have been over the 4 years are
1. Primarily reducing backlogs in any application type particularly 485 and timely approval of any application.
2. Abolish the need for interim benefits like EAD, AP etc. If they approve 485 in 6 months, then most of us do not require EAD and AP.
3. Reduce the wastage of EB visas, as unused EB visas can not be carried over to next year (use it or lose it). Since 1992, about 200,000 EB visas were lost permanently. In 2003 alone, they issued only 64,000 EB visas and lost 88,000.
The recent report to congress, the ombudsman scolded the CIS left and right for its inefficiency and highlighted how many EB visas were lost for ever, in last 10 years despite the very heavy demand for employment based green cards. Based on his report, both CIS and DOS try to obey the direction of ombudsman and modifying the 485 adjudication procedure. The reason for loss of EB visas in previous years not only due to inefficiency in processing the 485s on time, it is also due to lengthy background check delay by FBI, where USCIS has no control. For example, in 2003 they could approve about 64,000 485s only. It is partially due to USCIS inefficiency and partially due to lengthy FBI check. There are 300,000 (AOS+ Naturalization applicants) cases are pending with FBI for name check. Out of which, about 70,000 cases are pending more than 2 years. Out of 300,000 victims of name check delay, how many are really threat to the country? Perhaps none or may be few! Remember that lot of Indians also victims of name check and all the victims of name check delay already living in USA.
The big problem is the timing when USCIS takes the visa number for a 485 applicant. Till 1982, INS took visa number for a 485 applicant as soon as they receive the application. Visa number assigned to a 485 applicant without processing his/her application. He/She may not be a qualified applicant to approve 485. Still they assign to them. If they found, the applicant is ineligible, they suppose to return the number back to DOS. However, this practice was modified after 1982. USCIS is taking visa number only at the time of approval of 485, after processing the 485 for a lengthy period. For some people, particularly victims of name check, 485 processing time vary between 2 to 5 years. Though, it is a good practice it is not the ideal or efficient process, due to name check delay. Let us assume about 150,000 are victim of name check in 2003. If they assigned all the numbers to these 150,000 applicants at the time they filed 485, the 88,000 visa numbers might have not been lost in 2003. Now what happens, those who filed 485 in 2003 (victim of name check delay) will take EB numbers from 2007 or 2008 quota, if FBI clears his/her file in 2007 or 2008. This will push back those who are going to file 485 in 2007 or 2008.
That why, ombudsman in his 2007 yearly report to Congress recommended to practice the old way of assigning visa number to 485 applicants, to minimize the loss of visa numbers.
Now lets come to July Visa bulletin mess.
Because of tight holding of visa cutoff dates for EB3 and EB2 for the first 8 months of 2007 (From Oct 2006 to May 2007) USCIS approved only 66,000 485s. For the next 4 months they have about 60K to 70K numbers available. If they approve the pending 485s with slower speed or old cut off dates, there is a potential estimated loss of 40,000 EB visas by Sep 2007. Thats why, based on ombudsman recommendation, DOS moved considerably the cut off date for June. When they took inventory in May, there are about 40,000 documentarily qualified 485 applications were pending due to non-availability of visa numbers. The �documentarily qualified 485 applications� mean the application filed long time back and processed by USCIS and cleared the FBI name and criminal check, and found eligible for green card. Apart from 40,000 documentarily qualified 485 applications, there is thousands of 485 applications (documentarily not yet qualified) pending due to name check. When DOS checked with USCIS they found only 40,000 documentarily qualified 485 applications (in all EB categories put together) are pending. However, the available visas are more than 40,000 (60to 70K). Then they made with out consulting properly with USCIS they made �current� for all EB categories. This is how they determine �current� or �over-subscribed� and how they establish cutoff dates.
If there are sufficient numbers in a particular category to satisfy all reported documentarily qualified demand, the category is considered �Current.�
Whenever the total of documentarily qualified applicants in a category exceeds the supply of numbers available for allotment for the particular month, the category is considered to be �oversubscribed� and a visa availability cut-off date is established.
There is nothing wrong with DOS to make all categories �current� for a July bulletin as per they definition of demand vs supply estimation to meet the numerical limitations per year. Perhaps the DOS did not aware of other impact of making all categories �current� ie fresh guys entering into I-485 race. Because of �current� there will be additional tons and tons of new filings. The rough estimation is about 500K to 700K new 485s and same amount of EAD and AP applications will be filed in July. But the available number is just 60K, and there are already 40K documentarily qualified 485s are pending more than 6 months to 3 years to take the numbers from remaining 60K pool. That leaves just 20K to fresh 485 filings. If 700K new 485 filed in July, it will choke the system. People have to live only in EAD and AP for next 5 to 10 years.
For example, an EB3-Indian whose LC approved through fast PERM on July 30th 2007, can apply 140 and 485 on July 31st 2007 as per July visa bulletin. For his PD, it will take another 10 years for the approval of 485. During this 10 year period, he/she has to live in EAD and AP and need to go for finger print every 15 month.
Therefore by making �current� for all EB categories is a billion dollar mistake by both DOS and CIS first part.. Another mistake is timing of rectifying mistake. USCIS and DOS and law firms should have discussed immediately about the potential chaos about making current and rectified move the cut-off to reasonable period to accommodate additional 20K 485s. If they modified the VB, with in couple of days after July 13, then there wont be a this much stress, time and wastage of money.
There is nothing wrong in issuing additional advisory notice or modified visa bulletin to control the usage of visa numbers. The only mistake both USCIS and DOS is made is the timing of issuance of modified visa bulletin or advisory notice. It indicates poor transparency in the system and bad customer service. Now, they used all 140K visas this year. Assigning remaining 20K visa numbers to already pending 485s which are not yet documentarily (name check delayed cases) qualified is not the violation of law. It was old practice. In fact, ombudsman recommends it. They have the trump card which is Ombudsman report and recommendations. Therefore they are immune to lawsuit. Therefore, filing the law-suit is not going to help. The only two mistakes I see is 1) making all categories as �current� in June 13 and second is modifying VB only on July 2.
My recommendation is to IV is capitalize the situation in constructive way. Law suit only bring media attention with the expense of money and time. The constructive approach is getting an immediate interim relief by legislation to recapture unused visas in previous years to balance the supply vs demand difference.
I agree with you 100 % , I believe having excessive media coverage and lawsuits , would bring the GC number and process in the open , and most americans would oppose the GC as they oppose H1B.
If i was a american i would surely be happy with USCIS/DOS creating so much trouble for the immigrants to my country , who i believe are taking my job.
Everyone blaming CIS/DOS needs to understand some basics behind this mess. Before going to conclude anything, first, one should read all the ombudsman reports for last 3 or 4 years. Former INS or current USCIS�s functions and operations were not questionable and not known to public till ombudsman office was established. Ombudsman has helped customers and keep helping to improve efficiency of CIS. Ombudsman main concern (or goal) have been over the 4 years are
1. Primarily reducing backlogs in any application type particularly 485 and timely approval of any application.
2. Abolish the need for interim benefits like EAD, AP etc. If they approve 485 in 6 months, then most of us do not require EAD and AP.
3. Reduce the wastage of EB visas, as unused EB visas can not be carried over to next year (use it or lose it). Since 1992, about 200,000 EB visas were lost permanently. In 2003 alone, they issued only 64,000 EB visas and lost 88,000.
The recent report to congress, the ombudsman scolded the CIS left and right for its inefficiency and highlighted how many EB visas were lost for ever, in last 10 years despite the very heavy demand for employment based green cards. Based on his report, both CIS and DOS try to obey the direction of ombudsman and modifying the 485 adjudication procedure. The reason for loss of EB visas in previous years not only due to inefficiency in processing the 485s on time, it is also due to lengthy background check delay by FBI, where USCIS has no control. For example, in 2003 they could approve about 64,000 485s only. It is partially due to USCIS inefficiency and partially due to lengthy FBI check. There are 300,000 (AOS+ Naturalization applicants) cases are pending with FBI for name check. Out of which, about 70,000 cases are pending more than 2 years. Out of 300,000 victims of name check delay, how many are really threat to the country? Perhaps none or may be few! Remember that lot of Indians also victims of name check and all the victims of name check delay already living in USA.
The big problem is the timing when USCIS takes the visa number for a 485 applicant. Till 1982, INS took visa number for a 485 applicant as soon as they receive the application. Visa number assigned to a 485 applicant without processing his/her application. He/She may not be a qualified applicant to approve 485. Still they assign to them. If they found, the applicant is ineligible, they suppose to return the number back to DOS. However, this practice was modified after 1982. USCIS is taking visa number only at the time of approval of 485, after processing the 485 for a lengthy period. For some people, particularly victims of name check, 485 processing time vary between 2 to 5 years. Though, it is a good practice it is not the ideal or efficient process, due to name check delay. Let us assume about 150,000 are victim of name check in 2003. If they assigned all the numbers to these 150,000 applicants at the time they filed 485, the 88,000 visa numbers might have not been lost in 2003. Now what happens, those who filed 485 in 2003 (victim of name check delay) will take EB numbers from 2007 or 2008 quota, if FBI clears his/her file in 2007 or 2008. This will push back those who are going to file 485 in 2007 or 2008.
That why, ombudsman in his 2007 yearly report to Congress recommended to practice the old way of assigning visa number to 485 applicants, to minimize the loss of visa numbers.
Now lets come to July Visa bulletin mess.
Because of tight holding of visa cutoff dates for EB3 and EB2 for the first 8 months of 2007 (From Oct 2006 to May 2007) USCIS approved only 66,000 485s. For the next 4 months they have about 60K to 70K numbers available. If they approve the pending 485s with slower speed or old cut off dates, there is a potential estimated loss of 40,000 EB visas by Sep 2007. Thats why, based on ombudsman recommendation, DOS moved considerably the cut off date for June. When they took inventory in May, there are about 40,000 documentarily qualified 485 applications were pending due to non-availability of visa numbers. The �documentarily qualified 485 applications� mean the application filed long time back and processed by USCIS and cleared the FBI name and criminal check, and found eligible for green card. Apart from 40,000 documentarily qualified 485 applications, there is thousands of 485 applications (documentarily not yet qualified) pending due to name check. When DOS checked with USCIS they found only 40,000 documentarily qualified 485 applications (in all EB categories put together) are pending. However, the available visas are more than 40,000 (60to 70K). Then they made with out consulting properly with USCIS they made �current� for all EB categories. This is how they determine �current� or �over-subscribed� and how they establish cutoff dates.
If there are sufficient numbers in a particular category to satisfy all reported documentarily qualified demand, the category is considered �Current.�
Whenever the total of documentarily qualified applicants in a category exceeds the supply of numbers available for allotment for the particular month, the category is considered to be �oversubscribed� and a visa availability cut-off date is established.
There is nothing wrong with DOS to make all categories �current� for a July bulletin as per they definition of demand vs supply estimation to meet the numerical limitations per year. Perhaps the DOS did not aware of other impact of making all categories �current� ie fresh guys entering into I-485 race. Because of �current� there will be additional tons and tons of new filings. The rough estimation is about 500K to 700K new 485s and same amount of EAD and AP applications will be filed in July. But the available number is just 60K, and there are already 40K documentarily qualified 485s are pending more than 6 months to 3 years to take the numbers from remaining 60K pool. That leaves just 20K to fresh 485 filings. If 700K new 485 filed in July, it will choke the system. People have to live only in EAD and AP for next 5 to 10 years.
For example, an EB3-Indian whose LC approved through fast PERM on July 30th 2007, can apply 140 and 485 on July 31st 2007 as per July visa bulletin. For his PD, it will take another 10 years for the approval of 485. During this 10 year period, he/she has to live in EAD and AP and need to go for finger print every 15 month.
Therefore by making �current� for all EB categories is a billion dollar mistake by both DOS and CIS first part.. Another mistake is timing of rectifying mistake. USCIS and DOS and law firms should have discussed immediately about the potential chaos about making current and rectified move the cut-off to reasonable period to accommodate additional 20K 485s. If they modified the VB, with in couple of days after July 13, then there wont be a this much stress, time and wastage of money.
There is nothing wrong in issuing additional advisory notice or modified visa bulletin to control the usage of visa numbers. The only mistake both USCIS and DOS is made is the timing of issuance of modified visa bulletin or advisory notice. It indicates poor transparency in the system and bad customer service. Now, they used all 140K visas this year. Assigning remaining 20K visa numbers to already pending 485s which are not yet documentarily (name check delayed cases) qualified is not the violation of law. It was old practice. In fact, ombudsman recommends it. They have the trump card which is Ombudsman report and recommendations. Therefore they are immune to lawsuit. Therefore, filing the law-suit is not going to help. The only two mistakes I see is 1) making all categories as �current� in June 13 and second is modifying VB only on July 2.
My recommendation is to IV is capitalize the situation in constructive way. Law suit only bring media attention with the expense of money and time. The constructive approach is getting an immediate interim relief by legislation to recapture unused visas in previous years to balance the supply vs demand difference.
BharatPremi
09-19 10:27 PM
Probably, Keeping job (at least 6 month to ride wave) is much more important then GC. Smartest people in the world (on wall street) doomed us !!!
Now they are saying "Smartness" is a relative term.:)
Now they are saying "Smartness" is a relative term.:)

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