harivenkat
05-06 08:54 PM
Tech firms play quiet role in immigration-overhaul push - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/06/1617199_p2/tech-firms-play-quiet-role-in.html)
WASHINGTON � The technology sector, a little-publicized but key player in the coalition that's pushing for an overhaul of immigration laws, has given mixed reviews to the proposal that Senate Democrats unveiled last week.
Public dialogue on immigration has focused largely on a path to legalization for the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, but technology companies have lobbied for years to streamline and ease the process of hiring skilled legal immigrant workers. They hope to capitalize on the momentum that surrounds immigration.
Peter Muller is the director of government relations for Intel, one of the largest sponsors of H-1B temporary visas for skilled workers. The company was approved for 723 new H-1B visas in 2009. Muller said Intel had been hindered in hiring and keeping the most qualified people by the annual caps on H-1B visas and the sometimes decade-long delay in processing green card applications.
"To not be able to hire the people who really drive innovation in our company is a frustration," he said.
The number of H-1B visas issued each year is capped at 65,000, with another 20,000 reserved for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, programs from which companies such as Intel recruit many of their workers. In past years, the allotment often was gone within days after the application period opened in April. Last year, it took until December to hit the cap.
Even with a slower economy reducing demand for workers, however, tech companies say they want the system overhauled.
"Companies are still hiring, so fixing the problems and fixing the system is important," said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, the co-executive director of Compete America, a coalition of companies that are lobbying for more high-skilled immigration. "It's an issue today for some companies, and it's going to continue to be an issue that needs to be addressed."
For H-1B workers who want to stay in the country permanently, the wait for a green card can take years. Ashish Sharma, an Indian citizen who's working for a technology company in California, has waited for a green card for seven years. At one point, Sharma said, he considered leaving the United States because of the uncertainty of his status.
"The long wait does bother people," he said. "I did look at what Canada was offering, where they give you a green card within three months."
Sharma ultimately decided to stay for the sake of his two children, who were raised in the U.S., but some employers as well as workers have chosen to go abroad. Microsoft, a top sponsor of H-1B visas with 1,318 petitions approved in 2009, opened a development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2007, in part to take advantage of Canada's more lenient immigration laws.
Compete America praised some aspects of the Democratic immigration framework that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey put forward last week.
The coalition favors a provision that would offer green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in specialized fields, but it's pushing back against provisions that would limit the hiring of H-1B workers and increase government scrutiny of companies that sponsor the temporary visas.
The language in the Democrats' framework that deals with temporary visas came largely from a bill intended to curb abuses in the H-1B system that Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced last year.
Durbin said in an e-mailed statement that the H-1B program was too easily abused by employers who used it to, in effect, outsource jobs that American workers could fill.
"Congress created the H-1B visa program so an employer could hire a foreign guest worker when a qualified American worker could not be found," he said. "However, the H-1B visa program is plagued with fraud and abuse and is now a vehicle for outsourcing that deprives qualified American workers of their jobs."
Tech industry representatives disagreed.
"We are all for strong enforcement," Herrera-Flanigan said. "But the way the provisions are written, it's much more far-reaching than that, and it could have an adverse effect on companies that are not bad actors."
The H-1B provisions came in for criticism from people who represent immigrant workers as well as from employers. Aman Kapoor, the president of Immigration Voice, a network of skilled immigrant workers, called the proposal draconian and said the restrictions could render the H-1B process essentially useless.
Schumer's office didn't respond to requests for comment.
Advocates in the broader immigration-overhaul coalition said support from the technology industry would be key to winning the wide political backing that was necessary to give a comprehensive bill a shot at passing.
"I think it is important, and in part that is because tech is one of the key business sectors that will be necessary to bring the Republican votes we will need, in the Senate, especially," said Jeanne Butterfield, a senior adviser for the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates policies that are more welcoming toward immigrants.
Technology companies make up a substantial portion of the voices that are lobbying for federal immigration revisions. Of the 288 federal lobbyist filings that had reported lobbying on immigration issues in the first quarter of the year as of Monday, an analysis shows that about 17 percent came from companies and organizations that represent the technology and engineering sectors. Others represented fields such as medicine and education, which also are interested in skilled immigrants.
The people who are lobbying on behalf of the tech sector said that although their issues with the immigration system were specific, they had no plans to peel off from the broader overhaul coalition to pursue a more tailored bill.
Muller said the word from Capitol Hill had been that immigration was too contentious an issue to tackle piecemeal.
PROVISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT TECH SECTOR:
Green cards (legal permanent resident visas):
* Foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics automatically would be eligible for green cards if U.S. employers offer them jobs.
* The caps that limit the numbers of immigrants who can come from specific countries would be eliminated.
H-1B visas (temporary work visas for foreign workers in specialized jobs):
* Would forbid employers from giving priority to H-1B applicants and would limit the number of H-1B employees that large employers may hire.
* Would authorize the Department of Labor to investigate applications for possible fraud and would require the department to audit companies that have large numbers of H-1B employees.
WASHINGTON � The technology sector, a little-publicized but key player in the coalition that's pushing for an overhaul of immigration laws, has given mixed reviews to the proposal that Senate Democrats unveiled last week.
Public dialogue on immigration has focused largely on a path to legalization for the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, but technology companies have lobbied for years to streamline and ease the process of hiring skilled legal immigrant workers. They hope to capitalize on the momentum that surrounds immigration.
Peter Muller is the director of government relations for Intel, one of the largest sponsors of H-1B temporary visas for skilled workers. The company was approved for 723 new H-1B visas in 2009. Muller said Intel had been hindered in hiring and keeping the most qualified people by the annual caps on H-1B visas and the sometimes decade-long delay in processing green card applications.
"To not be able to hire the people who really drive innovation in our company is a frustration," he said.
The number of H-1B visas issued each year is capped at 65,000, with another 20,000 reserved for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, programs from which companies such as Intel recruit many of their workers. In past years, the allotment often was gone within days after the application period opened in April. Last year, it took until December to hit the cap.
Even with a slower economy reducing demand for workers, however, tech companies say they want the system overhauled.
"Companies are still hiring, so fixing the problems and fixing the system is important," said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, the co-executive director of Compete America, a coalition of companies that are lobbying for more high-skilled immigration. "It's an issue today for some companies, and it's going to continue to be an issue that needs to be addressed."
For H-1B workers who want to stay in the country permanently, the wait for a green card can take years. Ashish Sharma, an Indian citizen who's working for a technology company in California, has waited for a green card for seven years. At one point, Sharma said, he considered leaving the United States because of the uncertainty of his status.
"The long wait does bother people," he said. "I did look at what Canada was offering, where they give you a green card within three months."
Sharma ultimately decided to stay for the sake of his two children, who were raised in the U.S., but some employers as well as workers have chosen to go abroad. Microsoft, a top sponsor of H-1B visas with 1,318 petitions approved in 2009, opened a development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2007, in part to take advantage of Canada's more lenient immigration laws.
Compete America praised some aspects of the Democratic immigration framework that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey put forward last week.
The coalition favors a provision that would offer green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in specialized fields, but it's pushing back against provisions that would limit the hiring of H-1B workers and increase government scrutiny of companies that sponsor the temporary visas.
The language in the Democrats' framework that deals with temporary visas came largely from a bill intended to curb abuses in the H-1B system that Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced last year.
Durbin said in an e-mailed statement that the H-1B program was too easily abused by employers who used it to, in effect, outsource jobs that American workers could fill.
"Congress created the H-1B visa program so an employer could hire a foreign guest worker when a qualified American worker could not be found," he said. "However, the H-1B visa program is plagued with fraud and abuse and is now a vehicle for outsourcing that deprives qualified American workers of their jobs."
Tech industry representatives disagreed.
"We are all for strong enforcement," Herrera-Flanigan said. "But the way the provisions are written, it's much more far-reaching than that, and it could have an adverse effect on companies that are not bad actors."
The H-1B provisions came in for criticism from people who represent immigrant workers as well as from employers. Aman Kapoor, the president of Immigration Voice, a network of skilled immigrant workers, called the proposal draconian and said the restrictions could render the H-1B process essentially useless.
Schumer's office didn't respond to requests for comment.
Advocates in the broader immigration-overhaul coalition said support from the technology industry would be key to winning the wide political backing that was necessary to give a comprehensive bill a shot at passing.
"I think it is important, and in part that is because tech is one of the key business sectors that will be necessary to bring the Republican votes we will need, in the Senate, especially," said Jeanne Butterfield, a senior adviser for the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates policies that are more welcoming toward immigrants.
Technology companies make up a substantial portion of the voices that are lobbying for federal immigration revisions. Of the 288 federal lobbyist filings that had reported lobbying on immigration issues in the first quarter of the year as of Monday, an analysis shows that about 17 percent came from companies and organizations that represent the technology and engineering sectors. Others represented fields such as medicine and education, which also are interested in skilled immigrants.
The people who are lobbying on behalf of the tech sector said that although their issues with the immigration system were specific, they had no plans to peel off from the broader overhaul coalition to pursue a more tailored bill.
Muller said the word from Capitol Hill had been that immigration was too contentious an issue to tackle piecemeal.
PROVISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT TECH SECTOR:
Green cards (legal permanent resident visas):
* Foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics automatically would be eligible for green cards if U.S. employers offer them jobs.
* The caps that limit the numbers of immigrants who can come from specific countries would be eliminated.
H-1B visas (temporary work visas for foreign workers in specialized jobs):
* Would forbid employers from giving priority to H-1B applicants and would limit the number of H-1B employees that large employers may hire.
* Would authorize the Department of Labor to investigate applications for possible fraud and would require the department to audit companies that have large numbers of H-1B employees.
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RDB
06-29 03:46 PM
Your insurance company will give you that letter....no specific amount but stating that international coverage is there. I have used that letter for Schengen visa in German consulate 4 times and it has worked well.
Has anybody recently applied for a Schengen Visa, if yes, can you please let me know what you did for the travel insurance. The insurance from my employer (Humana) says they cover international but do not have a letter that states the same and Swedish consulate website says the letter should specifically say "International Coverage".
What are my options. Can you guys suggest where I can buy the insurance from.
Has anybody recently applied for a Schengen Visa, if yes, can you please let me know what you did for the travel insurance. The insurance from my employer (Humana) says they cover international but do not have a letter that states the same and Swedish consulate website says the letter should specifically say "International Coverage".
What are my options. Can you guys suggest where I can buy the insurance from.
unseenguy
06-19 05:14 PM
I would not be surprised if it is all CIA or MIA instigated drama. On one count Ayatollah seems to be correct, how can 11 million votes be rigged?
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Krishanpal
07-22 06:57 AM
I believe both are right. I do not think 123456mg is wrong. S/He is a law-abiding person like us and has a right to state his opinion. I agree, the statements were a bit harsher but so the truth is. Also, I guess we must stop discussing more on these matters as such since it is past and can not be changed now. Though you have my personal symphathies unlike 123456mg, I do not think the actions you chose were correct and you require a correction from that perspective. I suggest you talk to experts regarding your immigration matters since your looks like a difficult case to me.
more...
smuggymba
01-18 09:12 AM
Go only if you really need to. If it's just a vacation, postponing is a good idea but don't miss out on brother's wedding etc to stay in US.
bpratap
02-03 11:05 PM
Juz curious if there is an option to get a Visitor visa without attesting the interview at consulate.
some Travel agents have told My brother in law that they can arrange for Visitor visa without going to consulate. To my knowledge its not possible. one have to attend an Interview at the consulate and do finger prints to get a visa.
Anybody have any similar experience / information ?
some Travel agents have told My brother in law that they can arrange for Visitor visa without going to consulate. To my knowledge its not possible. one have to attend an Interview at the consulate and do finger prints to get a visa.
Anybody have any similar experience / information ?
more...
check_rd
11-06 06:05 PM
Let me check back on the date i had applied and let u know.
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rjgleason
February 23rd, 2004, 07:49 AM
Thre words for you: Because They Can!
Reminds me of a local dealer here in Princeton.........
Reminds me of a local dealer here in Princeton.........
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a_yaja
06-18 05:24 PM
Here is my situation:
I-140 approved and about to file 485.
Employer says he can file only 485 and no EAD for me. But he can file EAD/AP for my wife.
Can I file EAD/AP for me separately on my own? What are the consequences from my employer if I quit after six months of applying 485 (by that time I would've got my EAD/AP)? Can he reject my 140 and/or 485?
You can apply for EAD at anytime. All you will need is a copy of your I-485 AOS receipt (which I think USCIS will send to you, but I am not sure).
After 6 months (180 days to be exact), your employer cannot revoke I-140 (and hence I-485) if you invoke AC21.
I-140 approved and about to file 485.
Employer says he can file only 485 and no EAD for me. But he can file EAD/AP for my wife.
Can I file EAD/AP for me separately on my own? What are the consequences from my employer if I quit after six months of applying 485 (by that time I would've got my EAD/AP)? Can he reject my 140 and/or 485?
You can apply for EAD at anytime. All you will need is a copy of your I-485 AOS receipt (which I think USCIS will send to you, but I am not sure).
After 6 months (180 days to be exact), your employer cannot revoke I-140 (and hence I-485) if you invoke AC21.
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vshar
07-31 09:16 PM
I wish they will have online chat with IO who is assigned to ones file( not CSR) so no more RFEs etc.
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swita
03-25 02:56 PM
Thanks for your replies....Do you have to go on vacation before you file the labor certification application or can you file your PERM and then go on vacation and then apply for recapture .
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masti_Gai
01-05 08:02 AM
No one can make a decision for ya... based on the historical data, both EB2 & EB3 are doing bad especially in regards to your PD. So just flip a coin or think of your favorite God and make a decision. You have no other choice.
If we make your choice and if thingz didn't work out you'll surely blame us.. won't ya???:)
If we make your choice and if thingz didn't work out you'll surely blame us.. won't ya???:)
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ivar
04-09 05:44 PM
Good luck, atleast you are in EB2
Thanks gcseeker.
I am extremely happy that i am in EB2 :D . I filled one PERM in Mar 06 that was in EB2 and i also filed one in JUN 07 that was also in EB2 and now one more in EB2. :D :D :D (moral of the story, EB2 or EB3 or EB1 doesn't matter, what matters is destiny, if you are destined to get GC you will get it else no matter how much you apply you will always be in Queue)
Thanks for your wishes, lets see how many PERMs i am going to apply before i complete my 6 years on H1b.
Thanks gcseeker.
I am extremely happy that i am in EB2 :D . I filled one PERM in Mar 06 that was in EB2 and i also filed one in JUN 07 that was also in EB2 and now one more in EB2. :D :D :D (moral of the story, EB2 or EB3 or EB1 doesn't matter, what matters is destiny, if you are destined to get GC you will get it else no matter how much you apply you will always be in Queue)
Thanks for your wishes, lets see how many PERMs i am going to apply before i complete my 6 years on H1b.
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gc_relief
04-27 03:09 PM
Guys..I'm sorry ..I'm mixing up things,,Here are the accurate details..
Labour Priority date is Nov'20 2007
My I-140 receipt date is Feb'20 2008..
My I-140 Approve date is Sep'24 2008
My 6 years H-1 will be completed by Jan'2010..but still my H-1 was denied..
Labour Priority date is Nov'20 2007
My I-140 receipt date is Feb'20 2008..
My I-140 Approve date is Sep'24 2008
My 6 years H-1 will be completed by Jan'2010..but still my H-1 was denied..
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immi_twinges
09-19 12:22 PM
Where did Gandhiri go...
It seems like every one is yelling and trying to make others feel low if they didn't attend rally or didn't contribute...
The website is free and its up to individuals to do what ever they want ...
May be they will feel the heat or retrogression after 2 years or so and start doing something about it (like contributing..
All i am saying is do not chase visitors away with your anger...
Peace...
------
I am just a visitor....who likes iV
I used to visit the forum now and then as it was a good forum where people encourage and support each other..It gave me a sense of belonging to something...
It seems like every one is yelling and trying to make others feel low if they didn't attend rally or didn't contribute...
The website is free and its up to individuals to do what ever they want ...
May be they will feel the heat or retrogression after 2 years or so and start doing something about it (like contributing..
All i am saying is do not chase visitors away with your anger...
Peace...
------
I am just a visitor....who likes iV
I used to visit the forum now and then as it was a good forum where people encourage and support each other..It gave me a sense of belonging to something...
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InTheMoment
02-22 10:54 AM
The best recourse would be to pay the $100 or so and ask a qualified attorney; but from the J-1 cases of friends that I had seen closely here is what I can say:
2.) This unfortunately, I have understood you cannot do without the 2yr residency requirement
3.) Yes, possible
4.) Yes
5.) It needs a lot of planning to fit in the waiver categories whether Conrad 20 state/federal interested agencies. If by some chance it gets messed up, you HAVE to goback for 2 years, irrespective of the fact that you are a benificiary on your husband's Immigration petition. In fact that was the reason my wife went for a H1 sponsoring hospital.
www.o-1eb-1j-1waiverlawyer.com I find is a well known attorney specializing in Physician immigration issues.
2.) This unfortunately, I have understood you cannot do without the 2yr residency requirement
3.) Yes, possible
4.) Yes
5.) It needs a lot of planning to fit in the waiver categories whether Conrad 20 state/federal interested agencies. If by some chance it gets messed up, you HAVE to goback for 2 years, irrespective of the fact that you are a benificiary on your husband's Immigration petition. In fact that was the reason my wife went for a H1 sponsoring hospital.
www.o-1eb-1j-1waiverlawyer.com I find is a well known attorney specializing in Physician immigration issues.
more...
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raysaikat
04-29 04:13 PM
It against the law to work in one country and get paid in another
Where did you get this info? Could you please point out a reference that says so?
Where did you get this info? Could you please point out a reference that says so?
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leo2606
10-15 09:48 PM
Yes but where did you do your Bachelors and in what?
Reason I am asking is, I have seen I-140s got rejected for some folks where the person did 3 years Bachelors or AMIE eventhough they had MS in USA (Specially with EB-2 cases).
No I did MS in computer Science from here only
Reason I am asking is, I have seen I-140s got rejected for some folks where the person did 3 years Bachelors or AMIE eventhough they had MS in USA (Specially with EB-2 cases).
No I did MS in computer Science from here only
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joshi_tushar
03-02 07:54 PM
I HAD SAME SITUATION FEW DAYS A GO, MY ATTORNEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO GO OUT OF COUNTRY ATLEAST FOR WEEK OR NEED TO FILE FOR H1B EXT.
I CHOSE TO FILE FOR EXT AS MY H1 WAS EXPERING AS WELL.
BUT FOR HER SHE MUST GO OUT BEFORE HER I-94 EXPIRES
i AM NO ATTORNEY PLEASE CONFIRM WITH 1.
I CHOSE TO FILE FOR EXT AS MY H1 WAS EXPERING AS WELL.
BUT FOR HER SHE MUST GO OUT BEFORE HER I-94 EXPIRES
i AM NO ATTORNEY PLEASE CONFIRM WITH 1.
WeShallOvercome
07-23 02:14 PM
C. UHRMACHER @ 8:26am on July 2
No particular significance but I think it is just to relieve some nerves... If there are other applicants signed by the same person, you can be sure your file reached the right place :) (Or you are not alone if your lawyer screwed up and sent it to wrong address)
No particular significance but I think it is just to relieve some nerves... If there are other applicants signed by the same person, you can be sure your file reached the right place :) (Or you are not alone if your lawyer screwed up and sent it to wrong address)
kprgroup
12-02 10:42 AM
Same here.MTR approved NOV 2008 but online still showing Denied.It's strange feeling when you see denied status online..........Just live with it
Its been 2 years but my I-485 still shows denied although my MTR got approved and i have renewed 2 EADs and 2 APs etc.
Don't know for sure but i sent a letter to whitehouse and they sent a response couple of months later indicating my case is waiting for VISA number and everything else is alright.
And since my EADs and APs are approved in 2 years i am not that worried about online showing denied.
Its been 2 years but my I-485 still shows denied although my MTR got approved and i have renewed 2 EADs and 2 APs etc.
Don't know for sure but i sent a letter to whitehouse and they sent a response couple of months later indicating my case is waiting for VISA number and everything else is alright.
And since my EADs and APs are approved in 2 years i am not that worried about online showing denied.
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