transpass
09-28 12:37 PM
After a lots of effort I got chance to meet the great man J.B. Wow he was very nice. I told hime everything and showed the FedEx print out which he signed for the 485 delivery.
He appologised several times and went inside to the mail room after 40 minutes he came with a +'ve result with another appologies for his mistake. He told that the some of the packages are piled under the desk (hiding for the eyes) and he coudn't move the packages to clearks room. He moved a bunch of fedEx package to the clearks room, and took mine seperate from the bunch and put a note to the cleark saying his mistakes.
I thanked him and went to hotel room, after couple of hours I got call from MR.J.B and gave the receipt # for my whole family. I thanked him for the courtosy and afternnon I again I went to meet J.B and thanked again and tiped around $ 100, suddenly he started yelling at me...oh man..this was my fault, and u tiping for Nonsence....I got panicked and start sweating....
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.
.
.
.
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.
.
.Then I got up from my bed, I don't know what happend after that, could anyone please help me to findout what happend?
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Oh I had a nice dream, Is'nt?....:)
Folks I was frustrated and no one is to cheer up me, So I made this and no bad intensions, Sorry if I hurt anyone.
funny...
He appologised several times and went inside to the mail room after 40 minutes he came with a +'ve result with another appologies for his mistake. He told that the some of the packages are piled under the desk (hiding for the eyes) and he coudn't move the packages to clearks room. He moved a bunch of fedEx package to the clearks room, and took mine seperate from the bunch and put a note to the cleark saying his mistakes.
I thanked him and went to hotel room, after couple of hours I got call from MR.J.B and gave the receipt # for my whole family. I thanked him for the courtosy and afternnon I again I went to meet J.B and thanked again and tiped around $ 100, suddenly he started yelling at me...oh man..this was my fault, and u tiping for Nonsence....I got panicked and start sweating....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.Then I got up from my bed, I don't know what happend after that, could anyone please help me to findout what happend?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Oh I had a nice dream, Is'nt?....:)
Folks I was frustrated and no one is to cheer up me, So I made this and no bad intensions, Sorry if I hurt anyone.
funny...
greencard_fever
09-19 10:27 PM
Guys..i have noticed that so many other members has already been complained about the getting Red dots for no reason...i got the red for this post for just a spell mistake. This is too much and IV has to do some thing about this. Otherwise people will afraid or not be willing to post their opinions here...
Ramba
03-24 09:27 PM
Our demand should be reasonable.. The law makers knows what kind of people they want. One may have MBA or MA, and they may feel their degree is valuable to America. However it is up to the lawmakers to decide what they want.
One guy was asking whether social science considered as science as it is having science. I am not undermining any degree or any branch. We have to appricate atleast they are excempting STEM from numarical count.
As knnmbd said, the period of IT is over. Manufacturing has gone to China. IT has gone to India. What america need at this moment is innovation, research, new technology, alternate energy to overcome growing energy crisis, environmental care health care, nanotechnology, any advanced research to keep america in leading edge. Thats why lawmakers are talking about STEM.
One guy was asking whether social science considered as science as it is having science. I am not undermining any degree or any branch. We have to appricate atleast they are excempting STEM from numarical count.
As knnmbd said, the period of IT is over. Manufacturing has gone to China. IT has gone to India. What america need at this moment is innovation, research, new technology, alternate energy to overcome growing energy crisis, environmental care health care, nanotechnology, any advanced research to keep america in leading edge. Thats why lawmakers are talking about STEM.
immi_twinges
07-09 07:42 AM
Lets forward this link to DOL ??? How do we do that? Anyone?????????
http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=75iiC9Gi&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfc m93X2NudD0xMTEmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N 2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfc GFnZT0x
the link is too big
so, go to http://contact-us.state.gov/
and find the option where u can email them.
:o
http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=75iiC9Gi&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfc m93X2NudD0xMTEmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N 2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfc GFnZT0x
the link is too big
so, go to http://contact-us.state.gov/
and find the option where u can email them.
:o
more...
amalshe
08-24 03:23 PM
Hi guys,
I know J Barrett has been a star of this forum for a while.
I just wanted to check if anyone in a similar situation as mine as received any update on their 485.
140 approved from TSC in May 2006; LUD on 7/28
485 received at NSC on July 2, 2007
485 received and Signed for by J Barrett at 10:25 AM
Thanks.
I know J Barrett has been a star of this forum for a while.
I just wanted to check if anyone in a similar situation as mine as received any update on their 485.
140 approved from TSC in May 2006; LUD on 7/28
485 received at NSC on July 2, 2007
485 received and Signed for by J Barrett at 10:25 AM
Thanks.
nixone
05-05 04:55 PM
You are right... you should not submit documents with your LC first submission. In my case, they asked for some documents after my submisission(what it's called Audit); one of them was the Ad which they were not satisfied with it, so they Denied my case. However we appealed sending the whole Ad page making them change the case back to 'In Process'.
If you are still around, I just wanted to let you know that my PERM labor got approved on May 1st. It was filed on Oct 31st. No audit. Looking at your signature, looks like they also approved your LC. Congratulations!
If you are still around, I just wanted to let you know that my PERM labor got approved on May 1st. It was filed on Oct 31st. No audit. Looking at your signature, looks like they also approved your LC. Congratulations!
more...
Edison99
10-09 04:21 PM
ROW CHINA INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C C C C C
2nd C 01APR05 22JAN05 C C
3rd 01JUN02 01JUN02 22APR01 01JUN02 01JUN02
Just live with EAD/AP and AC21 if necessary!
1st C C C C C
2nd C 01APR05 22JAN05 C C
3rd 01JUN02 01JUN02 22APR01 01JUN02 01JUN02
Just live with EAD/AP and AC21 if necessary!
kanakabyraju
08-18 01:57 PM
Hi All,
Please let me know, based on your personal experience, Does Change of Address 'triggers' an RFE from USCIS????
I recently found a project (after many months) and am working for this new employer on EAD. However, I have not vacated my old apt....still paying rent and keeping it as my current one, and sharing accommodation with others in the new city where I am working....because of the only reason that I fear, which is an RFE.
Please let me know.
Thanks.
RFE shall not stop you from doing the right thing and as long as you have all the necessary documents and employment. If I were you, I would not hesitate to update my address and pay rent for my old apartment.
Please let me know, based on your personal experience, Does Change of Address 'triggers' an RFE from USCIS????
I recently found a project (after many months) and am working for this new employer on EAD. However, I have not vacated my old apt....still paying rent and keeping it as my current one, and sharing accommodation with others in the new city where I am working....because of the only reason that I fear, which is an RFE.
Please let me know.
Thanks.
RFE shall not stop you from doing the right thing and as long as you have all the necessary documents and employment. If I were you, I would not hesitate to update my address and pay rent for my old apartment.
more...
grupak
11-21 11:15 AM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hassan11
04-09 12:47 PM
49 views of this thread and no replies. Please anybody out there, any suggestions or answers? Thank you
more...
inspectorfox
09-29 09:50 PM
Responding to RFE for Ability to Pay is a very complex process. Some of you folks make it sound very simple but there is much more to it then just submitting an Audited Tax Return or W2. I have not come across any single person who seems to have the expert knowledge on handling this other than United Nations. There was an RFE on my pending I140 and I don't even trust the response prepared by my immigration attorney at Murthy Law Firm. My case is pending at USCIS TSC for a year now. I am not defaming anyone here but United Nations is the only person who has the greatest knowledge on addressing this matter.
IneedAllGreen
10-20 03:42 PM
First thing you can do is to get good education equivalent certificate from reputed company(like Trustforte). If your labor has stated that combination of degree is accepted then make sure that you write same wording in your edu equivalent certificate. Try to understand this that going to Appeal/AAO office is taking forever to response back (AS OF NOW THERE IS 26 MONTHS OF DELAY TO PROCESS I-140 THOUGH APPEAL PROCESS). How do I know about 26 months cause I got a letter from USCIS Washington DC office(through my Senetor) when I request Senetor's help in getting my I-140 approve from AAO office. So make sure that you prepare your document correctly before sending it to AAO/USCIS office. Foremost thing if your document has gone to AAO office then keep patience. After reading so many decisions from AAO office on I-140 appeal I understood that they will look into your case on de nuvo basis. Meaning AAO office will look at your all document that you sent from start to end to make sure that your appealed decision can be taken correctly. If you have enough time with you then I will recommend you to go through this AAO decisions. See link here Administrative Decisions (http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-ext-templating/uscis/jspoverride/errFrameset.jsp)
Good luck with your I-140 appeal process.
Thanks
Hi,
While filling the Labor my attorney used my education (Bachelor's degree BSc Comp Science and one year of diploma in computer science) and as well as the experience which was 8 yrs in 2008 for EB3. Then my labor got approved. So we applied for I140, then USCIS had an RFE on my case saying this education is not enough so my attorney prepared some documents showing this BSc Comp science is equivalent to US 4 yrs degree. Then in a month time immediatly I got my I140 denied, So after that my attorney appealed with I290 form, Still got rejected in 3 months then again my attorney re-appealed to it by adding some more information to it. So now the status is showing as Initial review with AAO.
Good luck with your I-140 appeal process.
Thanks
Hi,
While filling the Labor my attorney used my education (Bachelor's degree BSc Comp Science and one year of diploma in computer science) and as well as the experience which was 8 yrs in 2008 for EB3. Then my labor got approved. So we applied for I140, then USCIS had an RFE on my case saying this education is not enough so my attorney prepared some documents showing this BSc Comp science is equivalent to US 4 yrs degree. Then in a month time immediatly I got my I140 denied, So after that my attorney appealed with I290 form, Still got rejected in 3 months then again my attorney re-appealed to it by adding some more information to it. So now the status is showing as Initial review with AAO.
more...
mirage
04-20 11:31 AM
Now I have started to feel nothing is going to happen. They all want to show us carrots, but we'll get sticks. I'm feeling down I am writing a very old hindi song sung by ishore Kumar. I feel as if this song was written for for all of us. I'm sorry for writing this here, but I wanted to share this, as I have this CD in my car and whenever I hear it, I feel I need to share with you guys.
Dukhi mun mere sun mera kehna. jahan nahee chaina wahan nahee rehna
oh my sad soul do not live where there's no peace.
dard hamara koi naa jaane aapne garaj ke sab hain diwane
Nobody feels our pain, everybody here is selfish
kise aage rona roye des paraya log begane
infront of whom you are crying, it is an alien country and alien people
Dukhi mun mere sun mera kehna. jahan nahee chaina wahan nahee rehna
oh my sad soul do not live where there's no peace.
apne liye yeh sab hain mele hum hai hurek mele mein akele
for me all these celeberations are meaningless as I'm alone here
kya payega isme reh ke jo duniya jeevan se kele
what will you get living in this word where people play with lives
Dukhi mun mere sun mera kehna. jahan nahee chaina wahan nahee rehna
oh my sad soul do not live where there's no peace.
Dukhi mun mere sun mera kehna. jahan nahee chaina wahan nahee rehna
oh my sad soul do not live where there's no peace.
dard hamara koi naa jaane aapne garaj ke sab hain diwane
Nobody feels our pain, everybody here is selfish
kise aage rona roye des paraya log begane
infront of whom you are crying, it is an alien country and alien people
Dukhi mun mere sun mera kehna. jahan nahee chaina wahan nahee rehna
oh my sad soul do not live where there's no peace.
apne liye yeh sab hain mele hum hai hurek mele mein akele
for me all these celeberations are meaningless as I'm alone here
kya payega isme reh ke jo duniya jeevan se kele
what will you get living in this word where people play with lives
Dukhi mun mere sun mera kehna. jahan nahee chaina wahan nahee rehna
oh my sad soul do not live where there's no peace.
widad2020
08-11 09:55 AM
Carry the new Approval notice(s), copy of entire application, your h1 approval and a couple of your recent paystubs. Should suffice. at the POE the officer will issue a new paper stub I94 that has the 2009 date.
graj012 is correct.But apply for I-539 extn of Non-immigration status ASAP once she is back from vacation so that her status is also extended and on to your new emplyer
graj012 is correct.But apply for I-539 extn of Non-immigration status ASAP once she is back from vacation so that her status is also extended and on to your new emplyer
more...
karthik_may
07-18 04:06 PM
EB3 with PD June 2001 and I-485 was applied with RD of Oct 2002.
The online case tracking system has the status of case received and pending
Meanwhile, a call to USCIS revealed about the I-485 denial in Nov, 2005.
The I-485 was denied in Nov 2005 and we were not notified by USCIS and my attorney also did not get any denial notice.
How can the case be denied with out any notice? Do we have precedence on this level by USCIS?
I did a FP appt in Jan 2006 though.
I have been asked to refile I-485 now.
The online case tracking system has the status of case received and pending
Meanwhile, a call to USCIS revealed about the I-485 denial in Nov, 2005.
The I-485 was denied in Nov 2005 and we were not notified by USCIS and my attorney also did not get any denial notice.
How can the case be denied with out any notice? Do we have precedence on this level by USCIS?
I did a FP appt in Jan 2006 though.
I have been asked to refile I-485 now.
yabadaba
07-09 04:31 PM
sledgeehammer...this is eb2 india poll. retrogression happened in october 2005 for eb2 india... how will someone with a 2006 priority date file their 485?
gcchahiye has
clearly said do not include the july filing as a factor in this poll.. he used the macaca color scheme also
gcchahiye has
clearly said do not include the july filing as a factor in this poll.. he used the macaca color scheme also
more...
EADplease
08-28 03:27 PM
My I140 is transfered to TSC and so my attorney sent I-485/ I-765/ I-131 to TX... I was actually worried if this is okay -- I thought all I-485 no matter what have to be sent to NSC...
My attorney gave me FedEx tracking number and it shows it's delivered to Garland, TX and signed by B. Thomas. Is anybody familiar with this name? I thought TSC is in Msquite, TX and I am worried if my application has been sent to a wrong address... I sent all of my application in July 24th...
Thanks for any comments!
If it has to be transferred Texas why my employer did this * intentionally * to Nebraska :mad:
huh.. hopefully it will not delay my receipt date. I am planning to travel abroad and waiting for the 485 receipt notice..
Thanks for your answers. Really appreciated :)
My attorney gave me FedEx tracking number and it shows it's delivered to Garland, TX and signed by B. Thomas. Is anybody familiar with this name? I thought TSC is in Msquite, TX and I am worried if my application has been sent to a wrong address... I sent all of my application in July 24th...
Thanks for any comments!
If it has to be transferred Texas why my employer did this * intentionally * to Nebraska :mad:
huh.. hopefully it will not delay my receipt date. I am planning to travel abroad and waiting for the 485 receipt notice..
Thanks for your answers. Really appreciated :)
uma001
10-15 03:14 PM
Hello,
I am currently working as full time and planning to move to consulting. I have the below questions
(i) I know its a bit risky to move to consulting right now compared to Fulltime, but still i See the H1 petetions for most of consutling companies are getting approved.
Do you think is it OK to move to consulting from Full time?
(ii)As client letter is mandatory these dayz, whats the best approach to apply for transfer? Like e finding the project and proceed for premium processing
Thanks
1 - Start preparing resume
2 - Post it on job posting sites
3 - You will get lot of calls if your skills are in demand.
4 -If you know any consultancy talk to them regarding your H1.
5 - They will say your H1 will be filed once you get the project. Talk about the terms.
6 - As soon as you get the project ask your employer to file labor.
7 - Tell interviewer you need two weeks notice.This will give time to file H1
8 - Within two weeks your employer shoul file your H1.
9 - As soon as you get your receipt number, join the client to work.
Pretty simple right. If your target is to get green card, Do not think about anything else, you will get scared.
I am currently working as full time and planning to move to consulting. I have the below questions
(i) I know its a bit risky to move to consulting right now compared to Fulltime, but still i See the H1 petetions for most of consutling companies are getting approved.
Do you think is it OK to move to consulting from Full time?
(ii)As client letter is mandatory these dayz, whats the best approach to apply for transfer? Like e finding the project and proceed for premium processing
Thanks
1 - Start preparing resume
2 - Post it on job posting sites
3 - You will get lot of calls if your skills are in demand.
4 -If you know any consultancy talk to them regarding your H1.
5 - They will say your H1 will be filed once you get the project. Talk about the terms.
6 - As soon as you get the project ask your employer to file labor.
7 - Tell interviewer you need two weeks notice.This will give time to file H1
8 - Within two weeks your employer shoul file your H1.
9 - As soon as you get your receipt number, join the client to work.
Pretty simple right. If your target is to get green card, Do not think about anything else, you will get scared.
waitin_toolong
11-21 09:43 AM
the above scenario was if you were mnaintaing H1 status. if you are working using EAD then ofcourse your current status wont be H1 bur AOS hence you will send proof of that.
The idea is to show that you are here legally and if working prrof of that authorization thorough a visa or EAD.
The idea is to show that you are here legally and if working prrof of that authorization thorough a visa or EAD.
harivenkat
06-28 03:17 PM
Huge demand to live in U.S. part of illegal immigration problem (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/06/28/20100628legal-immigration-high-demand.html#comments)
WASHINGTON - While the national spotlight is focused on illegal immigration, millions of people enter the United States legally each year on both a temporary and permanent basis.
But the demand to immigrate to the United States far outweighs the number of people that immigration laws allow to move here legally. Wait times can be years, compounding the problem and reducing opportunities for many more who desperately want to come to the United States.
In 2009 alone, more than 1.1 million people, including nearly 21,000 living in Arizona, became legal permanent residents, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's 2009 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. The largest single group of new permanent residents nationwide, 15 percent, was born in Mexico. Six percent came from China and 5 percent came from the Philippines.
Also last year, nearly 744,000 immigrants, including about 12,400 Arizona residents, became naturalized U.S. citizens. The largest group, with 111,630 people, was from Mexico. The second largest group, with 52,889 people, came from India.
But those figures are eclipsed by the demand, which in part contributes to the problem of illegal immigration. Nearly 11 million immigrants are in the country illegally, according to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this year, there were an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona.
But since Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona's controversial new immigration bill in April, hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal immigrants have left the state. And many more are planning to flee before the law takes effect July 29.
Some are going back to Mexico. Many are going to other states, where anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment isn't so strong and where they think they will be less likely to be targeted by local authorities.
"Insufficient legal avenues for immigrants to enter the U.S. ... has significantly contributed to this current conundrum," says a report by Leo Anchondo of Justice for Immigrants, which is pushing for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Arizona's immigration law makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It states that an officer engaged in a lawful stop, detention or arrest shall, when practicable, ask about a person's legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally.
Temporary visas
Temporary visas allow people to enter the United States and stay for a limited amount of time before returning to their home countries. In 2009, about 163 million people came in this way. The biggest groups came from Mexico, Britain and Japan.
Among those who can obtain temporary visas: tourists; visitors on business trips; foreign journalists; diplomats and government representatives and their staffs; students and foreign-exchange visitors and their dependents; certain relatives of lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens; religious workers; and internationally recognized athletes and entertainers.
Temporary visas also are used to bring in foreign workers when U.S. employers say they do not have enough qualified or interested U.S. workers. Among the categories: workers in specialty occupations, registered nurses to help fill a shortage and agricultural workers. Mexican and Canadian professionals also are granted temporary visas under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Permanent residents
A lawful permanent resident has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent-resident card, better known as a "green card."
People petition to become permanent residents in several ways. Most are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States.
Others may become permanent residents after being granted asylum status. In 2009, nearly 75,000 refugees were granted asylum from persecution in their home countries.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are given the highest immigration priority and are not subject to annual caps that apply to other categories of immigrants. Immediate relatives are defined as spouses, unmarried children under age 21 and parents.
Although there is no annual cap on the number of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who can obtain green cards, there is a cap on the number of green cards for other relatives such as siblings and adult married children. That cap is about half a million people a year, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Employment-based immigration also is limited to 140,000 people a year, according to the lawyers association.
There also are limits based on a person's country of origin. Under U.S. immigration law, the total number of immigrant visas made available to natives of any single foreign nation shall not exceed 7 percent of the total number of visas issued. That limit can make it tough for immigrants from countries such as Mexico, where the number of people who want to come here greatly exceeds the number of people that the law allows.
The estimated wait time for family members to legally bring their relatives into the United States from Mexico ranges from six to 17 years, according to a May study by the non-profit, nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy. It is nearly impossible for a Mexican, especially someone without a college degree or special skills, to immigrate to the United States legally without a family member or employer petitioning on his behalf.
The costs also can be high. A U.S. employer who wants to bring in an immigrant worker can expect to pay nearly $6,000 in fees and legal expenses, according to the foundation.
A U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident petitioning to bring a relative to the United States from another country must pay a $355 filing fee for each relative who wants to immigrate, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Naturalized citizens
In general, immigrants are eligible to become citizens if they are at least 18 and have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for five years without leaving for trips of six months or longer.
An applicant for citizenship must be deemed to be of good moral character, which means in part that they must not have been convicted of a serious crime or been caught lying to gain immigration status.
Applicants must be able to pass a test demonstrating that they can read, write and speak basic English. They also must pass a basic test of U.S. history and government.
Immigrants become citizens when they take the oath of allegiance to the United States in a formal naturalization ceremony. The oath requires applicants to renounce foreign allegiances, support and defend the U.S. Constitution, and serve in the U.S. military when required to do so by law.
The time it takes to become naturalized varies by location and can take years. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency is trying to improve the system and decrease the time to an average of six months.
WASHINGTON - While the national spotlight is focused on illegal immigration, millions of people enter the United States legally each year on both a temporary and permanent basis.
But the demand to immigrate to the United States far outweighs the number of people that immigration laws allow to move here legally. Wait times can be years, compounding the problem and reducing opportunities for many more who desperately want to come to the United States.
In 2009 alone, more than 1.1 million people, including nearly 21,000 living in Arizona, became legal permanent residents, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's 2009 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. The largest single group of new permanent residents nationwide, 15 percent, was born in Mexico. Six percent came from China and 5 percent came from the Philippines.
Also last year, nearly 744,000 immigrants, including about 12,400 Arizona residents, became naturalized U.S. citizens. The largest group, with 111,630 people, was from Mexico. The second largest group, with 52,889 people, came from India.
But those figures are eclipsed by the demand, which in part contributes to the problem of illegal immigration. Nearly 11 million immigrants are in the country illegally, according to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this year, there were an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona.
But since Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona's controversial new immigration bill in April, hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal immigrants have left the state. And many more are planning to flee before the law takes effect July 29.
Some are going back to Mexico. Many are going to other states, where anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment isn't so strong and where they think they will be less likely to be targeted by local authorities.
"Insufficient legal avenues for immigrants to enter the U.S. ... has significantly contributed to this current conundrum," says a report by Leo Anchondo of Justice for Immigrants, which is pushing for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Arizona's immigration law makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It states that an officer engaged in a lawful stop, detention or arrest shall, when practicable, ask about a person's legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally.
Temporary visas
Temporary visas allow people to enter the United States and stay for a limited amount of time before returning to their home countries. In 2009, about 163 million people came in this way. The biggest groups came from Mexico, Britain and Japan.
Among those who can obtain temporary visas: tourists; visitors on business trips; foreign journalists; diplomats and government representatives and their staffs; students and foreign-exchange visitors and their dependents; certain relatives of lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens; religious workers; and internationally recognized athletes and entertainers.
Temporary visas also are used to bring in foreign workers when U.S. employers say they do not have enough qualified or interested U.S. workers. Among the categories: workers in specialty occupations, registered nurses to help fill a shortage and agricultural workers. Mexican and Canadian professionals also are granted temporary visas under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Permanent residents
A lawful permanent resident has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent-resident card, better known as a "green card."
People petition to become permanent residents in several ways. Most are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States.
Others may become permanent residents after being granted asylum status. In 2009, nearly 75,000 refugees were granted asylum from persecution in their home countries.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are given the highest immigration priority and are not subject to annual caps that apply to other categories of immigrants. Immediate relatives are defined as spouses, unmarried children under age 21 and parents.
Although there is no annual cap on the number of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who can obtain green cards, there is a cap on the number of green cards for other relatives such as siblings and adult married children. That cap is about half a million people a year, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Employment-based immigration also is limited to 140,000 people a year, according to the lawyers association.
There also are limits based on a person's country of origin. Under U.S. immigration law, the total number of immigrant visas made available to natives of any single foreign nation shall not exceed 7 percent of the total number of visas issued. That limit can make it tough for immigrants from countries such as Mexico, where the number of people who want to come here greatly exceeds the number of people that the law allows.
The estimated wait time for family members to legally bring their relatives into the United States from Mexico ranges from six to 17 years, according to a May study by the non-profit, nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy. It is nearly impossible for a Mexican, especially someone without a college degree or special skills, to immigrate to the United States legally without a family member or employer petitioning on his behalf.
The costs also can be high. A U.S. employer who wants to bring in an immigrant worker can expect to pay nearly $6,000 in fees and legal expenses, according to the foundation.
A U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident petitioning to bring a relative to the United States from another country must pay a $355 filing fee for each relative who wants to immigrate, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Naturalized citizens
In general, immigrants are eligible to become citizens if they are at least 18 and have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for five years without leaving for trips of six months or longer.
An applicant for citizenship must be deemed to be of good moral character, which means in part that they must not have been convicted of a serious crime or been caught lying to gain immigration status.
Applicants must be able to pass a test demonstrating that they can read, write and speak basic English. They also must pass a basic test of U.S. history and government.
Immigrants become citizens when they take the oath of allegiance to the United States in a formal naturalization ceremony. The oath requires applicants to renounce foreign allegiances, support and defend the U.S. Constitution, and serve in the U.S. military when required to do so by law.
The time it takes to become naturalized varies by location and can take years. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency is trying to improve the system and decrease the time to an average of six months.
hpandey
11-11 11:14 AM
Look at the bright side buddy . It is definitely something to look forward to and provides hope that you might get the magic email of getting your GC any day. Of course three year H1 extension and two year EAD is the problem but you are looking on the wrong side. If you get the GC neither will you need the H1 nor the EAD.
And I don't think you are thinking about the money wasted by just having a 1 year H1 and EAD because I am sure you will get your GC in the next one year at least . Cheer up. Things could be worse ( you could be EB3 - 2008 ! )
And I don't think you are thinking about the money wasted by just having a 1 year H1 and EAD because I am sure you will get your GC in the next one year at least . Cheer up. Things could be worse ( you could be EB3 - 2008 ! )