aarbi
07-06 03:12 PM
Anything we can do to get through without having to spend sleepless nights till Oct'.......
why would you have sleepless nights till Oct? Did you have sleepless nights before June 13th? Your sleepiness should be the same as it was before June 13th!
why would you have sleepless nights till Oct? Did you have sleepless nights before June 13th? Your sleepiness should be the same as it was before June 13th!
AabTuAgaGC
01-04 12:46 PM
I called in yesterday to the tollfree # - this was the bottomline after the long chat :(
"your case is 1 day beyond the normal processing time- we'll open a SR and send to the IO - please call back after 60 days to check back on the status of the service request"
They gave me the same reply as well! :mad::mad:
"your case is 1 day beyond the normal processing time- we'll open a SR and send to the IO - please call back after 60 days to check back on the status of the service request"
They gave me the same reply as well! :mad::mad:
nlssubbu
10-01 12:25 PM
Macaca, thanks for the analysis.
My question is, is IV paying enough attention to this?
What I have seen is that IV is spending 80% of its energy to change the current immigration law (increase the EB visa numbers in some fashion etc.). As far as I can see, this is not going any where due to a variety of reasons.
Is it time to rethink our priorities? If we put more of our collective energy to force USCIS to do a better job, will we get better results? Sure, the immigration law needs fixing. But our predicament is not due to immigration law. Our predicament is that the USCIS is not doing a good job. They are only working 4 hours a day. (I saw a post from a person who went and looked around the USCIS parking lot on a Friday :D. He/She says the parking lot was empty in the afternoon.).
I suggest that the IV core spend 80% of energy in fixing the USCIS bottleneck. We should have another rally infront of the USCIS doorsteps (or a flower campaign or a card campaign or a degree copy sending campaign). 20% of the energy can still be spent on fixing immigration law.
I do not think that USCIS bottleneck alone could cause such a huge retrogression. I do agree that USCIS should increase their efficiency and should not waste visa every year. Though it is definite that using all the visas allocated efficiently will help, this alone do not reduce retrogression to a greater extent.
IV is looking in the right direction in the long term. I am of the opinion that, we as affected by the USCIS, can take it up to make them accountable for the loss.
Thanks
My question is, is IV paying enough attention to this?
What I have seen is that IV is spending 80% of its energy to change the current immigration law (increase the EB visa numbers in some fashion etc.). As far as I can see, this is not going any where due to a variety of reasons.
Is it time to rethink our priorities? If we put more of our collective energy to force USCIS to do a better job, will we get better results? Sure, the immigration law needs fixing. But our predicament is not due to immigration law. Our predicament is that the USCIS is not doing a good job. They are only working 4 hours a day. (I saw a post from a person who went and looked around the USCIS parking lot on a Friday :D. He/She says the parking lot was empty in the afternoon.).
I suggest that the IV core spend 80% of energy in fixing the USCIS bottleneck. We should have another rally infront of the USCIS doorsteps (or a flower campaign or a card campaign or a degree copy sending campaign). 20% of the energy can still be spent on fixing immigration law.
I do not think that USCIS bottleneck alone could cause such a huge retrogression. I do agree that USCIS should increase their efficiency and should not waste visa every year. Though it is definite that using all the visas allocated efficiently will help, this alone do not reduce retrogression to a greater extent.
IV is looking in the right direction in the long term. I am of the opinion that, we as affected by the USCIS, can take it up to make them accountable for the loss.
Thanks
lelica32
12-10 04:19 PM
I'v send a letter today. Let see if the Ombudsman will send me a answer.
I received a answer after 2.5 months.
The Ombudsman said, Proccesing times August 2, 2007, EB3 ROW, my I-140 is processing on time. My I-140 EB3 ROW was filed on August 22, 2007.
I received a answer after 2.5 months.
The Ombudsman said, Proccesing times August 2, 2007, EB3 ROW, my I-140 is processing on time. My I-140 EB3 ROW was filed on August 22, 2007.
more...
bpratap
05-18 01:33 PM
Does any one face this ?
Bank asking 3yr VISA from the date of closing ?
trying to understand, if this Bank only is insisting for it.
Bank asking 3yr VISA from the date of closing ?
trying to understand, if this Bank only is insisting for it.
gchope07
07-18 03:14 PM
I am confused about receipt date?
Notice date is when the receipt notice is generated- That's simple
Is receipt date the date when they do data entry into the system or is it the date when they receive the package even though they may do data entry a month later?
In other words people who filed there application on July 2nd,3rd etc ... and lets say USCIS takes 2 months to receipt those cases.. then after 2 months when the notice is generated won't it have a July 2nd receipt date? for July 2 filers?
Notice date is when the receipt notice is generated- That's simple
Is receipt date the date when they do data entry into the system or is it the date when they receive the package even though they may do data entry a month later?
In other words people who filed there application on July 2nd,3rd etc ... and lets say USCIS takes 2 months to receipt those cases.. then after 2 months when the notice is generated won't it have a July 2nd receipt date? for July 2 filers?
more...
a_to_z_gc
03-22 01:25 AM
Hi gurus,
Can you please let me know your views on my situation where both my original APs are stamped at the POE when I went to India and came back to US. Since I do not have a third AP original, will I have to get one from USCIS or can I use these two stamped ones to return to US if I intend to travel in near future?
Is it possible to go to nearby USCIS office to get a new original AP?
Please share your views,
Thanks!
Can you please let me know your views on my situation where both my original APs are stamped at the POE when I went to India and came back to US. Since I do not have a third AP original, will I have to get one from USCIS or can I use these two stamped ones to return to US if I intend to travel in near future?
Is it possible to go to nearby USCIS office to get a new original AP?
Please share your views,
Thanks!
h1b_professional
07-24 05:15 PM
People are jumping into conclusion with a few approvals from 2004/2005, but what you are not considering is the number of people with 2001/2002 priority dates who just applied for 485 in June. There might be a lot of them (I am one of those). If there are not too many of them, it is good for everyone, but its very tough to predict.
From what I heard from my lawfirm, they expect the oct bulletin to go back to 2001 or early 2002. But with everyone filing 485, USCIS should be able to predict the number of applicants and move dates better compared to earlier when they were shooting in the dark and wasting visas.
Anyway, good luck to all
From what I heard from my lawfirm, they expect the oct bulletin to go back to 2001 or early 2002. But with everyone filing 485, USCIS should be able to predict the number of applicants and move dates better compared to earlier when they were shooting in the dark and wasting visas.
Anyway, good luck to all
more...
shana04
09-25 09:28 AM
All the info here is great !!
Pardon my ingnorance, but if I wanted to start a small time business where I do website development and designing either myself or by a company outside US, do I need to file as an LLC or can I register as a small business. Can someone tell me where I might get details for registering a company (Or is that same as LLC).
I was thinking I will not get EAD earlier than 6 months and I got it in less than 6 weeks....so now am doing some basic ground work and would appreciate any guidance !!
Thanks in advance.
Congrats on getting your GC (EAD)
Pardon my ingnorance, but if I wanted to start a small time business where I do website development and designing either myself or by a company outside US, do I need to file as an LLC or can I register as a small business. Can someone tell me where I might get details for registering a company (Or is that same as LLC).
I was thinking I will not get EAD earlier than 6 months and I got it in less than 6 weeks....so now am doing some basic ground work and would appreciate any guidance !!
Thanks in advance.
Congrats on getting your GC (EAD)
DCQC
08-21 04:03 PM
Hi,
Can we use the I-485 receipt notice for extension of DL for my wife. She was on H4 which expires Oct 20. She plans to use the EAD card to work and we will not extend her H4 unless EAD does not come before Oct 20. She got a letter from DMV yesterday asking for additional proof for extended stay. Also will EAD suffice as evidence?
We live in California.
Can we use the I-485 receipt notice for extension of DL for my wife. She was on H4 which expires Oct 20. She plans to use the EAD card to work and we will not extend her H4 unless EAD does not come before Oct 20. She got a letter from DMV yesterday asking for additional proof for extended stay. Also will EAD suffice as evidence?
We live in California.
more...
ramus
07-06 12:10 PM
Please change subject of this thread or close it . It seems like we have new visa bulltein from DOS..
lazycis
11-24 04:48 PM
it does say that H1B ext beyond 6 years can not be granted if there is not underlying pending process for GC (LC, 140 or 485).
However it does not talk about 'what happens if an ext is already granted'? so it still remains gray area. did I understand correctly?
If extension has already been granted, it remains valid until it's expired, revoked by USCIS, revoked by employer or employer goes out of business. However, H1B status is technically lost (similary to the situation when h1b holder leaves the petitioner but petitioner never revokes h1). Even if USCIS does not revoke the extension, it will be investigated during new I-485 processing/H1 transfer or extension.
However it does not talk about 'what happens if an ext is already granted'? so it still remains gray area. did I understand correctly?
If extension has already been granted, it remains valid until it's expired, revoked by USCIS, revoked by employer or employer goes out of business. However, H1B status is technically lost (similary to the situation when h1b holder leaves the petitioner but petitioner never revokes h1). Even if USCIS does not revoke the extension, it will be investigated during new I-485 processing/H1 transfer or extension.
more...
webm
08-14 03:57 PM
EB3 guys - Just hang on ! Good news are on your way !
What can we expect?? any source you got??
------------
EB3-I
What can we expect?? any source you got??
------------
EB3-I
srikondoji
08-02 05:10 PM
Glad i did that. I feel so good about it.
Hey vow!,
Thanq so much for the good news!U filled us with lots of hope!
Cheers,
vaishu
Hey vow!,
Thanq so much for the good news!U filled us with lots of hope!
Cheers,
vaishu
more...
pmpforgc
03-05 10:26 PM
Immigrating legally to the U.S seemed like a gold opportunity when I was offered to work here six years ago with an H1B visa. As a matter of fact, all my friends and family considered that it would have been crazy not to take advantage of the "opportunity" to live and work in the most developed country on Earth.
It's been six long years of challenges and learning experiences, but mostly it's been six years of financial distress, anxiety, paralysis and uncertainty.
We applied for PR four years ago, but in the process my wife and I have eaten all our saving in lawyer fees - and at this point we're just one more number in the long list of EB3 applicants who don't have the remotest idea of when visa numbers will become available so we can have a normal life. I don't even consider traveling to my country cause I don't have the money to pay for APs for me and my wife. My career has been also frozen since I cant take promotions to higher positions that will fall off the job description stated in my PERM.
If I had known about this ordeal, I would have never come to the US. I would have looked for other options, in countries that have a more sincere and generous immigration policies instead. If the US is not interested in allowing people to legally immigrate through visas based on employment, they simply should eliminate these visas and make clear that they don't want us to stay. Wouldn't that be easy for everyone?
I would return to my country if we didn't have a nasty political turmoil and the social decay that comes with it. Yet, I feel that the days go by and our lives are entangled in this absurd situation.
Just to clarify your logic of thoughts: when you came here you came here on H-1 (non-immigrat visa) to work and make money. At a time you were never immigrant, you were TEMORARY WORKER. on coming here, probably after experiencing few years life here and comparing that to your home country, you felt it better and DECIDED To IMMIGRATE and APPLIED FOR GC. Unfortunately that process is legal mess so you dont like that mess. But if you do little soul search if you didnt like here you should not have applied for your GC, Just have made money (as your initial objective) and went back home with strong experience and lot of cash. I have seen couple of people doing that. They come here, they feel that this country is not for them, they still stay on H1 make money survive on very less money and then go home. Once they go home they even dont need to work if they wish so. But you did not made that choice but decided to stay here, not because of GC, GC was just medium to stay here.
Hope this help in little soul searching for you.
It's been six long years of challenges and learning experiences, but mostly it's been six years of financial distress, anxiety, paralysis and uncertainty.
We applied for PR four years ago, but in the process my wife and I have eaten all our saving in lawyer fees - and at this point we're just one more number in the long list of EB3 applicants who don't have the remotest idea of when visa numbers will become available so we can have a normal life. I don't even consider traveling to my country cause I don't have the money to pay for APs for me and my wife. My career has been also frozen since I cant take promotions to higher positions that will fall off the job description stated in my PERM.
If I had known about this ordeal, I would have never come to the US. I would have looked for other options, in countries that have a more sincere and generous immigration policies instead. If the US is not interested in allowing people to legally immigrate through visas based on employment, they simply should eliminate these visas and make clear that they don't want us to stay. Wouldn't that be easy for everyone?
I would return to my country if we didn't have a nasty political turmoil and the social decay that comes with it. Yet, I feel that the days go by and our lives are entangled in this absurd situation.
Just to clarify your logic of thoughts: when you came here you came here on H-1 (non-immigrat visa) to work and make money. At a time you were never immigrant, you were TEMORARY WORKER. on coming here, probably after experiencing few years life here and comparing that to your home country, you felt it better and DECIDED To IMMIGRATE and APPLIED FOR GC. Unfortunately that process is legal mess so you dont like that mess. But if you do little soul search if you didnt like here you should not have applied for your GC, Just have made money (as your initial objective) and went back home with strong experience and lot of cash. I have seen couple of people doing that. They come here, they feel that this country is not for them, they still stay on H1 make money survive on very less money and then go home. Once they go home they even dont need to work if they wish so. But you did not made that choice but decided to stay here, not because of GC, GC was just medium to stay here.
Hope this help in little soul searching for you.
reddymjm
09-10 10:28 AM
Not quite true - this is done at 140 not 485
Yes. By Law and by the Book. But I just saw in my friend circle. Most of them were US Masters.
Yes. By Law and by the Book. But I just saw in my friend circle. Most of them were US Masters.
more...
hiralal
05-29 12:05 AM
if your loan is denied while on EAD ..count yourself as lucky !!!
my advice ..be careful before you take a plunge when on EAD or on temporary visa (H1).
-----------------
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009
OTHER VOICES
The Housing Hurricane Will Howl Again
By MIKE MORGAN | MORE ARTICLES BY AUTHOR
This is only a lull in the housing hurricane.
WE'RE OUT OF THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE, but here comes the back half of the storm. A lot of people think that we've seen the worst of the housing crisis. They're talking about green shoots and glimmers of hope, when they should be back in the storm shelter, preparing for a flood of inventory that will overwhelm the markets and produce another round of falling prices
For the past few months there has been a semi-moratorium on foreclosures. Most institutions with delinquent mortgages didn't foreclose. The signs that blanket many neighborhoods have been posted by a fraction of the lenders. Now the rest of the banks are rushing to get their properties on the market.
[ov]
Christoph Hitz for Barron's
We're still supporting misguided programs that only add to inventory woes. They encourage builders to put up more homes and penalize anyone else trying to sell a home.
As a Florida real-estate broker who works with bank asset managers to dispose of foreclosed properties, I get a good view of this market. From December 2008 through mid-March 2009, the number of asset managers calling to discuss REO (real estate owned) properties on their client banks' books dropped by more than 80% from the level at which it previously had been running. In the past two months, however, asset managers have been busy, with most interested in how many properties we could handle at once.
Law firms for banks are once again lining up to file foreclosures and to process evictions. The asset managers we work with have warned us to expect a flood of properties, beginning in early June. This will hit as the number of potential buyers continues to dwindle. Builders, traditional sellers and investors who entered too early are already loaded with REO properties.
ALL OF THE OBAMA administration's attempts to revive, resuscitate and shock the housing markets into recovery have failed. Potential buyers can't purchase homes when they are losing their jobs, regardless of how attractive the credits and mortgages are. The price of homes will continue to fall until the properties are affordable for potential buyers.
If an investor could purchase a home and rent it out for close to breakeven, we might be getting close to a bottom. But we are nowhere close to that level in most critical markets. Until it is approached, prices will continue to fall. In fact, the negative cash flow now evident, along with the flood of properties coming into the inventory pool, warn of lower prices.
There's no light at the end of the tunnel yet. We're still supporting builders through misguided programs that are only adding to the inventory woes. California decided to offer a $10,000 credit to buyers of new homes, on top of the $8,000 federal credit. But California made the $10,000 available only for new homes purchased directly from builders. That shows the power of the builders' lobby, but it only adds to California's housing-industry problem. It encourages builders to construct dwellings we don't need, and it penalizes anyone else trying to sell a home.
Housing inventory soon will flood a market in which more than 500,000 homes are being built each year, even though the annual sales pace for new homes is closer to 300,000. We must also deal with a system clogged with impossible short sales, a surge of second and vacation homes being dumped, and third-wave flippers realizing that they entered the market too soon.
FOR THE BANKS, the back half of the hurricane will destroy balance sheets, unless the Obama administration comes up with another plan to mythically mark these assets on the books. Or we might see some chimerical plan to write down mortgage payments, or move toxic mortgages into a dark pool, or create some new illusion that glosses over the problem.
Our experience with banks' selling REOs is they realize about 50%-75% of what they initially think they will get. Moreover, their expenses to bring these properties to market and manage them are growing. Court systems bogged down with foreclosures are raising fees so that they can hire additional staff. More and more homeowners being evicted are stripping homes to the bone, removing appliances, fixtures, carpet, cabinets, air handlers, motorized garage-door openers and anything else that they can carry off or sell.
Unemployment presents a two-pronged problem. If homeowners lose their jobs, they have difficulty meeting mortgage payments. And a high jobless rate forces more people to put their homes on the market.
During the housing bubble, many second homes were purchased with the mythical equity from primary residences. These second homes are coming onto the market at an alarming rate, as many middle- and upper-class sellers need to raise cash. In some very exclusive private communities in Florida, where home prices are in the seven figures, more than 50% of the homes are on the market. (For more on the vacation-home market, see Cover Story.)
Unfortunately, there are no signs of recovery, despite the hype and the twisting of numbers in many media reports. The end of the unofficial moratorium on foreclosures, combined with rising unemployment, signals that the back half of this housing hurricane is only just beginning.
my advice ..be careful before you take a plunge when on EAD or on temporary visa (H1).
-----------------
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009
OTHER VOICES
The Housing Hurricane Will Howl Again
By MIKE MORGAN | MORE ARTICLES BY AUTHOR
This is only a lull in the housing hurricane.
WE'RE OUT OF THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE, but here comes the back half of the storm. A lot of people think that we've seen the worst of the housing crisis. They're talking about green shoots and glimmers of hope, when they should be back in the storm shelter, preparing for a flood of inventory that will overwhelm the markets and produce another round of falling prices
For the past few months there has been a semi-moratorium on foreclosures. Most institutions with delinquent mortgages didn't foreclose. The signs that blanket many neighborhoods have been posted by a fraction of the lenders. Now the rest of the banks are rushing to get their properties on the market.
[ov]
Christoph Hitz for Barron's
We're still supporting misguided programs that only add to inventory woes. They encourage builders to put up more homes and penalize anyone else trying to sell a home.
As a Florida real-estate broker who works with bank asset managers to dispose of foreclosed properties, I get a good view of this market. From December 2008 through mid-March 2009, the number of asset managers calling to discuss REO (real estate owned) properties on their client banks' books dropped by more than 80% from the level at which it previously had been running. In the past two months, however, asset managers have been busy, with most interested in how many properties we could handle at once.
Law firms for banks are once again lining up to file foreclosures and to process evictions. The asset managers we work with have warned us to expect a flood of properties, beginning in early June. This will hit as the number of potential buyers continues to dwindle. Builders, traditional sellers and investors who entered too early are already loaded with REO properties.
ALL OF THE OBAMA administration's attempts to revive, resuscitate and shock the housing markets into recovery have failed. Potential buyers can't purchase homes when they are losing their jobs, regardless of how attractive the credits and mortgages are. The price of homes will continue to fall until the properties are affordable for potential buyers.
If an investor could purchase a home and rent it out for close to breakeven, we might be getting close to a bottom. But we are nowhere close to that level in most critical markets. Until it is approached, prices will continue to fall. In fact, the negative cash flow now evident, along with the flood of properties coming into the inventory pool, warn of lower prices.
There's no light at the end of the tunnel yet. We're still supporting builders through misguided programs that are only adding to the inventory woes. California decided to offer a $10,000 credit to buyers of new homes, on top of the $8,000 federal credit. But California made the $10,000 available only for new homes purchased directly from builders. That shows the power of the builders' lobby, but it only adds to California's housing-industry problem. It encourages builders to construct dwellings we don't need, and it penalizes anyone else trying to sell a home.
Housing inventory soon will flood a market in which more than 500,000 homes are being built each year, even though the annual sales pace for new homes is closer to 300,000. We must also deal with a system clogged with impossible short sales, a surge of second and vacation homes being dumped, and third-wave flippers realizing that they entered the market too soon.
FOR THE BANKS, the back half of the hurricane will destroy balance sheets, unless the Obama administration comes up with another plan to mythically mark these assets on the books. Or we might see some chimerical plan to write down mortgage payments, or move toxic mortgages into a dark pool, or create some new illusion that glosses over the problem.
Our experience with banks' selling REOs is they realize about 50%-75% of what they initially think they will get. Moreover, their expenses to bring these properties to market and manage them are growing. Court systems bogged down with foreclosures are raising fees so that they can hire additional staff. More and more homeowners being evicted are stripping homes to the bone, removing appliances, fixtures, carpet, cabinets, air handlers, motorized garage-door openers and anything else that they can carry off or sell.
Unemployment presents a two-pronged problem. If homeowners lose their jobs, they have difficulty meeting mortgage payments. And a high jobless rate forces more people to put their homes on the market.
During the housing bubble, many second homes were purchased with the mythical equity from primary residences. These second homes are coming onto the market at an alarming rate, as many middle- and upper-class sellers need to raise cash. In some very exclusive private communities in Florida, where home prices are in the seven figures, more than 50% of the homes are on the market. (For more on the vacation-home market, see Cover Story.)
Unfortunately, there are no signs of recovery, despite the hype and the twisting of numbers in many media reports. The end of the unofficial moratorium on foreclosures, combined with rising unemployment, signals that the back half of this housing hurricane is only just beginning.
needhelp!
03-12 03:40 PM
Please do not convince your friends.
If you are yourself not contributing, how will you convince them to contribute. :D
Agree with you.
If you are yourself not contributing, how will you convince them to contribute. :D
Agree with you.
wonderlust
07-09 02:57 PM
Hard copies of letters are more powerful than emails. Please continue writing letters because we need sustained efforts. Please also consider asking Ameirican Citizens to send letters from their perspective. See the letter template drafted by my American friends:
__________________________________________________ ______________
NAME AND TITLE OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
ADDRESS
July 9 2007
Dear (TITLE AND LAST NAME):
I am a tax payer and resident of (YOUR STATE). I seek your help in the following matter:
On June 13th, the U.S. Department of State online Visa Bulletin announced availability of a large number of immigration visa, which opens door for legal employment-based immigration applicants to submit their paperwork starting July 1st. On July 2nd, merely 2 weeks later, the Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State announced that �there will be no further authorizations in response to requests for Employment-based preference immigration application cases�. This drastic change is condemned by American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) as �Bait-and-Switch� policy which �slams the door� in the face of immigration applicants who are following the laws. New York Times called it �immigration malpractice�. This has been a waste of the government�s time and money.
As an American Citizen and a tax-payer, I have worked and lived alongside with many legal immigrants and prospective legal immigrants. They actively contribute to the economy, education, technology, culture, and research in the U.S.
They also respect and obey the laws, even though there are stringent scrutiny and limitation imposed. For example, they wait for years to complete the legal process, during that time, they cannot travel abroad without the serious risk of being denied re-entry. Having committed no crime, they have to notify the government every time they change their place of residence � something that, among American citizens, only convicted felons are required to do. They have spent hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on government-mandated application fees and related costs. They have underwent inordinate amounts of stress making sure their applications were complete and properly filled out in every way, knowing that any error or omission, real or perceived, could get their application automatically rejected. Through it all, they had faith in the system of legal immigration. Now they are being penalized for following the law and for having faith in the system, because the federal government has dealt with them unjustly and deceptively. Such a way of dealing with prospective legal immigrants is sure to deter other highly skilled, intelligent people from wanting to live and work in the US, to the detriment of our country.
I request that you investigate and work to improve the procedures for legal employment-based immigration. Specifically, I strongly urge you to support the highly skilled people who are seeking legal employment-based immigration because they are actively contributing and improving the (YOUR STATE) Community and the greater American Society.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME AND TITLE
COMPANY/ UNIVERSITY.
__________________________________________
Wonderlust
PD 06/2006
Member of IV since Feb 2007
__________________________________________________ ______________
NAME AND TITLE OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
ADDRESS
July 9 2007
Dear (TITLE AND LAST NAME):
I am a tax payer and resident of (YOUR STATE). I seek your help in the following matter:
On June 13th, the U.S. Department of State online Visa Bulletin announced availability of a large number of immigration visa, which opens door for legal employment-based immigration applicants to submit their paperwork starting July 1st. On July 2nd, merely 2 weeks later, the Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State announced that �there will be no further authorizations in response to requests for Employment-based preference immigration application cases�. This drastic change is condemned by American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) as �Bait-and-Switch� policy which �slams the door� in the face of immigration applicants who are following the laws. New York Times called it �immigration malpractice�. This has been a waste of the government�s time and money.
As an American Citizen and a tax-payer, I have worked and lived alongside with many legal immigrants and prospective legal immigrants. They actively contribute to the economy, education, technology, culture, and research in the U.S.
They also respect and obey the laws, even though there are stringent scrutiny and limitation imposed. For example, they wait for years to complete the legal process, during that time, they cannot travel abroad without the serious risk of being denied re-entry. Having committed no crime, they have to notify the government every time they change their place of residence � something that, among American citizens, only convicted felons are required to do. They have spent hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on government-mandated application fees and related costs. They have underwent inordinate amounts of stress making sure their applications were complete and properly filled out in every way, knowing that any error or omission, real or perceived, could get their application automatically rejected. Through it all, they had faith in the system of legal immigration. Now they are being penalized for following the law and for having faith in the system, because the federal government has dealt with them unjustly and deceptively. Such a way of dealing with prospective legal immigrants is sure to deter other highly skilled, intelligent people from wanting to live and work in the US, to the detriment of our country.
I request that you investigate and work to improve the procedures for legal employment-based immigration. Specifically, I strongly urge you to support the highly skilled people who are seeking legal employment-based immigration because they are actively contributing and improving the (YOUR STATE) Community and the greater American Society.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME AND TITLE
COMPANY/ UNIVERSITY.
__________________________________________
Wonderlust
PD 06/2006
Member of IV since Feb 2007
pr02
07-20 10:13 AM
Of course the vote had to fail. Senate is Dem controlled and they are anti-legal presently. But the fact that it got voted down by a few votes should give us some optimism.
jamesbond007
09-09 01:44 PM
Gapala made some very good analysis in his posts on this thread.
But......
Looking at the country's GDP to analyze the price of land in a few cities does not make sense. The growth in land value is not across the length and breadth of the country. It is only limited to the big cities which are experiencing the money rush.
NRI's from the US are only one piece of the puzzle who are funneling in money to India.
There are NRIs from other countries.
Then there are business people making big profits dealing with other countries.
And local business people who have a lot of black money. All of them together are keeping up the prices.
There also seems to be a change in the thinking of the Indian middle class. Most of our parents' generations were in the habit of saving up money and making purchases with the saved money.(These were savings in a bank account mind you; not investments that grew at a rate better than the inflation.)
The current middle class seems to realize that trying to save money in a bank in order to buy something is foolish since the paper money is losing its value over time. So they are either investing; or making purchases with borrowed money as long as they can make the EMI payments. Overall, the current middle class is not backing out of buying what they need for lack of money. (This trend will probably lead India in the same path as the US i.e. huge debt for everyone)
Regarding the question "why would a farmer sit on land valued at $100K, while only making about $1K by farming that land?" Its only a matter of time before they realize their fool hardiness and then they will sell. Pretty soon when the construction begins in their neighbourhood, and prices of all commodities go up so much that they can't live in their $1K income, then they will be forced to sell. Or they might get the wind of a "someone they know" who sold, and they will follow their example.
Strictly speaking about Hyderabad, there are a lot of farmers who cashed out their lands in the city outskirts. Smart ones then moved out further away from the city and bought more land there to continue their farming. Others are spending their windfall on jewellery, cars and other bling.
All that being said, it is still scary to me.
In my opinion, anyone looking to make a quick buck should not get into it at this time.
If you want to buy because you want to go back and settle there in a couple of years, then that is different.
[quote] to add to the conversation on the price -> locals are also experiencing a glut of money due to the economic boom in the last 5 years or so. Small businesses have really taken off in a big way exporting to Europe/ US. Investors in the stock market have also hit the jackpot. And, once you have money, for most Indians the safest option to invest is in property or gold.
Also better salaries all around fueled by attrition of talent to the IT sector. [quote]
This may be correct to certain extent but only the elite class and creamy layer of 1.8% of total population. When we look at the bigger picture of the country, I could not connect the dots. GDP is just above $2500 and PPP is about $3300. How in the world will you justify $200,000 to $300,000. Plus the cost of financing the purchase.
In simple terms, median home price is 100 times the GDP and life expectancy in india is 70 years. average work life span is 40 years. Home Mortgages are 15, 20 or 25 years in India which will cover only 1/4th of the median price of a home based on even anticipated high GDP growth and considering moderate increase in cost of living. Given that the risk of default is huge and banks are running at very high risk. I believe buying a house is a big gamble in India and more to that for Banks, lending is also a big gamble.
Note that according to banks, investment in apartments capitalize only over 25 years in india. (Rent vs. Own) Is this correct? Average rentals in ONLY Big cities are Rs. 12000 ($275 / month $3300 a year) to 15000 ($340 / month $4000 a year) for the same 1000 sqft 2 bedroom apartments which itself is above the GDP :). What that tells me, even the rentals are also not affordable to majority of the population. Back to captalization part 4000 * 25 = 100,000. which is half of the investment... add the alternate investment value for 25 years, capitalization will be way below 50%.
That means it will take more than 50 years to capatilize the investment. This is more that Mod average work life span of 40 years. Note that Maintenance and Taxes for 25 years excluded in above calc. Are banks stupid?
I do not know what to tell ya man! To me its really scary
A small credit crunch (crisis is not required) might bring the entire economy to floor.
fine print: (Above analysis applies only for working taxpaying people like us who does not have unaccounted money.)
But......
Looking at the country's GDP to analyze the price of land in a few cities does not make sense. The growth in land value is not across the length and breadth of the country. It is only limited to the big cities which are experiencing the money rush.
NRI's from the US are only one piece of the puzzle who are funneling in money to India.
There are NRIs from other countries.
Then there are business people making big profits dealing with other countries.
And local business people who have a lot of black money. All of them together are keeping up the prices.
There also seems to be a change in the thinking of the Indian middle class. Most of our parents' generations were in the habit of saving up money and making purchases with the saved money.(These were savings in a bank account mind you; not investments that grew at a rate better than the inflation.)
The current middle class seems to realize that trying to save money in a bank in order to buy something is foolish since the paper money is losing its value over time. So they are either investing; or making purchases with borrowed money as long as they can make the EMI payments. Overall, the current middle class is not backing out of buying what they need for lack of money. (This trend will probably lead India in the same path as the US i.e. huge debt for everyone)
Regarding the question "why would a farmer sit on land valued at $100K, while only making about $1K by farming that land?" Its only a matter of time before they realize their fool hardiness and then they will sell. Pretty soon when the construction begins in their neighbourhood, and prices of all commodities go up so much that they can't live in their $1K income, then they will be forced to sell. Or they might get the wind of a "someone they know" who sold, and they will follow their example.
Strictly speaking about Hyderabad, there are a lot of farmers who cashed out their lands in the city outskirts. Smart ones then moved out further away from the city and bought more land there to continue their farming. Others are spending their windfall on jewellery, cars and other bling.
All that being said, it is still scary to me.
In my opinion, anyone looking to make a quick buck should not get into it at this time.
If you want to buy because you want to go back and settle there in a couple of years, then that is different.
[quote] to add to the conversation on the price -> locals are also experiencing a glut of money due to the economic boom in the last 5 years or so. Small businesses have really taken off in a big way exporting to Europe/ US. Investors in the stock market have also hit the jackpot. And, once you have money, for most Indians the safest option to invest is in property or gold.
Also better salaries all around fueled by attrition of talent to the IT sector. [quote]
This may be correct to certain extent but only the elite class and creamy layer of 1.8% of total population. When we look at the bigger picture of the country, I could not connect the dots. GDP is just above $2500 and PPP is about $3300. How in the world will you justify $200,000 to $300,000. Plus the cost of financing the purchase.
In simple terms, median home price is 100 times the GDP and life expectancy in india is 70 years. average work life span is 40 years. Home Mortgages are 15, 20 or 25 years in India which will cover only 1/4th of the median price of a home based on even anticipated high GDP growth and considering moderate increase in cost of living. Given that the risk of default is huge and banks are running at very high risk. I believe buying a house is a big gamble in India and more to that for Banks, lending is also a big gamble.
Note that according to banks, investment in apartments capitalize only over 25 years in india. (Rent vs. Own) Is this correct? Average rentals in ONLY Big cities are Rs. 12000 ($275 / month $3300 a year) to 15000 ($340 / month $4000 a year) for the same 1000 sqft 2 bedroom apartments which itself is above the GDP :). What that tells me, even the rentals are also not affordable to majority of the population. Back to captalization part 4000 * 25 = 100,000. which is half of the investment... add the alternate investment value for 25 years, capitalization will be way below 50%.
That means it will take more than 50 years to capatilize the investment. This is more that Mod average work life span of 40 years. Note that Maintenance and Taxes for 25 years excluded in above calc. Are banks stupid?
I do not know what to tell ya man! To me its really scary
A small credit crunch (crisis is not required) might bring the entire economy to floor.
fine print: (Above analysis applies only for working taxpaying people like us who does not have unaccounted money.)
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