images Stack Bundles Get Em#39; G .jpg "Happy Birthday Stack Bundles")
chanduv23
06-20 02:23 PM
My lawyer is asking 350 for EAD and 500 for AP for each person excluding filing fees.Is it normal.or Can I go to another lawyer for EAD and AP who is cheaper than my company lawyer.
In general they are inclusive ie 485 + EAD + AP for primary is $1000 and for additional is $500 which is a standard.
In general they are inclusive ie 485 + EAD + AP for primary is $1000 and for additional is $500 which is a standard.
wallpaper Happy Birthday Stack Bundles
Michael chertoff
10-26 04:11 PM
Another news making. Advice to all of Youngster Indians and Indians here by the India's outsourcing chop shop IT messihah Infosys Chief.
Don't look at IT industry as means to settle abroad: Narayana Murthy - The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/Dont-look-at-IT-industry-as-means-to-settle-abroad-Murthy/articleshow/6815589.cms)
Mr. Sakthisagar, You are correct. we need people like you. you are so concerned about INDIA. please let me know How can I help.
BTW only Narendra Modi can solve this issue too.
MC
Don't look at IT industry as means to settle abroad: Narayana Murthy - The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/Dont-look-at-IT-industry-as-means-to-settle-abroad-Murthy/articleshow/6815589.cms)
Mr. Sakthisagar, You are correct. we need people like you. you are so concerned about INDIA. please let me know How can I help.
BTW only Narendra Modi can solve this issue too.
MC
gimme_GC2006
08-20 09:03 PM
Who is your employer?
When you GC is screwed you dont have a reason or purpose to keep quiet.
Post their name here, no one will ever join him.
File a lawsuit against them..I am sure you may have had emails about his promises or you paying money for GC.
When you GC is screwed you dont have a reason or purpose to keep quiet.
Post their name here, no one will ever join him.
File a lawsuit against them..I am sure you may have had emails about his promises or you paying money for GC.
2011 Stack+undles+killer
sujith1
12-03 01:47 PM
I do not understand Number 4 : As far as I understand and what lawyers told me - your salary can go up and as long as it does not go below the posted number in your Labor Petition you are fine. But I hear this comment always - This confuses me as to how much truth is there in it.
Most employers use this as an excuse to not raise your salary but that does not mean that you salary cannot be raised if the employer is willing.
1) Life Insurance ... AIG refuses to give me the quot for 30 years (Ready to give me a 20 year term life quot) term life insurance knowing I am on work visa, US GC is in process (Though I did not mention that I am Canadian permanent immigrant). AAA issued me a policy that is 20 years not 30 years (Simply refused) when I gave the proof of Canadian permanent immigration and US GC filing. This is most current experience.
2) After 2001 bubble burst many credit unions stopped taking H1B visa holders as member. I do not know the current practice.
3) I think in illinoi, I have heard that H4 people can't get driving licence simply as they do not have social security. Now legally H4 can not have social security and thus no driving license. ITIN would not be considered for driving license. This story I also heard a while back. I do not know about current situation.
4) In job, you can not have promotion, salary increment (Though Accounting workarounds ultimately can provide you what you want from the company).
5) 401 K investment can become risky if you will have to go out of uSA permanently in a sense of 10 % penalty for early withdraw. Ya, Somebody can say that then do not withdraw. In that case, managing it would be hell by sitting thousands of miles away from US.
6) You can not invest in Educational investments schemes ( Theoratically you can invest and they will take your money gladly) as those are ONE-WAY money, once gone you can not take out, only your children can take out. Now imagine you are on H1.. Invetsed money in eduction schemes for your children. Down the road after 10 years suddenly finding yourself in limbo you go back to your country... money is stuck.. ( I do not have full scale study of workarounds..Someone more elite on this subject can put mor light on this)
7) By any chance if you get kicked out (For whatever reason including you kicked out yourself) from USA before 10 years of work.. you loose all of your social security (Not applicable to people of all other countries, but ceratinly applicable to Indians)
Most employers use this as an excuse to not raise your salary but that does not mean that you salary cannot be raised if the employer is willing.
1) Life Insurance ... AIG refuses to give me the quot for 30 years (Ready to give me a 20 year term life quot) term life insurance knowing I am on work visa, US GC is in process (Though I did not mention that I am Canadian permanent immigrant). AAA issued me a policy that is 20 years not 30 years (Simply refused) when I gave the proof of Canadian permanent immigration and US GC filing. This is most current experience.
2) After 2001 bubble burst many credit unions stopped taking H1B visa holders as member. I do not know the current practice.
3) I think in illinoi, I have heard that H4 people can't get driving licence simply as they do not have social security. Now legally H4 can not have social security and thus no driving license. ITIN would not be considered for driving license. This story I also heard a while back. I do not know about current situation.
4) In job, you can not have promotion, salary increment (Though Accounting workarounds ultimately can provide you what you want from the company).
5) 401 K investment can become risky if you will have to go out of uSA permanently in a sense of 10 % penalty for early withdraw. Ya, Somebody can say that then do not withdraw. In that case, managing it would be hell by sitting thousands of miles away from US.
6) You can not invest in Educational investments schemes ( Theoratically you can invest and they will take your money gladly) as those are ONE-WAY money, once gone you can not take out, only your children can take out. Now imagine you are on H1.. Invetsed money in eduction schemes for your children. Down the road after 10 years suddenly finding yourself in limbo you go back to your country... money is stuck.. ( I do not have full scale study of workarounds..Someone more elite on this subject can put mor light on this)
7) By any chance if you get kicked out (For whatever reason including you kicked out yourself) from USA before 10 years of work.. you loose all of your social security (Not applicable to people of all other countries, but ceratinly applicable to Indians)
more...
skakodker
07-17 08:36 AM
Exactly. God foribid we lose our jobs. Before and after this announcement we are one bad earnings quarter away from being shipped back home. Its hard to enjoy life with stress like this.
jasquil
We recently experienced a miracle of unity through the hugely successful flower campaign. What a shot in the arm that was!
My suggestion to you is to keep an open mind, accepting that your circumstances aren't presently of your choosing. Once you acknowledge your stress and accept it, you will be in a better position to focus on other aspects of your life that you might be neglecting as a result of your stress - for instance, having fun.
Life is short. Choose to live.
jasquil
We recently experienced a miracle of unity through the hugely successful flower campaign. What a shot in the arm that was!
My suggestion to you is to keep an open mind, accepting that your circumstances aren't presently of your choosing. Once you acknowledge your stress and accept it, you will be in a better position to focus on other aspects of your life that you might be neglecting as a result of your stress - for instance, having fun.
Life is short. Choose to live.
sandy_anand
11-06 12:17 PM
For December 2009 visa bulletin - Please call Ajmeri Baba at +44-91-29-2434343434
LOL! Good one!:D
LOL! Good one!:D
more...
myvoice23
07-20 07:27 AM
Hi all legal eagles, advice please
My case is quite complicated. Here is my situation.
(1) Applied for I-485 (Adjustment of status) in July 2007. EB2-India category, PD March 2006.
(2) Wife missed the bus when I applied for I-485. Her papers were not ready at that time.
(3) Changed job utilizing AC21. So no more H1 status for me. Working on EAD in a new company. Living in US on a pending I-485 status.
(4) Sent wife to India so that she will not stay in the US on an invalid H4. (After I quit my company, I assumed my H1 and my wife's H4 became automatically invalid because they belonged to my previous company. In any case those H1/H4 have expired too now.).
(5) I was planning to call wife on a visitor visa. We planned to apply her I-485 once she is in US and dates become current for her.
(6) Suddenly, my PD is current as per the latest bulletin!! Totally unexpected!!
(7) Wife can't come back to US on a short notice on a visitor visa because of many pending tasks back at home.
Now the big question is, is it worthwhile to apply for my wife's I-485 in India through a consular processing route? My understanding is that consular processing does not provide the benefits of EAD and advanced parole. So my wife will anyway have to come to US on a visitor visa. So we may as well apply her I-485 in US itself. At least then our applications will be processed together and she will get the benefits of EAD. And if there are any immigration interviews we can go together too.
But the risk in this plan is that
(1) By the time she is back in US the dates may retrogress again.
(2) Worse, my GC may get approved this month itself, before my wife even has a chance of applying her own I-485, cutting off my wife's chances of getting a dependent GC based on my GC forever.
Now my hunch is that risk no. 1 is a low risk. Either the dates won't retrogress again, or even if they do, they will move forward in October again. So we can live with that.
Risk no. 2 is a bigger risk. But can USCIS take a decision on my I-485 petition so quickly. I don't think so. But if it does, then we lovers will be torn apart.
And lastly, has anybody ever heard of "Follow to join" procedure? What exactly is it and can we utilize it to our benefit?
Common man. .You already aware of that your wife's apps are not ready for I-485. Is this USCIS mistake and you says cruel system? It is your problem when you got the opportunity to not utilize it. You might say some another reason to excuse your self. Don't blame USCIS for everything man.
My case is quite complicated. Here is my situation.
(1) Applied for I-485 (Adjustment of status) in July 2007. EB2-India category, PD March 2006.
(2) Wife missed the bus when I applied for I-485. Her papers were not ready at that time.
(3) Changed job utilizing AC21. So no more H1 status for me. Working on EAD in a new company. Living in US on a pending I-485 status.
(4) Sent wife to India so that she will not stay in the US on an invalid H4. (After I quit my company, I assumed my H1 and my wife's H4 became automatically invalid because they belonged to my previous company. In any case those H1/H4 have expired too now.).
(5) I was planning to call wife on a visitor visa. We planned to apply her I-485 once she is in US and dates become current for her.
(6) Suddenly, my PD is current as per the latest bulletin!! Totally unexpected!!
(7) Wife can't come back to US on a short notice on a visitor visa because of many pending tasks back at home.
Now the big question is, is it worthwhile to apply for my wife's I-485 in India through a consular processing route? My understanding is that consular processing does not provide the benefits of EAD and advanced parole. So my wife will anyway have to come to US on a visitor visa. So we may as well apply her I-485 in US itself. At least then our applications will be processed together and she will get the benefits of EAD. And if there are any immigration interviews we can go together too.
But the risk in this plan is that
(1) By the time she is back in US the dates may retrogress again.
(2) Worse, my GC may get approved this month itself, before my wife even has a chance of applying her own I-485, cutting off my wife's chances of getting a dependent GC based on my GC forever.
Now my hunch is that risk no. 1 is a low risk. Either the dates won't retrogress again, or even if they do, they will move forward in October again. So we can live with that.
Risk no. 2 is a bigger risk. But can USCIS take a decision on my I-485 petition so quickly. I don't think so. But if it does, then we lovers will be torn apart.
And lastly, has anybody ever heard of "Follow to join" procedure? What exactly is it and can we utilize it to our benefit?
Common man. .You already aware of that your wife's apps are not ready for I-485. Is this USCIS mistake and you says cruel system? It is your problem when you got the opportunity to not utilize it. You might say some another reason to excuse your self. Don't blame USCIS for everything man.
2010 Jones Stack Bundles 04:05
rvangipuram
08-22 11:20 AM
08/22/2007: October 2007 EB Visa Bulletin Prediction of AILA
Based on the discussion with Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting, DOS, the AILA has just released the following predictions:
EB-1 (All Countries): Closely match to September 2007 VB
EB-2 (All Countries): Closely match to September 2007 VB
EB-3 (All Countries): Similar to January 2007 VB
EB-3EW (All Countries): 10/01/2001
EB-4: N/A
EB-5: C
This is what I found on immigration-law.com
Based on the discussion with Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting, DOS, the AILA has just released the following predictions:
EB-1 (All Countries): Closely match to September 2007 VB
EB-2 (All Countries): Closely match to September 2007 VB
EB-3 (All Countries): Similar to January 2007 VB
EB-3EW (All Countries): 10/01/2001
EB-4: N/A
EB-5: C
This is what I found on immigration-law.com
more...
jjjun
12-12 12:39 PM
Bad news again.
hair Mel Matrix/Stack Bundles)
franklin
04-14 01:42 PM
I bet a lot of people are praying very very hard for their greencards.
I would like to request them to invest in concrete steps. Give monetary support to IV. Form, or join, a local state chapter. Go meet a lawmaker or his staff. Call them up and talk to their staff. Pray only if you have done all or some of the above. As they say, God helps those who help themselves. Keep up your end of the bargain, and then ask God (of the Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster, or whatever) for help.
Hear Hear
Stop expecting someone else to get your results done! Pay - Join your state chapter - Volunteer! Stop whining about nothing happening and contribute in a tangible way to get something done!
I was at one of my congresswoman's office yesterday. She gave us lots of advice on how to promote our message.
I would like to request them to invest in concrete steps. Give monetary support to IV. Form, or join, a local state chapter. Go meet a lawmaker or his staff. Call them up and talk to their staff. Pray only if you have done all or some of the above. As they say, God helps those who help themselves. Keep up your end of the bargain, and then ask God (of the Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster, or whatever) for help.
Hear Hear
Stop expecting someone else to get your results done! Pay - Join your state chapter - Volunteer! Stop whining about nothing happening and contribute in a tangible way to get something done!
I was at one of my congresswoman's office yesterday. She gave us lots of advice on how to promote our message.
more...
bluekayal
02-10 10:37 AM
I've sent you a pm Oguinan.
Way to go!
Way to go!
hot late Stack Bundles after
SkilledWorker4GC
07-08 05:15 PM
Ofcourse at first they will say its a crazy idea and wouldn't have any impact.
But got to try atleast and try to convince them
Efforts have to be collective. Try to get supporrt from coworkers, friends - ask them for a honest opinion and see what they have to say
But got to try atleast and try to convince them
Efforts have to be collective. Try to get supporrt from coworkers, friends - ask them for a honest opinion and see what they have to say
more...
house RIP PIMP C STACK BUNDLES
illusions
04-03 10:18 AM
Thanks for contacting IV with your SOS.
An IV core member is going to be helping you to fix this with USCIS. Let us know if you need help. He already tried contacting you yesterday.
As IV grows maybe this is a help IV can extend to all its donor members and help them if they get in such extreme distress situations. This is one of the ideas we are thinking for our members in the donor group.
It's great to know that IV extends it's hand to help it's members when in need. More reason to contribute. I know i will again this month. Thanks IV Core.
According to what radhay said it looks like your case can be overturned based on the mistake lying on the lawyers part.
An IV core member is going to be helping you to fix this with USCIS. Let us know if you need help. He already tried contacting you yesterday.
As IV grows maybe this is a help IV can extend to all its donor members and help them if they get in such extreme distress situations. This is one of the ideas we are thinking for our members in the donor group.
It's great to know that IV extends it's hand to help it's members when in need. More reason to contribute. I know i will again this month. Thanks IV Core.
According to what radhay said it looks like your case can be overturned based on the mistake lying on the lawyers part.
tattoo Big T › Stack Bundles
th5000th
11-30 06:55 PM
Following is Ron`s observation
.
There is an error in the initial explanation of the quota. As I read this analysis, they are suggesting that the single state limit is 25,620 - irrespective of whether the visas are issued in family or employment based. This suggests that a country with heavy family based demand, but light employment based demand, could use more than 7% of the EB or FB quota as long as they remained under 25,620 overall. This is wrong. The 7% limit applies independently to FB and EB. A country could have no demand in one area, and enormous demand in the other and the side with the excessive demand would still be limited to 7% of that quota - not 7% of the combined quota.
Also, I think that their estimates for China and India EB2 are too pessimistic.
__________________
What? too pessimistic or too optimistic?
.
There is an error in the initial explanation of the quota. As I read this analysis, they are suggesting that the single state limit is 25,620 - irrespective of whether the visas are issued in family or employment based. This suggests that a country with heavy family based demand, but light employment based demand, could use more than 7% of the EB or FB quota as long as they remained under 25,620 overall. This is wrong. The 7% limit applies independently to FB and EB. A country could have no demand in one area, and enormous demand in the other and the side with the excessive demand would still be limited to 7% of that quota - not 7% of the combined quota.
Also, I think that their estimates for China and India EB2 are too pessimistic.
__________________
What? too pessimistic or too optimistic?
more...
pictures featuring Stack Bundles
prince40
04-14 07:41 PM
Desi consultants should be heavily fined or shut down if they get caught in filing multiple petitions. Why doesn't USCIS take reasonable steps to avoid these kinds of fraud. i hate it when desi consultants hire people from business background and file a H1B for them as a DBA's or programmer analysts or QA's....!!!
or even mech and civil engineers become IT experts in a second
or even mech and civil engineers become IT experts in a second
dresses RIP Stack Bundles Stop The
pappu
01-31 11:02 AM
There are now couple of threads and several posts in different places on the same topic. I have merged 2 threads.
be careful when you start a new thread. see if there is already a thread on the topic and post in that thread.
be careful when you start a new thread. see if there is already a thread on the topic and post in that thread.
more...
makeup Stack Bundles – “Get Em
honest123
05-12 02:12 AM
Personally I do think if DREAM ACT is passed, it will be easier to voice another bill to be passed to allow legal working immigrants (EB-1, 2, 3) to get green cards. I said this based on logical reason----people from DREAM ACT are illegal immigrants, so if DREAM ACT is passed, illegals will be turned into legal immigrants. So by logical reasons, legal working immigrants gain legal entry to US for jobs or for schools before, they should get green cards by logical and reasoning approach because they have paid taxes and expensive international tuition fees for years to help the US economy before.
Also, since NOT all EB legal working immigrants have US advanced degrees in Science & Medicine, therefore, similarly by logical and reasoning approach, any US advanced degrees in Science & Medicine graduates should have a chance or path to get green cards or to start up companies in US to help the US economy better. More legal immigrants buy houses and set up companies in US, more jobs created and more prosperous the US economy will be
Also, since NOT all EB legal working immigrants have US advanced degrees in Science & Medicine, therefore, similarly by logical and reasoning approach, any US advanced degrees in Science & Medicine graduates should have a chance or path to get green cards or to start up companies in US to help the US economy better. More legal immigrants buy houses and set up companies in US, more jobs created and more prosperous the US economy will be
girlfriend Stack Bundles – I Just Won#39;t
ArkBird
05-01 05:36 AM
India was demanding latest fighter jets (F-22) but US can offer only old version F-16,F-18 to India. Basic reason for US denial to latest technology because of India -US relation and their status .US only offers new technology to its close allys. I think it was prudent move from India�s part to get latest and greatest technology. To get these new technologies US congress needs to pass law and define India as close ally.
F-22 is newer version of F-18/F-16??
F-22 is Air superiority Aircraft and India is seeking Multi-Role Combat Fighter!
Whatever you are smoking dude seems real good stuff! Pass that sh1t over here!!
F-22 is newer version of F-18/F-16??
F-22 is Air superiority Aircraft and India is seeking Multi-Role Combat Fighter!
Whatever you are smoking dude seems real good stuff! Pass that sh1t over here!!
hairstyles R.I.P. Stack Bundles
pappu
07-20 05:12 PM
Too many issues at that time. Old h1 was anyway expiring soon. Desi bodyshoper employer was going nuts sqeezing me dry. He was demanding money for everything from H1 extension to giving out compnay letters for GC related issues and thousands of such reasons. But as I already said.. it's done..it's done...
Your employer should pay for H1 and H1 extension. If he is exploiting you, and you accept being exploited, then you should also share the blame for accepting this.
This forum has past posts where people have shared information on how to complain against such employers. One of the goals of IV is to generate awareness in employees so that employees can use their voice against injustice.
Accepting such 'exploitation' should not be tolerated and you must take action against such an employer. It is such employers that give a bad name to the entire H1B visa program and the whole community is blamed and made to suffer. Our bills face an uphill task because of this. Employees must complain so that they can help fix the H1B and green card system.
I hope you use your voice and take action against such employer. IV is against such exploitation and it must be reported to DOL and USCIS. If you have to go to court for it, you should consider it.
Your employer should pay for H1 and H1 extension. If he is exploiting you, and you accept being exploited, then you should also share the blame for accepting this.
This forum has past posts where people have shared information on how to complain against such employers. One of the goals of IV is to generate awareness in employees so that employees can use their voice against injustice.
Accepting such 'exploitation' should not be tolerated and you must take action against such an employer. It is such employers that give a bad name to the entire H1B visa program and the whole community is blamed and made to suffer. Our bills face an uphill task because of this. Employees must complain so that they can help fix the H1B and green card system.
I hope you use your voice and take action against such employer. IV is against such exploitation and it must be reported to DOL and USCIS. If you have to go to court for it, you should consider it.
vin13
06-24 01:32 PM
Source: Frank Sharry: Memo to the President: Yes, Move Immigration Reform This Year (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-sharry/memo-to-the-president-yes_b_220072.html)
On June 25th, President Obama is convening a bi-partisan meeting to discuss the prospects for moving on comprehensive immigration reform later this year. If he asked me about the politics of immigration reform in this economic climate, this is the memo I would send to him:
Mr. President, with so many challenges facing America, is it too much to tackle immigration reform this year?
Reform advocates point to the pledge you made on the campaign trail, to make immigration reform a "top priority in my first year." Yet skeptics argue that the economic crisis makes your campaign promise moot. They believe you should delay immigration legislation and focus on the economy and your other legislative priorities. While addressing immigration may seem to be heaping another issue onto an already-full plate of priorities, there are four compelling reasons for you to move forward with reform this year.
First, the public support for immigration reform is growing stronger notwithstanding the conventional wisdom advanced by the political class. For a big majority of Americans, the failure to address immigration is a symbol of Washington's failure to confront and solve tough problems. Comprehensive immigration reform - the key elements of which require strong enforcement at the borders and in the workplace, coupled with a mechanism for unauthorized immigrants to get legal, learn English and pay taxes - is viewed by the majority of Americans as the most practical approach to addressing this complicated problem.
And in this economic downturn, voters are actually more supportive of immigration reform than at any other time. As pollster Celinda Lake tells it, "voters are very focused on finding solutions to our problems. They support comprehensive immigration reform as a practical, common-sense solution and have no patience for politicians who want to point fingers and score points rather than fix the problem."
The evidence for this point of view is growing. A Washington Post/ABC News poll showed 61% support for giving undocumented immigrants the right to live in the U.S. "if they pay a fine and meet other requirements," a 12% increase since 2007. The Pew Research Center recently found that 63% of respondents supported a pathway to citizenship, up 5% from 2007.
In polling conducted in May by Pete Brodnitz of Benenson Strategies for the organization I direct, 64% of voters support comprehensive immigration reform before it is described, and a whopping 86% support comprehensive reform after it is described. In response to a head-to-head question that pits comprehensive reform against the enforcement-only approach favored by most Republicans and some conservative Democrats, comprehensive wins 67% to 31%. Among those voters who describe themselves as undecided for the 2010 Congressional elections, they not only favor comprehensive reform at the same levels as Democratic voters, by a 69% - 28% they want their elected leaders to tackle immigration reform this year.
The second reason you should move forward is that your commitment to move on immigration reform has created enormous expectations in the Latino community. Your campaign promise was a galvanizing factor in motivating Latinos - especially Latino immigrant voters - to turn out in record numbers in 2008 and swing decisively to the Democratic column. These new voters helped flip at least four states that voted for George W. Bush in 2004 to Obama states in 2008 (Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada).
While some like to point out that polls of Hispanics put issues related to the economy as higher on the priority list than immigration reform, the fact is that Immigration reform is a defining issue for Latinos the way civil rights is for many African-American voters, choice is for many female voters, and Israel is for many Jewish voters. For example, in a recent poll of Latino voters conducted by Bendixen and Associates on behalf of America's Voice, 82% called the issue personally important and 87% said they would not consider voting for a Congressional candidate who favors forcing most of those in the U.S. illegally to leave the country. Moreover, expectations are sky-high: three out of four Latino voters expect you to keep your pledge to move on immigration reform in the first year.
The third reason you should move forward is that fixing immigration is a critical component of fixing the economy. Immigration reform will benefit American taxpayers by requiring workers and their employers to get legal and comply with their tax obligations; it will benefit American workers whose wages and working conditions are depressed by unscrupulous employers who exploit unauthorized workers; and it will benefit law-abiding employers currently undercut by bad-actor competitors by significantly reducing the incentive to underpay workers and pay them off the books in order to win business. As for increased revenues, get this: a Congressional Budget Office study of a legalization component included in the 2006 McCain-Kennedy bill projected increased revenues over 10 years totaling $66 billion. Not bad at a time of squeezed budgets.
Finally, the moral stakes are high and getting higher. How we as a nation deal with illegal immigration has become a defining moral issue for our nation. Ultimately, the question we face is this: are we going to allow hardliners who want nothing less than the expulsion of millions of immigrant families already living in our communities to dominate the debate? Or are we going to live up to our tradition as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws and write a new chapter in the American story of how including "them" makes for a stronger "us?"
Immigration reform will not be easy, and yet, this is the kind of big issue that led you to proclaim the fierce urgency of now and run for President.
This is your kind of fight, Mr. President. History is calling.
On June 25th, President Obama is convening a bi-partisan meeting to discuss the prospects for moving on comprehensive immigration reform later this year. If he asked me about the politics of immigration reform in this economic climate, this is the memo I would send to him:
Mr. President, with so many challenges facing America, is it too much to tackle immigration reform this year?
Reform advocates point to the pledge you made on the campaign trail, to make immigration reform a "top priority in my first year." Yet skeptics argue that the economic crisis makes your campaign promise moot. They believe you should delay immigration legislation and focus on the economy and your other legislative priorities. While addressing immigration may seem to be heaping another issue onto an already-full plate of priorities, there are four compelling reasons for you to move forward with reform this year.
First, the public support for immigration reform is growing stronger notwithstanding the conventional wisdom advanced by the political class. For a big majority of Americans, the failure to address immigration is a symbol of Washington's failure to confront and solve tough problems. Comprehensive immigration reform - the key elements of which require strong enforcement at the borders and in the workplace, coupled with a mechanism for unauthorized immigrants to get legal, learn English and pay taxes - is viewed by the majority of Americans as the most practical approach to addressing this complicated problem.
And in this economic downturn, voters are actually more supportive of immigration reform than at any other time. As pollster Celinda Lake tells it, "voters are very focused on finding solutions to our problems. They support comprehensive immigration reform as a practical, common-sense solution and have no patience for politicians who want to point fingers and score points rather than fix the problem."
The evidence for this point of view is growing. A Washington Post/ABC News poll showed 61% support for giving undocumented immigrants the right to live in the U.S. "if they pay a fine and meet other requirements," a 12% increase since 2007. The Pew Research Center recently found that 63% of respondents supported a pathway to citizenship, up 5% from 2007.
In polling conducted in May by Pete Brodnitz of Benenson Strategies for the organization I direct, 64% of voters support comprehensive immigration reform before it is described, and a whopping 86% support comprehensive reform after it is described. In response to a head-to-head question that pits comprehensive reform against the enforcement-only approach favored by most Republicans and some conservative Democrats, comprehensive wins 67% to 31%. Among those voters who describe themselves as undecided for the 2010 Congressional elections, they not only favor comprehensive reform at the same levels as Democratic voters, by a 69% - 28% they want their elected leaders to tackle immigration reform this year.
The second reason you should move forward is that your commitment to move on immigration reform has created enormous expectations in the Latino community. Your campaign promise was a galvanizing factor in motivating Latinos - especially Latino immigrant voters - to turn out in record numbers in 2008 and swing decisively to the Democratic column. These new voters helped flip at least four states that voted for George W. Bush in 2004 to Obama states in 2008 (Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada).
While some like to point out that polls of Hispanics put issues related to the economy as higher on the priority list than immigration reform, the fact is that Immigration reform is a defining issue for Latinos the way civil rights is for many African-American voters, choice is for many female voters, and Israel is for many Jewish voters. For example, in a recent poll of Latino voters conducted by Bendixen and Associates on behalf of America's Voice, 82% called the issue personally important and 87% said they would not consider voting for a Congressional candidate who favors forcing most of those in the U.S. illegally to leave the country. Moreover, expectations are sky-high: three out of four Latino voters expect you to keep your pledge to move on immigration reform in the first year.
The third reason you should move forward is that fixing immigration is a critical component of fixing the economy. Immigration reform will benefit American taxpayers by requiring workers and their employers to get legal and comply with their tax obligations; it will benefit American workers whose wages and working conditions are depressed by unscrupulous employers who exploit unauthorized workers; and it will benefit law-abiding employers currently undercut by bad-actor competitors by significantly reducing the incentive to underpay workers and pay them off the books in order to win business. As for increased revenues, get this: a Congressional Budget Office study of a legalization component included in the 2006 McCain-Kennedy bill projected increased revenues over 10 years totaling $66 billion. Not bad at a time of squeezed budgets.
Finally, the moral stakes are high and getting higher. How we as a nation deal with illegal immigration has become a defining moral issue for our nation. Ultimately, the question we face is this: are we going to allow hardliners who want nothing less than the expulsion of millions of immigrant families already living in our communities to dominate the debate? Or are we going to live up to our tradition as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws and write a new chapter in the American story of how including "them" makes for a stronger "us?"
Immigration reform will not be easy, and yet, this is the kind of big issue that led you to proclaim the fierce urgency of now and run for President.
This is your kind of fight, Mr. President. History is calling.
kevinkris
11-20 06:14 PM
We filed our AOS, EAD and AP on Aug 13th at NSC. We are from Santa Clara county in california. I heard that people from santa clara are getting FP's very late?
We have got our Receipts on Sept 30 and EAD on Oct 28th. No FP and AP yet.
My question is how to create service request?
We are planning out of country. Just waiting for this FP to be done.
Can we postpone FP for a specific period of time?
Thanks,
Kris
We have got our Receipts on Sept 30 and EAD on Oct 28th. No FP and AP yet.
My question is how to create service request?
We are planning out of country. Just waiting for this FP to be done.
Can we postpone FP for a specific period of time?
Thanks,
Kris
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