vbkris77
09-14 03:35 PM
I got the below numbers from the PERM FDLC site.
2005 India 1353
2006 India 3888
2007 India 60
2008 India 10
Total 5311
5311 for both EB1-5 : So taking 50% for EB2I - 2655
GC : 2655*2.5 = 6637 ~ 6500 (considering lucky 2008 Aug-Sep approvals, 2009 Sept)
Unless you source is different from mine, India total PERM LCs were as below.
2005&2006 - 25000
2007 - 25000
2008 - Not many
2009 - Not many, but unknown
Even at 50% EB2, EB3, we will have a long wait. There will be a visa demand of upto 60,000 for EB2.
We know that sometime back, one of an IV member got response from a senator that EB2 India backlog is 45,000. Even if I agree that there are 5K approvals in Sep 09 alone, EB2 still has 40,000 pending with PD before July. I am only adding 40% from there even though every India applicant knows that EB3 F***dup and a joke.
So we have a long wait.. Lets admit it..
2005 India 1353
2006 India 3888
2007 India 60
2008 India 10
Total 5311
5311 for both EB1-5 : So taking 50% for EB2I - 2655
GC : 2655*2.5 = 6637 ~ 6500 (considering lucky 2008 Aug-Sep approvals, 2009 Sept)
Unless you source is different from mine, India total PERM LCs were as below.
2005&2006 - 25000
2007 - 25000
2008 - Not many
2009 - Not many, but unknown
Even at 50% EB2, EB3, we will have a long wait. There will be a visa demand of upto 60,000 for EB2.
We know that sometime back, one of an IV member got response from a senator that EB2 India backlog is 45,000. Even if I agree that there are 5K approvals in Sep 09 alone, EB2 still has 40,000 pending with PD before July. I am only adding 40% from there even though every India applicant knows that EB3 F***dup and a joke.
So we have a long wait.. Lets admit it..
wallpaper %IMG_DESC_1%
md2003
04-28 07:06 PM
I don't believe Matthew Oh. Eventually he is going to say INS still not yet approved .
sumagiri
07-23 11:25 AM
I am estimating around 75K EB2 AOS approvals this year. Please check my analysis here. The analysis is based on statistics, testimonies, and spill over from FB to EB as estimated by Ron Gother. The analysis was couple of months old. I believe it still stands.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showpost.php?p=246481&postcount=1422
Apart from total number of EB2 visas this year, one thing that is crucial here is how many visas are already used up. And thus how many visas are left for this year.
In the USCIS testimony, it was stated that they already used up 65% of the "target" in 5 months. Assuming, they used up atleast 30% more in next 5 months, there is only 5% to 10% of visas left over from their "target" number of visas. Did their "target" included spill over? No one knows. Knowing that will put us in better position to estimate the PD progress.
Though the EB2 moved until June 2006, I am hoping that most of the people before 2005 March should get approved. In that case, even if it retrogresses, it will fall back to March 2005. Once we reach March 2005, we have all statistics from DOL. So, would be easier to estimate.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showpost.php?p=246481&postcount=1422
Apart from total number of EB2 visas this year, one thing that is crucial here is how many visas are already used up. And thus how many visas are left for this year.
In the USCIS testimony, it was stated that they already used up 65% of the "target" in 5 months. Assuming, they used up atleast 30% more in next 5 months, there is only 5% to 10% of visas left over from their "target" number of visas. Did their "target" included spill over? No one knows. Knowing that will put us in better position to estimate the PD progress.
Though the EB2 moved until June 2006, I am hoping that most of the people before 2005 March should get approved. In that case, even if it retrogresses, it will fall back to March 2005. Once we reach March 2005, we have all statistics from DOL. So, would be easier to estimate.
2011 %IMG_DESC_2%
potatoeater
03-31 11:40 PM
Chhota Shakeel planned to kill Varun Gandhi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chhota-Shakeel-planned-to-kill-Varun-Gandhi/articleshow/4341949.cms
Chhota Shakeel makes his entry into grand indian election mela :)
What else is coming.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chhota-Shakeel-planned-to-kill-Varun-Gandhi/articleshow/4341949.cms
Chhota Shakeel makes his entry into grand indian election mela :)
What else is coming.
more...
go_guy123
06-14 05:58 PM
You have got the same Indian mentality that most of the people here that once we got a GC and citizenship let us close the doors behind us.
....
Who are you to judge the people coming after you that they are not skilled or the best and brightest.
Well he is a permanent resident of US and soon to be USC and majority of US citizens
want reduced immigration to US and can vote in elections accordingly.
Immigration is such a hot topic I dont see Obama doing anything before his second term.
....
Who are you to judge the people coming after you that they are not skilled or the best and brightest.
Well he is a permanent resident of US and soon to be USC and majority of US citizens
want reduced immigration to US and can vote in elections accordingly.
Immigration is such a hot topic I dont see Obama doing anything before his second term.
kavita
02-13 07:20 PM
Hi,
I like the idea but I believe at this time it is crucial to continue participation in the letter campaign. If we do not get success through it, I will be glad to participate in the lawsuit. Also, like me, at that time there might be hundreds of people willing to be a part.
I like the idea but I believe at this time it is crucial to continue participation in the letter campaign. If we do not get success through it, I will be glad to participate in the lawsuit. Also, like me, at that time there might be hundreds of people willing to be a part.
more...
samay
07-15 05:15 PM
I filed for 485 during July 2007. My 140 was already approved. Due to some problems I quit my employer in August 2007. My previous employer was a desi blood sucker. I was fed up & decided to quit after working for him for 3 years. I applied for H1 transfer with a new employer based on approved 140. I got H1 approval for another 3 years. Currently I am working for the new H1 sponsoring employer. I also received an EAD card based on pending 485 for one year. I didnt notify USICS of job change in July.
I applied for EAD extension this year. The application for EAD extension is pending. I got a following RFE on my 485:
Please state whether or not you are currently working for your I-140 petitioner.
You must submit a currently dated letter from you permanent employer, describing your present job duties & position in the organization, your proferred position (if different from your current one), the date you began employement & the offered salary & wage. The letter must also indicate whether the terms & conditions of your employement based visa petition (or labor certification) continue to exist.
I am not in good terms with my previous employer so I cant ask him for a letter. I can ask my new employer for such a letter.
Also is it possible that 140 was revoked by my previous employer?
Why did they send a RFE instead of NOID in my case?
When was your I-140 approved. Was it approved sometime back. If so that might be one of the reasons that you received a RFE. The CIS wants to confirm that a job offer still exists.
I applied for EAD extension this year. The application for EAD extension is pending. I got a following RFE on my 485:
Please state whether or not you are currently working for your I-140 petitioner.
You must submit a currently dated letter from you permanent employer, describing your present job duties & position in the organization, your proferred position (if different from your current one), the date you began employement & the offered salary & wage. The letter must also indicate whether the terms & conditions of your employement based visa petition (or labor certification) continue to exist.
I am not in good terms with my previous employer so I cant ask him for a letter. I can ask my new employer for such a letter.
Also is it possible that 140 was revoked by my previous employer?
Why did they send a RFE instead of NOID in my case?
When was your I-140 approved. Was it approved sometime back. If so that might be one of the reasons that you received a RFE. The CIS wants to confirm that a job offer still exists.
2010 %IMG_DESC_3%
_TrueFacts
09-04 02:11 PM
I have no words to say about this incident.
I am glad that we have one less bad guy..more to go.
gimme_GC2006,
Completely agree with you. Also, notice that, this has became a trend in all states
UP: Mayawati
TN: M. Karunanidhi and Jaya Lalitha
Bihar: Laloo; Started with this guy
AP: YSR has taken corruption to new heights with factionism, gunda giri, land grabing( We see a IMV member directly affected)
and many more...and who is encouraging all these..corrupt Congress leaders in the Central administration.
I am glad that we have one less bad guy..more to go.
gimme_GC2006,
Completely agree with you. Also, notice that, this has became a trend in all states
UP: Mayawati
TN: M. Karunanidhi and Jaya Lalitha
Bihar: Laloo; Started with this guy
AP: YSR has taken corruption to new heights with factionism, gunda giri, land grabing( We see a IMV member directly affected)
and many more...and who is encouraging all these..corrupt Congress leaders in the Central administration.
more...
vdlrao
07-18 08:19 PM
this is not correct. ROW continues to get preference.
what has changed is that for a while USCIS chose to interpret the law in a way that gave EB2 GC numbers (the law mandated 28.6%) to EB3 ROW rather than spill them over the EB2 I/C. now they have corrected that and EB2 numbers (which include any spillover from EB1) are first used in EB2 ie category numbers are given priority.
so the bonus advantage that EB3 ROW got for 1-2 years has been withdrawn. however with EB3 retrogressed and with EB2 I/C retrogressed, EB3 ROW continues to get all EB3 numbers except the 7% each for the retrogressed nation states.
i would also like to know where the 20K number is coming from if anyone has a source please share it.
Hi Paskal,
We dont have any official source of available visas for EB2 India as of now.
But based on the information availale it seems there would be about 30k visas, which are about 10 times more than what its been now (3,267 VISAS for EB2 India), available for EB2 India. Even though China shares with us for these visas, it would be minimal for china sharing as because china had already a cutoff date of Jan 2006 by Jul 2007. EB2 India has to be current pretty soon as of the increase in visa numbers allotment to almost about 10 times due to the horizontal fallout.
We need your inputs as well, on this calculation of estimated visas for EB2 India.
.................................................. ...
Originally Posted by sumagiri :
There are some significant flaws in your analysis. If you correct them, the number comes to around 25K.
First. The family spill over has to be applied to all categories. So the total number is 140,000 + 19,000.
Second. You calculated EB1/2/3 gets 1/3 which is not correct. They use only 28.6% not 33.3% This makes difference.
Third. The EB1+EB2 combined 70K already counted 9,800 visas for India. We should not add them again.
According to USCIS/DOS testimonies they will usually end up using only 95% of total quota. They go conservatively because they must ensure that they won't use up even a single visa more than what law allows.So total available is approximately 159000*.95 = 151050
Third. EB1, EB2, EB3 each will get 28.6%. Not one third (33.3%). That makes lot of difference. So each category will get around 43,200.
EB4 and EB5 combined will get around 21,449
Now again, going by statistics and your assumptions that EB1 and EB2 takes up 70K and EB4, EB5 takes up around 10K. The unused visas are
((43,200*2)+21,449) - (70,000+10000) = 27849.
So the total EB2 visa usage will be around 70K + 25K =95K.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20167&highlight=vdlrao&page=7
what has changed is that for a while USCIS chose to interpret the law in a way that gave EB2 GC numbers (the law mandated 28.6%) to EB3 ROW rather than spill them over the EB2 I/C. now they have corrected that and EB2 numbers (which include any spillover from EB1) are first used in EB2 ie category numbers are given priority.
so the bonus advantage that EB3 ROW got for 1-2 years has been withdrawn. however with EB3 retrogressed and with EB2 I/C retrogressed, EB3 ROW continues to get all EB3 numbers except the 7% each for the retrogressed nation states.
i would also like to know where the 20K number is coming from if anyone has a source please share it.
Hi Paskal,
We dont have any official source of available visas for EB2 India as of now.
But based on the information availale it seems there would be about 30k visas, which are about 10 times more than what its been now (3,267 VISAS for EB2 India), available for EB2 India. Even though China shares with us for these visas, it would be minimal for china sharing as because china had already a cutoff date of Jan 2006 by Jul 2007. EB2 India has to be current pretty soon as of the increase in visa numbers allotment to almost about 10 times due to the horizontal fallout.
We need your inputs as well, on this calculation of estimated visas for EB2 India.
.................................................. ...
Originally Posted by sumagiri :
There are some significant flaws in your analysis. If you correct them, the number comes to around 25K.
First. The family spill over has to be applied to all categories. So the total number is 140,000 + 19,000.
Second. You calculated EB1/2/3 gets 1/3 which is not correct. They use only 28.6% not 33.3% This makes difference.
Third. The EB1+EB2 combined 70K already counted 9,800 visas for India. We should not add them again.
According to USCIS/DOS testimonies they will usually end up using only 95% of total quota. They go conservatively because they must ensure that they won't use up even a single visa more than what law allows.So total available is approximately 159000*.95 = 151050
Third. EB1, EB2, EB3 each will get 28.6%. Not one third (33.3%). That makes lot of difference. So each category will get around 43,200.
EB4 and EB5 combined will get around 21,449
Now again, going by statistics and your assumptions that EB1 and EB2 takes up 70K and EB4, EB5 takes up around 10K. The unused visas are
((43,200*2)+21,449) - (70,000+10000) = 27849.
So the total EB2 visa usage will be around 70K + 25K =95K.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20167&highlight=vdlrao&page=7
hair %IMG_DESC_4%
p_aluri
12-14 03:41 PM
I would say this is not going to work for us!
There is country quota for each and every country excluding USA..
if we argue that there is no quota for countries belongs to ROW,The government can agrue that spill over has happened from under subscribed countries(Below 7% country limit) to over subscribed countries(above 7% country limit) within in the ROW.
This is the common way of allocating..
Just my opinion..
There is country quota for each and every country excluding USA..
if we argue that there is no quota for countries belongs to ROW,The government can agrue that spill over has happened from under subscribed countries(Below 7% country limit) to over subscribed countries(above 7% country limit) within in the ROW.
This is the common way of allocating..
Just my opinion..
more...
agiridhar
04-29 01:20 AM
Indeed good for the community.
wouldn't it be even better when investigations are carried out on the substitued cases and action be taken on employers and their law firms ?
Wouldn't it be better to bring a law to prohibit employer's taking money from the employees to file h1's and gc's ?
Not sure what kind of a law could police/monitor an employer taking cash from the employee ?
Any thots ?
wouldn't it be even better when investigations are carried out on the substitued cases and action be taken on employers and their law firms ?
Wouldn't it be better to bring a law to prohibit employer's taking money from the employees to file h1's and gc's ?
Not sure what kind of a law could police/monitor an employer taking cash from the employee ?
Any thots ?
hot %IMG_DESC_5%
acecupid
06-28 07:25 PM
I got very stable news that only July 485 applications will get approved
Whats the basis of your statement ? Source of info ?
Whats the basis of your statement ? Source of info ?
more...
house %IMG_DESC_17%
El_Guapo
01-14 01:13 PM
The right to control the beneficiary is different from actual control. An employer may have the right to control the beneficiary's job-related duties and yet not excercise actual control over each function performed by that beneficiary. The employer-employee relationship hinges on the right to control the beneficiary.
Don't all companies have the right to control the beneficiary? For instance, a sponsoring company has every right to determine if an employee shall be placed on a project billed at $50/hr or if they seek another project/client with a higher billing rate. Similarly, the employer has every right to determine if the employee will be placed at a client requiring a project manager or at a client requiring a developer, thus effectively controlling the beneficiary's job-related duties!
This is a good point. This leaves a grey area, isn't it? I give you green for this El_Guapo.
Don't all companies have the right to control the beneficiary? For instance, a sponsoring company has every right to determine if an employee shall be placed on a project billed at $50/hr or if they seek another project/client with a higher billing rate. Similarly, the employer has every right to determine if the employee will be placed at a client requiring a project manager or at a client requiring a developer, thus effectively controlling the beneficiary's job-related duties!
This is a good point. This leaves a grey area, isn't it? I give you green for this El_Guapo.
tattoo %IMG_DESC_6%
desibechara
10-09 03:48 PM
hi:
But is it possible to continue to work on TN1 Visa and change jobs and not apply for the GC? Can one continue to do that?
db
But is it possible to continue to work on TN1 Visa and change jobs and not apply for the GC? Can one continue to do that?
db
more...
pictures %IMG_DESC_7%
man-woman-and-gc
05-31 08:33 AM
1. Employment-Based Visa Number Movement and Predictions
Mr. Oppenheim estimated that there are currently 25,000 EB2 and EB3 cases from Indian nationals that have been reviewed and are only waiting for visa numbers for final processing. He stated that, due to the dramatic increase in employment-based filings, visa cutoff dates for FY2010 will be much more limited to ensure that there will be a steady supply of visa numbers available throughout the year. This will lead to earlier cutoff dates and may help prevent visa categories from becoming unavailable.
Question:
On the these 25,000 pre-adjudicated cases, does this mean that they will get a GC as soon as their dates are current? will there be additional verification done when their dates become current, like employment verification etc?
Can the person change his/her job or take promotion etc and would still get the GC when the dates are current?
Thanks.
Mr. Oppenheim estimated that there are currently 25,000 EB2 and EB3 cases from Indian nationals that have been reviewed and are only waiting for visa numbers for final processing. He stated that, due to the dramatic increase in employment-based filings, visa cutoff dates for FY2010 will be much more limited to ensure that there will be a steady supply of visa numbers available throughout the year. This will lead to earlier cutoff dates and may help prevent visa categories from becoming unavailable.
Question:
On the these 25,000 pre-adjudicated cases, does this mean that they will get a GC as soon as their dates are current? will there be additional verification done when their dates become current, like employment verification etc?
Can the person change his/her job or take promotion etc and would still get the GC when the dates are current?
Thanks.
dresses %IMG_DESC_12%
royus77
06-28 05:14 PM
right, and the worry (as is also noted in the AILA complaint that someone posted earlier) is that USCIS can consider the update from DOS to be the 'updated' Visa Bulletin.
There is nothing that prevents DOS from issuing a visa bulletin at any time and making it effective then-and-there. AILA has raised concerns with this, that it is a problematic thing to do, but it seems to be well within the law. I dont think there is a chance of a lawsuit here.
Even If there is a law suit by AILA and negotiations .bla bla ...if they decide to go for a interm memo , the first victims will be us . AILA will collect money one more time and they will be happy ...
There is nothing that prevents DOS from issuing a visa bulletin at any time and making it effective then-and-there. AILA has raised concerns with this, that it is a problematic thing to do, but it seems to be well within the law. I dont think there is a chance of a lawsuit here.
Even If there is a law suit by AILA and negotiations .bla bla ...if they decide to go for a interm memo , the first victims will be us . AILA will collect money one more time and they will be happy ...
more...
makeup %IMG_DESC_9%
Karthikthiru
06-28 08:26 AM
http://www.shusterman.com/pdf/aila-cis-vb.pdf
Karthik
Karthik
girlfriend %IMG_DESC_14%
hpandey
05-01 04:38 PM
Its in today TOI that Congress/UPA govt. has raised a concern to their PAK counterparts about safely of some 35 Sikh families living in a small village which falls in Taliban's territory.
Why not a single statement by UPA Govt. / MPS/ any high ranking diplomats for Srinlankan's Tamil ? Are they affraid of Congress leadership or what ?
I don't know for what cause LTTE is fighting for and see them as same other terrorist organization in name of freedom. Its LTTE and their leaders who should be punished and brought to justice for killing of Rajeev Gandhi, not the whole community.
Don't be too confident that you may never be in the situation like them. Who knows tomorrow ? History tells us that you would be never safe on foreign soil ! If its not you, it would be your next generation who might seek support from your home country
My post is to just show double standard played by UPA govt.
The Pak Sikhs are being troubled by the Taliban whom everyone opposes and the Pak govt is doing nothing and hence India should raise a voice.
The Tamils in SriLanka are not being opressed by SriLanka but by LTTE themselves ( using their own people as human shields ) . The Srilankan govt is trying its best to minimise losses while trying to rout the terrorist LTTE. India does not have any sympathy either for the Taliban or for LTTE. Both are enemies of India.
Personally I hate the LTTE and their damn cause. Someone who would kill our PM does not deserve any sympathy.
I cheer the brave SriLankan Army who will finally clear their country of this terrorist manace. I wish India had the same drive to remove terrorists from our country in J&K and elsewhere .
Why not a single statement by UPA Govt. / MPS/ any high ranking diplomats for Srinlankan's Tamil ? Are they affraid of Congress leadership or what ?
I don't know for what cause LTTE is fighting for and see them as same other terrorist organization in name of freedom. Its LTTE and their leaders who should be punished and brought to justice for killing of Rajeev Gandhi, not the whole community.
Don't be too confident that you may never be in the situation like them. Who knows tomorrow ? History tells us that you would be never safe on foreign soil ! If its not you, it would be your next generation who might seek support from your home country
My post is to just show double standard played by UPA govt.
The Pak Sikhs are being troubled by the Taliban whom everyone opposes and the Pak govt is doing nothing and hence India should raise a voice.
The Tamils in SriLanka are not being opressed by SriLanka but by LTTE themselves ( using their own people as human shields ) . The Srilankan govt is trying its best to minimise losses while trying to rout the terrorist LTTE. India does not have any sympathy either for the Taliban or for LTTE. Both are enemies of India.
Personally I hate the LTTE and their damn cause. Someone who would kill our PM does not deserve any sympathy.
I cheer the brave SriLankan Army who will finally clear their country of this terrorist manace. I wish India had the same drive to remove terrorists from our country in J&K and elsewhere .
hairstyles %IMG_DESC_11%
Tito_ortiz
03-14 12:02 PM
Just fill out the forms and submit them. It is very easy. It took 6 months for me to get the PR in the Socialist Canada. Then it took 1 month for me I should get out of there quickly. Very low pace, not many high level employment, high taxes. I visited a friend there last weekend. In Vancouver, it rains like hell and it is depressing to me. I said, darn, why am I living here? If I am not going to have significant career advancement, I should go back home than staying here enjoying this rain. In Toronto it is cold like hell. Go there and spend a couple of weeks and see if you like it. People are usually friendly there. In the end, it depends on how bad is back home when compared to Canada. Good luck.
Hi, I am seriously planning to start Canadian immigration after wasting 7 years of my life in chasing GC. Can anybody suggest some good lawyers/attorneies/agencies who are not money suckers like US immigration attornies ? Also, somebody mentioned that one can apply Can immigration by himself. Is there any issue with that ?
Thanks
Hi, I am seriously planning to start Canadian immigration after wasting 7 years of my life in chasing GC. Can anybody suggest some good lawyers/attorneies/agencies who are not money suckers like US immigration attornies ? Also, somebody mentioned that one can apply Can immigration by himself. Is there any issue with that ?
Thanks
Saralayar
03-14 09:58 AM
You can do yourself as the proceedure is very straightforward.
oomshiva
07-03 05:15 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jul02/0,4670,ImmigrationGreenCards,00.html
Legal Workers Lose Chance at Green Cards
Monday, July 02, 2007
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
E-MAIL STORY PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION
WASHINGTON � Legal immigrants hoping to be first in line for employer-sponsored green cards lost time and money when the government suddenly announced Monday that no new applications would be taken until the fall, a lawyers group said.
Tens of thousands of people who work in the United States under employment visas and their families were affected by the change, said Crystal Williams, associate director for programs at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
"There are people who flew to the United States so they could apply and had their families fly back. They paid attorney fees," Williams said.
The State Department announced last month that employment visa numbers were available for all people seeking employer-sponsored green cards, except unskilled workers. It sometimes takes years for applicants to get those numbers.
The announcement meant that as early as Monday, Citizenship and Immigration Services would begin accepting applications. The applications are hefty, requiring medical exams, a lot of documentation and the applicant's presence in the United States.
But an update on the State Department Web site posted Monday said 60,000 such numbers were no longer available because of "the sudden backlog reduction efforts by Citizenship and Immigration Services offices during the past month."
(Story continues below)
Advertise Here
Advertisements
The department called the backlog reduction an "unexpected action" and said employment visa numbers would be available again Oct. 1.
The State Department has been flooded with passport applications since new rules went into effect in January requiring passports for air travelers returning from the same destinations. The resulting backlog has caused delays of up to three months for passports and ruined or delayed the travel plans of thousands of people.
A spokesman at the State Department declined to comment.
Williams said several workers within Citizenship and Immigration Services told her and other lawyers that the agency had staffers working through the weekend to resolve pending cases. She said several lawyers reported getting phone calls from the agency with questions about applications when normally that happens by mail.
Chris Rhatigan, spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Services, denied the weekend work occurred or that there was a push to use up the visa numbers. She said the agency had pending cases from previous months.
The fee to apply for a green card increases July 30 from $395 to $1,010, including a fingerprinting fee.
___
On the Net:
State Department: http://www.state.gov/
Citizenship and Immigration Services: http://www.uscis.gov
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Legal Workers Lose Chance at Green Cards
Monday, July 02, 2007
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
E-MAIL STORY PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION
WASHINGTON � Legal immigrants hoping to be first in line for employer-sponsored green cards lost time and money when the government suddenly announced Monday that no new applications would be taken until the fall, a lawyers group said.
Tens of thousands of people who work in the United States under employment visas and their families were affected by the change, said Crystal Williams, associate director for programs at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
"There are people who flew to the United States so they could apply and had their families fly back. They paid attorney fees," Williams said.
The State Department announced last month that employment visa numbers were available for all people seeking employer-sponsored green cards, except unskilled workers. It sometimes takes years for applicants to get those numbers.
The announcement meant that as early as Monday, Citizenship and Immigration Services would begin accepting applications. The applications are hefty, requiring medical exams, a lot of documentation and the applicant's presence in the United States.
But an update on the State Department Web site posted Monday said 60,000 such numbers were no longer available because of "the sudden backlog reduction efforts by Citizenship and Immigration Services offices during the past month."
(Story continues below)
Advertise Here
Advertisements
The department called the backlog reduction an "unexpected action" and said employment visa numbers would be available again Oct. 1.
The State Department has been flooded with passport applications since new rules went into effect in January requiring passports for air travelers returning from the same destinations. The resulting backlog has caused delays of up to three months for passports and ruined or delayed the travel plans of thousands of people.
A spokesman at the State Department declined to comment.
Williams said several workers within Citizenship and Immigration Services told her and other lawyers that the agency had staffers working through the weekend to resolve pending cases. She said several lawyers reported getting phone calls from the agency with questions about applications when normally that happens by mail.
Chris Rhatigan, spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Services, denied the weekend work occurred or that there was a push to use up the visa numbers. She said the agency had pending cases from previous months.
The fee to apply for a green card increases July 30 from $395 to $1,010, including a fingerprinting fee.
___
On the Net:
State Department: http://www.state.gov/
Citizenship and Immigration Services: http://www.uscis.gov
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
No comments:
Post a Comment