gonecrazyonh4
05-12 03:02 PM
Please help on this situation.
LC in Backlog center
Not able to file I-140, spouse not able to work, life on hold.
Company going to file PERM in 2 months time.
Currently on H1b 6th Year and will be on 7th year in 2 weeks time
7th Year extension already received based on LC filed with priority date of
March 05
Sick and tired of current employer,Can he move to a new employer?
New employer is willing to file PERM, Is it possible for trasfer the H1B to new company ? What is the current employer revoke the LC before the PERM is processed? Will he lose status? Is there any guidelines on moving to new employer while on 7th year extension with No end in sight for GC process?
Anyone in similiar situation? Please help
LC in Backlog center
Not able to file I-140, spouse not able to work, life on hold.
Company going to file PERM in 2 months time.
Currently on H1b 6th Year and will be on 7th year in 2 weeks time
7th Year extension already received based on LC filed with priority date of
March 05
Sick and tired of current employer,Can he move to a new employer?
New employer is willing to file PERM, Is it possible for trasfer the H1B to new company ? What is the current employer revoke the LC before the PERM is processed? Will he lose status? Is there any guidelines on moving to new employer while on 7th year extension with No end in sight for GC process?
Anyone in similiar situation? Please help
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green_card
09-24 09:00 PM
his question was will bad credit affect GC? answer is "no it wont"
please dont suddenly become "Edward Jones" or "Suze orman" and give financial advice because you may be doing bettter than the person asking the question. God forbid, but one major illness can wipe out anyone's good credit, even with insurance. watch "Sicko" and "Maxed Out". Eye-opening documentaries about the predatory greed of the insurance and financial firms. Dont be so smug. kidding about other people's misfortune isnt funny.
Bad credit history will haunt you even after you get your green card :D (if you intend to take a loan for a substantially large investment - like a house)
Think about it... if they don't give you gc based on your credit goof-ups... who's loss is it :D j/k
please dont suddenly become "Edward Jones" or "Suze orman" and give financial advice because you may be doing bettter than the person asking the question. God forbid, but one major illness can wipe out anyone's good credit, even with insurance. watch "Sicko" and "Maxed Out". Eye-opening documentaries about the predatory greed of the insurance and financial firms. Dont be so smug. kidding about other people's misfortune isnt funny.
Bad credit history will haunt you even after you get your green card :D (if you intend to take a loan for a substantially large investment - like a house)
Think about it... if they don't give you gc based on your credit goof-ups... who's loss is it :D j/k
like_watching_paint_dry
09-07 12:56 AM
aiyo.. caal centers een india do butterr job of trraining weeth amreekan aaxent. that too een one month yonly at one tent the caast. they shud outsorce and use voip and doo enter-acteev training over yenternet. now heer is a phree busy-ness idea farr you. phorget new jerseey kaastly training.
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enthu999
07-16 11:01 PM
Hi,
I am Canadian citizen and planning to file AOS(ofcourse if there is some news from USCIS:)) currently, I am on TN visa which is of temporary intent unlike
H1B which is dual intent.
Planning to travel to Canada in Sept'07 while I am on TN and be back in Oct'07 on H1B which will be valid from Oct-01-2007 till Sept-2010. Will there be any problem if AOS is filed before I leave to Canada.
Also, my current TN Visa is valid till Sept-30 and my H1B will be effective on my travel back from Canada, if there is any gap between Sept-30 and the date I travel back will there be any problem due this gap once the AOS is filed?
Please advice,
Thank you
I am Canadian citizen and planning to file AOS(ofcourse if there is some news from USCIS:)) currently, I am on TN visa which is of temporary intent unlike
H1B which is dual intent.
Planning to travel to Canada in Sept'07 while I am on TN and be back in Oct'07 on H1B which will be valid from Oct-01-2007 till Sept-2010. Will there be any problem if AOS is filed before I leave to Canada.
Also, my current TN Visa is valid till Sept-30 and my H1B will be effective on my travel back from Canada, if there is any gap between Sept-30 and the date I travel back will there be any problem due this gap once the AOS is filed?
Please advice,
Thank you
more...
kukitron
12-14 08:28 AM
Most of them get cash,
Where I live in a chicago suburb, we got flooded in the last 3 years with them, it is just insane the amount of people who arrived in such a short time,
You'll see them in the store buying everything in cash,
maybe some of the have my or your SSN, those guys don't respect anything...
Where I live in a chicago suburb, we got flooded in the last 3 years with them, it is just insane the amount of people who arrived in such a short time,
You'll see them in the store buying everything in cash,
maybe some of the have my or your SSN, those guys don't respect anything...
vikram2101
08-02 05:34 PM
Can people share their experience with same day counter passport collection from the vfs courier center at Chennai.
Reason I ask is, I and my wife have a 9AM appointment on 14th August. And Aug 15th being a holiday on account of India's Independence Day. Since we have to be in US on the 16th August to file for I485, getting the visa on the 16th would be too late. Therefore, it's critical that we collect the passport the same day.
Is anyone else in a similar situation? Should I inform the consular of our same night travel plans or is that ill-advised?
thanks
Reason I ask is, I and my wife have a 9AM appointment on 14th August. And Aug 15th being a holiday on account of India's Independence Day. Since we have to be in US on the 16th August to file for I485, getting the visa on the 16th would be too late. Therefore, it's critical that we collect the passport the same day.
Is anyone else in a similar situation? Should I inform the consular of our same night travel plans or is that ill-advised?
thanks
more...
raysaikat
04-20 10:54 AM
Dealsnet thank you for your input,
I already have an OPT and planning to work on it in the real estate field. but my Opt will be expiring at the end of this year and i am looking for other ways to keep working in the US. From what you telling me i don t have much options. i will keep looking or hire a lawyer there must be a solution. i am a bit surprised that they allow you to work in such field with an OPT and you can t take it anywhere.
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.
The work you do in your OPT must be in your field of studies. You are likely violating immigration rules during your OPT period as well unless your degree was in secretarial work or real estate (I do not know of any such degree ...)
USCIS - Questions and Answers: Extension of Optional Practical Training Program for Qualified Students (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=9a3d3dd87aa19110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCR D&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD)
"Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student�s major area of study. Under the prior rules, an F-1 student could be authorized to receive up to a total of 12 months of practical training either before (pre-) and/or after (post-) completion of studies."
I already have an OPT and planning to work on it in the real estate field. but my Opt will be expiring at the end of this year and i am looking for other ways to keep working in the US. From what you telling me i don t have much options. i will keep looking or hire a lawyer there must be a solution. i am a bit surprised that they allow you to work in such field with an OPT and you can t take it anywhere.
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.
The work you do in your OPT must be in your field of studies. You are likely violating immigration rules during your OPT period as well unless your degree was in secretarial work or real estate (I do not know of any such degree ...)
USCIS - Questions and Answers: Extension of Optional Practical Training Program for Qualified Students (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=9a3d3dd87aa19110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCR D&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD)
"Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student�s major area of study. Under the prior rules, an F-1 student could be authorized to receive up to a total of 12 months of practical training either before (pre-) and/or after (post-) completion of studies."
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cucubau
10-17 03:39 AM
It means you will be able to get your EAD in a few weeks, based on your ability to file for I-485. The real thing ... well it can take anywhere between 8-9 months to more than 3 years, depending on how quickly FBI completes your name check and how slow or fast the USCIS service center is.
Assuming I filed for I-485 before the retrogression mess.
Thanks!
Assuming I filed for I-485 before the retrogression mess.
Thanks!
more...
go_guy123
04-17 05:36 PM
they will not "do away" with comprehensive..... if it fails this year they will bring it up again next year and next..... there is no room for piecemeal...... if there were.... they would do it after cir failed in 2006, but they didn't..... they could do after cir failed in 2007, but again they didn't...... or they could do piecemeal in 2008, 9 or 10..... the fact they didn't .... it just tells us that we ought to learn something here..... there is nothing called piecemeal & there will never be anything called piecemeal in this leg of immigration reform, other than our own fantasy world.... so get over it...... there is only 1 way to do it.... cir
lets start the undocumented bashing party now......
Eventually something's got to give. Standoffs don't remain forever. Just like 1st world war
trench warfare was a standoff tactic but was eventually made redundant by invention of tanks.
Same way this standoff wont remain forever (of course many waiting EB2/3 I might lose patience ), either GOP will get into power and force the piecemeal through or Hispanic caucus might gain even more power to force CIR through.
Repeated failures might weaken the CIR coalition (Refer the Greg Siskind post about MALDEF chief few months back).
lets start the undocumented bashing party now......
Eventually something's got to give. Standoffs don't remain forever. Just like 1st world war
trench warfare was a standoff tactic but was eventually made redundant by invention of tanks.
Same way this standoff wont remain forever (of course many waiting EB2/3 I might lose patience ), either GOP will get into power and force the piecemeal through or Hispanic caucus might gain even more power to force CIR through.
Repeated failures might weaken the CIR coalition (Refer the Greg Siskind post about MALDEF chief few months back).
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desi3933
02-18 10:03 AM
Does it come under new H1b quota? Does it treated under cap and Does she/he need to wait for April to file for Change of status again? Any ideas?
>> Does it come under new H1b quota?
No.
>> Does it treated under cap and Does she/he need to wait for April to file for Change of status again?
No.
______________________
Not a legal advice.
US citizen of Indian origin
>> Does it come under new H1b quota?
No.
>> Does it treated under cap and Does she/he need to wait for April to file for Change of status again?
No.
______________________
Not a legal advice.
US citizen of Indian origin
more...
alucard666
08-28 03:11 PM
Something like this would have been in their news section but I just logged on and there is nothing there.
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zoooom
10-25 10:04 PM
Hi There,
My wife got her H1b approved earlier this year (she was on H4 before) but we also received our EAD's and AP a few months back. She is now planning to go to India. Since we received our EAD and AP she did not start working from Oct. 1(as per h1b)....now that she is going to India the lwayer is asking we withdraW her H1b petition since she is not going to use her H1b anyways. The lwayer is also suggesting she gets her H4 stamped and then come back and use EAD and start working. My question is since the lawyer is going to send an application to withdraw her H1b while she is in India, will she have any problems while coming back. She will use AP on port of entry.
My wife got her H1b approved earlier this year (she was on H4 before) but we also received our EAD's and AP a few months back. She is now planning to go to India. Since we received our EAD and AP she did not start working from Oct. 1(as per h1b)....now that she is going to India the lwayer is asking we withdraW her H1b petition since she is not going to use her H1b anyways. The lwayer is also suggesting she gets her H4 stamped and then come back and use EAD and start working. My question is since the lawyer is going to send an application to withdraw her H1b while she is in India, will she have any problems while coming back. She will use AP on port of entry.
more...
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TomPlate
07-05 12:56 PM
What this story man. I never read from THEHindu.com or other Indian News Web sites.
CNN is junk.
But we need CNN to publish the news like this.
Immigration Law - Tragedy not only for Illegal Immigrant but also for Legal Immigrant.
CNN is junk.
But we need CNN to publish the news like this.
Immigration Law - Tragedy not only for Illegal Immigrant but also for Legal Immigrant.
tattoo “I never get a tattoo unless I
gsc999
04-20 12:58 PM
oh my sad soul do not live where there's no peace.[/B]
---
Mirage: Thanks for sharing but it seems many others have the same CD. But I am no mood to listen to melancolic songs! Now is the time for action!
Btw, I have made a note of your singing abilities and definitely call you for a conference call after we discover that we were all singing songs when instead, we should have been ringing our congress reps for support for our bills.
Please Stop singing the blues and START Ringing(calling) the congress reps.
---
Mirage: Thanks for sharing but it seems many others have the same CD. But I am no mood to listen to melancolic songs! Now is the time for action!
Btw, I have made a note of your singing abilities and definitely call you for a conference call after we discover that we were all singing songs when instead, we should have been ringing our congress reps for support for our bills.
Please Stop singing the blues and START Ringing(calling) the congress reps.
more...
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arc
02-23 11:25 AM
Arc,
You will need a Canadian visa and your employer will have to give you a letter to get the same
I am on a valid EAD do I still need a canadian Visa? What Visa do need - I am only going for a week long training? I saw the LA consulate is taking 1 month for the Visa?
I have a valid AP to reenter my problem is do I need a Visa stamped of can I just get a Transit visa?
You will need a Canadian visa and your employer will have to give you a letter to get the same
I am on a valid EAD do I still need a canadian Visa? What Visa do need - I am only going for a week long training? I saw the LA consulate is taking 1 month for the Visa?
I have a valid AP to reenter my problem is do I need a Visa stamped of can I just get a Transit visa?
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ashkam
07-19 02:39 PM
Use this one, I USED IT!!. Really good. USCIS Format.
http://www.online-languagetranslators.com/marathi.htm
I used this one as well. Had to pay 70 bucks + $25 for expedited shipping. If you use this one, check the translation (they email it to you) before they mail it to you. Mine had a lot of spelling mistakes.
http://www.online-languagetranslators.com/marathi.htm
I used this one as well. Had to pay 70 bucks + $25 for expedited shipping. If you use this one, check the translation (they email it to you) before they mail it to you. Mine had a lot of spelling mistakes.
more...
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EkAurAaya
09-24 10:43 PM
his question was will bad credit affect GC? answer is "no it wont"
please dont suddenly become "Edward Jones" or "Suze orman" and give financial advice because you may be doing bettter than the person asking the question. God forbid, but one major illness can wipe out anyone's good credit, even with insurance. watch "Sicko" and "Maxed Out". Eye-opening documentaries about the predatory greed of the insurance and financial firms. Dont be so smug. kidding about other people's misfortune isnt funny.
Ok you just twisted my words, took it out of context and made new meaning out of it... oh man relax, i was not trying to kid about anyones misfortune here! I was not even thinking about it from that angel!
If you read carefully i did reply to his question although i do agree it is a bit cryptic ;) and if my reply sounded like kidding about "misfortune" then i really do apologize to the original poster, that was not my intent.
Green_Card: Thanks for policing... :rolleyes:
please dont suddenly become "Edward Jones" or "Suze orman" and give financial advice because you may be doing bettter than the person asking the question. God forbid, but one major illness can wipe out anyone's good credit, even with insurance. watch "Sicko" and "Maxed Out". Eye-opening documentaries about the predatory greed of the insurance and financial firms. Dont be so smug. kidding about other people's misfortune isnt funny.
Ok you just twisted my words, took it out of context and made new meaning out of it... oh man relax, i was not trying to kid about anyones misfortune here! I was not even thinking about it from that angel!
If you read carefully i did reply to his question although i do agree it is a bit cryptic ;) and if my reply sounded like kidding about "misfortune" then i really do apologize to the original poster, that was not my intent.
Green_Card: Thanks for policing... :rolleyes:
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gg_ny
02-16 10:06 AM
Sorry I was busy doing my work and hence could not immediately answer your questions on hypothetical situations and some wrong conclusions.
FBI check for visa (H1 and L1) is different from what you get when you apply for GC (consular or AOS). While you are patiently (!) waiting for more from the other 257 people to answer you, please check some USCIS documents.
One has to be thankful that these two screenigns are different because there are people stuck for years in this step when they apply for GC.
Like somebody said, good luck!
I've been thinking about this for a while. Typically, it takes more time in average to obtain a green card through adjustment of status (I-485) than going through consular processing. Here's the part I don't understand! Both applicabts have to pass FBI name check. Those who use I-485 are already in the U.S. and that means they have gone through FBI name check once they applied for a visa at an American consulate/embassy to enter the U.S. under any visa category. Therefore, their background has been checked once and should be less questionable than those who go through consular processing and it's the first time FBI is conducting a name check on them. Now, how is it possible that I-485 applicants have to go through hell to get their green cards while consular processing applicants feel the heat of a green card in their hands much sooner?
FBI check for visa (H1 and L1) is different from what you get when you apply for GC (consular or AOS). While you are patiently (!) waiting for more from the other 257 people to answer you, please check some USCIS documents.
One has to be thankful that these two screenigns are different because there are people stuck for years in this step when they apply for GC.
Like somebody said, good luck!
I've been thinking about this for a while. Typically, it takes more time in average to obtain a green card through adjustment of status (I-485) than going through consular processing. Here's the part I don't understand! Both applicabts have to pass FBI name check. Those who use I-485 are already in the U.S. and that means they have gone through FBI name check once they applied for a visa at an American consulate/embassy to enter the U.S. under any visa category. Therefore, their background has been checked once and should be less questionable than those who go through consular processing and it's the first time FBI is conducting a name check on them. Now, how is it possible that I-485 applicants have to go through hell to get their green cards while consular processing applicants feel the heat of a green card in their hands much sooner?
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PresidentO
06-09 12:13 AM
The reporter does not seem to know the issue at all and coming from an Indian/Pakistani background painted the whole issue as if it were a Desi issue.
Dude writes that visas dry up and he quotes USCIS spokes person saying we are sitting at 45,000 from week 1 and haven't still moved an inch. Damn it! Gimme a break! Get real
The attorney featured sings to his tune and talks about all things Indian, Indian companies, Indian nationals, India. Wow! Does any one need more ammunition to take charge and paint H1B issue as Indian issue? Sorry to be harsh but this is more of a bad press than any thing helpful.
Then he goes on to say that people are waiting for GC because of strict rules?? Excuse me! until Jul 2007 rules were not implemented. This guy says strict rules.
Dude writes that visas dry up and he quotes USCIS spokes person saying we are sitting at 45,000 from week 1 and haven't still moved an inch. Damn it! Gimme a break! Get real
The attorney featured sings to his tune and talks about all things Indian, Indian companies, Indian nationals, India. Wow! Does any one need more ammunition to take charge and paint H1B issue as Indian issue? Sorry to be harsh but this is more of a bad press than any thing helpful.
Then he goes on to say that people are waiting for GC because of strict rules?? Excuse me! until Jul 2007 rules were not implemented. This guy says strict rules.
GCwaitforever
03-24 02:32 PM
Nope. Unless it has some Technology concentration.
Blog Feeds
02-05 06:40 PM
AILA Leadership Has Just Posted the Following:
By Eleanor Pelta, AILA First Vice President
H-1B workers certainly seem to be under fire these days on many fronts. A new memo issued by USCIS on the employer-employee relationship imposes new extra-regulatory regulations on the types of activities in which H-1B workers can engage as well as the types of enterprises that can petition for H-1B workers. The memo targets the consulting industry directly, deftly slips in a new concept that seems to prohibit H-1B petitions for employer-owners of businesses, and will surely constitute an open invitation to the Service Centers to hit H-1B petitioners with a new slew of kitchen-sink RFE's. On another front, USCIS continues to make unannounced H-1B site visits, often repeatedly to the same employer. Apart from the "in-terrorem" impact of such visits, I personally cannot see the utility of three different visits to the same employer, particularly after the first one or two visits show that the employer is fully compliant.
But USCIS isn't the only agency that is rigorously targeting H-1B's. An AILA member recently reported that CBP pulled newly-arrived Indian nationals holding H-1B visas out of an immigration inspection line and reportedly placed them in Expedited Removal. The legal basis of those actions is still unclear. However, the tactic is too close to racial profiling for my own comfort.
Finally, recent H-1B "skirmishes" include various U.S. consular posts in India issuing "pink letters" that are, simply put, consular "RFE's" appearing to question the bona fides of the H-1B and requesting information on a host of truly repetitive and/or irrelevant topics. Much of the information that is routinely requested on a pink letter is already in the copy of the H-1B visa petition. Some of the letters request payroll information for all employees of the sponsoring company, a ridiculous request in most instances, particularly for major multi-national companies. One of the most frustrating actions we are seeing from consular officers in this context is the checking off or highlighting of every single category of additional information on the form letter, whether directly applicable or not, in effect a "paper wall" that must be overcome before an applicant can have the H-1B visa issued. Very discouraging to both employer and employee.
How have we come to a point in time where the H-1B category in and of itself is so disdained and mistrusted? Of course I'm aware that instances of fraud have cast this category in a bad light. But I think that vehemence of the administrative attack on the H-1B category is so disproportionate to the actual statistics about fraud. And interestingly, the disproportionate heavy-handed administrative reaction comes not from the agency specifically tasked with H-1B enforcement�the Department of Labor�but from CIS, CBP and State. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and ask myself what makes people so darn angry about a visa category that, at bottom, is designed to bring in relatively tiny number of really smart people to work in U.S. businesses of any size. It has to be a reaction against something else.
Yes, a great number of IT consultants come to the US on H-1B's. It is important to remember that so many of these individuals are extremely well-educated, capable people, working in an industry in which there are a large number of high profile players. And arguably, the high profile consulting companies have the most at stake if they do not focus on compliance, as they are the easiest enforcement target and they need their business model to work in the U.S. in order to survive. Some people may not like the business model, although arguably IT consulting companies provide needed services that allow US businesses, such as banks and insurance companies to focus on their own core strengths. Like it or not, though, this business model is perfectly legal under current law, and the agencies that enforce our immigration laws have no business trying to eviscerate it by policy or a pattern of discretionary actions.
It is true that some IT consulting companies' practices have been the focus of fraud investigations. But DOL has stringent rules in place to deal with the bad guys. Benching H-1B workers without pay, paying below the prevailing wage, sending H-1B workers on long-term assignments to a site not covered by an LCA�these are the practices we most often hear about, and every single one of these is a violation of an existing regulation that could be enforced by the Department of Labor. When an employer violates wage and hour rules, DOL investigates the practices and enforces the regulations against that employer. But no one shuts down an entire industry as a result.
And the IT consulting industry is not the only user of the H-1B visa. Let's not forget how many other critical fields use H-1B workers. In my own career alone, I have seen H-1B petitions for nanoscientists, ornithologists, CEO's of significant not for profit organizations, teachers, applied mathematicians, risk analysts, professionals involved in pharmaceutical research and development, automotive designers, international legal experts, film editors, microimaging engineers. H-1B's are valuable to small and large businesses alike, arguably even more to that emerging business that needs one key expert to develop a new product or service and get the business off the ground.
The assault on H-1B's is not only offensive, it's dangerous. Here's why:
H-1B's create jobs�statistics show that 5 jobs are created in the U.S. for every H-1B worker hired. An administrative clamp-down in the program will hinder this job creation. And think about the valuable sharing of skills and expertise between H-1B workers and U.S. workers�this is lost when companies are discouraged from using the program.
The anti-H-1B assault dissuades large businesses from conducting research and development in the US, and encourages the relocation of those facilities in jurisdictions that are friendlier to foreign professionals.
The anti-H-1B assault chills the formation of small businesses in the US, particularly in emerging technologies. This will most certainly be one of the long-term results of USCIS' most recent memo.
The attack on H-1B's offends our friends and allies in the world. An example: Earlier this year India �one of the U.S.'s closest allies --announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals working there. Surely the treatment of Indian national H-1B workers at the hands of our agencies involved in the immigration process would not have escaped the attention of the Indian government as they issued their own restrictions.
The increasing challenges in the H-1B program may have the effect of encouraging foreign students who were educated in the U.S. to seek permanent positions elsewhere.
Whatever the cause of the visceral reaction against H-1B workers might be�whether it stems from a fear that fraud will become more widespread or whether it is simply a broader reaction against foreign workers that often raises its head during any down economy �I sincerely hope that the agencies are able to gain some perspective on the program that allows them to treat legitimate H-1B employers and employees with the respect they deserve and to effectively enforce against those who are non-compliant, rather than casting a wide net and treating all H-1B users as abusers.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/186823568153827945-7575642888668204601?l=ailaleadership.blogspot.com
More... (http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-is-h-1b-dirty-word.html)
By Eleanor Pelta, AILA First Vice President
H-1B workers certainly seem to be under fire these days on many fronts. A new memo issued by USCIS on the employer-employee relationship imposes new extra-regulatory regulations on the types of activities in which H-1B workers can engage as well as the types of enterprises that can petition for H-1B workers. The memo targets the consulting industry directly, deftly slips in a new concept that seems to prohibit H-1B petitions for employer-owners of businesses, and will surely constitute an open invitation to the Service Centers to hit H-1B petitioners with a new slew of kitchen-sink RFE's. On another front, USCIS continues to make unannounced H-1B site visits, often repeatedly to the same employer. Apart from the "in-terrorem" impact of such visits, I personally cannot see the utility of three different visits to the same employer, particularly after the first one or two visits show that the employer is fully compliant.
But USCIS isn't the only agency that is rigorously targeting H-1B's. An AILA member recently reported that CBP pulled newly-arrived Indian nationals holding H-1B visas out of an immigration inspection line and reportedly placed them in Expedited Removal. The legal basis of those actions is still unclear. However, the tactic is too close to racial profiling for my own comfort.
Finally, recent H-1B "skirmishes" include various U.S. consular posts in India issuing "pink letters" that are, simply put, consular "RFE's" appearing to question the bona fides of the H-1B and requesting information on a host of truly repetitive and/or irrelevant topics. Much of the information that is routinely requested on a pink letter is already in the copy of the H-1B visa petition. Some of the letters request payroll information for all employees of the sponsoring company, a ridiculous request in most instances, particularly for major multi-national companies. One of the most frustrating actions we are seeing from consular officers in this context is the checking off or highlighting of every single category of additional information on the form letter, whether directly applicable or not, in effect a "paper wall" that must be overcome before an applicant can have the H-1B visa issued. Very discouraging to both employer and employee.
How have we come to a point in time where the H-1B category in and of itself is so disdained and mistrusted? Of course I'm aware that instances of fraud have cast this category in a bad light. But I think that vehemence of the administrative attack on the H-1B category is so disproportionate to the actual statistics about fraud. And interestingly, the disproportionate heavy-handed administrative reaction comes not from the agency specifically tasked with H-1B enforcement�the Department of Labor�but from CIS, CBP and State. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and ask myself what makes people so darn angry about a visa category that, at bottom, is designed to bring in relatively tiny number of really smart people to work in U.S. businesses of any size. It has to be a reaction against something else.
Yes, a great number of IT consultants come to the US on H-1B's. It is important to remember that so many of these individuals are extremely well-educated, capable people, working in an industry in which there are a large number of high profile players. And arguably, the high profile consulting companies have the most at stake if they do not focus on compliance, as they are the easiest enforcement target and they need their business model to work in the U.S. in order to survive. Some people may not like the business model, although arguably IT consulting companies provide needed services that allow US businesses, such as banks and insurance companies to focus on their own core strengths. Like it or not, though, this business model is perfectly legal under current law, and the agencies that enforce our immigration laws have no business trying to eviscerate it by policy or a pattern of discretionary actions.
It is true that some IT consulting companies' practices have been the focus of fraud investigations. But DOL has stringent rules in place to deal with the bad guys. Benching H-1B workers without pay, paying below the prevailing wage, sending H-1B workers on long-term assignments to a site not covered by an LCA�these are the practices we most often hear about, and every single one of these is a violation of an existing regulation that could be enforced by the Department of Labor. When an employer violates wage and hour rules, DOL investigates the practices and enforces the regulations against that employer. But no one shuts down an entire industry as a result.
And the IT consulting industry is not the only user of the H-1B visa. Let's not forget how many other critical fields use H-1B workers. In my own career alone, I have seen H-1B petitions for nanoscientists, ornithologists, CEO's of significant not for profit organizations, teachers, applied mathematicians, risk analysts, professionals involved in pharmaceutical research and development, automotive designers, international legal experts, film editors, microimaging engineers. H-1B's are valuable to small and large businesses alike, arguably even more to that emerging business that needs one key expert to develop a new product or service and get the business off the ground.
The assault on H-1B's is not only offensive, it's dangerous. Here's why:
H-1B's create jobs�statistics show that 5 jobs are created in the U.S. for every H-1B worker hired. An administrative clamp-down in the program will hinder this job creation. And think about the valuable sharing of skills and expertise between H-1B workers and U.S. workers�this is lost when companies are discouraged from using the program.
The anti-H-1B assault dissuades large businesses from conducting research and development in the US, and encourages the relocation of those facilities in jurisdictions that are friendlier to foreign professionals.
The anti-H-1B assault chills the formation of small businesses in the US, particularly in emerging technologies. This will most certainly be one of the long-term results of USCIS' most recent memo.
The attack on H-1B's offends our friends and allies in the world. An example: Earlier this year India �one of the U.S.'s closest allies --announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals working there. Surely the treatment of Indian national H-1B workers at the hands of our agencies involved in the immigration process would not have escaped the attention of the Indian government as they issued their own restrictions.
The increasing challenges in the H-1B program may have the effect of encouraging foreign students who were educated in the U.S. to seek permanent positions elsewhere.
Whatever the cause of the visceral reaction against H-1B workers might be�whether it stems from a fear that fraud will become more widespread or whether it is simply a broader reaction against foreign workers that often raises its head during any down economy �I sincerely hope that the agencies are able to gain some perspective on the program that allows them to treat legitimate H-1B employers and employees with the respect they deserve and to effectively enforce against those who are non-compliant, rather than casting a wide net and treating all H-1B users as abusers.
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