zoooom
08-13 02:07 PM
Mail Sent...Thanks!
Guys we will not need to take the poll if all of us send these letters..
To, 08/05/2008
Charles Oppenheim / Visa Section
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
From,
Your Name/Your Address/EB-3 India Applicant
Priority Date: May 2003
Some City,
OK-2#####
Dear Sir/Madam,
Sub: Statistics on Employment Based AOS(Adjustment of Status) applications pending at USCIS under various categories
I am writing to you to express my sense of helplessness over the unpredictability of Visa Number allotment to various employment based category. I want to bring to your attention that it�s been nearly a �Decade� since we saw any meaningful Visa Date movement from year 2001 for EB-3 Green Card applicants from India.
It is important to know that despite of severe visa retrogression and random visa cutoff date movements, USICIS or DOS hasn�t released any official information on how many Adjustment of Status applications are pending at USCIS under various categories which leaves thousands of AOS(Adjustment of Status) applicants in complete darkness and dependent on guessing games by various Law firms.
A green card application requires enormous amount of efforts and money from the beneficiary and his/her employer. People who are waiting for 7-8 years now would have had already spent average $15,000-$20,000, in maintaining their statuses and keep the Green Card process going on. Being stuck in a green card process keeps us bonded with 1 employer, job type etc.
We need to know if there is any light at the end of the tunnel. We need to know for how long we have to live our life in limbo. If there is hope than we need to be patient and plan to live like that for another 1-2 years. But if there�s no light at the end of the tunnel than we need to move on with our careers and other family commitments. Only your office and USCIS can help us by releasing statistics on the number and categories of applications pending with USCIS people waiting in this category can plan their lives accordingly.
It will be a great help if DOS or USCIS could tell us about the number of AOS application pending at USCIS along with their Categories(EB-3, EB-2, EB-1) and chargeable country.
We have been waiting for a decade and continue to wait would it be reasonable to request you for some guidance with regards to the Visa allotment. I request your office to provide some statistics on home many Adjustment of Status applications are pending at USCIS.
We understand that you work with in the limits of the law as set by the Congress and are limited by various constraints that are beyond your agency realm of work. We appreciate your hard work and sincerely thank you for all the hard work.
God Bless America!
Thank you for you attention,
(Your Name OR EB-3 India Applicant )
Priority Date: April 02
Category: EB-3
Member ImmigrationVoice.Org
Copy Sent to
Honorable Secretary of State
Dr. Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Honorable Director, USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20529
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman
Department of Homeland Security
Attention: Case Problems
Mail Stop 1225
Washington, D.C. 20528-1225
Senator John Cornyn
Chairman - United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on
Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
Chairwoman - United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship,
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
102 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone (202) 225-3072
Guys we will not need to take the poll if all of us send these letters..
To, 08/05/2008
Charles Oppenheim / Visa Section
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
From,
Your Name/Your Address/EB-3 India Applicant
Priority Date: May 2003
Some City,
OK-2#####
Dear Sir/Madam,
Sub: Statistics on Employment Based AOS(Adjustment of Status) applications pending at USCIS under various categories
I am writing to you to express my sense of helplessness over the unpredictability of Visa Number allotment to various employment based category. I want to bring to your attention that it�s been nearly a �Decade� since we saw any meaningful Visa Date movement from year 2001 for EB-3 Green Card applicants from India.
It is important to know that despite of severe visa retrogression and random visa cutoff date movements, USICIS or DOS hasn�t released any official information on how many Adjustment of Status applications are pending at USCIS under various categories which leaves thousands of AOS(Adjustment of Status) applicants in complete darkness and dependent on guessing games by various Law firms.
A green card application requires enormous amount of efforts and money from the beneficiary and his/her employer. People who are waiting for 7-8 years now would have had already spent average $15,000-$20,000, in maintaining their statuses and keep the Green Card process going on. Being stuck in a green card process keeps us bonded with 1 employer, job type etc.
We need to know if there is any light at the end of the tunnel. We need to know for how long we have to live our life in limbo. If there is hope than we need to be patient and plan to live like that for another 1-2 years. But if there�s no light at the end of the tunnel than we need to move on with our careers and other family commitments. Only your office and USCIS can help us by releasing statistics on the number and categories of applications pending with USCIS people waiting in this category can plan their lives accordingly.
It will be a great help if DOS or USCIS could tell us about the number of AOS application pending at USCIS along with their Categories(EB-3, EB-2, EB-1) and chargeable country.
We have been waiting for a decade and continue to wait would it be reasonable to request you for some guidance with regards to the Visa allotment. I request your office to provide some statistics on home many Adjustment of Status applications are pending at USCIS.
We understand that you work with in the limits of the law as set by the Congress and are limited by various constraints that are beyond your agency realm of work. We appreciate your hard work and sincerely thank you for all the hard work.
God Bless America!
Thank you for you attention,
(Your Name OR EB-3 India Applicant )
Priority Date: April 02
Category: EB-3
Member ImmigrationVoice.Org
Copy Sent to
Honorable Secretary of State
Dr. Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Honorable Director, USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20529
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman
Department of Homeland Security
Attention: Case Problems
Mail Stop 1225
Washington, D.C. 20528-1225
Senator John Cornyn
Chairman - United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on
Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
Chairwoman - United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship,
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
102 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone (202) 225-3072
wallpaper smiley faces on white
immi_twinges
07-17 01:41 PM
Guys , I think this issue has been discussed lot of times.
1) USCIS do not allot immigrant visas, It is alloted by DOS.
2) DOS needs a fix in the current EB laws to capture unused visa.
3) I am not sure if we can push any change in law, given the current Iraq war quagmire.
But I hope they speed up the overall application processing times, with all the increased Fee money they will get from July 30th (by investing money on IT).
With the increased fees...Are they ready to promise us they will decreasing the processing times... and not waste visa numbers...
:mad:
1) USCIS do not allot immigrant visas, It is alloted by DOS.
2) DOS needs a fix in the current EB laws to capture unused visa.
3) I am not sure if we can push any change in law, given the current Iraq war quagmire.
But I hope they speed up the overall application processing times, with all the increased Fee money they will get from July 30th (by investing money on IT).
With the increased fees...Are they ready to promise us they will decreasing the processing times... and not waste visa numbers...
:mad:
malaGCPahije
08-13 11:29 AM
It won't help, if everyone starts porting, EB-2 queue will face a similar situation. Porting doesn't happen soon either. With delays in I-140 processing, it may be close to 2 years before you could file for a fresh I-485 with a request to port the EB-3 priority date. Note, this is a grey area and doesn't guarantee you the old PD. If the company is willing to foot the bill, go for it or else IMO it is not worth spending your own money.
Legislative or Administrative fix is our best option. We should focus on the recapture bill and other initiatives by IV, contribute and participate in the action items. We, as a community should raise enough money for lobbying etc.,
Porting should not be done just because of the GC wait. In fact, porting should be a side-effect if anything caused by a change in job. There are much more major considerations as well as reasons for changing a job.
The best course of action is contribute to IV so that we can have more lobbying power. With that, we may be able to get bills like 5882 thru and that is what will help all of us. It is the single path in my mind for minimum investment to maximum return.
Legislative or Administrative fix is our best option. We should focus on the recapture bill and other initiatives by IV, contribute and participate in the action items. We, as a community should raise enough money for lobbying etc.,
Porting should not be done just because of the GC wait. In fact, porting should be a side-effect if anything caused by a change in job. There are much more major considerations as well as reasons for changing a job.
The best course of action is contribute to IV so that we can have more lobbying power. With that, we may be able to get bills like 5882 thru and that is what will help all of us. It is the single path in my mind for minimum investment to maximum return.
2011 sad smiley face clip art.
Honda
05-04 10:26 PM
mine belongs to NSC..I read in another thread that the FP will expire every 15 months and that may be the reason why most of the July filers are getting FP notice again...
That is not reason.
Here is my situation.
In 2007 august i gave first time fingerprints.
In 2008 august i gave second time fingerprints.
Now i got another fingerprint. My service center is also NSC. There is some thing going on, i dont know why they are sending multiple fingerprints.
That is not reason.
Here is my situation.
In 2007 august i gave first time fingerprints.
In 2008 august i gave second time fingerprints.
Now i got another fingerprint. My service center is also NSC. There is some thing going on, i dont know why they are sending multiple fingerprints.
more...
acecupid
06-13 07:37 PM
Jesus! That looks sooo risky. Yes indeed my PD is May 06. Now the question is what if (I know a big IF), but what if, I apply for my 485 (hoping that my 485 will be on EAD/AP for a long time) BUT my 485 gets approved rather quickly and I am not able to marry before that happens -- do I have *any* way to tackle that issue? Or would it then mean that my wife cannot come in US for n number of years after marriage?!
Jesus Christ! Does anything happen without a twist?! :)
Lol... looks like then you have to marry an american gori/gora or ABCD. :D Hopefully you will find a partner in india and get married before 485 gets approved
Jesus Christ! Does anything happen without a twist?! :)
Lol... looks like then you have to marry an american gori/gora or ABCD. :D Hopefully you will find a partner in india and get married before 485 gets approved
desi3933
01-29 01:01 PM
desi - from your posts - you always seem to look at things from all sides and your perspectives and views tend to look like "perfect law in perfect world"
Not sure if you are a lawyer or you have a lot of insight into things, but in real world, even lawmaking is unique and vague. Courts and judges go by how best the case is presented and how and in what angle it can be viewed from and how similar things were dealt with in past.
Litigation experts also look at the psychological aspect of stuff. what I want to say is, the entire process of litigation is a huge animal and we can never judge or assess that.
One of my cousin sister is a criminal lawyer in India and when we get to hear the inside scoop of how stuff is handled in courts you will be surprised that your common knowledge about the law is just not good enough.
There are a lot of factors that go into the so caled legal world and mere book knowledge may not be sufficient.
Your views are good, but they definitely are "bookish" in nature.
I am not a lawyer, however I have been studying immigration laws for couple of years. I have gone thru manay AAO and BIA decisions to understand the laws and more important, their current interpretation.
One can learn a lot what arguments staffing companies have put in when their I-129 (H1-B) and I-140 petitions are denied.
My views may be *bookish*, but they are based on lot of experience behind them.
BTW, I work full time for Fortune-50 company (Finance area).
_______________________
US citizen of Indian origin
Not a legal advice.
Not sure if you are a lawyer or you have a lot of insight into things, but in real world, even lawmaking is unique and vague. Courts and judges go by how best the case is presented and how and in what angle it can be viewed from and how similar things were dealt with in past.
Litigation experts also look at the psychological aspect of stuff. what I want to say is, the entire process of litigation is a huge animal and we can never judge or assess that.
One of my cousin sister is a criminal lawyer in India and when we get to hear the inside scoop of how stuff is handled in courts you will be surprised that your common knowledge about the law is just not good enough.
There are a lot of factors that go into the so caled legal world and mere book knowledge may not be sufficient.
Your views are good, but they definitely are "bookish" in nature.
I am not a lawyer, however I have been studying immigration laws for couple of years. I have gone thru manay AAO and BIA decisions to understand the laws and more important, their current interpretation.
One can learn a lot what arguments staffing companies have put in when their I-129 (H1-B) and I-140 petitions are denied.
My views may be *bookish*, but they are based on lot of experience behind them.
BTW, I work full time for Fortune-50 company (Finance area).
_______________________
US citizen of Indian origin
Not a legal advice.
more...
Chiser99
06-07 04:15 PM
Well the only different skin apple have made, the U2 one, had a red scrollwheel... so surely we should use their one as a guideline, and in that case be allowed to skin the wheel as well?
2010 animated smiley face
anzerraja
07-19 05:40 PM
Please help us clarify this.
Or maybe, a member who is a CPA, probably can answer this question?
Or maybe, a member who is a CPA, probably can answer this question?
more...
unchew
06-04 11:07 PM
thx! :D
hair tattoo www_free-smiley-
pv_gc
04-07 03:27 PM
I just paid $100 through paypal
more...
manishgc
04-07 12:40 PM
Add $100 from me.
hot /clip-art/3090/Happy-Face/
Vexir
06-04 02:25 PM
Well, I used the pen tool and the circle shape tools (its a lot easier that way because you can drag the circle out from the center.. and you can find the center easily by using guides :) ) and they worked pretty good for me...
But that might be a little advanceced for someone new to photoshop.
Good time to learn though :thumb:
But that might be a little advanceced for someone new to photoshop.
Good time to learn though :thumb:
more...
house 2010 cartoon emoticons smiley
badluck
07-12 10:32 AM
I remember long time ago somebody used to say that this Greencard is a SCAM....I am so frustrated..
tattoo smiley face clip art images.
aristotle
02-09 05:10 PM
Does your old company withdraw I140? If the answer is No, then you should move.
My priority date is Jan 04 EB2 and I have a very good job offer. I am in dilemma whether to change the job or just wait for the PD to become current. I have recently got my H1 approval for 3 more year on the basis for 140 approval.
My priority date is Jan 04 EB2 and I have a very good job offer. I am in dilemma whether to change the job or just wait for the PD to become current. I have recently got my H1 approval for 3 more year on the basis for 140 approval.
more...
pictures Free Shamrock Clipart
sayantan76
05-24 12:02 AM
i think he may want to be the ceo of iv.
here are my 2 cents..
its nice to talk endlessly about what went wrong and bitch about it till the morning. one thing we all need to realise is this : we are going to have failures. period. just like we have had failures in the past. this is not going to be easy where you win every single legislation. 10% hit rate is success enough given the opposition and difficulties we face. so now, given that our batting average is going to be low, the question is this : everytime we have a failure, if people are going to sit on their butt, smoking their pipe dreams and doing monday morning quarterbacking about what part was wrong, then shouldn't they also volunteer to their local IV section to make it better? lets face it, if you really think something can be done better, then volunteer to the local IV branch and do it. everybody can benefit. but if all you are going to be doing is sitting here and posting negative messages, then you hurt everybody, starting with you. the opposition is much better organized, has more money and has great influences on the political inside. if you are not providing any constructive or organizational help, causing people to be distracted and causing IV core to lose their focus, and if you are not willing to volunteer to make it better, then in my opinion its best to step aside, be quiet and let the people in charge do it. again, if you are not helping, then you hurt everybody starting with you.
in this case, like paskal mentioned, if you think the phone calls were not important, then you haven't seen the victory message from numbersusa where they talked about the deluge of phone calls that were made by their supporters and how crucial it was in throwing out the visa recapture amendment. if anything, perhaps we could have gotten better organized with the calls. But I suspect things also moved much faster than anyone anticipated, including IV core.
lets focus our energies and support IV core and ourselves.
peace
just presenting a possible reason why what paskal proposed in his post does not work well in IV.......its not a question of whether phone calls are important or not....its a question of making a significant number of forum stakeholders (and not 1-2%) get to act on any initiative......fund raising/ calling efforts etc....
i genuinely believe that the core members go above and beyond whats expected to do what they are doing for IV - its truly remarkable...they all have busy lives and it takes great conviction and dedication to take the time out and do this...but why are the people still not responding despite the obvious pitfalls of not acting on GC related initiatives.......
maybe its lethargy, inaction, indifference etc.......but we should be open to considering that just maybe, a vast and silent majority of IVians do not feel a sense of representation in the organization and hence do not react as enthusiastically as they should........legitimacy among the constituents often comes with representation
why did most kingdoms around the world perish and give way to democracies......bcos the kings taxed the public based on their whims and fancies......elected govts may do the same but people still pay up and if they dont agree - they know they have a choice at the next elections.......
and no, i dont deserve to be the CEO - neither do i have a performance track record nor credibility here......should not stop me from voicing a contrarion view though
here are my 2 cents..
its nice to talk endlessly about what went wrong and bitch about it till the morning. one thing we all need to realise is this : we are going to have failures. period. just like we have had failures in the past. this is not going to be easy where you win every single legislation. 10% hit rate is success enough given the opposition and difficulties we face. so now, given that our batting average is going to be low, the question is this : everytime we have a failure, if people are going to sit on their butt, smoking their pipe dreams and doing monday morning quarterbacking about what part was wrong, then shouldn't they also volunteer to their local IV section to make it better? lets face it, if you really think something can be done better, then volunteer to the local IV branch and do it. everybody can benefit. but if all you are going to be doing is sitting here and posting negative messages, then you hurt everybody, starting with you. the opposition is much better organized, has more money and has great influences on the political inside. if you are not providing any constructive or organizational help, causing people to be distracted and causing IV core to lose their focus, and if you are not willing to volunteer to make it better, then in my opinion its best to step aside, be quiet and let the people in charge do it. again, if you are not helping, then you hurt everybody starting with you.
in this case, like paskal mentioned, if you think the phone calls were not important, then you haven't seen the victory message from numbersusa where they talked about the deluge of phone calls that were made by their supporters and how crucial it was in throwing out the visa recapture amendment. if anything, perhaps we could have gotten better organized with the calls. But I suspect things also moved much faster than anyone anticipated, including IV core.
lets focus our energies and support IV core and ourselves.
peace
just presenting a possible reason why what paskal proposed in his post does not work well in IV.......its not a question of whether phone calls are important or not....its a question of making a significant number of forum stakeholders (and not 1-2%) get to act on any initiative......fund raising/ calling efforts etc....
i genuinely believe that the core members go above and beyond whats expected to do what they are doing for IV - its truly remarkable...they all have busy lives and it takes great conviction and dedication to take the time out and do this...but why are the people still not responding despite the obvious pitfalls of not acting on GC related initiatives.......
maybe its lethargy, inaction, indifference etc.......but we should be open to considering that just maybe, a vast and silent majority of IVians do not feel a sense of representation in the organization and hence do not react as enthusiastically as they should........legitimacy among the constituents often comes with representation
why did most kingdoms around the world perish and give way to democracies......bcos the kings taxed the public based on their whims and fancies......elected govts may do the same but people still pay up and if they dont agree - they know they have a choice at the next elections.......
and no, i dont deserve to be the CEO - neither do i have a performance track record nor credibility here......should not stop me from voicing a contrarion view though
dresses happy face clipart. smiley
mach1343
10-17 03:09 PM
ICICI is a worst crap. CS is horrible. I was with them for last 8 months. They have the best RIP-OFF technology in terms of rate conversions. I am planning to move to SBI. But please suggest best banks for remit2India. We'll list out the banks so that it will useful for other members.
more...
makeup smiley face clip art animation
sobers
02-21 11:17 AM
When the Irish Govt is supporting lobbying by it's ILLEGAL in the U.S, why can't we seek remedies to solve our problems- we are after all, LEGAL immigrants. There is a world of difference!
Maybe someone should contact the Indian Consul in NY too!
---------------
Irish Immigration Slips Into Reverse
As Post-9/11 Security Increases Pressure on the Undocumented, Emerald Isle Offers Haven
By Michelle Garcia
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 20, 2006; A03
NEW YORK -- By now the shipping container carrying Jonathan Langan's material life in the United States has arrived in Ireland. The plush green furniture, his American flag and the construction tools of his trade are all gone from his Queens apartment.
Langan, a lanky, red-haired Irishman, was bidding a final farewell to his adopted country. He didn't leave for want of work -- his fledgling construction company was booming. Success was his problem. The more prosperous his company became, the more Langan feared he would get snared by immigration agents.
"You don't want to give off red flags because you're not supposed to be working," said Langan, 24, who lived illegally in the United States for three years. "It's too dangerous, what happens if you get caught."
The green is draining out of the Irish immigration boom that revitalized neighborhoods across New York over the past two decades. Fear of getting caught in a post-Sept. 11 net coupled with the booming economy in Ireland is drawing thousands of Irish back to the Emerald Isle. Numbers vary on how many have left: The Irish government estimates that about 14,000 Irish returned from the United States since 2001, with more than half of them coming from New York. The Census Bureau reported that between 2000 and 2004, the Irish population throughout the United States shrank by 28,500 people, to 128,000.
A more vivid picture of the exodus is the Gaelic downtown of the northern Bronx, on the border with Yonkers, where green signs and shamrocks decorate store windows.
The Padded Wagon, a popular moving company among the Irish, shipped 30 containers to Ireland in the past three months, each containing the possessions of an Irish family. The Irish games -- Gaelic football and hurling -- have suffered losses. More than 200 players returned to Ireland in the past year, said Seamus Dooley, president of the Gaelic Athletic Association, which has its games at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.
Last month, the Irish minister for social affairs visited New York, to unveil "Returning to Ireland," a guide for Irish preparing for a permanent return trip.
"A travel agent was saying they had sold 1,700 one-way tickets to Ireland," said Geraldine McNabb, an Irish-born naturalized citizen, while she sipped a cranberry cocktail at a pub. "They're not coming back."
Post-Sept. 11 security procedures have disrupted life for the city's undocumented Irish, who number about 20,000, according to estimates by Irish officials and activists. Few experience immigration raids in their homes and job sites. In 2005 just 43 Irish nationals were deported from the United States, none from the New York area, according to U.S. immigration officials.
But federal and state policy changes, the fingerprinting of foreign nationals at airports and a crackdown on driver's licenses have made it much more difficult to hop a plane to visit relatives or drive a car. And tighter scrutiny of banking transactions to prevent the financing of terrorism has scared off families and made starting a business far more dicey.
"What's more alarming to me is people who've been here for years and years are packing up. Families are moving," said Nollaig Cleary, president of the women's division of the New York Gaelic Athletic Association. "You've had the community people who set up business and their families, they're going."
Brenda Flannagan, 31, immigrated illegally to the United States in her twenties, looking for adventure. Now she has a husband and a baby, and is looking to settle down. A trip back to Ireland to visit her parents could leave her open to discovery by immigration officials -- so she is going home for good.
Raising a child will only compound her difficulties here. "You can't drive. It will get more difficult," said Flannagan, who expects to leave in the fall. "Things like play dates and after-school activities."
With fewer immigrants pouring in, and so many Irish packing up, pub talk revolves around the question of the survival of the Irish spirit in New York. Irish immigrants poured in by the hundreds of thousands in the 19th century and again in the early 20th century.
A third wave came in the 1980s when the Irish economy tanked, and it rejuvenated Irish culture in New York, as politically inspired Irish rock and hip-hop bands worked the club scene, and Irish theater and poetry spread throughout the city.
"You have a great Irish neighborhood beginning to crumble," said Niall O'Dowd, publisher of the Irish Voice and chairman of the newly formed Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. "Unfortunately Americans are mixing up terrorism and immigration."
The Irish, however, retain considerable political clout. Fifteen years ago, they successfully lobbied Congress to direct tens of thousands of green cards into the hands of undocumented Irish.
O'Dowd and other activists recently rallied the fighting Irish spirits at Rory Dolan's pub in Yonkers, as they begin lobbying for an immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship.
The Irish government contributed 30,000 euros, ($40,000 at today's rate) to the effort. Tim O'Connor, Ireland's consul general in New York, stresses that the United States played a vital role in helping to stimulate Ireland's economic boom with investments.
"It's in the interest of both countries that we have people who have the ability to go back and forth between both countries," said O'Connor, noting that 15 percent of new businesses in Ireland were built by returning Irish.
Some Irish take their leave with optimism, looking to the jobs and construction boom in their homeland.
"Everything is so good in Ireland," said Flannagan, while her husband, John, a carpenter, was at the pub enjoying "a few sociables." "There's a lot of construction work for the guys."
Flannagan held her baby girl, a U.S. citizen and last link to the United States. "Maybe she can sponsor us when she's 21," she said. Then, she added, "I think the notion of coming back, by then, will be gone."
Maybe someone should contact the Indian Consul in NY too!
---------------
Irish Immigration Slips Into Reverse
As Post-9/11 Security Increases Pressure on the Undocumented, Emerald Isle Offers Haven
By Michelle Garcia
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 20, 2006; A03
NEW YORK -- By now the shipping container carrying Jonathan Langan's material life in the United States has arrived in Ireland. The plush green furniture, his American flag and the construction tools of his trade are all gone from his Queens apartment.
Langan, a lanky, red-haired Irishman, was bidding a final farewell to his adopted country. He didn't leave for want of work -- his fledgling construction company was booming. Success was his problem. The more prosperous his company became, the more Langan feared he would get snared by immigration agents.
"You don't want to give off red flags because you're not supposed to be working," said Langan, 24, who lived illegally in the United States for three years. "It's too dangerous, what happens if you get caught."
The green is draining out of the Irish immigration boom that revitalized neighborhoods across New York over the past two decades. Fear of getting caught in a post-Sept. 11 net coupled with the booming economy in Ireland is drawing thousands of Irish back to the Emerald Isle. Numbers vary on how many have left: The Irish government estimates that about 14,000 Irish returned from the United States since 2001, with more than half of them coming from New York. The Census Bureau reported that between 2000 and 2004, the Irish population throughout the United States shrank by 28,500 people, to 128,000.
A more vivid picture of the exodus is the Gaelic downtown of the northern Bronx, on the border with Yonkers, where green signs and shamrocks decorate store windows.
The Padded Wagon, a popular moving company among the Irish, shipped 30 containers to Ireland in the past three months, each containing the possessions of an Irish family. The Irish games -- Gaelic football and hurling -- have suffered losses. More than 200 players returned to Ireland in the past year, said Seamus Dooley, president of the Gaelic Athletic Association, which has its games at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.
Last month, the Irish minister for social affairs visited New York, to unveil "Returning to Ireland," a guide for Irish preparing for a permanent return trip.
"A travel agent was saying they had sold 1,700 one-way tickets to Ireland," said Geraldine McNabb, an Irish-born naturalized citizen, while she sipped a cranberry cocktail at a pub. "They're not coming back."
Post-Sept. 11 security procedures have disrupted life for the city's undocumented Irish, who number about 20,000, according to estimates by Irish officials and activists. Few experience immigration raids in their homes and job sites. In 2005 just 43 Irish nationals were deported from the United States, none from the New York area, according to U.S. immigration officials.
But federal and state policy changes, the fingerprinting of foreign nationals at airports and a crackdown on driver's licenses have made it much more difficult to hop a plane to visit relatives or drive a car. And tighter scrutiny of banking transactions to prevent the financing of terrorism has scared off families and made starting a business far more dicey.
"What's more alarming to me is people who've been here for years and years are packing up. Families are moving," said Nollaig Cleary, president of the women's division of the New York Gaelic Athletic Association. "You've had the community people who set up business and their families, they're going."
Brenda Flannagan, 31, immigrated illegally to the United States in her twenties, looking for adventure. Now she has a husband and a baby, and is looking to settle down. A trip back to Ireland to visit her parents could leave her open to discovery by immigration officials -- so she is going home for good.
Raising a child will only compound her difficulties here. "You can't drive. It will get more difficult," said Flannagan, who expects to leave in the fall. "Things like play dates and after-school activities."
With fewer immigrants pouring in, and so many Irish packing up, pub talk revolves around the question of the survival of the Irish spirit in New York. Irish immigrants poured in by the hundreds of thousands in the 19th century and again in the early 20th century.
A third wave came in the 1980s when the Irish economy tanked, and it rejuvenated Irish culture in New York, as politically inspired Irish rock and hip-hop bands worked the club scene, and Irish theater and poetry spread throughout the city.
"You have a great Irish neighborhood beginning to crumble," said Niall O'Dowd, publisher of the Irish Voice and chairman of the newly formed Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. "Unfortunately Americans are mixing up terrorism and immigration."
The Irish, however, retain considerable political clout. Fifteen years ago, they successfully lobbied Congress to direct tens of thousands of green cards into the hands of undocumented Irish.
O'Dowd and other activists recently rallied the fighting Irish spirits at Rory Dolan's pub in Yonkers, as they begin lobbying for an immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship.
The Irish government contributed 30,000 euros, ($40,000 at today's rate) to the effort. Tim O'Connor, Ireland's consul general in New York, stresses that the United States played a vital role in helping to stimulate Ireland's economic boom with investments.
"It's in the interest of both countries that we have people who have the ability to go back and forth between both countries," said O'Connor, noting that 15 percent of new businesses in Ireland were built by returning Irish.
Some Irish take their leave with optimism, looking to the jobs and construction boom in their homeland.
"Everything is so good in Ireland," said Flannagan, while her husband, John, a carpenter, was at the pub enjoying "a few sociables." "There's a lot of construction work for the guys."
Flannagan held her baby girl, a U.S. citizen and last link to the United States. "Maybe she can sponsor us when she's 21," she said. Then, she added, "I think the notion of coming back, by then, will be gone."
girlfriend smiley face clip art
sobers
02-20 02:14 PM
Sensenbrenner Statement after President Bush's Speech on the State of the Union
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In response to President Bush's speech on the State of the Union, Menomonee Falls Representative Jim Sensenbrenner issued the following statement:
“President Bush’s speech tonight was a strong and visionary statement that accurately reflected the state of our union. Since his last such address, our nation has gone through waves of lows and highs. From the horrors of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, to the December elections in Iraq where the Iraqis chose their first representational government under their new constitution, Americans have experienced both great pain and great elation.
But as the President said, ‘Our work in Iraq is difficult because our enemy is brutal.’ This brutality is continually demonstrated by the actions of terrorists who prey upon innocent men and women to preach their message of hatred. As our nation makes progress in the War on Terror, I hope to see our sons and daughters return home from their tour of duty -- American soldiers will stand down as Iraqi soldiers stand up.
On the subject of immigration, I was pleased to hear the President discuss the need for orderly and secure borders, and a plan that calls for stronger immigration enforcement that, among other things, rejects amnesty for illegal aliens. There is much work that remains to be done as we try to build consensus. The Border Security bill I introduced and the House passed last year is just the first step towards a comprehensive immigration plan. Currently, our immigration laws rival our nation’s convoluted tax code.
This highlights our need to hold the line on spending in Congress. In order to maintain America’s competitive edge, a recurring theme through the President’s speech, we must spend our taxpayer dollars wisely. I agree with the President that the federal budget includes too many special projects, better known as “pork.” To that end, I support providing the President with a line item veto.
Tonight Congress has been challenged to act on many issues. I accept the challenge laid down by President Bush to deliver common sense legislation that will continue to improve our security and quality of life.”
Contact: Raj Bharwani, (202) 225-5101
Sensenbrenner Press Office
http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner/pr20060131.html
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Much work remains to be done...as we try build consensus. This (Sensenbrenner Bill) is just the first step...toward Comprehensive immigration.
My reading is that sensenbrenner seems to be open to consensus...and amenable to comprehensive reform (which in other words is tougher border security and interior enforcement + guest worker program similar to Coryn-Kyls'). Despite public rhetoric, if there is enough time we may see such legislation come to pass in the 109th Congress. We need to see how we can bring about meaningful EB visa relief in such a scenario.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In response to President Bush's speech on the State of the Union, Menomonee Falls Representative Jim Sensenbrenner issued the following statement:
“President Bush’s speech tonight was a strong and visionary statement that accurately reflected the state of our union. Since his last such address, our nation has gone through waves of lows and highs. From the horrors of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, to the December elections in Iraq where the Iraqis chose their first representational government under their new constitution, Americans have experienced both great pain and great elation.
But as the President said, ‘Our work in Iraq is difficult because our enemy is brutal.’ This brutality is continually demonstrated by the actions of terrorists who prey upon innocent men and women to preach their message of hatred. As our nation makes progress in the War on Terror, I hope to see our sons and daughters return home from their tour of duty -- American soldiers will stand down as Iraqi soldiers stand up.
On the subject of immigration, I was pleased to hear the President discuss the need for orderly and secure borders, and a plan that calls for stronger immigration enforcement that, among other things, rejects amnesty for illegal aliens. There is much work that remains to be done as we try to build consensus. The Border Security bill I introduced and the House passed last year is just the first step towards a comprehensive immigration plan. Currently, our immigration laws rival our nation’s convoluted tax code.
This highlights our need to hold the line on spending in Congress. In order to maintain America’s competitive edge, a recurring theme through the President’s speech, we must spend our taxpayer dollars wisely. I agree with the President that the federal budget includes too many special projects, better known as “pork.” To that end, I support providing the President with a line item veto.
Tonight Congress has been challenged to act on many issues. I accept the challenge laid down by President Bush to deliver common sense legislation that will continue to improve our security and quality of life.”
Contact: Raj Bharwani, (202) 225-5101
Sensenbrenner Press Office
http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner/pr20060131.html
----------
Much work remains to be done...as we try build consensus. This (Sensenbrenner Bill) is just the first step...toward Comprehensive immigration.
My reading is that sensenbrenner seems to be open to consensus...and amenable to comprehensive reform (which in other words is tougher border security and interior enforcement + guest worker program similar to Coryn-Kyls'). Despite public rhetoric, if there is enough time we may see such legislation come to pass in the 109th Congress. We need to see how we can bring about meaningful EB visa relief in such a scenario.
hairstyles Set of 25 smiley faces: in
drirshad
06-03 03:49 PM
06/03/2008: House Returns to the Session Today After Memorial Holiday Break With Various EB Legislative Bills on the Shelves
* Both the House and the Senate will start picking up the legislative bills from this week and some of the employment-based bills will come to their attention as time moves on, such as Conrad 30 extension bill or Conrad 30 program improvement bill for the international medical graduates (current law already sunsetting two days ago on June 1, 2008) and religious worker immigration bill which will sunset at the end of September 2008. These two bills passed the House waiting for the Senate action.
There are many other immigration bills pending in the House and the Senate, some of which were attached to the Iraq War Emergency Special Spending bill in the Senate and all of these bills were killed by either the Senate majority leaders or hardliner minority Senators primarily related to the AgJOBs bill which was considered by the illegal immigration relief opponents as an amnesty legislation which the Democrats attempted to pass as part of the national election year strategy.
The employment-based immigration bills are currently facing a strong resistance from the comprehensive immigration reform advocates opposing piecemeal immigration legislations and deeply tangled in the election year party politics. The comprehensive immigration reform proponents appear to take a strategy of holding the immigration legislation at bay until next January or February, while the employment-based piecemeal immigration proponents want the Congress to pass these bills before the end of the year. As the primaries of the Democratic Presidential nomination are about to wind down and the election politics will pick up the heat of steam of the presidential fights between the Republican candidate and the Democratic Candidate, both of the candidates may noticeably try to move to the center to grab independent voters, giving added strength to the comprehensive immigration reform proponents as opposed to the employment-based piecemeal immigration reform proponents. From the perspectives of the employment based immigration legislation, there lie some uphill battles. We will closely watch and monitor the drama for the next two or three months. Unless any EB based bills are compromised and passed during the period, the chance for the EB reform will practically evaporate in 2008. Please stay tuned.
* Both the House and the Senate will start picking up the legislative bills from this week and some of the employment-based bills will come to their attention as time moves on, such as Conrad 30 extension bill or Conrad 30 program improvement bill for the international medical graduates (current law already sunsetting two days ago on June 1, 2008) and religious worker immigration bill which will sunset at the end of September 2008. These two bills passed the House waiting for the Senate action.
There are many other immigration bills pending in the House and the Senate, some of which were attached to the Iraq War Emergency Special Spending bill in the Senate and all of these bills were killed by either the Senate majority leaders or hardliner minority Senators primarily related to the AgJOBs bill which was considered by the illegal immigration relief opponents as an amnesty legislation which the Democrats attempted to pass as part of the national election year strategy.
The employment-based immigration bills are currently facing a strong resistance from the comprehensive immigration reform advocates opposing piecemeal immigration legislations and deeply tangled in the election year party politics. The comprehensive immigration reform proponents appear to take a strategy of holding the immigration legislation at bay until next January or February, while the employment-based piecemeal immigration proponents want the Congress to pass these bills before the end of the year. As the primaries of the Democratic Presidential nomination are about to wind down and the election politics will pick up the heat of steam of the presidential fights between the Republican candidate and the Democratic Candidate, both of the candidates may noticeably try to move to the center to grab independent voters, giving added strength to the comprehensive immigration reform proponents as opposed to the employment-based piecemeal immigration reform proponents. From the perspectives of the employment based immigration legislation, there lie some uphill battles. We will closely watch and monitor the drama for the next two or three months. Unless any EB based bills are compromised and passed during the period, the chance for the EB reform will practically evaporate in 2008. Please stay tuned.
obviously
06-23 12:45 PM
Can we each leave a 'personalized note' on how much we have contributed in Federal / State / Social Security taxes + Medicare / etc.???? Even a rough order estimate... to get them to listen to us seriously.
Is this something that IV can help co-ordinate?
1. State-wise, collect estimates of taxes paid till date
2. Collect the data (anonymously, of course) and send a written brief to each Senator in that state - making a clear economic case to how we contribute
3. Collect the data (nationally, with statistical analysis thrown in) and send a written brief to all Senators - making a case at a national level.
We need eye-popping numbers, charts and quotes ... to continue the PR around high skilled immigrant needs.
Thoughts?
Is this something that IV can help co-ordinate?
1. State-wise, collect estimates of taxes paid till date
2. Collect the data (anonymously, of course) and send a written brief to each Senator in that state - making a clear economic case to how we contribute
3. Collect the data (nationally, with statistical analysis thrown in) and send a written brief to all Senators - making a case at a national level.
We need eye-popping numbers, charts and quotes ... to continue the PR around high skilled immigrant needs.
Thoughts?
twinbrothers
07-10 11:49 AM
I guess USCIS is getting pretty smart. To be a plaintiff in the lawsuit, your application has to get rejected. By holding your application, it is probably preventing you to be a plaintiff. Smart F***ing A**es
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