needhelp!
11-20 11:22 AM
Swamy & Wantgc23
wallpaper Mercedes-Benz has improved the
senthil1
07-10 12:28 PM
FBI check delay is admin procedure so courts could take up the case. But per country quota is law.
Many persons used to say skills need to be basis for selection. But that is not applicable for GC processing. Here there is no selection from multiple candidates. In Labor and I140 they are checking that particular candidate is suitable for that position or not and also no US citizen is available for the job. If not they will reject the candidate. So they are not selecting based on Merrit as no compettion is there for the particular position. So it is just all the eligible persons will get GC. It is similar to all the high school passed candidates will get admission to college if seats are available but not based on marks but based on FIFO basis.
By FIFO based it is discriminatory but still unused other country quota is used in last quarter for India and China. So per country quota impact will be less if CIS uses all the 140K. Also they are not giving any one country preference or quota. So it is not outrageous compared to many other controversial laws. Law in any country is not perfect and even if perfect it will give more benefit to some group.
It is very difficult to win by lawsuit against any law unless that law is outrageous and impacts many persons. So best way is to try for another law to change a law. But just removing per country quota will give very less benefit especially for Eb3. Waiting time will reduce from 7 to 6 years for all countries. If per country quota is removed with recapture bill then waiting time for EB3 may reduce to 1 to 3 years for EB3.
I also personally think the lawsuit is the better way, especially in the election year.
It can produce one of the three results:
1> We Win... Everything is fine.
2> We Lose... At least the thing got settled and it is clear that the US can create discriminatory laws.
3> Force Congress & the US govt. to expediately state its stand & justify the stand on the per country quota limit in employment based immigration.
Everyone, I talked to including some lawyers, especially after 9/11, thought that nothing could be done about FBI check ups. But guess what, the courts decided in favor and required that FBI check ups be done in 6 months.
Second case would be about Guatanamo Bay prisoners. Even there, the courts decided the prisoners were protected by the US human rights laws.
The good thing about the US is the case gets settled/decided ASAP, and it would make sense to give the lawsuit a try.
Many persons used to say skills need to be basis for selection. But that is not applicable for GC processing. Here there is no selection from multiple candidates. In Labor and I140 they are checking that particular candidate is suitable for that position or not and also no US citizen is available for the job. If not they will reject the candidate. So they are not selecting based on Merrit as no compettion is there for the particular position. So it is just all the eligible persons will get GC. It is similar to all the high school passed candidates will get admission to college if seats are available but not based on marks but based on FIFO basis.
By FIFO based it is discriminatory but still unused other country quota is used in last quarter for India and China. So per country quota impact will be less if CIS uses all the 140K. Also they are not giving any one country preference or quota. So it is not outrageous compared to many other controversial laws. Law in any country is not perfect and even if perfect it will give more benefit to some group.
It is very difficult to win by lawsuit against any law unless that law is outrageous and impacts many persons. So best way is to try for another law to change a law. But just removing per country quota will give very less benefit especially for Eb3. Waiting time will reduce from 7 to 6 years for all countries. If per country quota is removed with recapture bill then waiting time for EB3 may reduce to 1 to 3 years for EB3.
I also personally think the lawsuit is the better way, especially in the election year.
It can produce one of the three results:
1> We Win... Everything is fine.
2> We Lose... At least the thing got settled and it is clear that the US can create discriminatory laws.
3> Force Congress & the US govt. to expediately state its stand & justify the stand on the per country quota limit in employment based immigration.
Everyone, I talked to including some lawyers, especially after 9/11, thought that nothing could be done about FBI check ups. But guess what, the courts decided in favor and required that FBI check ups be done in 6 months.
Second case would be about Guatanamo Bay prisoners. Even there, the courts decided the prisoners were protected by the US human rights laws.
The good thing about the US is the case gets settled/decided ASAP, and it would make sense to give the lawsuit a try.
k3GC
11-20 06:59 PM
Just did another $100.00 contribution, a small contribution to support all efforts to get something done to help our cause.
2011 Mercedes Benz C200 CGI was
ragz4u
04-20 12:17 PM
Ragz
Can you publish more stories.... Thanks
I am posting this story sent by a person literally wasting her skills away as an H4 visa holder. I am sure lots of IV members and their spouses can relate to this.....
All those who are suffering like this please consider contributing to IV and we request members to join in doing action alerts, Letters to Editors and participate in forums
Here it goes
I have about 7 years of experience as a project manager in Environmental Engg and a BS from a very reputed school but my visa status doesnt permit me to work. Recently, I had to let go of a wonderful job offer because I didnt have EAD and was not even eligible to apply for H1 work permit, having used up 6 years of H status (the employer was ready to sponsor). That leaves me no option but wait for backlog to be cleared or Plan B- move back home. With retrogression, it would take atleast two more years to get my EAD. That would take away 8 years of my productive time in life. All these 6 years, I have volunteered in different non-profit organisations by developing and maintaining their websites. I am also volunteering in my son's school. We have been paying our taxes, donating to Firemen, Policemen etc. It is frustrating that we are giving to the community and not getting basic work permit in return.
How US will benefit if you remain here (competitiveness angle) -
I have a subtantial work experience and energy which I can put to use if I get to work and contribute to the US economy. Currently all my skills are wasted while the job position I could not fill due to immigration issues remains open for last 5 months.
Can you publish more stories.... Thanks
I am posting this story sent by a person literally wasting her skills away as an H4 visa holder. I am sure lots of IV members and their spouses can relate to this.....
All those who are suffering like this please consider contributing to IV and we request members to join in doing action alerts, Letters to Editors and participate in forums
Here it goes
I have about 7 years of experience as a project manager in Environmental Engg and a BS from a very reputed school but my visa status doesnt permit me to work. Recently, I had to let go of a wonderful job offer because I didnt have EAD and was not even eligible to apply for H1 work permit, having used up 6 years of H status (the employer was ready to sponsor). That leaves me no option but wait for backlog to be cleared or Plan B- move back home. With retrogression, it would take atleast two more years to get my EAD. That would take away 8 years of my productive time in life. All these 6 years, I have volunteered in different non-profit organisations by developing and maintaining their websites. I am also volunteering in my son's school. We have been paying our taxes, donating to Firemen, Policemen etc. It is frustrating that we are giving to the community and not getting basic work permit in return.
How US will benefit if you remain here (competitiveness angle) -
I have a subtantial work experience and energy which I can put to use if I get to work and contribute to the US economy. Currently all my skills are wasted while the job position I could not fill due to immigration issues remains open for last 5 months.
more...
pritesh80
04-13 12:13 AM
Any Updates on how many Masters students H1B visas have been counted. Last i read on this forum was 12,989. Any current news?
anurakt
12-19 12:25 PM
Guys,
The collection so far shows 33.33% of the $60K target as of December 11th.
Friends I pledge a $500 donation as soon as the figures reaches 500 less than halfway ... i.e $29,500 and another again once the figure reaches 500 less of $60,000 i.e $59,500. Pappu or any of the core member please let me know once we touch this figures BY 31ST DECEMBER. Till then keep the marathon going.
LET'S SEE IF YOU GUYS CAN MAKE ME SHELL $1000 IN TOTAL.... :-))
Core members if need be , put my pledge on the main page... would like see if this forum has ba**s to make me shell out the $1000 bucks.....
MEMBERS ..YOU GOT TWO WEEKS TO SHOW SOME SPIRITS...CALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES...LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN ACHEIVE .... I PERSONALLY BELEIVE THAT THIS WOULD BE A TESTIMONY OF OUR SPIRIT TO RESOLVE OUR ISSUE NEXT YEAR... IF YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN I AM 110% CERTAIN THAT WE WILL RESOLVE EVERYTHING NEXT YEAR....ELSE FORGET GREEN CARD .... PLEASE SIT AT HOME TILL YOUR HAIRS TURNED WHITE AND YOU NEED THOSE EXTRA SET OF TEETHS..... NO ONE CAN SAVE YOU....
CAN U TAKE THE CHALLENGE ?????
Only 9% away from my first $500 contribution as part of the pledge..... this forum is so slow.... I thought that by today noon I have to shell out $500...but doesn't looks the case...
Oh I forgot ! This forum is used to slow processing ...let it be GC or Contribution..... doesn't surprises me..... Our fraternity is used to slow things just like GC .... come guys /gals ..... show some speed....
The collection so far shows 33.33% of the $60K target as of December 11th.
Friends I pledge a $500 donation as soon as the figures reaches 500 less than halfway ... i.e $29,500 and another again once the figure reaches 500 less of $60,000 i.e $59,500. Pappu or any of the core member please let me know once we touch this figures BY 31ST DECEMBER. Till then keep the marathon going.
LET'S SEE IF YOU GUYS CAN MAKE ME SHELL $1000 IN TOTAL.... :-))
Core members if need be , put my pledge on the main page... would like see if this forum has ba**s to make me shell out the $1000 bucks.....
MEMBERS ..YOU GOT TWO WEEKS TO SHOW SOME SPIRITS...CALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES...LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN ACHEIVE .... I PERSONALLY BELEIVE THAT THIS WOULD BE A TESTIMONY OF OUR SPIRIT TO RESOLVE OUR ISSUE NEXT YEAR... IF YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN I AM 110% CERTAIN THAT WE WILL RESOLVE EVERYTHING NEXT YEAR....ELSE FORGET GREEN CARD .... PLEASE SIT AT HOME TILL YOUR HAIRS TURNED WHITE AND YOU NEED THOSE EXTRA SET OF TEETHS..... NO ONE CAN SAVE YOU....
CAN U TAKE THE CHALLENGE ?????
Only 9% away from my first $500 contribution as part of the pledge..... this forum is so slow.... I thought that by today noon I have to shell out $500...but doesn't looks the case...
Oh I forgot ! This forum is used to slow processing ...let it be GC or Contribution..... doesn't surprises me..... Our fraternity is used to slow things just like GC .... come guys /gals ..... show some speed....
more...
murali77
08-09 05:26 PM
On the same note I have a question for the Gurus.
My name is reversed ( first name and last name interchanged) on my SSN and hence on my credit cards, employment letters etc though my name is correct on my passport , H1 , I-797 and on files AOS.. etc.
Will this pose a problem in the name check process?
My attorney said I should change my name with SSN after EAD/AP arrives.
Let me know ur opinions.
Thanks
Murali
My name is reversed ( first name and last name interchanged) on my SSN and hence on my credit cards, employment letters etc though my name is correct on my passport , H1 , I-797 and on files AOS.. etc.
Will this pose a problem in the name check process?
My attorney said I should change my name with SSN after EAD/AP arrives.
Let me know ur opinions.
Thanks
Murali
2010 mercedes benz c200 cgi
english_august
07-05 08:09 PM
The media needs to know, I do not have any idea how.
Media will know - if we get enough numbers. I am already in touch with a couple of journalists but the critical thing is to get a good number to make a media event out of it. The current poll shows 53 Ayes and 124 Nays - well that's not going to cut it. We need more people to order tomorrow otherwise delivery window for Tuesday morning will be shut off.
Media will know - if we get enough numbers. I am already in touch with a couple of journalists but the critical thing is to get a good number to make a media event out of it. The current poll shows 53 Ayes and 124 Nays - well that's not going to cut it. We need more people to order tomorrow otherwise delivery window for Tuesday morning will be shut off.
more...
yestogc
05-11 10:01 PM
USCIS has done what britisher's did "DIVIDE AND RULE".
They have divided the whole GC process into various categories already.
First it is Employment/Family/lottery.
Then it is eb1/2/3 and so on
Then it is country wise quota.
I mostly see people from categories eb 2 and 3 fight over this issue.
Few years back it was just eb3.
Please do not start a new category "SUBSTITUTED LABOR" .................no one wants anyone ahead of him and same applies to me as well.
They have divided the whole GC process into various categories already.
First it is Employment/Family/lottery.
Then it is eb1/2/3 and so on
Then it is country wise quota.
I mostly see people from categories eb 2 and 3 fight over this issue.
Few years back it was just eb3.
Please do not start a new category "SUBSTITUTED LABOR" .................no one wants anyone ahead of him and same applies to me as well.
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abhijitp
11-19 07:05 PM
^^
more...
gc28262
03-09 11:43 AM
I used "$25 and subscribe for one month"
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gk_2000
06-09 02:36 PM
I had this question - how the 50k would be used? If you could post in greater detail perhaps more members would be enlightened to contribute
more...
house 2010 Mercedes-Benz C200 CGI
addsf345
04-13 02:17 PM
USCIS do have some checks and balances for the subst labor cases, so its not a staright approvals for the lab subst cases. their might be a possibility few lucky ones get off the hook, but overall USCIS can weed out the dubious/fraudulent employer petitions.
Sub labor is not the only reason guys, its just the country cap which is limiting india EB-3 and EB-2. Most of the H1Bs like us coming to us ends up applying for GC, now look at the number of H1Bs coming each year from india and the total number of GCs available for india. Their is a huge gap in these numbers, so unless they remove the country cap or recaptured unused VISA numbers from the past years, we dont see any relief.
Please donate to IV and help lobbying for the admin fixes or the laws which going to help us in the long run.
I am no expert but here is what I think.
by concentrating energy on spilled over milk, why not work towards recapturing unused visa numbers? It has been done in past successfully. It is in huge numbers, guess around 300-400K or so.
while wasting energy on 2-3K or may be 5K lc sub cases will do no good for everyone. visa recapture will solve problems for most of the community.
take your pick. its no brainer!!!
LC Sub is long gone. Those who *legally* got pre-2001 may already have gc by now, and its not going to affect them anyway.
Think in a professional manner and do what provides the most benefit.
Sub labor is not the only reason guys, its just the country cap which is limiting india EB-3 and EB-2. Most of the H1Bs like us coming to us ends up applying for GC, now look at the number of H1Bs coming each year from india and the total number of GCs available for india. Their is a huge gap in these numbers, so unless they remove the country cap or recaptured unused VISA numbers from the past years, we dont see any relief.
Please donate to IV and help lobbying for the admin fixes or the laws which going to help us in the long run.
I am no expert but here is what I think.
by concentrating energy on spilled over milk, why not work towards recapturing unused visa numbers? It has been done in past successfully. It is in huge numbers, guess around 300-400K or so.
while wasting energy on 2-3K or may be 5K lc sub cases will do no good for everyone. visa recapture will solve problems for most of the community.
take your pick. its no brainer!!!
LC Sub is long gone. Those who *legally* got pre-2001 may already have gc by now, and its not going to affect them anyway.
Think in a professional manner and do what provides the most benefit.
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govindk
11-26 11:02 AM
Contributed $100 just now. Google Order #626789966911111
Thanks IV for all your efforts
Thanks IV for all your efforts
more...
pictures Mercedes C200 CGI Sport
raysaikat
07-10 07:15 PM
Some people like me who really love what they do and dont prefer changing jobs have reached a point where they are begining to think if it is all even worth the wait.
Just for curiosity: If you love your job and content with your current position, then what is the problem in waiting?
Just for curiosity: If you love your job and content with your current position, then what is the problem in waiting?
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santb1975
12-04 12:41 AM
:confused:
Typo: Not getting bumped by Donations
Typo: Not getting bumped by Donations
more...
makeup The C200 CGI is also the most
kpchal2
08-21 01:36 PM
my rfe was for validity of marriage (was married for less than 2 years at the time of application and so got an rfe) and they tagged the evl along with it.
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atul555
08-12 05:53 PM
...but what's up with growing vegetable...
Jai jawan jai kisaan...
j/k do whatever gives you pleasure..
EB3 Guys,
Take it easy... This is just for humour, to have fun at these times.
No green card for you. Just work well for 6 years, enjoy life in US, enjoy sports cars by renting, not by buying, rent a big house, have a lawn and garden in back yard, grow your own vegetables. Have nice vacations like Hawaii, Jamaican islands, Vegas, Porto Rico etc.,Have fun in life. Do not go for green card. After 6 years, get nice job in India,own apartment near to office and ask your parents to live with you. Take kids to school . Have fun with them. Try to become director, AVP,VP,SVP,CEO,CTO and President. Do not go for green card. After you become director, buy a single family home and mercedez or BMW and have fun. Retire by the time your kids become earners. Grow vegetables in back yard. Do gardening and have fun. Thats how life should be. Do not hope for green card. H A V E F U N.
Jai jawan jai kisaan...
j/k do whatever gives you pleasure..
EB3 Guys,
Take it easy... This is just for humour, to have fun at these times.
No green card for you. Just work well for 6 years, enjoy life in US, enjoy sports cars by renting, not by buying, rent a big house, have a lawn and garden in back yard, grow your own vegetables. Have nice vacations like Hawaii, Jamaican islands, Vegas, Porto Rico etc.,Have fun in life. Do not go for green card. After 6 years, get nice job in India,own apartment near to office and ask your parents to live with you. Take kids to school . Have fun with them. Try to become director, AVP,VP,SVP,CEO,CTO and President. Do not go for green card. After you become director, buy a single family home and mercedez or BMW and have fun. Retire by the time your kids become earners. Grow vegetables in back yard. Do gardening and have fun. Thats how life should be. Do not hope for green card. H A V E F U N.
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alisa
02-04 01:44 PM
I totally agree with you my friend.
I came across this website last year in November. I got active in December, and contributed, and tried to get active in my state chapter.
When I come across posts that want to remove country caps, or some other measure that is going to be harmful to me, I have to stop and ask myself if I am shooting myself in the foot by supporting IV.
Its not about whats fair. Nor about what common sense is. Its about self-interest.
If we are increasing the size of the pie, then it benefits me (ROW) to be here. If we are to fight each other over crumbs, then it doesn't.
Alisa,
what should prevail is a matter of perspective. If you are an Indian then skill should prevail, if you are not, then of course it is the other way around
I came across this website last year in November. I got active in December, and contributed, and tried to get active in my state chapter.
When I come across posts that want to remove country caps, or some other measure that is going to be harmful to me, I have to stop and ask myself if I am shooting myself in the foot by supporting IV.
Its not about whats fair. Nor about what common sense is. Its about self-interest.
If we are increasing the size of the pie, then it benefits me (ROW) to be here. If we are to fight each other over crumbs, then it doesn't.
Alisa,
what should prevail is a matter of perspective. If you are an Indian then skill should prevail, if you are not, then of course it is the other way around
bayarea07
09-11 08:35 PM
Thats True, I see that too that people doesnot seems to be enthusiastic, may be because of the reason that many members have left after getting their GC.
and are not intersted in this effort any more.
Is this campaign still on?
I did not see much enthusiasm on this issue.
Do people not want their files to be adjudicated or not?
and are not intersted in this effort any more.
Is this campaign still on?
I did not see much enthusiasm on this issue.
Do people not want their files to be adjudicated or not?
av2004
06-18 12:12 PM
Logiclife, thank you very much for the encouraging words and your commitment to our cause.
I had the good fortune of attending the IV Advocacy days (albeit only for one day) in DC and walking side by side with great people such as logiclife, Aman etc. and experiencing the amazing feat performed by most of the members (naming a few, please feel free to add more...):
Contacting the lawmakers, confirming appointments.
Being cheerful, yet completely focussed on the task at hand.
Being mindful of what to mention to the lawmakers or their representatives.
All this was accomplished with the limited resources that IV has in terms of volunteer and monetary support. I, like many of the people here, was skeptical of how IV spends the money that is being donated by many donors we see on this forum. It was an eye opener to me when heard that we are doing the advocacy event after 3 long years because of the limited resources we have. I mean, think the 40,000+ users we have on this forum. If each one of us members donated $1, it would have pretty much covered the advocacy day costs. Instead, I read that we could collect only $20,000 for this event (even after most of people paid $50 at a minimum!).
I am not a donor on this forum yet, but I would like to be one just to support the activities of IV. I am more than convinced that the money I will spend will be put to good use for the good of this community. Mind you, many of the IV advocacy day volunteers had already received their green cards, yet they are fighting for me and you. What good would it be if we still continue to sit on the side and not support such wholesome activities made by these sincere guys? Hats off to IV (and the leaders of IV) for providing us with a great platform and opportunities to make an impact and make out issues heard by the lawmakers.
So, I request you all to take some action to help IV and help yourself, in turn. If you have any misgivings, by all means direct questions to any of the IV leaders and I am sure they can provide answers..
Lastly, I really liked the "passion" part of logiclife's message very much and would like to end with a quote about passion:
"Swami Vivekananda said, "Give me men of passion." Passion means a passionate nature, that if I do this, I must do it perfectly. I must do it as well as I can. I must do it now. And promises do not constitute work. He who wants to give must give now."
Be Unreasonable & a cause of progress, not just a beneficiary.
Hello everyone,
I will explain the title of this thread in a minute (the unreasonable part) but before that I would like to share my experience in DC last week during, before and after lobby days.
A few weeks ago, when Aman called me to join him in lobby days, just like many others, I was having a difficult time scheduling vacation days off from work. I somehow convinced my boss to let me take those days off and finish the work in the weekend prior to June.
The Airport pickup:
When I reached the Airport, Aman and Pratik were there to pick me up. And this is where it got funny and really hilarious. The car was a compact rental car and it was full of printers, laptops and folders -- all in preparation of lobby day. There was barely enough place to sit in the car. After shutting all the doors tight (we really had to compress the luggage and force the door shut) we started driving towards the hotel. And the dome light would not shut off. So everyone outside can see a car full of luggage, printers and people packed like a can of sardines. Fortunately Aman knew the way to the Hotel and we could go there without having to stop for directions.
Preparation and training on Sunday:
Sunday was hectic, busy, tiring and very very interesting. I met a lot of new people on Sunday who had come to DC for the first time. And it felt really really good to reconnect with people who we had met earlier in 2007 rally in DC and the earlier rally in San Jose in July. Just felt like I had met my friends from college with whom I spend 4 years. The kind of relationship and chemistry that we have is impossible to describe in words. Crisis and calamity have a way of creating bonds that last a lifetime. We all may get green-cards in next 1 year or maybe 10 years. But I will remember the people I met in DC twice and in San Jose for the rest of my life. And I am sure others feel the same way. These are the people who were sitting on the laptop scheduling lawmaker meetings and connecting members to appointments till 4:00 AM on Monday morning and then back to work by 8:00 AM. We ate whatever was ordered or whatever we found in the hotel. There were people printing business cards in one corner. Others were printing the drop-off material for lawmakers, preparing neat folders for meetings. There was training and mock-meetings going on in another corner for people who had never been to the Capitol Hill before. There was so much purpose and so much goal-oriented motivation in the room, I felt really glad to have not missed this even one out of 3 times we done this both in DC and in San Jose.
The next two days:
Over the next two days, I went to about 7 meetings in the House and Senate side and had very very interesting experiences, mostly positive. I cannot share the details of the response for each office as this is a public forum, but I can tell you that having been to DC about 6 times now since 2006, there are Hill Staffers who know many of us and even remember our names. Our conversations do not begin with introductions, but where we left off in our last meeting. More than 60-70% of the offices of Congressmen and Senators know about Immigration Voice and know about the issue. Some offices may have newer staff and not know, and that's where education helps.
Every single day consisted of going to the Hill from the situation room, (I mostly took a cab, I am lazy that way even if its only 4 blocks), coming back, getting some work done, going back to the Hill, accompanying someone if they are alone in the meetings (it helps to have 2 or more IV members go to a meeting). We worked till 11 PM mostly, and got about 4-5 hours of sleep each night. And that is true for everyone who was there. EVERY SINGLE one. Walking between the office buildings (and they are big) and walking a few times back to the Hotel also made some of us realize (like me) that how out of shape we are physically :):)
And now to the UNreasonables:
Every single person who came to DC this time or the time before, or who came to San Jose rally has been told by friends, family and colleagues "Why are you going to DC, let others go, take care of yourself, all problems get fixed eventually, Congress will take care of it".
They sound very reasonable or try to convince you that they are the reasonable ones and you are being unreasonable by going to the Capitol and working on your cause.
The truth is...yes, we may be. But we are the ones who will eventually make a difference. If you read the quote from George Bernard Shaw, you will realize that the reasonable men and women will sit around and talk about us, save their time for family and leisure and comply themselves to the system. They will comply themselves to a system that keeps in hanging without a green card for 20 years. They will never be capable of ushering progress.
The unreasonable ones, the ones like us, who contribute to this cause in various forms, are the gifted ones. We are the lucky ones. For we have the wisdom and the strength to do the unreasonable and get the world to comply to our point of view.
And flower campaign, the DC rally -- that got bulletin reversed in 2007,
the popularity of removing per-country ceilings in the offices that exist today and didnt exist before --
All this a work of men and women like us who are unreasonably resilient, who will not listen to the advise of reasonable men who sit on the sidelines and refresh the Visa Bulletin page every first friday of every month 20 times a day.
But to those who get it...I have one more quote for you, a final one, I promise:
I wish the problem of greencard backlogs get cleared soon, but if it doesnt, I will do this a 100 times again and with same or more passion, determination and purpose. Our energy and determination would outlast and outlive the intertia of Congress.
I had the good fortune of attending the IV Advocacy days (albeit only for one day) in DC and walking side by side with great people such as logiclife, Aman etc. and experiencing the amazing feat performed by most of the members (naming a few, please feel free to add more...):
Contacting the lawmakers, confirming appointments.
Being cheerful, yet completely focussed on the task at hand.
Being mindful of what to mention to the lawmakers or their representatives.
All this was accomplished with the limited resources that IV has in terms of volunteer and monetary support. I, like many of the people here, was skeptical of how IV spends the money that is being donated by many donors we see on this forum. It was an eye opener to me when heard that we are doing the advocacy event after 3 long years because of the limited resources we have. I mean, think the 40,000+ users we have on this forum. If each one of us members donated $1, it would have pretty much covered the advocacy day costs. Instead, I read that we could collect only $20,000 for this event (even after most of people paid $50 at a minimum!).
I am not a donor on this forum yet, but I would like to be one just to support the activities of IV. I am more than convinced that the money I will spend will be put to good use for the good of this community. Mind you, many of the IV advocacy day volunteers had already received their green cards, yet they are fighting for me and you. What good would it be if we still continue to sit on the side and not support such wholesome activities made by these sincere guys? Hats off to IV (and the leaders of IV) for providing us with a great platform and opportunities to make an impact and make out issues heard by the lawmakers.
So, I request you all to take some action to help IV and help yourself, in turn. If you have any misgivings, by all means direct questions to any of the IV leaders and I am sure they can provide answers..
Lastly, I really liked the "passion" part of logiclife's message very much and would like to end with a quote about passion:
"Swami Vivekananda said, "Give me men of passion." Passion means a passionate nature, that if I do this, I must do it perfectly. I must do it as well as I can. I must do it now. And promises do not constitute work. He who wants to give must give now."
Be Unreasonable & a cause of progress, not just a beneficiary.
Hello everyone,
I will explain the title of this thread in a minute (the unreasonable part) but before that I would like to share my experience in DC last week during, before and after lobby days.
A few weeks ago, when Aman called me to join him in lobby days, just like many others, I was having a difficult time scheduling vacation days off from work. I somehow convinced my boss to let me take those days off and finish the work in the weekend prior to June.
The Airport pickup:
When I reached the Airport, Aman and Pratik were there to pick me up. And this is where it got funny and really hilarious. The car was a compact rental car and it was full of printers, laptops and folders -- all in preparation of lobby day. There was barely enough place to sit in the car. After shutting all the doors tight (we really had to compress the luggage and force the door shut) we started driving towards the hotel. And the dome light would not shut off. So everyone outside can see a car full of luggage, printers and people packed like a can of sardines. Fortunately Aman knew the way to the Hotel and we could go there without having to stop for directions.
Preparation and training on Sunday:
Sunday was hectic, busy, tiring and very very interesting. I met a lot of new people on Sunday who had come to DC for the first time. And it felt really really good to reconnect with people who we had met earlier in 2007 rally in DC and the earlier rally in San Jose in July. Just felt like I had met my friends from college with whom I spend 4 years. The kind of relationship and chemistry that we have is impossible to describe in words. Crisis and calamity have a way of creating bonds that last a lifetime. We all may get green-cards in next 1 year or maybe 10 years. But I will remember the people I met in DC twice and in San Jose for the rest of my life. And I am sure others feel the same way. These are the people who were sitting on the laptop scheduling lawmaker meetings and connecting members to appointments till 4:00 AM on Monday morning and then back to work by 8:00 AM. We ate whatever was ordered or whatever we found in the hotel. There were people printing business cards in one corner. Others were printing the drop-off material for lawmakers, preparing neat folders for meetings. There was training and mock-meetings going on in another corner for people who had never been to the Capitol Hill before. There was so much purpose and so much goal-oriented motivation in the room, I felt really glad to have not missed this even one out of 3 times we done this both in DC and in San Jose.
The next two days:
Over the next two days, I went to about 7 meetings in the House and Senate side and had very very interesting experiences, mostly positive. I cannot share the details of the response for each office as this is a public forum, but I can tell you that having been to DC about 6 times now since 2006, there are Hill Staffers who know many of us and even remember our names. Our conversations do not begin with introductions, but where we left off in our last meeting. More than 60-70% of the offices of Congressmen and Senators know about Immigration Voice and know about the issue. Some offices may have newer staff and not know, and that's where education helps.
Every single day consisted of going to the Hill from the situation room, (I mostly took a cab, I am lazy that way even if its only 4 blocks), coming back, getting some work done, going back to the Hill, accompanying someone if they are alone in the meetings (it helps to have 2 or more IV members go to a meeting). We worked till 11 PM mostly, and got about 4-5 hours of sleep each night. And that is true for everyone who was there. EVERY SINGLE one. Walking between the office buildings (and they are big) and walking a few times back to the Hotel also made some of us realize (like me) that how out of shape we are physically :):)
And now to the UNreasonables:
Every single person who came to DC this time or the time before, or who came to San Jose rally has been told by friends, family and colleagues "Why are you going to DC, let others go, take care of yourself, all problems get fixed eventually, Congress will take care of it".
They sound very reasonable or try to convince you that they are the reasonable ones and you are being unreasonable by going to the Capitol and working on your cause.
The truth is...yes, we may be. But we are the ones who will eventually make a difference. If you read the quote from George Bernard Shaw, you will realize that the reasonable men and women will sit around and talk about us, save their time for family and leisure and comply themselves to the system. They will comply themselves to a system that keeps in hanging without a green card for 20 years. They will never be capable of ushering progress.
The unreasonable ones, the ones like us, who contribute to this cause in various forms, are the gifted ones. We are the lucky ones. For we have the wisdom and the strength to do the unreasonable and get the world to comply to our point of view.
And flower campaign, the DC rally -- that got bulletin reversed in 2007,
the popularity of removing per-country ceilings in the offices that exist today and didnt exist before --
All this a work of men and women like us who are unreasonably resilient, who will not listen to the advise of reasonable men who sit on the sidelines and refresh the Visa Bulletin page every first friday of every month 20 times a day.
But to those who get it...I have one more quote for you, a final one, I promise:
I wish the problem of greencard backlogs get cleared soon, but if it doesnt, I will do this a 100 times again and with same or more passion, determination and purpose. Our energy and determination would outlast and outlive the intertia of Congress.
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