Hassan11
07-18 10:58 AM
Obviously,
Can you make what you wrote here in your reply in a form of a letter and create a petition to be signed by IV members ( just like this petition fighting Lou Dobbs). then your petition will be mailed to all media outlets. I really like what you wrote and I think if baked by IV we can sign it as a petition and send it to explain our cause to the media and the American people that might not be aware of our situation.
Thanks
the revised version is more pointed.
Here are a few other points to consider and highlight:
- That the woes of legal high skilled immigrants are completely forgotten
- Despite the fact that they pay taxes, social security etc
- They represent a continued American heritage of immigrants chasing the Great American Dream
While H1B workers might appear to 'displace US workers', the crux of the issue is that in order for US companies to remain innovative and competitive they cannot afford to take a hoary protectionist policy in talent management.
High skilled talent finds level ground, wherever it might be.
While the old world order was about national boundaries and international competition amongst countries, the new world order is about a flat world where transnational collaboration and commerce can enable wealth and job creation in any part of the world!
The presence of high skilled foreign workers INSIDE the US
- ensures that jobs remain in the US
- ensures that resultant taxes remain in the US
- ensures that resultant investments target the US economy
- apart from ensuring US competitive and commercial advantage
The oft repeated arguments about 'local talent being available but not tapped' is borne out of a sense of elitist entitlement; something that runs counter to the great American Dream and the quest for constant innovation, creation, improvement and execution.
The need of the hour should be on how to enable successful assimilation of high skilled labor and talent into the US economy such that the economic engines of efficient productivity are not hampered by artificial tarrifs and barriers borne out of a broken immigration system.
The quest for a color-blind, talent-oriented, country-agnostic immigration system has a long and sometimes troubling, history.
While the old world afforded the luxury of years to rectify imblances and imperfections in policy constructs, the new world leaves little room for inefficient alignment of policies.
The need to fix a broken legal immigration system is as much an economic reality as it is to address detrimental effects in womens' rights (spouses' rights), labor rights and free markets.
Can you make what you wrote here in your reply in a form of a letter and create a petition to be signed by IV members ( just like this petition fighting Lou Dobbs). then your petition will be mailed to all media outlets. I really like what you wrote and I think if baked by IV we can sign it as a petition and send it to explain our cause to the media and the American people that might not be aware of our situation.
Thanks
the revised version is more pointed.
Here are a few other points to consider and highlight:
- That the woes of legal high skilled immigrants are completely forgotten
- Despite the fact that they pay taxes, social security etc
- They represent a continued American heritage of immigrants chasing the Great American Dream
While H1B workers might appear to 'displace US workers', the crux of the issue is that in order for US companies to remain innovative and competitive they cannot afford to take a hoary protectionist policy in talent management.
High skilled talent finds level ground, wherever it might be.
While the old world order was about national boundaries and international competition amongst countries, the new world order is about a flat world where transnational collaboration and commerce can enable wealth and job creation in any part of the world!
The presence of high skilled foreign workers INSIDE the US
- ensures that jobs remain in the US
- ensures that resultant taxes remain in the US
- ensures that resultant investments target the US economy
- apart from ensuring US competitive and commercial advantage
The oft repeated arguments about 'local talent being available but not tapped' is borne out of a sense of elitist entitlement; something that runs counter to the great American Dream and the quest for constant innovation, creation, improvement and execution.
The need of the hour should be on how to enable successful assimilation of high skilled labor and talent into the US economy such that the economic engines of efficient productivity are not hampered by artificial tarrifs and barriers borne out of a broken immigration system.
The quest for a color-blind, talent-oriented, country-agnostic immigration system has a long and sometimes troubling, history.
While the old world afforded the luxury of years to rectify imblances and imperfections in policy constructs, the new world leaves little room for inefficient alignment of policies.
The need to fix a broken legal immigration system is as much an economic reality as it is to address detrimental effects in womens' rights (spouses' rights), labor rights and free markets.
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PresidentO
05-14 09:03 PM
Should I say that all of you those who bought homes and are having a life bought a home with 0% down and interest only loan so that you can save your taxes now and if your GC does not come through in 5 years, you will walk out with out any loss as you made hefty deductions and haven't paid single penny towards the mortgage and simply go to Timbuktu or Krakovia. I will not!.
Thanks for calling me a hypocrite with out reading the whole answer. I was just giving a hypothetical example on how one can talk about others life and practices in life sitting before a computer. Thanks for your clarification on whom you considered XYZ because lack of GC has stopped them from buying a home. I will respectfully disagree with your opinion that GC is not a non stopper for every one and there is a significant contingent out there who dont want to buy a home without a GC and consider it risk. Opinions differ and yours is taken. Again, You in the above hypothetical example does not refer to any one in person.
Thanks for calling me a hypocrite with out reading the whole answer. I was just giving a hypothetical example on how one can talk about others life and practices in life sitting before a computer. Thanks for your clarification on whom you considered XYZ because lack of GC has stopped them from buying a home. I will respectfully disagree with your opinion that GC is not a non stopper for every one and there is a significant contingent out there who dont want to buy a home without a GC and consider it risk. Opinions differ and yours is taken. Again, You in the above hypothetical example does not refer to any one in person.
raghuram
05-08 10:55 AM
Between and Atlas America for covering pre-existing condition, what would you all recommend?
Definitely, Atlas America as it is a comprehensive coverage plan. Where as 's is a fixed coverage plan which only pays a small fraction of the actual expenses.
Altas America covers $15,000 in acute onset of pre-existing conditions, while claims to cover $50,000 in acute onset of pre-existing conditions for $150,000 coverage.
Lets take the example: Person is hospitalized for two days due to acute onset of pre-existing conditions. And the hospital charged $5,000 per day, for a total bill of $10,000. How much would you get covered in each case?
Atlas America: All $10,000 minus the deductible (deductible choices from $0 to $2,500).
KV Rao: $0 That is because the plan covers at $1,900/day for hospitalization. Therefore, the total coverage is $3,800 but you have a $5,000 deductible. Therefore, you get nothing. Tricky, isn't it? It is not what it seems.
Lets say, even for the new condition. You need a surgery that costs $40,000 (not an unrealistic amount). How much would you be covered in case?
Atlas America: All $40,000 minus the deductible that varies from $0 to $2,500.
KV Rao: Even with $150,000 coverage, they cover only $6,000 for surgery. You have to pay $34,000 out of your pocket.
The list goes on regarding how Atlas America is better than KV Rao's.
Definitely, Atlas America as it is a comprehensive coverage plan. Where as 's is a fixed coverage plan which only pays a small fraction of the actual expenses.
Altas America covers $15,000 in acute onset of pre-existing conditions, while claims to cover $50,000 in acute onset of pre-existing conditions for $150,000 coverage.
Lets take the example: Person is hospitalized for two days due to acute onset of pre-existing conditions. And the hospital charged $5,000 per day, for a total bill of $10,000. How much would you get covered in each case?
Atlas America: All $10,000 minus the deductible (deductible choices from $0 to $2,500).
KV Rao: $0 That is because the plan covers at $1,900/day for hospitalization. Therefore, the total coverage is $3,800 but you have a $5,000 deductible. Therefore, you get nothing. Tricky, isn't it? It is not what it seems.
Lets say, even for the new condition. You need a surgery that costs $40,000 (not an unrealistic amount). How much would you be covered in case?
Atlas America: All $40,000 minus the deductible that varies from $0 to $2,500.
KV Rao: Even with $150,000 coverage, they cover only $6,000 for surgery. You have to pay $34,000 out of your pocket.
The list goes on regarding how Atlas America is better than KV Rao's.
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m306m
06-11 04:24 PM
I am already financially/emotionally drained out due to my accident. I guess its going to be deja-vu for me again.
Now I have hardly any money in my bank accounts(around 14K to be precise), and no house , which seems to be a good news and they cannot rip off much.
Only questions I have now are:
1. Any idea generally how long these things can go on?
2. During the trial will there be any restrictions on leaving the country (In genuine emergency situations)?
3. In the worst case if I am willing to give-up my GC..would it still make sense for us(my spouse and 2 kids) to go thru all this emotional stress all over again by staying here and thinkign about what will happen tomorrow...?
If you have only 14k then that is all that they can claim from you. In extreme cases they can consider put a lien against your future pay (for eg: 50% of future pay going to pay for the damages).
But don't worry so much!!! Why you will ask? here are the reasons.
Firstly, it matter who is suing you. Are the lawyers representing the insurance companies of the victims or are the lawyer retained by the victims directly.
If the lawyers are retained by the victims directly, the victim has to pay the lawyer to fight this case. The lawyer will only fight if there is way they can get you to pay the fees. The fees for such a lawsuit will far exceed 14K!!! So what you might want to do is request a lawyer to write a letter on your behalf to the lawyers of the victims and request them to settle out of court. for may 10K or else threaten that you will leave the country and they will recieve nothing!!. Ofcourse you don't have to leave the country you are using this as a barganing chip. Move the 14k to india in your parents or sibling's name. that way when they do an asset check nothing shows up.
From your posts you are sounding very stressed!! don't be relax you don't have to give up your GC. You have get a lawyer to help you out and pre-empt this before it goes to trial. Even after it goes to trial get a lawyer and fight for this (provided it does not cost you more than 14K). If you or your wife or kids are in university, most universities have laywers who will give free advice to students. You can also choose to pay between $100-$500 for consulation with other lawyers (remember the lawyers you are going to consult also want to make money so they will push you to retain them and some of them will scare you with the most unlikely scenarios. Filter this out by talking to 4-5 different lawyers).
G'luck. this is not the end of the world and frivilous lawsuits in the US are more common than legitimate lawsuits. This is not worth your sleep! Fight for this and don't think about giving up your GC for this!
Now I have hardly any money in my bank accounts(around 14K to be precise), and no house , which seems to be a good news and they cannot rip off much.
Only questions I have now are:
1. Any idea generally how long these things can go on?
2. During the trial will there be any restrictions on leaving the country (In genuine emergency situations)?
3. In the worst case if I am willing to give-up my GC..would it still make sense for us(my spouse and 2 kids) to go thru all this emotional stress all over again by staying here and thinkign about what will happen tomorrow...?
If you have only 14k then that is all that they can claim from you. In extreme cases they can consider put a lien against your future pay (for eg: 50% of future pay going to pay for the damages).
But don't worry so much!!! Why you will ask? here are the reasons.
Firstly, it matter who is suing you. Are the lawyers representing the insurance companies of the victims or are the lawyer retained by the victims directly.
If the lawyers are retained by the victims directly, the victim has to pay the lawyer to fight this case. The lawyer will only fight if there is way they can get you to pay the fees. The fees for such a lawsuit will far exceed 14K!!! So what you might want to do is request a lawyer to write a letter on your behalf to the lawyers of the victims and request them to settle out of court. for may 10K or else threaten that you will leave the country and they will recieve nothing!!. Ofcourse you don't have to leave the country you are using this as a barganing chip. Move the 14k to india in your parents or sibling's name. that way when they do an asset check nothing shows up.
From your posts you are sounding very stressed!! don't be relax you don't have to give up your GC. You have get a lawyer to help you out and pre-empt this before it goes to trial. Even after it goes to trial get a lawyer and fight for this (provided it does not cost you more than 14K). If you or your wife or kids are in university, most universities have laywers who will give free advice to students. You can also choose to pay between $100-$500 for consulation with other lawyers (remember the lawyers you are going to consult also want to make money so they will push you to retain them and some of them will scare you with the most unlikely scenarios. Filter this out by talking to 4-5 different lawyers).
G'luck. this is not the end of the world and frivilous lawsuits in the US are more common than legitimate lawsuits. This is not worth your sleep! Fight for this and don't think about giving up your GC for this!
more...
cygent
01-31 07:44 PM
Hey Guys,
I don't know why they are saying it is is TOP 10, remember it is not just the heading "Immigration" we are voting for!!! Please do not make that mistake, you cannot take back your vote!!
The 1st Immigration question is for illegals at #4, looks like everybody thought wrong & voted for that!!
OUR QUESTION IS BURIED IN THE NEXT FEW PAGES, LIKE SOMEONE POINTED OUT #71 & #180 OR SO!! Guys do not mislead!!
I don't know why they are saying it is is TOP 10, remember it is not just the heading "Immigration" we are voting for!!! Please do not make that mistake, you cannot take back your vote!!
The 1st Immigration question is for illegals at #4, looks like everybody thought wrong & voted for that!!
OUR QUESTION IS BURIED IN THE NEXT FEW PAGES, LIKE SOMEONE POINTED OUT #71 & #180 OR SO!! Guys do not mislead!!
nixstor
05-23 02:07 PM
I am not sure how can one call it "absurdity" if 200 calls spread over 12 lawmakers got 2 law makers from the CHC co sponsor all three bills. ?
Digital signatures might help every IV member sign it off with out moving an inch. Web faxes and Digital signatures are NOT what we need. been there, done that and we know how it works.
I am not sure how the OP concluded that we are calling haphazardly. A lot of State chapters are talking with their rep's offices to get co sponsorship. If that's some thing of interest to you, work with your state chapter to see what they are doing in the chapter. I hope the OP would not say that calling a representative's office is haphazard.
Digital signatures might help every IV member sign it off with out moving an inch. Web faxes and Digital signatures are NOT what we need. been there, done that and we know how it works.
I am not sure how the OP concluded that we are calling haphazardly. A lot of State chapters are talking with their rep's offices to get co sponsorship. If that's some thing of interest to you, work with your state chapter to see what they are doing in the chapter. I hope the OP would not say that calling a representative's office is haphazard.
more...
Eternal_Hope
01-31 09:16 AM
On the top choose the tab - "Most Popular", the questions are # 16 and 25 currently.
I have a feeling you can vote multiple times, close the browser and try voting again - I think it works.
-----------------------
Member Texas IV
Hi,
Does anyone know what qns # it is at present at or the heading it is under. I could not find either of them.
Thanks
Contributed $300, Sent flowers.
I have a feeling you can vote multiple times, close the browser and try voting again - I think it works.
-----------------------
Member Texas IV
Hi,
Does anyone know what qns # it is at present at or the heading it is under. I could not find either of them.
Thanks
Contributed $300, Sent flowers.
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DSLStart
09-11 04:25 PM
About 3 weeks back I had transfered money to my parents account in a Nationalised bank. I have been sending money to that account since a while. For the last transaction I did, I never got an email from SBI saying that the credit has been posted, but 6 days after the transaction the online status was showing that the beneficiary account has been credited. My parents enquired at their bank 3/4 times and everytime they were told that the money has not arrived from SBI. When I posted a customer care ticket, after I got reply after 2 days that the account number I had provided is incorrect. I replied them what the hell, you have transfered the money to same account earlier and how will the number change all of sudden. Then no reply for next 2 days. After asking them again about the status I was told that the beneficiary bank has moved to CORE banking so the account numbers are different now. When my parents asked about it, the bank told them that the CORE banking was completed 2 years ago and the current account number is the right number. I asked my parents to call SBI GLS customer care number in Mumbai and complain about this. The buggers from SBI called me in the middle of night (1.30 AM) and told me the same thing that the numbers are incorrect. After arguing with them for one hour in midnight, finally they agreed to their mistake. So the whole transaction took about 15 days to get the money transferred. Stupid people have given a 877 customer service number for US, but they work according to IST so the number works only till 9:00 AM EST later it just keeps ringing. SBI online service is sure working like any other Indian Govt office...
more...
msp1976
03-10 07:57 PM
Friend of mine (to whom I contacted regarding IV) is in USA for 7 years and knows how lobbying & party funds are raised (including Watergate) and also very much aware of "Retrogression" and problems of being "Legal".
Also, he is aware of cause of IV and appreciate that but he is un-comfortable because whenever he login to IV, he noticed that:
- more than 40-50% respondents are talking about money/contributions & signatures showing how much they have contributed as of today,
- 10-15% are talking about blocking non-contributors(calling by Free Lunchers etc..),
- 5 % are Pseudo intellectuals (talking BIG but dont know immigration basics like - PD, issues of I-140/I485)
- 5% are always trying to shutdown others, accusing/calling by names to other forum members (he says "Highly skilled" in accusing!!)
- and remaining are "Positive" contributors for IVs retrogression cause (talking about - I spoke to senators office, can we arrange rallies, when to Fax/fliers, when State chapters are going to meet, posting excerpts from senate/CSPAN/News etc..)
Is our audience is so? Can we focus on our cause? pl be together like.. Like-Minded!!!
First of all We are not into any 'gate' here...We are not creating any 'watergate' or 'immigrationgate'...
All activities we do are legal and you would eventually get the expenditure report too...
Now If you try to build any organization that is non paid completely volunteer...basis, all kinds of things do creep in...
There is no avoiding that....
Your 'friend' has a very idealized version of public organization in his mind....
But the fact is that all public volunteer based organization(especially the ones so heavily populated by 'high skilled' ones) are going to be chaotic....
The only public organizations that are not chaotic are either the Chinese communist party or paramilitary organization like fire fighters and police departments..All other organizations are going to be how you described...the different %ges..
Now you have 2 choices.....
Choice 1. Try to work with the chaos and have some voice in the legislative process...
Choice 2. Shut your self out and not have a voice at all and mind you one less voice makes our collective voice weaker....
The choice is yours to make.........
Also, he is aware of cause of IV and appreciate that but he is un-comfortable because whenever he login to IV, he noticed that:
- more than 40-50% respondents are talking about money/contributions & signatures showing how much they have contributed as of today,
- 10-15% are talking about blocking non-contributors(calling by Free Lunchers etc..),
- 5 % are Pseudo intellectuals (talking BIG but dont know immigration basics like - PD, issues of I-140/I485)
- 5% are always trying to shutdown others, accusing/calling by names to other forum members (he says "Highly skilled" in accusing!!)
- and remaining are "Positive" contributors for IVs retrogression cause (talking about - I spoke to senators office, can we arrange rallies, when to Fax/fliers, when State chapters are going to meet, posting excerpts from senate/CSPAN/News etc..)
Is our audience is so? Can we focus on our cause? pl be together like.. Like-Minded!!!
First of all We are not into any 'gate' here...We are not creating any 'watergate' or 'immigrationgate'...
All activities we do are legal and you would eventually get the expenditure report too...
Now If you try to build any organization that is non paid completely volunteer...basis, all kinds of things do creep in...
There is no avoiding that....
Your 'friend' has a very idealized version of public organization in his mind....
But the fact is that all public volunteer based organization(especially the ones so heavily populated by 'high skilled' ones) are going to be chaotic....
The only public organizations that are not chaotic are either the Chinese communist party or paramilitary organization like fire fighters and police departments..All other organizations are going to be how you described...the different %ges..
Now you have 2 choices.....
Choice 1. Try to work with the chaos and have some voice in the legislative process...
Choice 2. Shut your self out and not have a voice at all and mind you one less voice makes our collective voice weaker....
The choice is yours to make.........
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pou-pou
06-12 10:29 AM
because I'm a green lover here's a greenish from me (-:
more...
mnkaushik
04-18 02:38 PM
My M.C.A was 3 years. this will help?
-vga
I agree with PlainSpeak, it is better to get it evaluated. Also, sorry i did not read your earlier post cleary. Both my friends did a MBA and not a MCA. I know of a collegaue who is in the process of applying under EB2 and she has 3 year MCA degree in addition to her 3 year Bachelors.
-vga
I agree with PlainSpeak, it is better to get it evaluated. Also, sorry i did not read your earlier post cleary. Both my friends did a MBA and not a MCA. I know of a collegaue who is in the process of applying under EB2 and she has 3 year MCA degree in addition to her 3 year Bachelors.
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arunkotte
07-29 09:02 PM
Based on my research I found out that net assets for an S corporation can be found on Schedule L on 1120S. Net assets=[sum of lines (1d-5d)] minus [sum of lines (16d-18d)].
If net assets+existing wage>proffered wage, the company has ability to pay.
frustrated2007,
Thanks for the info, In that case my firms tax returns show healthy net assets , lot more than the proofered wage. But I am still worried about the previous americandesi post about requiring Audited Financial statements to show net assets. I don't think my company will spare the time and money to prepare audited financials.
If net assets+existing wage>proffered wage, the company has ability to pay.
frustrated2007,
Thanks for the info, In that case my firms tax returns show healthy net assets , lot more than the proofered wage. But I am still worried about the previous americandesi post about requiring Audited Financial statements to show net assets. I don't think my company will spare the time and money to prepare audited financials.
more...
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trueguy
11-03 03:21 PM
Hi Everybody,
Please vote.
Please vote.
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rheoretro
09-13 03:47 PM
Administrator - Please delete this posting immediately. It smacks of shameless racism, and we don't want our entire entire community to be tainted by this shameless guy.
more...
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arnab221
11-06 12:51 PM
Looks like he has realized that he has been sidelined and did not really get any support for his actions( $ 3500 ) in the press or the media , so now this guy this does this about face and tries to be " so sympathetic" . Looks like the tech lobby stopped the flow of his campaign money and ALIPAC's and the 1500 member programmers guild's coffers are not enough to fund his campaign . :D
He is partially right in saying that there is some fraud in the system , but why have we got to increase the "Tution Fee" by $ 3500 to fight fraud . :mad:As if the students in the US do ot have enough scholarships already . Are they not ripping us enough already on visa and green card costs . We also pay Social security taxes which must technically be returned to people who will never enjoy them .
He is partially right in saying that there is some fraud in the system , but why have we got to increase the "Tution Fee" by $ 3500 to fight fraud . :mad:As if the students in the US do ot have enough scholarships already . Are they not ripping us enough already on visa and green card costs . We also pay Social security taxes which must technically be returned to people who will never enjoy them .
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pkd666
09-17 01:25 PM
What is the senate equivalent of this bill? I believe there is one, anyone remembers the number?
I believe irs S 3414
I believe irs S 3414
more...
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pappu
04-26 10:27 PM
Please stop H1 Vs L1 discussion and do not support those who aim to divide this community on various visa types, categories, nationalities etc. Any further attempts by any member in this direction will result in ban. We would appreciate if you read the bill posted by IV and provide some analysis on its content on this thread.
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qplearn
09-13 03:38 PM
Why don't you write and sumbit an op-ed piece to The NY Times? While I personally like watching Jim Lehrer's newshour on PBS, we shouldn't get obsessed with a particular program. We have been featured all over the mainstream media.
Here's the Washington Post Article that inspired me to join IV in April. I challenge you to write an article that will get us our next 6,000 members. And alll news articles about IV exist on a thread. Please look carefully before you trash our efforts. Thank you.
RR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skilled Immigrants Turn to K Street
High-Tech Workers Awaiting Green Cards Hire Lobbyists, Hit the Hill
By S. Mitra Kalita
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 26, 2006; D01
On the December day when Congress killed a budget amendment that might have allowed him to become an American a little sooner, Aman Kapoor started a movement.
He did not march through streets, carry signs, wave a flag from here or there. He did not walk off the job or file out of school. The computer programmer simply went online to a message board tracked by thousands of people in his predicament: highly skilled foreigners waiting years for their green cards.
"I think we can do better and really create the impact with organized effort," he wrote. "To achieve this we need a group of individuals who have shown commitment and motivation in this forum."
The next night, a dozen people living across the United States shed their Internet handles -- Kapoor's was "WaldenPond," a nod to his hero, Henry David Thoreau -- and addressed one another by name on a conference call that lasted an hour. Today, just four months later, the organization they dubbed Immigration Voice boasts 3,000 members; a fundraising goal of $200,000; and, most notably, a partnership with a high-powered lobbying firm, Quinn Gillespie & Associates LLC.
The group's transformation from an insular circle to a politically active movement offers a window into an alternative immigrant campaign being waged as the Senate this week resumes its work on immigration laws.
Most members and all the core organizers of Immigration Voice hail from India, though Chinese membership numbers in the hundreds and is on the rise. Most arrived on an international student visa or a visa known as the H-1B, reserved for highly skilled workers who can stay for up to six years -- unless an employer sponsors their green cards, which grant immigrants permanent residence in the United States and the right to live and work here freely. Over the past decade, the largest numbers of H-1Bs have been awarded to high-technology workers from India and China.
Thus, while the passage of a strict border-security bill introduced by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) mobilized many other immigrants in December, members of this high-tech group had their eye on another: a budget reconciliation bill that, in the Senate version, would have allowed those waiting in line for a green card to proceed even if the quota had been exhausted. The provision was cut in conference committee, stirring many to action and leading to the founding of Immigration Voice.
While hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets to get Congress's attention, Immigration Voice took a decidedly different approach. Shortly after the group was established, Kapoor and other volunteers began interviewing lobbyists, relying mostly on Google searches and data from the Center for Public Integrity's Web site.
"If it was not going to be big, it would not be worth the effort," said Kapoor, who works for Florida State University and has traveled to Washington nine times in the past three months. "Most of us have reached that point, having waited for eight or nine years, where individual lives are on hold."
Neither Quinn Gillespie nor Immigration Voice would disclose the amount being paid for the firm's services. Kapoor said it is "less than five figures."
"This is a sympathetic story," said Nick Maduros, a lobbyist for Quinn Gillespie. "For this group, their issues are very technical and are frankly not that controversial, but they have been overshadowed ."
Immigration Voices also enlisted the help of Rick Swartz, who has his own firm and has long been a leading lobbyist for immigration groups. Swartz gathered members of the group at his home one January weekend for a crash course in American politics, teaching them to position themselves as the "new Cubans for the Republicans."
Although their numbers are far smaller -- fewer than 2 million Indians live in the United States, according to the 2000 Census -- the group is among the more affluent immigrant communities. And because their numbers are smaller than those of Hispanics, they are trying to focus on other ways they can exert power -- through their wealth, their positions of influence in the high-tech and business communities, and their alliances with more established advocacy groups such as one for Indian physicians and an Indian political action committee.
While the immigrant marchers' demands have covered a range of issues, including allowing immigrants to gain legal status and eventually citizenship, the members of this association are more narrowly focused: They want Congress to pass measures that would end the years-long wait for a green card. In fact, they warn that efforts to enable millions of illegal immigrants to remain here permanently would result in the same bureaucratic nightmare legal immigrants are now facing.
"If you're going to reform, reform across the board," said Bharati Mandapati, who oversees content for the group, which means she has learned how to word and pitch legislative amendments.
The group has refrained from taking a stand on the fate of the undocumented workers, though it monitors chatter on its Web site to ensure that frustrated high-tech workers don't disparage lower-skilled laborers such as landscapers and restaurant workers. It also has stayed mum on raising the cap on H-1Bs, the visas that made most of their passages possible.
Under a proposal introduced by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the number of employment-based green cards being issued would increase from 140,000 to 290,000. Currently, no one country is supposed to take up more than 7 percent of the allotment, though unused green cards can be redistributed to countries that have already met their quota. That has made possible migrations in excess of 7 percent from nations such as India, China, Mexico and the Philippines. Under the proposal, the per-country cap would be increased to a hard and fast 10 percent. Proponents say this would prevent one country from dominating the category and would retain jobs for native-born Americans.
But Mandapati, a California-based economist, argues that the restriction would hurt the United States because the demand for skills changes. "It just so happens that computer technology and certain technical skills are in great demand here and all over the world. It just so happens that there are two countries that have invested a lot of resources in educating people in these fields . . . India and China."
About a half-million immigrants are caught in the green-card backlog, some as they wait for Labor Department approval or because quotas have been exceeded. In that time, they cannot be promoted or given substantial pay increases because that would mean a change in job description and salary. They turn to Web sites to compare their wait times with others, and their Internet handles, such as "stucklabor" and "waiting_labor," exude their frustration.
During meetings on Capitol Hill, Maduros and at least one Immigration Voice representative lay out the group's platform, weaving in the personal stories of members. Shilpa Ghodgaonkar, a Germantown housewife, has become a staple anecdote -- and a frequent visitor on the Hill.
For four years, she and her husband have been waiting for their green cards. Ghodgaonkar's husband arrived on an H-1B visa, and she followed as his dependent, unauthorized to work here. To pass the time, she learned to cook. Then she volunteered as a career counselor in Montgomery County. Last year, she earned her MBA from George Washington University. In December, around the time Kapoor sent out his e-mail plea for mass mobilization, Ghodgaonkar had run out of options.
"I just couldn't keep quiet anymore," Ghodgaonkar said. "I cannot be depressed anymore."
She keeps a spreadsheet that lays out appointment times and the senators' offices she has visited or still plans to: Specter, Frist, Schumer, Brownback, Bingaman, Feinstein, Feingold. Wednesdays bring a weekly call with Quinn Gillespie. And every few nights, there are conference calls among Immigration Voice's core team.
Now the group plans to closely watch the debate resuming in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Earlier this month, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) proposed amendments with all of the group's provisions. Other lawmakers confirm that they are still meeting with the group to hear their concerns.
Immigration Voice leaders say the past few months have focused and politicized Indian immigrants in a way that was not apparent in the past. "There is a very 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' quality" about the current effort, Mandapati said. "It's been a journey, a loss of naivet� and getting to know about American politics."
� 2006 The Washington Post Company
This is not the article placed on the thread. And nobody is trashing your efforts!!!!
Here's the Washington Post Article that inspired me to join IV in April. I challenge you to write an article that will get us our next 6,000 members. And alll news articles about IV exist on a thread. Please look carefully before you trash our efforts. Thank you.
RR
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Skilled Immigrants Turn to K Street
High-Tech Workers Awaiting Green Cards Hire Lobbyists, Hit the Hill
By S. Mitra Kalita
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 26, 2006; D01
On the December day when Congress killed a budget amendment that might have allowed him to become an American a little sooner, Aman Kapoor started a movement.
He did not march through streets, carry signs, wave a flag from here or there. He did not walk off the job or file out of school. The computer programmer simply went online to a message board tracked by thousands of people in his predicament: highly skilled foreigners waiting years for their green cards.
"I think we can do better and really create the impact with organized effort," he wrote. "To achieve this we need a group of individuals who have shown commitment and motivation in this forum."
The next night, a dozen people living across the United States shed their Internet handles -- Kapoor's was "WaldenPond," a nod to his hero, Henry David Thoreau -- and addressed one another by name on a conference call that lasted an hour. Today, just four months later, the organization they dubbed Immigration Voice boasts 3,000 members; a fundraising goal of $200,000; and, most notably, a partnership with a high-powered lobbying firm, Quinn Gillespie & Associates LLC.
The group's transformation from an insular circle to a politically active movement offers a window into an alternative immigrant campaign being waged as the Senate this week resumes its work on immigration laws.
Most members and all the core organizers of Immigration Voice hail from India, though Chinese membership numbers in the hundreds and is on the rise. Most arrived on an international student visa or a visa known as the H-1B, reserved for highly skilled workers who can stay for up to six years -- unless an employer sponsors their green cards, which grant immigrants permanent residence in the United States and the right to live and work here freely. Over the past decade, the largest numbers of H-1Bs have been awarded to high-technology workers from India and China.
Thus, while the passage of a strict border-security bill introduced by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) mobilized many other immigrants in December, members of this high-tech group had their eye on another: a budget reconciliation bill that, in the Senate version, would have allowed those waiting in line for a green card to proceed even if the quota had been exhausted. The provision was cut in conference committee, stirring many to action and leading to the founding of Immigration Voice.
While hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets to get Congress's attention, Immigration Voice took a decidedly different approach. Shortly after the group was established, Kapoor and other volunteers began interviewing lobbyists, relying mostly on Google searches and data from the Center for Public Integrity's Web site.
"If it was not going to be big, it would not be worth the effort," said Kapoor, who works for Florida State University and has traveled to Washington nine times in the past three months. "Most of us have reached that point, having waited for eight or nine years, where individual lives are on hold."
Neither Quinn Gillespie nor Immigration Voice would disclose the amount being paid for the firm's services. Kapoor said it is "less than five figures."
"This is a sympathetic story," said Nick Maduros, a lobbyist for Quinn Gillespie. "For this group, their issues are very technical and are frankly not that controversial, but they have been overshadowed ."
Immigration Voices also enlisted the help of Rick Swartz, who has his own firm and has long been a leading lobbyist for immigration groups. Swartz gathered members of the group at his home one January weekend for a crash course in American politics, teaching them to position themselves as the "new Cubans for the Republicans."
Although their numbers are far smaller -- fewer than 2 million Indians live in the United States, according to the 2000 Census -- the group is among the more affluent immigrant communities. And because their numbers are smaller than those of Hispanics, they are trying to focus on other ways they can exert power -- through their wealth, their positions of influence in the high-tech and business communities, and their alliances with more established advocacy groups such as one for Indian physicians and an Indian political action committee.
While the immigrant marchers' demands have covered a range of issues, including allowing immigrants to gain legal status and eventually citizenship, the members of this association are more narrowly focused: They want Congress to pass measures that would end the years-long wait for a green card. In fact, they warn that efforts to enable millions of illegal immigrants to remain here permanently would result in the same bureaucratic nightmare legal immigrants are now facing.
"If you're going to reform, reform across the board," said Bharati Mandapati, who oversees content for the group, which means she has learned how to word and pitch legislative amendments.
The group has refrained from taking a stand on the fate of the undocumented workers, though it monitors chatter on its Web site to ensure that frustrated high-tech workers don't disparage lower-skilled laborers such as landscapers and restaurant workers. It also has stayed mum on raising the cap on H-1Bs, the visas that made most of their passages possible.
Under a proposal introduced by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the number of employment-based green cards being issued would increase from 140,000 to 290,000. Currently, no one country is supposed to take up more than 7 percent of the allotment, though unused green cards can be redistributed to countries that have already met their quota. That has made possible migrations in excess of 7 percent from nations such as India, China, Mexico and the Philippines. Under the proposal, the per-country cap would be increased to a hard and fast 10 percent. Proponents say this would prevent one country from dominating the category and would retain jobs for native-born Americans.
But Mandapati, a California-based economist, argues that the restriction would hurt the United States because the demand for skills changes. "It just so happens that computer technology and certain technical skills are in great demand here and all over the world. It just so happens that there are two countries that have invested a lot of resources in educating people in these fields . . . India and China."
About a half-million immigrants are caught in the green-card backlog, some as they wait for Labor Department approval or because quotas have been exceeded. In that time, they cannot be promoted or given substantial pay increases because that would mean a change in job description and salary. They turn to Web sites to compare their wait times with others, and their Internet handles, such as "stucklabor" and "waiting_labor," exude their frustration.
During meetings on Capitol Hill, Maduros and at least one Immigration Voice representative lay out the group's platform, weaving in the personal stories of members. Shilpa Ghodgaonkar, a Germantown housewife, has become a staple anecdote -- and a frequent visitor on the Hill.
For four years, she and her husband have been waiting for their green cards. Ghodgaonkar's husband arrived on an H-1B visa, and she followed as his dependent, unauthorized to work here. To pass the time, she learned to cook. Then she volunteered as a career counselor in Montgomery County. Last year, she earned her MBA from George Washington University. In December, around the time Kapoor sent out his e-mail plea for mass mobilization, Ghodgaonkar had run out of options.
"I just couldn't keep quiet anymore," Ghodgaonkar said. "I cannot be depressed anymore."
She keeps a spreadsheet that lays out appointment times and the senators' offices she has visited or still plans to: Specter, Frist, Schumer, Brownback, Bingaman, Feinstein, Feingold. Wednesdays bring a weekly call with Quinn Gillespie. And every few nights, there are conference calls among Immigration Voice's core team.
Now the group plans to closely watch the debate resuming in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Earlier this month, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) proposed amendments with all of the group's provisions. Other lawmakers confirm that they are still meeting with the group to hear their concerns.
Immigration Voice leaders say the past few months have focused and politicized Indian immigrants in a way that was not apparent in the past. "There is a very 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' quality" about the current effort, Mandapati said. "It's been a journey, a loss of naivet� and getting to know about American politics."
� 2006 The Washington Post Company
This is not the article placed on the thread. And nobody is trashing your efforts!!!!
hairstyles Lebron-james-family-
rajuram
02-14 12:08 AM
I think many a times we over analyze things. It does not matter what the common people think about legal immigrants. Most people do not care. Even if they do, it does not affect us in any way, because rules are made by politicians not by men in the streets. And most polticians do care about immigrants, but only the illegals ones, because it is their future vote bank. For legals the only hope is companies like Microsoft, with a big fat wallet. Just pray that the economy keeps going at the current pace or else there could more trouble for us.
Leadership or Money is not issue for getting results. Why there is so much oppositon to H1b and GC increase? There is a fear in certain american people that they may lose job to the low wage H1b people. Is anyone either corportions or Pro-immigrants trying to remove the fear? Is skill bill has any protection to american workers? We want to increase to h1b or gc without botherng the impact. Now USA really need more h1bs and gcs. But are we suggesting anything when job growth stops or recession happens? Rememember so many people were laid off between 2000 to 2003 including H1b people and Americans but that time also most of 195k h1b was used. I knew lot of people
those who lost the job because of outsourcing and H1b. They struggled for couple of years and and now most of them are in good positon because job market improved. Bold decison will be H1 increase or Gc increase with complete protection to American people and adjustment when demand decreases. Otherwise even h1b or gc is increased by lobbying or politics hatred may increase that is not good for immigration.
Leadership or Money is not issue for getting results. Why there is so much oppositon to H1b and GC increase? There is a fear in certain american people that they may lose job to the low wage H1b people. Is anyone either corportions or Pro-immigrants trying to remove the fear? Is skill bill has any protection to american workers? We want to increase to h1b or gc without botherng the impact. Now USA really need more h1bs and gcs. But are we suggesting anything when job growth stops or recession happens? Rememember so many people were laid off between 2000 to 2003 including H1b people and Americans but that time also most of 195k h1b was used. I knew lot of people
those who lost the job because of outsourcing and H1b. They struggled for couple of years and and now most of them are in good positon because job market improved. Bold decison will be H1 increase or Gc increase with complete protection to American people and adjustment when demand decreases. Otherwise even h1b or gc is increased by lobbying or politics hatred may increase that is not good for immigration.
nirenjoshi
03-10 05:02 PM
One of the IV members has requested me to post this info.
He contacted his senator to get the total number of pending EB apps for India.
Please see the response from the senator in the following link. It has pending applications by category.
http://sites.google.com/site/gc28262/Home/Eb-IndiaPendingApps.pdf.pdf?attredirects=0
wonder if USCIS received $5K for providing this info :)
maybe requesting info thru Senators is the way to go, rather than FOIA.
Would have been nice if they gave break-up by Year, but anyways, some info is better than nothing. Thanks for posting this.
He contacted his senator to get the total number of pending EB apps for India.
Please see the response from the senator in the following link. It has pending applications by category.
http://sites.google.com/site/gc28262/Home/Eb-IndiaPendingApps.pdf.pdf?attredirects=0
wonder if USCIS received $5K for providing this info :)
maybe requesting info thru Senators is the way to go, rather than FOIA.
Would have been nice if they gave break-up by Year, but anyways, some info is better than nothing. Thanks for posting this.
iptel
04-26 09:49 PM
Contributed $200 so far contribured $650. Urge other member to make $150K happen