indyanguy
01-30 01:03 PM
My EB2 labor was filled (different company) as Software Engineer (Level III)
When you say Level III, are you referring the to the Wage level? My EB3 was under 15-1031.00. Now with the same company, If I have to do EB2, can it be in the same category? The only other relevant category I see is:
15-1032.00 - Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software
Also, my understanding is that when you do the prevailing wage determination, the MS+1 will be lesser than MS+1 or BS+5, but both of them qualify for EB2. Thoughts anyone?
When you say Level III, are you referring the to the Wage level? My EB3 was under 15-1031.00. Now with the same company, If I have to do EB2, can it be in the same category? The only other relevant category I see is:
15-1032.00 - Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software
Also, my understanding is that when you do the prevailing wage determination, the MS+1 will be lesser than MS+1 or BS+5, but both of them qualify for EB2. Thoughts anyone?
wallpaper princess leia jabba the hutt.
willwin
03-22 05:05 PM
This PWD has easily become another "major" process in the very long, frustrating GC journey.
PWD-LC-I140-AOS!!!
Don't be surprised if they bring a premium processing for PWD request and charge $1000 for that.
PWD-LC-I140-AOS!!!
Don't be surprised if they bring a premium processing for PWD request and charge $1000 for that.
sunsuri
08-02 11:52 AM
I am wondering if there is a potential issue for the applications filed between July 3rd to july 17th. This is the period when everything was in limbo. Is there any disadvantage for these folks?
So far I haven't seen anyone getting checks cashed or recipted in this period. We do see July 2nd notices comming in.
I had my 485 application received at NSC on July 3rd. And now we are hearing that they may transfer cases to TSC if I-140 was approved from there. Another delay! This wait is getting me restless.
So far I haven't seen anyone getting checks cashed or recipted in this period. We do see July 2nd notices comming in.
I had my 485 application received at NSC on July 3rd. And now we are hearing that they may transfer cases to TSC if I-140 was approved from there. Another delay! This wait is getting me restless.
2011 Jabba#39;s Hut Merchandising
gcspace
08-12 07:31 PM
My case EB3 PD Jan 2004
I40 approved TSC July 2007
485 filed at NSC July 2nd
LUD is 8/12/2007
Does this mean anything ?
I40 approved TSC July 2007
485 filed at NSC July 2nd
LUD is 8/12/2007
Does this mean anything ?
more...
kirupa
07-27 02:59 PM
Ah - glad you found the answer. I was thinking that because ShowDialog is a modal dialog, it may be blocking any operations that are going on in the background. I failed to realize that OpenFileDialog does not have a non-modal Show method which displays the dialog without forcing it to have all of the app's attention.
:)
:)
dilipb
02-08 05:00 PM
The day I applied that day the PD was current.
Are you joking that I will get my GC soon.
All the last so many months, people have been talking that its going to take about 5-6 years still to get a GC, because there are not much GC VISA numbers available.
Also that date is showing as 19 july 2007. does it mean that they have just picked up my application and started processing and will take few months to process since they have to go thru FBI check etc and all other weird processes?
Does anyone have any hard data that there are any chances soon for getting GC in hand?
Are you joking that I will get my GC soon.
All the last so many months, people have been talking that its going to take about 5-6 years still to get a GC, because there are not much GC VISA numbers available.
Also that date is showing as 19 july 2007. does it mean that they have just picked up my application and started processing and will take few months to process since they have to go thru FBI check etc and all other weird processes?
Does anyone have any hard data that there are any chances soon for getting GC in hand?
more...
fatjoe
09-05 01:02 PM
I guess, if you attorney represented you thru' form G-28, then it goes your attr. If you have not sent G28, then you will get it directly. Guys, correct me if I'm wrong.
2010 Fisher/Princess Leia Song)
ImmiLosers
10-06 03:42 PM
HE likes RED though..
How can I check mine?:confused:
And what does 3 red dots on my messages mean?
Thanks
How can I check mine?:confused:
And what does 3 red dots on my messages mean?
Thanks
more...
satish_hello
08-13 11:28 PM
Hi all,
My application Sent on 5th july to NSC, Received on 6th by NSC, any body got the receipt number filed after july 2nd.
I am seeing people are getting filed on july2nd.
I will update once my check cashed, pls. kep the updates.
-satish
-----------------------------------
EB2
PD - sept'2004
I-140 -approved on Jan'2007.
I-485 - sent July5th NSC.
RD - ?
ND- ?
AD - ?
My application Sent on 5th july to NSC, Received on 6th by NSC, any body got the receipt number filed after july 2nd.
I am seeing people are getting filed on july2nd.
I will update once my check cashed, pls. kep the updates.
-satish
-----------------------------------
EB2
PD - sept'2004
I-140 -approved on Jan'2007.
I-485 - sent July5th NSC.
RD - ?
ND- ?
AD - ?
hair Jabba the Hutt with Princess
bank_king2003
09-17 01:30 PM
Myself and wife are going to India in end of October and coming back in mid on November (We have already purchased the tickets).
I would like to know our options to reenter the US.
Our status:
1. We both have valid H1-B Visa(Mine is valid till Nov. 2011 and Wife's visa is valid till 2013) but both of our visa stamp is expired.
2. We both have Valid AP and is expiring in feb 2011.
3. Both have valid EAD but both of them are expiring in Nov. 2010 and we have not applied for renewal as of today and are planning to apply by next week.
4. We both work in same company on H1-B (not using EAD) and we both applied for GC/485 seperately and are working for sponsering company.
My questions (I know this has been discussed many times in different threads but its all spread across with different information):
1. I was thinking of not getting a visa stamp this time but use AP to reenter but continue to work on H1-B visa. But my EAD will expire by the time I come back in mid november. Is it required while reentering on AP? Will Immigration officer ask for EAD? (assuming that I don't get a new EAD by the time I leave USA)
2. Lets say I can reenter using AP (with expired EAD), I read that I-94 will be valid for the time until AP expires (lets say one year) and I-94 will say parolee. Can I continue to work on H1-B and not worry about naything after that I-94 valid date expires as long I renew my H1-B and renew AP and EAD?
Please advice as soon as you can.
Thanks
Buddy - on forum everyone will answer you what he thinks ths best and this is important thing for you. you should ask your lawyer.
short answer - i had been in your situation and what my laywer told me is this
doesnt matter EAD (expired or not) H1(valid or not), if you have valid AP and your 485 is pending you can enter USA on it. Date on I94 will indeed be expiry date of AP.
Secondly, you are all good to continue working on your H1b even after entering through AP.
this is just what my laywer said. you will hear more things but i would suggest again that check with your lawyer.
Good Luck !!
I would like to know our options to reenter the US.
Our status:
1. We both have valid H1-B Visa(Mine is valid till Nov. 2011 and Wife's visa is valid till 2013) but both of our visa stamp is expired.
2. We both have Valid AP and is expiring in feb 2011.
3. Both have valid EAD but both of them are expiring in Nov. 2010 and we have not applied for renewal as of today and are planning to apply by next week.
4. We both work in same company on H1-B (not using EAD) and we both applied for GC/485 seperately and are working for sponsering company.
My questions (I know this has been discussed many times in different threads but its all spread across with different information):
1. I was thinking of not getting a visa stamp this time but use AP to reenter but continue to work on H1-B visa. But my EAD will expire by the time I come back in mid november. Is it required while reentering on AP? Will Immigration officer ask for EAD? (assuming that I don't get a new EAD by the time I leave USA)
2. Lets say I can reenter using AP (with expired EAD), I read that I-94 will be valid for the time until AP expires (lets say one year) and I-94 will say parolee. Can I continue to work on H1-B and not worry about naything after that I-94 valid date expires as long I renew my H1-B and renew AP and EAD?
Please advice as soon as you can.
Thanks
Buddy - on forum everyone will answer you what he thinks ths best and this is important thing for you. you should ask your lawyer.
short answer - i had been in your situation and what my laywer told me is this
doesnt matter EAD (expired or not) H1(valid or not), if you have valid AP and your 485 is pending you can enter USA on it. Date on I94 will indeed be expiry date of AP.
Secondly, you are all good to continue working on your H1b even after entering through AP.
this is just what my laywer said. you will hear more things but i would suggest again that check with your lawyer.
Good Luck !!
more...
shana04
02-01 06:07 AM
There is a seperate thread on this. Look it up.
My 2 c:
- Stay away from Murthy. They've screwed up at least 2 cases that I know of. And their response is slow.
- Thomas Fan in MD: Run like you've seen the devil. I have no idea why malpractice suits has not been filed against him yet.
- Clark Trevor in CA - Guy is awesome but expensive.
- Ellen Krengel in CA - Decent.
- Gowda in MI - Slow, inefficient.
- Rajeev Khanna - seems to be good, efficient and responsive.
- Jon Wu, CA - Slow as hell but knows the ins/outs
I gave you points.
I do not care about money right now. All I need is a good attorney where I can sleep happily for some time. I will try Rajiv kahana, then.
One of my friend also got his GC from Rajiv kahana.
Thanks my friend.
My 2 c:
- Stay away from Murthy. They've screwed up at least 2 cases that I know of. And their response is slow.
- Thomas Fan in MD: Run like you've seen the devil. I have no idea why malpractice suits has not been filed against him yet.
- Clark Trevor in CA - Guy is awesome but expensive.
- Ellen Krengel in CA - Decent.
- Gowda in MI - Slow, inefficient.
- Rajeev Khanna - seems to be good, efficient and responsive.
- Jon Wu, CA - Slow as hell but knows the ins/outs
I gave you points.
I do not care about money right now. All I need is a good attorney where I can sleep happily for some time. I will try Rajiv kahana, then.
One of my friend also got his GC from Rajiv kahana.
Thanks my friend.
hot jabba the hutt amp; princess
bsbawa10
08-14 10:50 PM
The spreadsheet is totally sorted now according to the PD. I had to make one change though. The day of the month of PD was not mentioned and I had to write something to sort it out. I made it 1st of the month for everybody to be able to so sorting. You can change the day if you want to. Also please do not sort the data yourself. I will do it periodically. Just enter your info at the end.
Bawa
Bawa
more...
house princess leia jabba the hutt.
Ann Ruben
01-08 11:26 PM
There are really two questions here. First, are you eligible for unemployment compensation? And second, will applying for unemployment compensation adversely impact your application for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident?
The answer to the first question is controlled by the law of the particular state in which you worked and/or reside. In theory, to be eligible one must have worked long enough that an adequate amount of UC insurance was paid into the UC system, AND one must be willing and ABLE to accept new employment. The law varies from state to state with respect to whether someone in your situation qualifies as "ABLE" to accept new employment. If you let me know where you reside and work, I can try to provide further guidance as to eligibility for UC benefits.
As to the second question, (assuming your I-140 has been approved and your I-485 has been pending for more than 180 days) under the INA, when your PD is reached and your I-485 is adjudicated, you are required to have the intention to take up an offer of permanent full time employment in the same or similar occupation for which your LC was granted. This is a prospective requirement, and your employment status prior to the actual grant of AOS is relevant only to the extent that it supports or undercuts your ability to prove that you have an appropriate offer of full time employment which you intend to take up. There is no requirement that you be employed while you are waiting for your priority date to become current and your I-485 to be adjudicated. However, being unemployed or employed in an entirely unrelated occupation could trigger USCIS to perform a more searching inquiry into the bona fides of the prospective AC21 qualifying job offer and your intention to accept it.
To the best of my knowledge, USCIS is not notified when an AOS applicant applies for UC. Similarly, I am not aware of any cases where an UC claim triggered an RFE. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to act on the assumption that USCIS is aware of UC claims and be well prepared to prove one's intention to take up a bona fide offer of AC 21 qualifying employment once your PD is reached.
The answer to the first question is controlled by the law of the particular state in which you worked and/or reside. In theory, to be eligible one must have worked long enough that an adequate amount of UC insurance was paid into the UC system, AND one must be willing and ABLE to accept new employment. The law varies from state to state with respect to whether someone in your situation qualifies as "ABLE" to accept new employment. If you let me know where you reside and work, I can try to provide further guidance as to eligibility for UC benefits.
As to the second question, (assuming your I-140 has been approved and your I-485 has been pending for more than 180 days) under the INA, when your PD is reached and your I-485 is adjudicated, you are required to have the intention to take up an offer of permanent full time employment in the same or similar occupation for which your LC was granted. This is a prospective requirement, and your employment status prior to the actual grant of AOS is relevant only to the extent that it supports or undercuts your ability to prove that you have an appropriate offer of full time employment which you intend to take up. There is no requirement that you be employed while you are waiting for your priority date to become current and your I-485 to be adjudicated. However, being unemployed or employed in an entirely unrelated occupation could trigger USCIS to perform a more searching inquiry into the bona fides of the prospective AC21 qualifying job offer and your intention to accept it.
To the best of my knowledge, USCIS is not notified when an AOS applicant applies for UC. Similarly, I am not aware of any cases where an UC claim triggered an RFE. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to act on the assumption that USCIS is aware of UC claims and be well prepared to prove one's intention to take up a bona fide offer of AC 21 qualifying employment once your PD is reached.
tattoo Princess Leia vs Jabba the
pady
08-28 12:52 PM
My SR is for my 485, I didn't renew my EAD or planning to renew as I am not using it
more...
pictures Katie Cook - Princess Leia,
a_yaja
04-05 12:09 PM
3. If new employer gives me the option to move permanently to its subsidiary in another country, what are the available option for me to continue with green card processing?
You can convert your I-485 to Consular Processing (CP) and keep your GC process going. Since GC is for a future job, you can work this out with your employer. Basically, your employer has to support you so that when you are called for the consular interview, you need to be able to show documentary evidence that you will be moving back to the US and joining the same job at or above the advertised wage once your GC is approved.
Are you sure AC21 is valid for Consular Processing? AFAIK, AC21 applies only to AOS applications. See Murthy's note on CP vs AOS @ http://www.murthy.com/news/UDaosvcp.html
Also, if you move outside of the country permanently, why would one want to pursue GC option? GC is only for people who want to stay in the US permanently. After getting the GC, there are other conditions you need to meet to maintain your GC status - one of them is to have the US as your country of residence.
You can convert your I-485 to Consular Processing (CP) and keep your GC process going. Since GC is for a future job, you can work this out with your employer. Basically, your employer has to support you so that when you are called for the consular interview, you need to be able to show documentary evidence that you will be moving back to the US and joining the same job at or above the advertised wage once your GC is approved.
Are you sure AC21 is valid for Consular Processing? AFAIK, AC21 applies only to AOS applications. See Murthy's note on CP vs AOS @ http://www.murthy.com/news/UDaosvcp.html
Also, if you move outside of the country permanently, why would one want to pursue GC option? GC is only for people who want to stay in the US permanently. After getting the GC, there are other conditions you need to meet to maintain your GC status - one of them is to have the US as your country of residence.
dresses look for Princess Leia in
vishal
04-15 02:30 PM
hi all,
since it is taking so long for the namechecks to get cleared. what usually happens after we do FP. how is the process initiated.
any response is appreciated
since it is taking so long for the namechecks to get cleared. what usually happens after we do FP. how is the process initiated.
any response is appreciated
more...
makeup house princess leia jabba hut.
gparr
February 1st, 2004, 08:42 PM
I never know what to do with these shots. This is a planter of small flowers that had a nice color and nice foliage. I don't have a macro lens and really wouldn't have wanted a macro shot if I had one. What's the best way to compose a shot like this? I cropped this some, but it seems there should be a way to compose a shot such as this to get better visual impact.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Gary
http://www.dphoto.us/forumphotos/data/500/153littleflowers.jpg
Thanks for any suggestions.
Gary
http://www.dphoto.us/forumphotos/data/500/153littleflowers.jpg
girlfriend A Princess Leia cake we can
rChinna
04-01 12:20 PM
Hi All,
My Wife�s I-94 expired on Jan 15, 2010 and I did not know that I had to apply for her H4 extension while applying for my H1B extension under regular processing on March 1, 2010.My employer also forgot to apply for H4 extension. Now that, it�s been more than 2 months with the I-94 expired, Can you please let me know what options I have to resolve this issue?
1.Can I upgrade my H1 Processing to Premium and add the H4 processing to it, so that both H1 and H4 are processed simultaneously?
2.If adding H4 while upgrading H1 to premium is not possible, Should I just upgrade my H1 to Premium so that I can know the results soon and have ample time (before the 180 days grace period) to apply for H4 extension(I-539).Is it true that H1B premium approval is risky compared to regular processing ?
3.Is it safe to go back to India within 180 days (after I-94 expiration) and get H4 stamping in her home country once I get my H1 Extension?
4.Should I just leave my H1B in regular processing and attach the H4 extension (I-539) to it? If attaching H4 is not possible, Can I file H4 separately and get it approved before 180 days expiration?
5.Once her H4 extension is approved, can she get her H4 VISA re-validated in US? Can she apply under �Nunc-pro-tunc� Category?
6.Does she have an option to attend H4 visa interview in Canada or Mexico as her Visa and I-94 are expired? If yes, is this better option than going to India?
Please reply.
Thanks in advance
Chinna
My Wife�s I-94 expired on Jan 15, 2010 and I did not know that I had to apply for her H4 extension while applying for my H1B extension under regular processing on March 1, 2010.My employer also forgot to apply for H4 extension. Now that, it�s been more than 2 months with the I-94 expired, Can you please let me know what options I have to resolve this issue?
1.Can I upgrade my H1 Processing to Premium and add the H4 processing to it, so that both H1 and H4 are processed simultaneously?
2.If adding H4 while upgrading H1 to premium is not possible, Should I just upgrade my H1 to Premium so that I can know the results soon and have ample time (before the 180 days grace period) to apply for H4 extension(I-539).Is it true that H1B premium approval is risky compared to regular processing ?
3.Is it safe to go back to India within 180 days (after I-94 expiration) and get H4 stamping in her home country once I get my H1 Extension?
4.Should I just leave my H1B in regular processing and attach the H4 extension (I-539) to it? If attaching H4 is not possible, Can I file H4 separately and get it approved before 180 days expiration?
5.Once her H4 extension is approved, can she get her H4 VISA re-validated in US? Can she apply under �Nunc-pro-tunc� Category?
6.Does she have an option to attend H4 visa interview in Canada or Mexico as her Visa and I-94 are expired? If yes, is this better option than going to India?
Please reply.
Thanks in advance
Chinna
hairstyles Princess Leia VS. Jabba the
Junky
09-22 03:20 PM
Just gave you green
44 Red dots for requesting people to call :mad:
44 Red dots for requesting people to call :mad:
GCBy3000
12-09 10:14 AM
If they do this retroactively, I hope they retro to 500 years back. Everyone from the congress and the president should deport their ass from where their ancestor's came from.
Its not just any Mark Krikorian, its our beloved 'bigot/racist Mark' - please make sure you always use that prefix or he will be very upset. He's already pissed that anytime the CIS' news releases are picked up by the newspapers/TV, they apparently describe CIS as merely an organization that wants 'stricter immigration' and deliberately leave out their illustrious founding by a courageous racist John Tanton. So - in confusion, ladys, jellyspoons , julia preston, nytimes et all - don't piss off our CIS ppl or they will deport your ass to wherever it came from! And don't think just because you were born here that you are safe cos there's a bill in the works that strips birthright citizenship retroactively!
Its not just any Mark Krikorian, its our beloved 'bigot/racist Mark' - please make sure you always use that prefix or he will be very upset. He's already pissed that anytime the CIS' news releases are picked up by the newspapers/TV, they apparently describe CIS as merely an organization that wants 'stricter immigration' and deliberately leave out their illustrious founding by a courageous racist John Tanton. So - in confusion, ladys, jellyspoons , julia preston, nytimes et all - don't piss off our CIS ppl or they will deport your ass to wherever it came from! And don't think just because you were born here that you are safe cos there's a bill in the works that strips birthright citizenship retroactively!
harivenkat
05-06 08:54 PM
Tech firms play quiet role in immigration-overhaul push - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/06/1617199_p2/tech-firms-play-quiet-role-in.html)
WASHINGTON � The technology sector, a little-publicized but key player in the coalition that's pushing for an overhaul of immigration laws, has given mixed reviews to the proposal that Senate Democrats unveiled last week.
Public dialogue on immigration has focused largely on a path to legalization for the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, but technology companies have lobbied for years to streamline and ease the process of hiring skilled legal immigrant workers. They hope to capitalize on the momentum that surrounds immigration.
Peter Muller is the director of government relations for Intel, one of the largest sponsors of H-1B temporary visas for skilled workers. The company was approved for 723 new H-1B visas in 2009. Muller said Intel had been hindered in hiring and keeping the most qualified people by the annual caps on H-1B visas and the sometimes decade-long delay in processing green card applications.
"To not be able to hire the people who really drive innovation in our company is a frustration," he said.
The number of H-1B visas issued each year is capped at 65,000, with another 20,000 reserved for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, programs from which companies such as Intel recruit many of their workers. In past years, the allotment often was gone within days after the application period opened in April. Last year, it took until December to hit the cap.
Even with a slower economy reducing demand for workers, however, tech companies say they want the system overhauled.
"Companies are still hiring, so fixing the problems and fixing the system is important," said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, the co-executive director of Compete America, a coalition of companies that are lobbying for more high-skilled immigration. "It's an issue today for some companies, and it's going to continue to be an issue that needs to be addressed."
For H-1B workers who want to stay in the country permanently, the wait for a green card can take years. Ashish Sharma, an Indian citizen who's working for a technology company in California, has waited for a green card for seven years. At one point, Sharma said, he considered leaving the United States because of the uncertainty of his status.
"The long wait does bother people," he said. "I did look at what Canada was offering, where they give you a green card within three months."
Sharma ultimately decided to stay for the sake of his two children, who were raised in the U.S., but some employers as well as workers have chosen to go abroad. Microsoft, a top sponsor of H-1B visas with 1,318 petitions approved in 2009, opened a development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2007, in part to take advantage of Canada's more lenient immigration laws.
Compete America praised some aspects of the Democratic immigration framework that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey put forward last week.
The coalition favors a provision that would offer green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in specialized fields, but it's pushing back against provisions that would limit the hiring of H-1B workers and increase government scrutiny of companies that sponsor the temporary visas.
The language in the Democrats' framework that deals with temporary visas came largely from a bill intended to curb abuses in the H-1B system that Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced last year.
Durbin said in an e-mailed statement that the H-1B program was too easily abused by employers who used it to, in effect, outsource jobs that American workers could fill.
"Congress created the H-1B visa program so an employer could hire a foreign guest worker when a qualified American worker could not be found," he said. "However, the H-1B visa program is plagued with fraud and abuse and is now a vehicle for outsourcing that deprives qualified American workers of their jobs."
Tech industry representatives disagreed.
"We are all for strong enforcement," Herrera-Flanigan said. "But the way the provisions are written, it's much more far-reaching than that, and it could have an adverse effect on companies that are not bad actors."
The H-1B provisions came in for criticism from people who represent immigrant workers as well as from employers. Aman Kapoor, the president of Immigration Voice, a network of skilled immigrant workers, called the proposal draconian and said the restrictions could render the H-1B process essentially useless.
Schumer's office didn't respond to requests for comment.
Advocates in the broader immigration-overhaul coalition said support from the technology industry would be key to winning the wide political backing that was necessary to give a comprehensive bill a shot at passing.
"I think it is important, and in part that is because tech is one of the key business sectors that will be necessary to bring the Republican votes we will need, in the Senate, especially," said Jeanne Butterfield, a senior adviser for the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates policies that are more welcoming toward immigrants.
Technology companies make up a substantial portion of the voices that are lobbying for federal immigration revisions. Of the 288 federal lobbyist filings that had reported lobbying on immigration issues in the first quarter of the year as of Monday, an analysis shows that about 17 percent came from companies and organizations that represent the technology and engineering sectors. Others represented fields such as medicine and education, which also are interested in skilled immigrants.
The people who are lobbying on behalf of the tech sector said that although their issues with the immigration system were specific, they had no plans to peel off from the broader overhaul coalition to pursue a more tailored bill.
Muller said the word from Capitol Hill had been that immigration was too contentious an issue to tackle piecemeal.
PROVISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT TECH SECTOR:
Green cards (legal permanent resident visas):
* Foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics automatically would be eligible for green cards if U.S. employers offer them jobs.
* The caps that limit the numbers of immigrants who can come from specific countries would be eliminated.
H-1B visas (temporary work visas for foreign workers in specialized jobs):
* Would forbid employers from giving priority to H-1B applicants and would limit the number of H-1B employees that large employers may hire.
* Would authorize the Department of Labor to investigate applications for possible fraud and would require the department to audit companies that have large numbers of H-1B employees.
WASHINGTON � The technology sector, a little-publicized but key player in the coalition that's pushing for an overhaul of immigration laws, has given mixed reviews to the proposal that Senate Democrats unveiled last week.
Public dialogue on immigration has focused largely on a path to legalization for the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, but technology companies have lobbied for years to streamline and ease the process of hiring skilled legal immigrant workers. They hope to capitalize on the momentum that surrounds immigration.
Peter Muller is the director of government relations for Intel, one of the largest sponsors of H-1B temporary visas for skilled workers. The company was approved for 723 new H-1B visas in 2009. Muller said Intel had been hindered in hiring and keeping the most qualified people by the annual caps on H-1B visas and the sometimes decade-long delay in processing green card applications.
"To not be able to hire the people who really drive innovation in our company is a frustration," he said.
The number of H-1B visas issued each year is capped at 65,000, with another 20,000 reserved for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, programs from which companies such as Intel recruit many of their workers. In past years, the allotment often was gone within days after the application period opened in April. Last year, it took until December to hit the cap.
Even with a slower economy reducing demand for workers, however, tech companies say they want the system overhauled.
"Companies are still hiring, so fixing the problems and fixing the system is important," said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, the co-executive director of Compete America, a coalition of companies that are lobbying for more high-skilled immigration. "It's an issue today for some companies, and it's going to continue to be an issue that needs to be addressed."
For H-1B workers who want to stay in the country permanently, the wait for a green card can take years. Ashish Sharma, an Indian citizen who's working for a technology company in California, has waited for a green card for seven years. At one point, Sharma said, he considered leaving the United States because of the uncertainty of his status.
"The long wait does bother people," he said. "I did look at what Canada was offering, where they give you a green card within three months."
Sharma ultimately decided to stay for the sake of his two children, who were raised in the U.S., but some employers as well as workers have chosen to go abroad. Microsoft, a top sponsor of H-1B visas with 1,318 petitions approved in 2009, opened a development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2007, in part to take advantage of Canada's more lenient immigration laws.
Compete America praised some aspects of the Democratic immigration framework that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey put forward last week.
The coalition favors a provision that would offer green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in specialized fields, but it's pushing back against provisions that would limit the hiring of H-1B workers and increase government scrutiny of companies that sponsor the temporary visas.
The language in the Democrats' framework that deals with temporary visas came largely from a bill intended to curb abuses in the H-1B system that Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced last year.
Durbin said in an e-mailed statement that the H-1B program was too easily abused by employers who used it to, in effect, outsource jobs that American workers could fill.
"Congress created the H-1B visa program so an employer could hire a foreign guest worker when a qualified American worker could not be found," he said. "However, the H-1B visa program is plagued with fraud and abuse and is now a vehicle for outsourcing that deprives qualified American workers of their jobs."
Tech industry representatives disagreed.
"We are all for strong enforcement," Herrera-Flanigan said. "But the way the provisions are written, it's much more far-reaching than that, and it could have an adverse effect on companies that are not bad actors."
The H-1B provisions came in for criticism from people who represent immigrant workers as well as from employers. Aman Kapoor, the president of Immigration Voice, a network of skilled immigrant workers, called the proposal draconian and said the restrictions could render the H-1B process essentially useless.
Schumer's office didn't respond to requests for comment.
Advocates in the broader immigration-overhaul coalition said support from the technology industry would be key to winning the wide political backing that was necessary to give a comprehensive bill a shot at passing.
"I think it is important, and in part that is because tech is one of the key business sectors that will be necessary to bring the Republican votes we will need, in the Senate, especially," said Jeanne Butterfield, a senior adviser for the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates policies that are more welcoming toward immigrants.
Technology companies make up a substantial portion of the voices that are lobbying for federal immigration revisions. Of the 288 federal lobbyist filings that had reported lobbying on immigration issues in the first quarter of the year as of Monday, an analysis shows that about 17 percent came from companies and organizations that represent the technology and engineering sectors. Others represented fields such as medicine and education, which also are interested in skilled immigrants.
The people who are lobbying on behalf of the tech sector said that although their issues with the immigration system were specific, they had no plans to peel off from the broader overhaul coalition to pursue a more tailored bill.
Muller said the word from Capitol Hill had been that immigration was too contentious an issue to tackle piecemeal.
PROVISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT TECH SECTOR:
Green cards (legal permanent resident visas):
* Foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics automatically would be eligible for green cards if U.S. employers offer them jobs.
* The caps that limit the numbers of immigrants who can come from specific countries would be eliminated.
H-1B visas (temporary work visas for foreign workers in specialized jobs):
* Would forbid employers from giving priority to H-1B applicants and would limit the number of H-1B employees that large employers may hire.
* Would authorize the Department of Labor to investigate applications for possible fraud and would require the department to audit companies that have large numbers of H-1B employees.
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