vvpandya
11-06 05:46 PM
I had a LUD on 10/18 and then today the online status says Document mailed to applicant..recvd date at nebraska is 7/2 and recpt date is 9/11
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lxz2011
12-19 01:25 PM
Thank you for replying.
I believe when I was young I entered with family visit visa, then I re-entered the country using a re entry visa. I assume both has expired for awhile now, although my I 94 doesn't state an expiration date, it stats "ans or status" Could you explain what that means?
I believe when I was young I entered with family visit visa, then I re-entered the country using a re entry visa. I assume both has expired for awhile now, although my I 94 doesn't state an expiration date, it stats "ans or status" Could you explain what that means?
coopheal
11-05 04:36 PM
Contribute now so that IV dont have to pass an opportunity during lame duck session or early next year.
2011 paisajes hermosos. paisajes de
malibuguy007
10-03 12:49 PM
Guys funds are needed all the time, so please keep contributing. The amount being asked is less than 1% of your monthly salary - is that too high a price for YOUR cause?
more...
pady
06-18 04:44 PM
I would like to stay in the project through a difference vendor because it is stable for quite long time and I am expecting to be there for next 3 yrs.
I am worried because this Noncompete is between my employer and his next layer. The final layer is client and I will be working for the same client through a NEW vendor.
I am worried because this Noncompete is between my employer and his next layer. The final layer is client and I will be working for the same client through a NEW vendor.
desitechie
06-29 01:58 AM
Thank you so much Elaine for your quick response..
So am I correct to assume that there is no need to renew the I-94 if one enters using the AP.. I am myself also planning to use my AP for re-entry later this year, but have the H1-B approval valid till 2011, so was a little confused as to if I would be needed to renew my new I-94 if it is issued for 1 year based on AP..
Yes. I was told the same by my lawyer.
So am I correct to assume that there is no need to renew the I-94 if one enters using the AP.. I am myself also planning to use my AP for re-entry later this year, but have the H1-B approval valid till 2011, so was a little confused as to if I would be needed to renew my new I-94 if it is issued for 1 year based on AP..
Yes. I was told the same by my lawyer.
more...
adibhatla
05-04 03:51 PM
I recently traveled (2 weeks ago) via Frankfurt to India and back from Dallas. It is more than enough time. Also Lufthansa does a good job of on-time arrivals and departures. I would say it should not be a problem at all.
Cheers!
MA
Cheers!
MA
2010 paisajes naturales hermosos.
saint_2010
07-11 04:44 PM
Yes I did, but did not get a dual card. It says on the card - "Not Valid For Reentry to US" - my guess its not dual.
Did you say 2007!? and you haven't rcvd EAD cards till now!. Did you check with USCIS?
Did you say 2007!? and you haven't rcvd EAD cards till now!. Did you check with USCIS?
more...
marty
01-09 11:40 AM
Come on fellas, I need your input.
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realizeit
08-01 03:32 PM
HR 5882 Counterpart Introduced in Senate by Hon. MENENDEZ
Link: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=301666&
Press Release of Senator Menendez
SENATOR MENENDEZ INTRODUCES BILL TO EXTEND E-VERIFY PROGRAM, INCREASE VISA EFFICIENCY AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES
E-verify portion of bill mirrors version passed overwhelmingly passed by House this evening
Friday, August 1, 2008
WASHINGTON� U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) yesterday evening introduced legislation to renew the electronic system for employers to check the documentation of prospective employees, and to ensure that unused work or family-based visas are utilized. The Visa Efficiency and E-Verify Extension Act of 2008 will help American businesses and will protect family unity by reauthorizing the E-Verify program, recapturing unused or unclaimed employment-based visas and family-sponsored visas from fiscal years 1992 through 2007 and allowing unused family and employment-based visas in future years to automatically �roll over� to the next fiscal year. The E-Verify portion of the legislation mirrors E-Verify legislation passed this evening in the House of Representatives by a 407-2 vote.
Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Maria Cantwell (WA) joined Senator Menendez as co-sponsors of the bill. The proposed legislation would shorten the long lines of families and employees currently waiting to receive green cards.
�Verifying that workers have their proper documentation is certainly important, and this bill ensures we are doing that while being fair to families who have waited in line for years and have paid their visa fees to reunite with their loved ones,� said Sen. Menendez. �We must couple the E-verify effort, which is good for business, with policy that is also good for families � it fits with our American value system and is a step towards fixing our broken immigration system.�
Summary of The Visa Efficiency and E-Verify Extension Act of 2008:
Recapture of Unused Visas: This bill recaptures unused or unclaimed employment-based visas and family-sponsored visas from fiscal years 1992 through 2007 and allows unused family and employment-based visas in future years to automatically �roll over� to the next fiscal year.
Extension of the Conrad State 30 Program: The bill extends the Conrad State 30 program for 5 years to June 1, 2013. The Conrad State 30 program was designed to provide each of the fifty U.S. states with 30 waivers for J-1 physicians each fiscal year.
Extension of Religious Worker Program: The bill requires DHS to issue final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud related to the granting of special immigrant status for individuals working in a religious vocation or occupation. The bill extends the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program to October 1, 2011. Under this bill, the DHS Inspector General shall submit on the effectiveness of the regulations to reduce fraud by 2010.
Reauthorization of E-verify: This bill also reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security�s (DHS) Basic Pilot electronic employment eligibility verification program, also known as �E-Verify.� This legislation provides for a 5-year extension of this program for the electronic employment verification of employees.
Protection of Social Security Administration Programs: This legislation requires DHS to provide timely and appropriate payments to the Social Security Administration so that E-verify does not interfere with SSA�s ability to serve seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors.
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Study of Basic Pilot Confirmation System: This bill requires the GAO to report to Congress on the causes of erroneous tentative nonconfirmations, how they are remedied and the effect they have on individuals, employers and federal agencies. It also requires the GAO to examine the experiences of small businesses, non-profits and municipalities with using Basic Pilot.
Link: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=301666&
Press Release of Senator Menendez
SENATOR MENENDEZ INTRODUCES BILL TO EXTEND E-VERIFY PROGRAM, INCREASE VISA EFFICIENCY AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES
E-verify portion of bill mirrors version passed overwhelmingly passed by House this evening
Friday, August 1, 2008
WASHINGTON� U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) yesterday evening introduced legislation to renew the electronic system for employers to check the documentation of prospective employees, and to ensure that unused work or family-based visas are utilized. The Visa Efficiency and E-Verify Extension Act of 2008 will help American businesses and will protect family unity by reauthorizing the E-Verify program, recapturing unused or unclaimed employment-based visas and family-sponsored visas from fiscal years 1992 through 2007 and allowing unused family and employment-based visas in future years to automatically �roll over� to the next fiscal year. The E-Verify portion of the legislation mirrors E-Verify legislation passed this evening in the House of Representatives by a 407-2 vote.
Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Maria Cantwell (WA) joined Senator Menendez as co-sponsors of the bill. The proposed legislation would shorten the long lines of families and employees currently waiting to receive green cards.
�Verifying that workers have their proper documentation is certainly important, and this bill ensures we are doing that while being fair to families who have waited in line for years and have paid their visa fees to reunite with their loved ones,� said Sen. Menendez. �We must couple the E-verify effort, which is good for business, with policy that is also good for families � it fits with our American value system and is a step towards fixing our broken immigration system.�
Summary of The Visa Efficiency and E-Verify Extension Act of 2008:
Recapture of Unused Visas: This bill recaptures unused or unclaimed employment-based visas and family-sponsored visas from fiscal years 1992 through 2007 and allows unused family and employment-based visas in future years to automatically �roll over� to the next fiscal year.
Extension of the Conrad State 30 Program: The bill extends the Conrad State 30 program for 5 years to June 1, 2013. The Conrad State 30 program was designed to provide each of the fifty U.S. states with 30 waivers for J-1 physicians each fiscal year.
Extension of Religious Worker Program: The bill requires DHS to issue final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud related to the granting of special immigrant status for individuals working in a religious vocation or occupation. The bill extends the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program to October 1, 2011. Under this bill, the DHS Inspector General shall submit on the effectiveness of the regulations to reduce fraud by 2010.
Reauthorization of E-verify: This bill also reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security�s (DHS) Basic Pilot electronic employment eligibility verification program, also known as �E-Verify.� This legislation provides for a 5-year extension of this program for the electronic employment verification of employees.
Protection of Social Security Administration Programs: This legislation requires DHS to provide timely and appropriate payments to the Social Security Administration so that E-verify does not interfere with SSA�s ability to serve seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors.
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Study of Basic Pilot Confirmation System: This bill requires the GAO to report to Congress on the causes of erroneous tentative nonconfirmations, how they are remedied and the effect they have on individuals, employers and federal agencies. It also requires the GAO to examine the experiences of small businesses, non-profits and municipalities with using Basic Pilot.
more...
rajeshiv
07-22 01:25 AM
Hi,
Is Personnel check allowed for I-485, EAD and Advance Parole filing fees.
Thank you.
chansek
Any checks issued by recognised banks are valid for filing fees.
-RR
Is Personnel check allowed for I-485, EAD and Advance Parole filing fees.
Thank you.
chansek
Any checks issued by recognised banks are valid for filing fees.
-RR
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GCwaitforever
10-17 01:25 PM
Not necessary. You can grow the business slowly. But only when your business grows to the size of 10 employess, you can file for EB5.
more...
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boom
06-13 09:06 AM
Kumarr,
I had the same situation for my daughter who turned 14.They requested for biometric fee $80.00.It should be simple and OK.just pay the the amount and you should be fine.After that you may get a FP notice.
Once we sent the bimetric fee,proceesing resumed and everything was fine.
I had the same situation for my daughter who turned 14.They requested for biometric fee $80.00.It should be simple and OK.just pay the the amount and you should be fine.After that you may get a FP notice.
Once we sent the bimetric fee,proceesing resumed and everything was fine.
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glus
11-13 11:22 AM
Hi,
I emailed DOS yesterday and asked why EB3 ROW did not move. This morning I received a response:
Dear Mr. XXXXX:
The E3 cut-off date has not moved because USCIS has already requested nearly as many E3 numbers as may be allocated for the first quarter, and there are no unused E1 and E2 numbers to fall down to E3.
The data which CIS posted can be misleading because it was probably a month old when it was published, it does not take into account demand at our overseas posts, that being processed at CIS District Offices, etc. The INA imposes limits on the amount of visa numbers which may be used in each of the first three quarters, and without moving most of the Employment cut-off dates we are approaching the first quarter limit.
LMH
Legal Net
Visa Office
Department of State
I emailed DOS yesterday and asked why EB3 ROW did not move. This morning I received a response:
Dear Mr. XXXXX:
The E3 cut-off date has not moved because USCIS has already requested nearly as many E3 numbers as may be allocated for the first quarter, and there are no unused E1 and E2 numbers to fall down to E3.
The data which CIS posted can be misleading because it was probably a month old when it was published, it does not take into account demand at our overseas posts, that being processed at CIS District Offices, etc. The INA imposes limits on the amount of visa numbers which may be used in each of the first three quarters, and without moving most of the Employment cut-off dates we are approaching the first quarter limit.
LMH
Legal Net
Visa Office
Department of State
more...
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mhtanim
02-12 11:20 PM
Sorry, if this seems off-topic.
I'm on H1B visa and my wife is on H4 visa. We file our taxes as a joint return. My wife is currently studying for MS. She has received in-state tuition fees. We received 1098-T from the university. I'm thiking about getting a lifetime learning credit which will reduce my tax bill. My questions are:
* Are people on H1/H4 allowed to take lifetime learning credit for graduate studies?
* Will this have any negative effect on our greencard in the future?
Thanks.
Yes, you are allowed to take lifetime learning credit. It has nothing to do with your visa status.
It should not have any effects on your greencard process.
I'm on H1B visa and my wife is on H4 visa. We file our taxes as a joint return. My wife is currently studying for MS. She has received in-state tuition fees. We received 1098-T from the university. I'm thiking about getting a lifetime learning credit which will reduce my tax bill. My questions are:
* Are people on H1/H4 allowed to take lifetime learning credit for graduate studies?
* Will this have any negative effect on our greencard in the future?
Thanks.
Yes, you are allowed to take lifetime learning credit. It has nothing to do with your visa status.
It should not have any effects on your greencard process.
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jonty_11
02-19 12:32 PM
As per immigration-law.com..Senate may work on CIR in March 07 and hand it over to House by APril 07....House may however sit on it for years on end...
02/18/2007: Need for Immigration Reform and Concerns with Growing Gridlock in Legislations in the Congress
The Democrats launched a new Congress with aggressive platforms and legislative agenda on January 4, 2007. Madame Pelosi of the House set the first 100-hour legislative agenda and the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid presented on the Senate floor ten legislative bills as top priority for the first few months of the Senate.
However, immersed in the party politics, the Congress left the Hill yesterday, Saturday, for a week long break without achieving a lot because of the gridlock it had faced in the Congress. Samo, Samo Washington politics involving the Republicans and Democrats. It practically means that the Congress wll not resume the active legislative activities until March 2007.
S. 9, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, adopted by the Senate floor, is in the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. The newly elected Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Leahy, reportedly set the CIR as one of the top agenda of the Judiciary Committee for March 2007 and the Democratic leaders reportedly determined to pass the CIR by April 2007 and quickly send it over to the House for its prompt action. How beautiful the agenda of the new Congress.
We want to watch carefully how closely the leaders of the House and Senate will follow through the agenda. In a way, from the perspectives of this immigration legislation agenda, we are relieved that the Congress was over with the most serious road block to the Congress, to wit, rebuke of Bush's resurge in Iraq.
02/18/2007: Need for Immigration Reform and Concerns with Growing Gridlock in Legislations in the Congress
The Democrats launched a new Congress with aggressive platforms and legislative agenda on January 4, 2007. Madame Pelosi of the House set the first 100-hour legislative agenda and the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid presented on the Senate floor ten legislative bills as top priority for the first few months of the Senate.
However, immersed in the party politics, the Congress left the Hill yesterday, Saturday, for a week long break without achieving a lot because of the gridlock it had faced in the Congress. Samo, Samo Washington politics involving the Republicans and Democrats. It practically means that the Congress wll not resume the active legislative activities until March 2007.
S. 9, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, adopted by the Senate floor, is in the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. The newly elected Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Leahy, reportedly set the CIR as one of the top agenda of the Judiciary Committee for March 2007 and the Democratic leaders reportedly determined to pass the CIR by April 2007 and quickly send it over to the House for its prompt action. How beautiful the agenda of the new Congress.
We want to watch carefully how closely the leaders of the House and Senate will follow through the agenda. In a way, from the perspectives of this immigration legislation agenda, we are relieved that the Congress was over with the most serious road block to the Congress, to wit, rebuke of Bush's resurge in Iraq.
more...
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eager_immi
02-12 10:51 PM
it will at some point of time but not in this months bulletin or in the near future. Folks , for someone with March 2004 Eb3 India PD , is converting to Eb2 really going to help in any way at all ? Please suggest.
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a_yaja
03-07 03:34 PM
My current H1 stamp is for company A.
Based on what you wrote, would you advise me to get the stamp of company C if I have plans to change to C eventually? I know that when I will be reentering USA, I will be on the payroll for company C.
Yes, you should get H1B stamp with Company C's annotation. Roseball's comments seems to suggest that it is not necessary to get a new visa as long as you H1B has not expired. However, that is not what I was told by my attorney when I changed employer and had to visit India. Also, during my interview in Chennai, the officer told me "I see that your application is for change of employer". I just said yes. I think it is best that you get in touch with an attorney and seek attorney's opinion. They are the experts and will have the correct information.
Based on what you wrote, would you advise me to get the stamp of company C if I have plans to change to C eventually? I know that when I will be reentering USA, I will be on the payroll for company C.
Yes, you should get H1B stamp with Company C's annotation. Roseball's comments seems to suggest that it is not necessary to get a new visa as long as you H1B has not expired. However, that is not what I was told by my attorney when I changed employer and had to visit India. Also, during my interview in Chennai, the officer told me "I see that your application is for change of employer". I just said yes. I think it is best that you get in touch with an attorney and seek attorney's opinion. They are the experts and will have the correct information.
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glus
11-20 06:50 PM
Again if your AP is approved but is in mail or whatever and you leave the country then you are ok (technically) in somebody mailing it out to you otherwise you cannot claim to have satisfied the rule USCIS has put forward and the IO has every right to deny entry at the POE
Extract from the instructions of I 131 form
If you travel before the advance parole document is issued, your application will be deemed abandoned if:
A. You depart from the United States; or
B. The person seeking advance parole attempts to enter the United States before a decision is made on the application.
- good luck
kris
Kris,
Yes, you are 100% correct. If one leaves during AP is pending then, at the time of adjudication of the pending AP, the officer can run a query and find that the person has left the U.S. before AP was approved. Then, such AP gets denied because the petition was abandoned . In fact, there was an official memo regarding this some time ago. You can find it under press releases on USCIS website. If, however, the USCIS does not notice that you left and approves AP while you are being outside of the United States, the AP is not valid and upon re-entry CBP may deny entry (if notices). This is why, when applying for AP, one specifies if AP is to be issued to a person who is In US or to a person who is NOT in the U.S. This is needed to satisfy the law. Consequently, it is risky to leave U.S. while AP is pending and not having a visa in a passport.
Regards,
Extract from the instructions of I 131 form
If you travel before the advance parole document is issued, your application will be deemed abandoned if:
A. You depart from the United States; or
B. The person seeking advance parole attempts to enter the United States before a decision is made on the application.
- good luck
kris
Kris,
Yes, you are 100% correct. If one leaves during AP is pending then, at the time of adjudication of the pending AP, the officer can run a query and find that the person has left the U.S. before AP was approved. Then, such AP gets denied because the petition was abandoned . In fact, there was an official memo regarding this some time ago. You can find it under press releases on USCIS website. If, however, the USCIS does not notice that you left and approves AP while you are being outside of the United States, the AP is not valid and upon re-entry CBP may deny entry (if notices). This is why, when applying for AP, one specifies if AP is to be issued to a person who is In US or to a person who is NOT in the U.S. This is needed to satisfy the law. Consequently, it is risky to leave U.S. while AP is pending and not having a visa in a passport.
Regards,
waitingonlc
02-13 03:50 PM
Immigration plan looms in Congress
By Michelle Mittelstadt
The Dallas Morning News, February 12, 2006
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-immigdog_12nat.ART0.State.Edition1.3eb24c4.html
Washington -- As mid-term congressional elections draw closer, the window for action in Congress on a complex � and controversial � immigration package grows ever smaller.
Mindful of that, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has told Senate leaders that they must deliver a bill to the floor by March 27, an ambitious deadline for legislation that has yet to be written in committee.
A bigger hurdle looms: Reconciling sure-to-be competing visions from the House and Senate.
'Immigration is one of the most controversial issues in American society,' said Stephen Yale-Loehr, who teaches immigration law at Cornell University. 'We all like individual immigrants who live near us and work with us, but we don't like illegal immigration as a whole. And trying to put together a package that will accommodate everyone's interest is very tough, indeed.'
The topic is fraught with economic, national security, social, diplomatic and political implications.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants enter the U.S. illegally, swelling a population now estimated to exceed 11 million. The Southwest border is in crisis in places, overrun by illegal immigration and drug traffickers. There is also the threat that the porous border could serve as a gateway for terrorists. And the legal immigration system is beset by backlogs, problems and rules that vex employers and keep millions of people awaiting approval for green cards to join relatives already here.
The test for Congress is what to emphasize: enforcement, immigration liberalization or some combination of the two?
Choosing a direction
The House took the first crack at the question, passing a stringent enforcement-only bill that would fence more than a third of the 1,952-mile Southwest border, increase fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants, and make it a crime (instead of a civil penalty) to be in the country illegally. The legislation was silent on President Bush's call for a guest worker program that would grant visas for up to six years to millions of undocumented workers.
The debate now shifts to the Senate, which appears inclined to marry enhanced border security with a temporary worker program.
But the Senate's solution, particularly if it includes a pathway to legal permanent residence, is sure to set up a collision with the House, where national security hawks have dominated the debate.
'The big question becomes: Is it even possible for the two houses to reconcile their bills,' said Steven Camarota, research director for the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors reduced immigration. 'If it's not done by May, I can't see it getting done.'
The divisions may be too pronounced for Congress to act this year, Mr. Yale-Loehr said.
As the elections near, politicians will become increasingly skittish of taking up an issue that could anger Hispanic and conservative voters alike while also inflaming constituencies as diverse as big business and labor.
In some ways, it's no surprise that politicians are lurching in radically different directions, with one faction pushing get-tough prescriptions such as ending automatic citizenship to those born here of illegal immigrant parents, while another camp presses to legalize illegal immigrants and permit a stream of newcomers.
Public divided
The public is deeply conflicted.
Polls consistently show that Americans are troubled by illegal immigration and the federal government's failure to enforce the law. But those same polls also detect sympathy for illegal immigrants who work and pay taxes as they scrabble for a piece of the American dream.
A new Time/SRBI poll offered one snapshot of the public's ambivalence. Though 63 percent of respondents described illegal immigration as a very serious or extremely serious problem and 57 percent endorsed taking 'whatever steps are necessary' to halt migrant crossings, 73 percent favored granting temporary work visas to illegal immigrants already here.
So, how do policymakers thread the needle?
'That's the $64 million question,' said Migration Policy Institute senior fellow Doris Meissner, who headed the Immigration and Naturalization Service during the Clinton administration.
'We definitely have to do something, and sooner than later,' she said. 'But I think that it's really important that this issue and this debate develops and evolves, because if we were to go ahead and enact what's now been passed by the House, it would be a terrible disservice.'
She, like others critical of the House's enforcement-only approach, contends that any immigration law rewrite must resolve the status of illegal immigrants and provide an outlet for future migrants drawn by jobs or the desire to be reunited with family.
'Enforcement-only is not going to work,' said Angelo Amador, head of immigration policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber is loosely allied with immigrant-rights groups, religious organizations, labor unions and others who have rallied around a plan by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that tandems some tougher enforcement with a guest worker plan that would provide a path to legal permanent residence.
But supporters of the House approach say enforcement must be dealt with first, both at the border and within the country, and by implementing a mandatory employer verification system to check the legal status of would-be hires.
'A guest worker program would be an absolute disaster with our current enforcement because, of course, it wouldn't be a guest worker program if we can't make them go home,' said Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations for Numbers USA, a group seeking reduced immigration.
Pollster Sergio Bendixen said that the policy debate has been skewed by the 'echo chamber' of radio talk shows and cable TV programs that fixate on immigration's negatives rather than looking at the whole picture.
'It has become an emotional issue with emotional buzzwords, and there's very little rationality in the debate,' Mr. Bendixen said. 'Unfortunately, we are close to making it impossible on people who have to get elected' to deal with the issue.
By Michelle Mittelstadt
The Dallas Morning News, February 12, 2006
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-immigdog_12nat.ART0.State.Edition1.3eb24c4.html
Washington -- As mid-term congressional elections draw closer, the window for action in Congress on a complex � and controversial � immigration package grows ever smaller.
Mindful of that, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has told Senate leaders that they must deliver a bill to the floor by March 27, an ambitious deadline for legislation that has yet to be written in committee.
A bigger hurdle looms: Reconciling sure-to-be competing visions from the House and Senate.
'Immigration is one of the most controversial issues in American society,' said Stephen Yale-Loehr, who teaches immigration law at Cornell University. 'We all like individual immigrants who live near us and work with us, but we don't like illegal immigration as a whole. And trying to put together a package that will accommodate everyone's interest is very tough, indeed.'
The topic is fraught with economic, national security, social, diplomatic and political implications.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants enter the U.S. illegally, swelling a population now estimated to exceed 11 million. The Southwest border is in crisis in places, overrun by illegal immigration and drug traffickers. There is also the threat that the porous border could serve as a gateway for terrorists. And the legal immigration system is beset by backlogs, problems and rules that vex employers and keep millions of people awaiting approval for green cards to join relatives already here.
The test for Congress is what to emphasize: enforcement, immigration liberalization or some combination of the two?
Choosing a direction
The House took the first crack at the question, passing a stringent enforcement-only bill that would fence more than a third of the 1,952-mile Southwest border, increase fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants, and make it a crime (instead of a civil penalty) to be in the country illegally. The legislation was silent on President Bush's call for a guest worker program that would grant visas for up to six years to millions of undocumented workers.
The debate now shifts to the Senate, which appears inclined to marry enhanced border security with a temporary worker program.
But the Senate's solution, particularly if it includes a pathway to legal permanent residence, is sure to set up a collision with the House, where national security hawks have dominated the debate.
'The big question becomes: Is it even possible for the two houses to reconcile their bills,' said Steven Camarota, research director for the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors reduced immigration. 'If it's not done by May, I can't see it getting done.'
The divisions may be too pronounced for Congress to act this year, Mr. Yale-Loehr said.
As the elections near, politicians will become increasingly skittish of taking up an issue that could anger Hispanic and conservative voters alike while also inflaming constituencies as diverse as big business and labor.
In some ways, it's no surprise that politicians are lurching in radically different directions, with one faction pushing get-tough prescriptions such as ending automatic citizenship to those born here of illegal immigrant parents, while another camp presses to legalize illegal immigrants and permit a stream of newcomers.
Public divided
The public is deeply conflicted.
Polls consistently show that Americans are troubled by illegal immigration and the federal government's failure to enforce the law. But those same polls also detect sympathy for illegal immigrants who work and pay taxes as they scrabble for a piece of the American dream.
A new Time/SRBI poll offered one snapshot of the public's ambivalence. Though 63 percent of respondents described illegal immigration as a very serious or extremely serious problem and 57 percent endorsed taking 'whatever steps are necessary' to halt migrant crossings, 73 percent favored granting temporary work visas to illegal immigrants already here.
So, how do policymakers thread the needle?
'That's the $64 million question,' said Migration Policy Institute senior fellow Doris Meissner, who headed the Immigration and Naturalization Service during the Clinton administration.
'We definitely have to do something, and sooner than later,' she said. 'But I think that it's really important that this issue and this debate develops and evolves, because if we were to go ahead and enact what's now been passed by the House, it would be a terrible disservice.'
She, like others critical of the House's enforcement-only approach, contends that any immigration law rewrite must resolve the status of illegal immigrants and provide an outlet for future migrants drawn by jobs or the desire to be reunited with family.
'Enforcement-only is not going to work,' said Angelo Amador, head of immigration policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber is loosely allied with immigrant-rights groups, religious organizations, labor unions and others who have rallied around a plan by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that tandems some tougher enforcement with a guest worker plan that would provide a path to legal permanent residence.
But supporters of the House approach say enforcement must be dealt with first, both at the border and within the country, and by implementing a mandatory employer verification system to check the legal status of would-be hires.
'A guest worker program would be an absolute disaster with our current enforcement because, of course, it wouldn't be a guest worker program if we can't make them go home,' said Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations for Numbers USA, a group seeking reduced immigration.
Pollster Sergio Bendixen said that the policy debate has been skewed by the 'echo chamber' of radio talk shows and cable TV programs that fixate on immigration's negatives rather than looking at the whole picture.
'It has become an emotional issue with emotional buzzwords, and there's very little rationality in the debate,' Mr. Bendixen said. 'Unfortunately, we are close to making it impossible on people who have to get elected' to deal with the issue.
sriharirag
07-16 10:47 AM
Here is the full article.
>>>>>>>>>>>
U.S. to Reverse
Some Denials
Of Work Visas
By MIRIAM JORDAN
July 16, 2007; Page A2
Looking to resolve a messy immigration tangle, the U.S. government is close to announcing that it will accept at least some applications for work-based green cards that were filed by thousands of skilled workers in early July at the government's invitation and then abruptly rejected.
Tens of thousands of skilled workers, many of them in the U.S. on temporary H1B visas, responded to an official invitation, in a June 12 "visa bulletin" issued by the State Department, to take the final step in July toward attaining U.S. permanent residency. That sent workers, their families and their employers scrambling to compile paperwork and meet other requirements such as medical exams. Normally, eligible employment-sponsored workers wait years for their numbers to be called.
Then, July 2, as applications poured into processing centers, the State Department announced in a bulletin "update" that no employment-based immigrant visas were left for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 because of "sudden backlog reduction" by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS announced it would reject applications that it received.
People familiar with the situation say that officials are working out the final details of a plan that would at least partially rectify the problem.
It isn't clear, however, whether the immigration agency will now accept all applications and process them later, accept only those that have arrived, or come up with some other approach.
The July 2 decision provoked outrage among immigration lawyers, foreign workers and their employers. July 5, Microsoft Corp. announced that it plans soon to open a software-development center in Vancouver, Canada, with a view to "recruit and retain highly skilled people affected by immigration issues in the U.S." The announcement sent a clear signal to the government of the high-tech industry's dissatisfaction with the visa situation.
July 6, a large Chicago immigration law firm filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status against the government. Separately, the American Immigration Law Foundation, a nonprofit group, said it will file this week its own suit seeking class-action status.
Meanwhile, disgruntled green-card applicants cried foul, saying they had been unfairly treated by the government despite playing by the rules.
July 10, they registered their disappointment at the immigration system by dispatching hundreds of flower bouquets to the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services chief Emilio Gonzalez.
The next day, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), whose district includes Silicon Valley, sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff requesting "all correspondence, emails, memoranda, notes, field guidance or other documentation" leading to the immigration system's about-face July 2.
The problem may have resulted from a communications breakdown between the State Department, which issues a monthly bulletin detailing who is eligible to file a green-card application, and USCIS, which processes the visa applications. The State Department has said that its role is to ensure that every visa slot available is used. In the past, however, the immigration agency has failed to use all of the slots.
Write to Miriam Jordan at miriam.jordan@wsj.com
>>>>>>>>>>>
U.S. to Reverse
Some Denials
Of Work Visas
By MIRIAM JORDAN
July 16, 2007; Page A2
Looking to resolve a messy immigration tangle, the U.S. government is close to announcing that it will accept at least some applications for work-based green cards that were filed by thousands of skilled workers in early July at the government's invitation and then abruptly rejected.
Tens of thousands of skilled workers, many of them in the U.S. on temporary H1B visas, responded to an official invitation, in a June 12 "visa bulletin" issued by the State Department, to take the final step in July toward attaining U.S. permanent residency. That sent workers, their families and their employers scrambling to compile paperwork and meet other requirements such as medical exams. Normally, eligible employment-sponsored workers wait years for their numbers to be called.
Then, July 2, as applications poured into processing centers, the State Department announced in a bulletin "update" that no employment-based immigrant visas were left for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 because of "sudden backlog reduction" by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS announced it would reject applications that it received.
People familiar with the situation say that officials are working out the final details of a plan that would at least partially rectify the problem.
It isn't clear, however, whether the immigration agency will now accept all applications and process them later, accept only those that have arrived, or come up with some other approach.
The July 2 decision provoked outrage among immigration lawyers, foreign workers and their employers. July 5, Microsoft Corp. announced that it plans soon to open a software-development center in Vancouver, Canada, with a view to "recruit and retain highly skilled people affected by immigration issues in the U.S." The announcement sent a clear signal to the government of the high-tech industry's dissatisfaction with the visa situation.
July 6, a large Chicago immigration law firm filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status against the government. Separately, the American Immigration Law Foundation, a nonprofit group, said it will file this week its own suit seeking class-action status.
Meanwhile, disgruntled green-card applicants cried foul, saying they had been unfairly treated by the government despite playing by the rules.
July 10, they registered their disappointment at the immigration system by dispatching hundreds of flower bouquets to the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services chief Emilio Gonzalez.
The next day, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), whose district includes Silicon Valley, sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff requesting "all correspondence, emails, memoranda, notes, field guidance or other documentation" leading to the immigration system's about-face July 2.
The problem may have resulted from a communications breakdown between the State Department, which issues a monthly bulletin detailing who is eligible to file a green-card application, and USCIS, which processes the visa applications. The State Department has said that its role is to ensure that every visa slot available is used. In the past, however, the immigration agency has failed to use all of the slots.
Write to Miriam Jordan at miriam.jordan@wsj.com
