immiusa
06-17 12:04 PM
Do not worry. Your mail will be delivered eventually. You probably need to wait for couple of days before the system gets updated with good message "delivered".
In my case, I had to wait for 4 days. I was expecting a return packet at my door. Four days later, I realized the packet was actually delivered to USCIS.
In my case, I had to wait for 4 days. I was expecting a return packet at my door. Four days later, I realized the packet was actually delivered to USCIS.
harivenkat
06-28 03:17 PM
Huge demand to live in U.S. part of illegal immigration problem (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/06/28/20100628legal-immigration-high-demand.html#comments)
WASHINGTON - While the national spotlight is focused on illegal immigration, millions of people enter the United States legally each year on both a temporary and permanent basis.
But the demand to immigrate to the United States far outweighs the number of people that immigration laws allow to move here legally. Wait times can be years, compounding the problem and reducing opportunities for many more who desperately want to come to the United States.
In 2009 alone, more than 1.1 million people, including nearly 21,000 living in Arizona, became legal permanent residents, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's 2009 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. The largest single group of new permanent residents nationwide, 15 percent, was born in Mexico. Six percent came from China and 5 percent came from the Philippines.
Also last year, nearly 744,000 immigrants, including about 12,400 Arizona residents, became naturalized U.S. citizens. The largest group, with 111,630 people, was from Mexico. The second largest group, with 52,889 people, came from India.
But those figures are eclipsed by the demand, which in part contributes to the problem of illegal immigration. Nearly 11 million immigrants are in the country illegally, according to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this year, there were an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona.
But since Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona's controversial new immigration bill in April, hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal immigrants have left the state. And many more are planning to flee before the law takes effect July 29.
Some are going back to Mexico. Many are going to other states, where anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment isn't so strong and where they think they will be less likely to be targeted by local authorities.
"Insufficient legal avenues for immigrants to enter the U.S. ... has significantly contributed to this current conundrum," says a report by Leo Anchondo of Justice for Immigrants, which is pushing for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Arizona's immigration law makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It states that an officer engaged in a lawful stop, detention or arrest shall, when practicable, ask about a person's legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally.
Temporary visas
Temporary visas allow people to enter the United States and stay for a limited amount of time before returning to their home countries. In 2009, about 163 million people came in this way. The biggest groups came from Mexico, Britain and Japan.
Among those who can obtain temporary visas: tourists; visitors on business trips; foreign journalists; diplomats and government representatives and their staffs; students and foreign-exchange visitors and their dependents; certain relatives of lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens; religious workers; and internationally recognized athletes and entertainers.
Temporary visas also are used to bring in foreign workers when U.S. employers say they do not have enough qualified or interested U.S. workers. Among the categories: workers in specialty occupations, registered nurses to help fill a shortage and agricultural workers. Mexican and Canadian professionals also are granted temporary visas under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Permanent residents
A lawful permanent resident has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent-resident card, better known as a "green card."
People petition to become permanent residents in several ways. Most are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States.
Others may become permanent residents after being granted asylum status. In 2009, nearly 75,000 refugees were granted asylum from persecution in their home countries.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are given the highest immigration priority and are not subject to annual caps that apply to other categories of immigrants. Immediate relatives are defined as spouses, unmarried children under age 21 and parents.
Although there is no annual cap on the number of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who can obtain green cards, there is a cap on the number of green cards for other relatives such as siblings and adult married children. That cap is about half a million people a year, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Employment-based immigration also is limited to 140,000 people a year, according to the lawyers association.
There also are limits based on a person's country of origin. Under U.S. immigration law, the total number of immigrant visas made available to natives of any single foreign nation shall not exceed 7 percent of the total number of visas issued. That limit can make it tough for immigrants from countries such as Mexico, where the number of people who want to come here greatly exceeds the number of people that the law allows.
The estimated wait time for family members to legally bring their relatives into the United States from Mexico ranges from six to 17 years, according to a May study by the non-profit, nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy. It is nearly impossible for a Mexican, especially someone without a college degree or special skills, to immigrate to the United States legally without a family member or employer petitioning on his behalf.
The costs also can be high. A U.S. employer who wants to bring in an immigrant worker can expect to pay nearly $6,000 in fees and legal expenses, according to the foundation.
A U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident petitioning to bring a relative to the United States from another country must pay a $355 filing fee for each relative who wants to immigrate, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Naturalized citizens
In general, immigrants are eligible to become citizens if they are at least 18 and have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for five years without leaving for trips of six months or longer.
An applicant for citizenship must be deemed to be of good moral character, which means in part that they must not have been convicted of a serious crime or been caught lying to gain immigration status.
Applicants must be able to pass a test demonstrating that they can read, write and speak basic English. They also must pass a basic test of U.S. history and government.
Immigrants become citizens when they take the oath of allegiance to the United States in a formal naturalization ceremony. The oath requires applicants to renounce foreign allegiances, support and defend the U.S. Constitution, and serve in the U.S. military when required to do so by law.
The time it takes to become naturalized varies by location and can take years. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency is trying to improve the system and decrease the time to an average of six months.
WASHINGTON - While the national spotlight is focused on illegal immigration, millions of people enter the United States legally each year on both a temporary and permanent basis.
But the demand to immigrate to the United States far outweighs the number of people that immigration laws allow to move here legally. Wait times can be years, compounding the problem and reducing opportunities for many more who desperately want to come to the United States.
In 2009 alone, more than 1.1 million people, including nearly 21,000 living in Arizona, became legal permanent residents, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's 2009 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. The largest single group of new permanent residents nationwide, 15 percent, was born in Mexico. Six percent came from China and 5 percent came from the Philippines.
Also last year, nearly 744,000 immigrants, including about 12,400 Arizona residents, became naturalized U.S. citizens. The largest group, with 111,630 people, was from Mexico. The second largest group, with 52,889 people, came from India.
But those figures are eclipsed by the demand, which in part contributes to the problem of illegal immigration. Nearly 11 million immigrants are in the country illegally, according to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this year, there were an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona.
But since Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona's controversial new immigration bill in April, hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal immigrants have left the state. And many more are planning to flee before the law takes effect July 29.
Some are going back to Mexico. Many are going to other states, where anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment isn't so strong and where they think they will be less likely to be targeted by local authorities.
"Insufficient legal avenues for immigrants to enter the U.S. ... has significantly contributed to this current conundrum," says a report by Leo Anchondo of Justice for Immigrants, which is pushing for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Arizona's immigration law makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It states that an officer engaged in a lawful stop, detention or arrest shall, when practicable, ask about a person's legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally.
Temporary visas
Temporary visas allow people to enter the United States and stay for a limited amount of time before returning to their home countries. In 2009, about 163 million people came in this way. The biggest groups came from Mexico, Britain and Japan.
Among those who can obtain temporary visas: tourists; visitors on business trips; foreign journalists; diplomats and government representatives and their staffs; students and foreign-exchange visitors and their dependents; certain relatives of lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens; religious workers; and internationally recognized athletes and entertainers.
Temporary visas also are used to bring in foreign workers when U.S. employers say they do not have enough qualified or interested U.S. workers. Among the categories: workers in specialty occupations, registered nurses to help fill a shortage and agricultural workers. Mexican and Canadian professionals also are granted temporary visas under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Permanent residents
A lawful permanent resident has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent-resident card, better known as a "green card."
People petition to become permanent residents in several ways. Most are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States.
Others may become permanent residents after being granted asylum status. In 2009, nearly 75,000 refugees were granted asylum from persecution in their home countries.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are given the highest immigration priority and are not subject to annual caps that apply to other categories of immigrants. Immediate relatives are defined as spouses, unmarried children under age 21 and parents.
Although there is no annual cap on the number of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who can obtain green cards, there is a cap on the number of green cards for other relatives such as siblings and adult married children. That cap is about half a million people a year, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Employment-based immigration also is limited to 140,000 people a year, according to the lawyers association.
There also are limits based on a person's country of origin. Under U.S. immigration law, the total number of immigrant visas made available to natives of any single foreign nation shall not exceed 7 percent of the total number of visas issued. That limit can make it tough for immigrants from countries such as Mexico, where the number of people who want to come here greatly exceeds the number of people that the law allows.
The estimated wait time for family members to legally bring their relatives into the United States from Mexico ranges from six to 17 years, according to a May study by the non-profit, nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy. It is nearly impossible for a Mexican, especially someone without a college degree or special skills, to immigrate to the United States legally without a family member or employer petitioning on his behalf.
The costs also can be high. A U.S. employer who wants to bring in an immigrant worker can expect to pay nearly $6,000 in fees and legal expenses, according to the foundation.
A U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident petitioning to bring a relative to the United States from another country must pay a $355 filing fee for each relative who wants to immigrate, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Naturalized citizens
In general, immigrants are eligible to become citizens if they are at least 18 and have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for five years without leaving for trips of six months or longer.
An applicant for citizenship must be deemed to be of good moral character, which means in part that they must not have been convicted of a serious crime or been caught lying to gain immigration status.
Applicants must be able to pass a test demonstrating that they can read, write and speak basic English. They also must pass a basic test of U.S. history and government.
Immigrants become citizens when they take the oath of allegiance to the United States in a formal naturalization ceremony. The oath requires applicants to renounce foreign allegiances, support and defend the U.S. Constitution, and serve in the U.S. military when required to do so by law.
The time it takes to become naturalized varies by location and can take years. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency is trying to improve the system and decrease the time to an average of six months.
lskreddy
03-13 04:40 PM
Which company is this?
pappu
11-03 10:36 AM
The wicked witch is dead. As for me I have packed my bags and moved to Canada. I first came in 1999 as a student and immigration has been downhill since then.
Pls let us know if you would like to tell your story in a media interview?
Pls let us know if you would like to tell your story in a media interview?
more...
sdrblr
08-09 06:18 PM
reason # 13.
USCIS says....if we do it the right away, then what will you all do...
there will be no IV
no checking this site over the weekend
no complaining (to be read as B******g)
no Ombudsman (he needs to be fired) ..no lobby group in DC..they all will lose their job.. USCIS is improving the economy :D
USCIS says....if we do it the right away, then what will you all do...
there will be no IV
no checking this site over the weekend
no complaining (to be read as B******g)
no Ombudsman (he needs to be fired) ..no lobby group in DC..they all will lose their job.. USCIS is improving the economy :D
Jerry2121
07-02 02:29 AM
My I-485 was filed on Dec 1, 2006. I called USCIS and had info pass and they told me that my name check is not clear. I talked to one lawyer and he is going to charge me 3500 for WOM. He has pretty good success rate. I am reading forum where they say it is better to wait minimum 2 years. Has anyone heared any case where wom is filed after one year and it was successful. My priority date is current.
Hi,
How did your WOM go? I will be filing mine soon. Any info. that i should know? My I-485 has been pending for 3 years after my refiling. Neither my EAD nor my Driver's license can be renewed at this moment. Please help.
Hi,
How did your WOM go? I will be filing mine soon. Any info. that i should know? My I-485 has been pending for 3 years after my refiling. Neither my EAD nor my Driver's license can be renewed at this moment. Please help.
more...
gunabcd
06-21 02:55 PM
For my canada GC i calibrated my camera, took pictures of 3 of us with my 3 mega-pixel camera, and printed at walmart on 4x6 then cut 27 X 27mm, and it worked, i have canada GC. just make sure front face, white b/g, enough brightness. i would not risk it for my US GC though.
vxb2004
07-27 10:20 AM
I am in the same position too. A couple of days back I talked to my lawyer and she told me its ok and that she has never heard of anyone's case being rejected or getting a RFE jus because they dint write their name in the native language.
One of friend's lawyer also said its not a big deal and if u r from India the USCIS wont bother abt it(dunno how true this is!)
All,
I sent out my application to USCIS last week and while talking to a friend I realized that I had not filled the Item
"If your native alphabet is in other than Roman letters, write your name in your native alphabet below:"
I neither filled it with my native alphabet nor filled it with a "N/A" Even my lawyer has not detected this.
Is this going to be an issue? What will the USCIS do about it? Since I still have time does it make sense to send a revised form? Is some one out there who have done this?
Please let me know
Thanks
-Sri
One of friend's lawyer also said its not a big deal and if u r from India the USCIS wont bother abt it(dunno how true this is!)
All,
I sent out my application to USCIS last week and while talking to a friend I realized that I had not filled the Item
"If your native alphabet is in other than Roman letters, write your name in your native alphabet below:"
I neither filled it with my native alphabet nor filled it with a "N/A" Even my lawyer has not detected this.
Is this going to be an issue? What will the USCIS do about it? Since I still have time does it make sense to send a revised form? Is some one out there who have done this?
Please let me know
Thanks
-Sri
more...
Atmaram
07-16 02:42 PM
I called them this morning and IO told me that my file has been assigned to an officer. What does this mean? Can anyone tell me?
Thanks
Why yes! Didn't you get the memo?
What this means is that somebody at USCIS probably ran out of TP at home.
Thanks
Why yes! Didn't you get the memo?
What this means is that somebody at USCIS probably ran out of TP at home.
lord_labaku
12-02 08:54 PM
ya i replied. I am sure no one is looking forward to paying taxes. Even those who make more than $1 million a year.
more...
rajenk
10-20 12:08 AM
AllIzzWell, as the_jaguar has suggested FOIA is the only way. And yes that helps, some times FOIA requests might take longer, so request it ASAP to get it quicker
Jeffphoto
September 5th, 2006, 08:17 AM
And what is HDR?
more...
gc_lover
07-24 12:17 PM
Can I file concurrently I-140 and I-485 if the labor is approved but haven't received the hard copy? What do I need to attach to these applications to substitute for the hard copy?
If you have a screenshot of approval, you can use that to file concurrently!
I am in exact same situation, except I have already filed on July 2nd. I am not very sure about this whole thing, but some lawyers are saying this only applies to people filing from July 17 to Aug 17th, I dont know. I will keep my fingers crossed and see what will happen to my application.
If you have a screenshot of approval, you can use that to file concurrently!
I am in exact same situation, except I have already filed on July 2nd. I am not very sure about this whole thing, but some lawyers are saying this only applies to people filing from July 17 to Aug 17th, I dont know. I will keep my fingers crossed and see what will happen to my application.
pd052009
10-26 02:53 PM
While keeping the hopes in DREAM act, get a job, start GC process and you are welcome to join our line.
more...
bestin
06-19 01:46 PM
I think I know what might have happened here. Check your I-140 petition. Check if on part 2, box "d" was checked. If yes then the officer went looking for an advanced degree (post baccalaureate) and could not find any documents and issued an RFE. It is usually customary for EB-2 to have Masters or show the job requires equivalent education / experience combo otherwise you will have to downgrade 140 to EB-3 (by checking the "e" box and amending I-140 by working with the officer, consult with your lawyer)
Hi add78,Yes,d was checked.I thought thats what needs to be checked for EB2.I do have a bachelors degree+ 5 years experience.
Hi add78,Yes,d was checked.I thought thats what needs to be checked for EB2.I do have a bachelors degree+ 5 years experience.
gotgc?
11-19 12:41 PM
Hi All,
My wife entered US on H4 Visa. Her H4 is valid until Oct 2009. Last year, she got her EAD and started working on EAD. If she has to travel out of the country and come back, can she do it on H4 until 2009 or will she need an AP now that she has used her EAD..
Could anyone please share..Apologies if this is a repeat. Could not find any info on the forums.
Same situation for us in May 2008 when we travelled to Canada...my wife was on H4; then started working on EAD. We had APs as well. But, we also had a valid visa stamping in our passport until May 2009. My lawyer told us that either is ok. But, asked us to use H1B/H4 and we did that. Use of EAD does not mandate H4 person to give up that status. But use of EAD mandates H1 person to give up that status. Since I am still on H1, we used H-1B/H-4. Even, when we applied for our AP/EAD renewals we mentioned that last manner of entry as H1/H4. If you are on EAD, then you have to use AP.
My wife entered US on H4 Visa. Her H4 is valid until Oct 2009. Last year, she got her EAD and started working on EAD. If she has to travel out of the country and come back, can she do it on H4 until 2009 or will she need an AP now that she has used her EAD..
Could anyone please share..Apologies if this is a repeat. Could not find any info on the forums.
Same situation for us in May 2008 when we travelled to Canada...my wife was on H4; then started working on EAD. We had APs as well. But, we also had a valid visa stamping in our passport until May 2009. My lawyer told us that either is ok. But, asked us to use H1B/H4 and we did that. Use of EAD does not mandate H4 person to give up that status. But use of EAD mandates H1 person to give up that status. Since I am still on H1, we used H-1B/H-4. Even, when we applied for our AP/EAD renewals we mentioned that last manner of entry as H1/H4. If you are on EAD, then you have to use AP.
more...
arnet
11-02 12:13 AM
yes, you need passport size photograph (2x2 inch) for AP/EAD. when you file I-485, you will file EAD/AP and for that you need photographs. you need atleast 2 photographs for EAD and 2 photographs for AP. check the photograph specifications in EAD/AP form instructions or in USCIS website. USCIS is very specific about the photograph, I know couple of friends whose EAD applications are sent back when they did meet their specifications. so pay attention to their specifications.
check these websites for your reference inaddition to USCIS.gov:
http://www.usvisanews.com/uscisphoto/guide.pdf
http://www.usvisanews.com/uscisphoto/
Disclaimer: I'm not an immigration attroney so please consult one for your situations as laws/procedures are changing constantly.
Are passport photographs needed?
check these websites for your reference inaddition to USCIS.gov:
http://www.usvisanews.com/uscisphoto/guide.pdf
http://www.usvisanews.com/uscisphoto/
Disclaimer: I'm not an immigration attroney so please consult one for your situations as laws/procedures are changing constantly.
Are passport photographs needed?
number30
04-09 06:28 PM
If you do so, your 485 will get abonded, as you travelled without parloe when you are in AOS. If you want to protect 485, you must get AP before leaving. H1B visa will be usefull, only if you maintain H1 status just before leaving US and resumes H1 after arrival.
That is Wrong. He can enter on H1 still maintain I-485. H1 can be from any compnay.There is reason why H1 is called as dual intent visa.
That is Wrong. He can enter on H1 still maintain I-485. H1 can be from any compnay.There is reason why H1 is called as dual intent visa.
Boney
January 27th, 2006, 02:14 AM
Can somebody tell me which is the best DSLR as of today (27/01/2006) For around 1000 dollars
Macaca
02-23 01:17 PM
In addition to contributions, we need to work very VIGOROUSLY on timing the following with the appearance of our Bill on the Hill.
2. Grass root lobbying of our local legislators.
3. Media publication of our issues.
Please focus on these three issues only. Put them on your fridge, car, bathroom mirror, forehead, etc. Whatever works for you.
The remaining activities are of ABSOLUTELY no use for our cause.
2. Grass root lobbying of our local legislators.
3. Media publication of our issues.
Please focus on these three issues only. Put them on your fridge, car, bathroom mirror, forehead, etc. Whatever works for you.
The remaining activities are of ABSOLUTELY no use for our cause.
raysaikat
03-28 06:53 PM
Dear All,
I currently hold an F1 visa and am enrolled in a PhD program. I want to discontinue PhD and work on an H1B visa. I have an MS degree from a US University and had used up the OPT period in the past.
My questions are as follows:
Is it legal to quit the PhD program and file for H1B if someone is willing to hire me?
Yes.
Given this is the Month of March/April if I get a job now how may I be able to work for an employer?
You will not be able to start working until your H1-B status kicks in. I think H1-B for the current fiscal year (Oct'09-Sep'10) is exhausted. If that's the case, then your employer has to apply for the H1-B visa when the application window opens on April 1, 2010, and you will not be able to start working until Oct 1, 2010.
If you can get CPT approved by your school, then you can work for the employer during the summer months.
How do I maintain status until October 1st? I have been in the PhD program for just one year. Is it possible to file for a pre-completion OPT for the PhD program and start working for an employer to get H1B and eventually quit PhD?
You cannot apply for OPT until you finish (or about to finish) your Ph.D. requirements (including the dissertation).
If your school officials and your department approves, then you might be able to do a CPT. But that means you cannot quit school.
If you cannot get a CPT, then it might be simplest to go back to your home country after you have your H1-B approval in hand and wait it out.
If the change of status from F1 -H1B is approved will visa stamping in India be an issue? (I got my current F1 visa only after clearance for a 221g case).
Not really. The consulate may again ask for security clearance, or other documents, and may delay the approval, etc., but the fact that you quit your Ph.D. wouldn't particularly be held against you, though you should be prepared to answer why you did that to the IO.
Thank you very much for your help.
I currently hold an F1 visa and am enrolled in a PhD program. I want to discontinue PhD and work on an H1B visa. I have an MS degree from a US University and had used up the OPT period in the past.
My questions are as follows:
Is it legal to quit the PhD program and file for H1B if someone is willing to hire me?
Yes.
Given this is the Month of March/April if I get a job now how may I be able to work for an employer?
You will not be able to start working until your H1-B status kicks in. I think H1-B for the current fiscal year (Oct'09-Sep'10) is exhausted. If that's the case, then your employer has to apply for the H1-B visa when the application window opens on April 1, 2010, and you will not be able to start working until Oct 1, 2010.
If you can get CPT approved by your school, then you can work for the employer during the summer months.
How do I maintain status until October 1st? I have been in the PhD program for just one year. Is it possible to file for a pre-completion OPT for the PhD program and start working for an employer to get H1B and eventually quit PhD?
You cannot apply for OPT until you finish (or about to finish) your Ph.D. requirements (including the dissertation).
If your school officials and your department approves, then you might be able to do a CPT. But that means you cannot quit school.
If you cannot get a CPT, then it might be simplest to go back to your home country after you have your H1-B approval in hand and wait it out.
If the change of status from F1 -H1B is approved will visa stamping in India be an issue? (I got my current F1 visa only after clearance for a 221g case).
Not really. The consulate may again ask for security clearance, or other documents, and may delay the approval, etc., but the fact that you quit your Ph.D. wouldn't particularly be held against you, though you should be prepared to answer why you did that to the IO.
Thank you very much for your help.
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento