gcnirvana
01-31 01:05 AM
Same here. Good job OP on finding this.
I just voted 9:56pm PST. question no is now 22 and 27
I just voted 9:56pm PST. question no is now 22 and 27
wallpaper Not only is Santa Monica Beach
glus
12-07 09:27 AM
I sent my story as well.
.jpg "Santa Monica Pier 1923.")
vasa
07-15 10:45 PM
Just Did...
2011 Santa Monica Beach.
mpadapa
06-06 10:56 AM
Called all of them today morning. Requested the house reps to co-sponsor the 3 bills. It will be more effective if more constituents (or even CA residents) call in, rather non-constituents like me calling in.
Some of the offices did mention that they received lots of calls regarding the support for the 3 bills. Good going folks..
CA folks pl step it up
Some of the offices did mention that they received lots of calls regarding the support for the 3 bills. Good going folks..
CA folks pl step it up
more...
gc28262
01-28 05:15 PM
Did you even read my post and the pdf link. BTW, pdf link refers to Aug 21st, 2009 much before this memo came out. Even if memo is withdrawn, how that is going to change the points agreed by the court?
Here is the pdf link again
http://www.uscis.gov/err/D2%20-%20Temporary%20Worker%20in%20a%20Specialty%20Occup ation%20or%20Fashion%20Model%20%28H-1B%29/Decisions_Issued_in_2009/Aug212009_09D2101.pdf
I suggest that you go thru pdf links in my other posts for this topic. All these decisions refer to issues pertaining to H-1B working at the end-user client thru multiple layers. This memo does not make any difference that way. Like I said before, this memo just make the interpretation public knowledge.
Why these H-1B cases have been denied in last years and why these denials were not reversed by appeal court? These answers should enlighten you.
Just harping "illegal memo" does not change anything.
________________
Not a legal advice.
Referring to the document.
1. AAO is under USCIS ( I assume )
2. USCIS has been making these erroneous judgments in the past in reference to H1B applications. If AILA overturns this USCIS memo( which I think is most likely), all these USCIS arguments will be trashed.
Regarding the date of PDF (Aug 2009), USCIS has already been practicing whatever is listed in the Jan 2009 memo for past 1.5 years. The above said decision (PDF) was made during that duration. AILA is contending the very arguments made in Aug 2009 pdf.
Also on another note, one of the leading lawyer's client reported that he got his H1B approved for a multi-layered consulting situation without even a client letter. So it depends on the lawyer who is presenting the case.
Anyways let us wait and see.
Here is the pdf link again
http://www.uscis.gov/err/D2%20-%20Temporary%20Worker%20in%20a%20Specialty%20Occup ation%20or%20Fashion%20Model%20%28H-1B%29/Decisions_Issued_in_2009/Aug212009_09D2101.pdf
I suggest that you go thru pdf links in my other posts for this topic. All these decisions refer to issues pertaining to H-1B working at the end-user client thru multiple layers. This memo does not make any difference that way. Like I said before, this memo just make the interpretation public knowledge.
Why these H-1B cases have been denied in last years and why these denials were not reversed by appeal court? These answers should enlighten you.
Just harping "illegal memo" does not change anything.
________________
Not a legal advice.
Referring to the document.
1. AAO is under USCIS ( I assume )
2. USCIS has been making these erroneous judgments in the past in reference to H1B applications. If AILA overturns this USCIS memo( which I think is most likely), all these USCIS arguments will be trashed.
Regarding the date of PDF (Aug 2009), USCIS has already been practicing whatever is listed in the Jan 2009 memo for past 1.5 years. The above said decision (PDF) was made during that duration. AILA is contending the very arguments made in Aug 2009 pdf.
Also on another note, one of the leading lawyer's client reported that he got his H1B approved for a multi-layered consulting situation without even a client letter. So it depends on the lawyer who is presenting the case.
Anyways let us wait and see.
sweet23guyin
01-17 01:05 AM
Came across this
http://www..com/compare/result.php
Any one comment on these kind of plan?
Thanks always.
http://www..com/compare/result.php
Any one comment on these kind of plan?
Thanks always.
more...
maine_gc
07-14 08:47 AM
Good luck people. Have fun and make it a huge success.
2010 Santa Monica Pier 1923.
kubmilegaGC
09-15 10:54 PM
Recd the CPO E mail today @ 7 PM EDT - 9/15 from TSC
EB2- June 04
Attorney Sent a Letter to AILA liason on 8/20
Called TSC on 8/27/ - Opened a SR
Called TSC again on 9/3 - CSR told me that they sent a reply for the SR opened on 8/27
Recd the SR - reply on 9/4/09 stating that " your Application processing is pending/delayed"
Called Senator office on 9/9/09 and sent fax
Called Senator office on 9/14/09 - Liason officer told me that it will take 30 to 60 days to get the response.
Called other Senator office on 9/14/09 , Sent the fax
Called again to II Senator office on 9/15/09, I was told to call back after 15 days to get the respose
Called TSC again on 9/15/09 around 4.45 PM EDT, Talked CSR , So nice , she eve discussed about the weather , summer time events etc, I told her about the letter I have recd for my SR ( 8/29), she asked if it mentioned any time frame, And i told her "No", then she said it is very unusaul and tranferred my call to the officer,
1st he told me the current processing time is 9/07/07 and my ND is 9/28/07 so my application has a 21 days lag, Then I told him that my application has mailed on 8/7/09, I also mentioned about the letter i received for SR, then he started asking questions about the receipt # and case details
The the officer verified following details
My first name,
Last name,
Address, Zip code, Door #,
fathers first name
mothers first name,
4 Digit SSN
and then told me that your case is under review with an officer from 8/29/08( Then I realized both of us had a Soft LUD on our application on 8/29/08) , I told him about that, the he said yes it is , it is related to the interal process. Then I asked him that What can i do now, He said, Keep your faith and finger crossed asked to me keep on calling USCIS TSC office every week to check about my case.
I really don't know whether he is playing with me or what.
what ever it is I got the CPO e mail @ 7 PM EDT
10 Yr wait is over.
Thank you all, I am not going away, Tristate leadership knows me very well, and I will be involved all the effort of the IV
@natraj - YOU ARE THERE. I remember my afternoon emails and our exchange ...How life can change in few hours :) GREAT NEWS - Congratulations on getting GREEN ...so there is still hope for June 04...:)
Back to counting hours for my ongoing torture...:) USCIS willing!
EB2- June 04
Attorney Sent a Letter to AILA liason on 8/20
Called TSC on 8/27/ - Opened a SR
Called TSC again on 9/3 - CSR told me that they sent a reply for the SR opened on 8/27
Recd the SR - reply on 9/4/09 stating that " your Application processing is pending/delayed"
Called Senator office on 9/9/09 and sent fax
Called Senator office on 9/14/09 - Liason officer told me that it will take 30 to 60 days to get the response.
Called other Senator office on 9/14/09 , Sent the fax
Called again to II Senator office on 9/15/09, I was told to call back after 15 days to get the respose
Called TSC again on 9/15/09 around 4.45 PM EDT, Talked CSR , So nice , she eve discussed about the weather , summer time events etc, I told her about the letter I have recd for my SR ( 8/29), she asked if it mentioned any time frame, And i told her "No", then she said it is very unusaul and tranferred my call to the officer,
1st he told me the current processing time is 9/07/07 and my ND is 9/28/07 so my application has a 21 days lag, Then I told him that my application has mailed on 8/7/09, I also mentioned about the letter i received for SR, then he started asking questions about the receipt # and case details
The the officer verified following details
My first name,
Last name,
Address, Zip code, Door #,
fathers first name
mothers first name,
4 Digit SSN
and then told me that your case is under review with an officer from 8/29/08( Then I realized both of us had a Soft LUD on our application on 8/29/08) , I told him about that, the he said yes it is , it is related to the interal process. Then I asked him that What can i do now, He said, Keep your faith and finger crossed asked to me keep on calling USCIS TSC office every week to check about my case.
I really don't know whether he is playing with me or what.
what ever it is I got the CPO e mail @ 7 PM EDT
10 Yr wait is over.
Thank you all, I am not going away, Tristate leadership knows me very well, and I will be involved all the effort of the IV
@natraj - YOU ARE THERE. I remember my afternoon emails and our exchange ...How life can change in few hours :) GREAT NEWS - Congratulations on getting GREEN ...so there is still hope for June 04...:)
Back to counting hours for my ongoing torture...:) USCIS willing!
more...
VMH_GC
07-17 12:16 PM
I don't care when i would get the Green card. what i want is interim relief (AP and EAD). Something is better than Nothing.
hair Santa Monica Pier.
walking_dude
11-14 12:27 PM
"Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting." - Napoleon Hill
I would say ignore. If the hosts dont even use 'controversial' to describe him it's pointless trying to call in - its going to be an 'immigrant hate-fest' whether you call in or not and you are not going to win hearts or change minds. I remember 4 or 5 years ago he was raging against the H1 on air as usual and turned around to his staff and asked if CNN too was using the H1program - and the answer unsurprisingly was 'yes'. He has no sense of shame or a modicum of decency - none of his staff members either. And IV is ill-positioned and too narrowly focussed to take him on in any meaningful way given how a core member spoke against the z-visa (for illegals) to some n.carolina newspaper. But again I could be wrong so someone could give it a shot
I would say ignore. If the hosts dont even use 'controversial' to describe him it's pointless trying to call in - its going to be an 'immigrant hate-fest' whether you call in or not and you are not going to win hearts or change minds. I remember 4 or 5 years ago he was raging against the H1 on air as usual and turned around to his staff and asked if CNN too was using the H1program - and the answer unsurprisingly was 'yes'. He has no sense of shame or a modicum of decency - none of his staff members either. And IV is ill-positioned and too narrowly focussed to take him on in any meaningful way given how a core member spoke against the z-visa (for illegals) to some n.carolina newspaper. But again I could be wrong so someone could give it a shot
more...
prinive
03-14 02:32 PM
If there is a software designed by us, totally the system may collapse ;)i seriously doubt if the folks out there in uscis analyse the way we do here in these forums. think for a minute... if they work so sincerely and intelligently, they wouldnt be working for 20$/hr. wish there were performance based payment schemes for these folks.
ofcourse if there is a software designed by us, its a different story ;)
ofcourse if there is a software designed by us, its a different story ;)
hot End of Route 66, Santa Monica
gjoe
01-30 04:28 PM
I watched the whole debate, unfortunately ( as expected) they never touched on the question we voted on or the other most popular question about Katrina. There were other popular question too like NASA related stuff which never made it.
Anyways we all did a good job within a short time to bring our question to #2 in the most popular list.
We will try this in the future debates too.
Once again thanks to everyone who did there part in this.
Questions 3 & 10 at 2 34 PM EST.
Here is the Link (http://dyn.politico.com/debate/democrats/VoteForQuestion.cfm#). Once you get on the page, sort the questions by Most popular
Everybody please go the URL http://dyn.politico.com/debate/democrats/VoteForQuestion.cfm
and vote for question number 20 .The question number is changing please look for the text below and the title "Immigration" before you vote
The question is
---------------------------------
This question is NOT about Illegal immigration but Legal Immigration issues at the govt. level... What do you think of and plan to do about the broken naturalization process that is currently hurting nearly half million highly-skilled and taxpaying legal immigrants already working productively in the United States who find themselves trapped in a system that is taking years longer than intended. The greatest impact of the broken green card process is borne by the legal immigrants and their families. Some of the major grievances faced by the legal immigrants are that they are forced to be stuck with the same employer for years; their spouses not allowed to work, they have a very limited travel freedom and so on. With the current backlog in the system a highly skilled high-tech engineer could take up to 7-10 years to get a green card. Isn't that an unfair deal for a person who works so hard to fulfill his American dream? Again: This question is NOT about Illegal immigration but Legal Immigration issues at the govt. level...
--------------------------------------------------------
ALSO VOTE FOR THE SECOND QUESTION (also an immigration question text follows)
-------------------------------------------
Illegal immigration has been a topic of heated debate and has received much needed attention during this election. In the midst of all the hype and bickering about ILLEGAL immigration, there is a group of people, often forgotten and ignored, who are caught up in a bureaucratic mess and yet are patiently waiting on the path to LEGAL immigration. This is a group of high skilled workers, most of whom have advanced degrees in medicine, engineering and science from Universities in the US. These people have obeyed all laws, worked hard, paid taxes and waited their turn, many for a decade, because of a system that is hopelessly broken and inefficient. I am one of these people and I have been in the US legally for 10 years and still years away from getting a green card. As the President of the United States how do you intend to address the problems faced by future Americans already living and working LEGALLY in the United States? Please note, this question is NOT about ILLEGAL immigration but about LEGAL immigration.
---------------------------------------------------
Let us try to get as many votes as possible from all the 25000 members . This is a good chance for all of us to get this issue out to the public. Please tell your friends and family who are not members on immigration voice, ask them to vote. This vote mayn't get us anything except a lame answer but atleast it will get us a big audience to hear our problem and also help us to differentiate ourselves from illegal immigration issues. FOLKS DO YOUR BEST THIS DOES NOT COST MONEY. THE POLL MAY CLOSE BY TOMORROW MORNING.
Anyways we all did a good job within a short time to bring our question to #2 in the most popular list.
We will try this in the future debates too.
Once again thanks to everyone who did there part in this.
Questions 3 & 10 at 2 34 PM EST.
Here is the Link (http://dyn.politico.com/debate/democrats/VoteForQuestion.cfm#). Once you get on the page, sort the questions by Most popular
Everybody please go the URL http://dyn.politico.com/debate/democrats/VoteForQuestion.cfm
and vote for question number 20 .The question number is changing please look for the text below and the title "Immigration" before you vote
The question is
---------------------------------
This question is NOT about Illegal immigration but Legal Immigration issues at the govt. level... What do you think of and plan to do about the broken naturalization process that is currently hurting nearly half million highly-skilled and taxpaying legal immigrants already working productively in the United States who find themselves trapped in a system that is taking years longer than intended. The greatest impact of the broken green card process is borne by the legal immigrants and their families. Some of the major grievances faced by the legal immigrants are that they are forced to be stuck with the same employer for years; their spouses not allowed to work, they have a very limited travel freedom and so on. With the current backlog in the system a highly skilled high-tech engineer could take up to 7-10 years to get a green card. Isn't that an unfair deal for a person who works so hard to fulfill his American dream? Again: This question is NOT about Illegal immigration but Legal Immigration issues at the govt. level...
--------------------------------------------------------
ALSO VOTE FOR THE SECOND QUESTION (also an immigration question text follows)
-------------------------------------------
Illegal immigration has been a topic of heated debate and has received much needed attention during this election. In the midst of all the hype and bickering about ILLEGAL immigration, there is a group of people, often forgotten and ignored, who are caught up in a bureaucratic mess and yet are patiently waiting on the path to LEGAL immigration. This is a group of high skilled workers, most of whom have advanced degrees in medicine, engineering and science from Universities in the US. These people have obeyed all laws, worked hard, paid taxes and waited their turn, many for a decade, because of a system that is hopelessly broken and inefficient. I am one of these people and I have been in the US legally for 10 years and still years away from getting a green card. As the President of the United States how do you intend to address the problems faced by future Americans already living and working LEGALLY in the United States? Please note, this question is NOT about ILLEGAL immigration but about LEGAL immigration.
---------------------------------------------------
Let us try to get as many votes as possible from all the 25000 members . This is a good chance for all of us to get this issue out to the public. Please tell your friends and family who are not members on immigration voice, ask them to vote. This vote mayn't get us anything except a lame answer but atleast it will get us a big audience to hear our problem and also help us to differentiate ourselves from illegal immigration issues. FOLKS DO YOUR BEST THIS DOES NOT COST MONEY. THE POLL MAY CLOSE BY TOMORROW MORNING.
more...
house Pictured: Santa Monica Pier,
gc_lover
07-19 07:59 AM
Q-1 (07//19/2007): I filed I-485 application on July 2, 2007, but have yet to receive either rejection or receipt notice. Will this application be fee'd in under the reversal of the USCIS decision?
A-1: The DOS withdrew any changes to the original July VB and assumedly visa number is current in July 2007 for any categories other than "other worker." Accordingly, the 485 application which you submitted on July 2 cannot be rejected by the USCIS at this point. The USCIS is likely to fee in your application and soon issue the Receipt Notice.
A-1: The DOS withdrew any changes to the original July VB and assumedly visa number is current in July 2007 for any categories other than "other worker." Accordingly, the 485 application which you submitted on July 2 cannot be rejected by the USCIS at this point. The USCIS is likely to fee in your application and soon issue the Receipt Notice.
tattoo santa-monica-pier-cam
ItIsNotFunny
11-04 04:11 PM
That is the million dollar question :) and I wish we knew the answer
Its sampling... whatever the % would be. Seems like still there is a good % EB3 I waiting before 2002.
Its sampling... whatever the % would be. Seems like still there is a good % EB3 I waiting before 2002.
more...
pictures at Santa Monica pier#39;s
axp817
03-26 04:00 PM
and then received 2 RFEs :o
how long after the soft LUDs did you get the hard LUD (RFE)?
And what was the RFE for?
I had a soft LUD on 3/19/09.
Nothing has happened since.
Thanks for your time.
how long after the soft LUDs did you get the hard LUD (RFE)?
And what was the RFE for?
I had a soft LUD on 3/19/09.
Nothing has happened since.
Thanks for your time.
dresses Santa Monica Pier
MeraNaamJoker
08-25 09:59 AM
With my very best wishes to those of you waiting for your GC, this thread is created for the lucky among us who received it recently. I am putting together a list of things to do, and not do, to maintain our freshly minted PR status, which should also help during future citizenship application. The list is mostly about little things that others have learned from experience (and I am learning from their experience, by reading in immigration-related forums such as IV). The more obvious things that can be found for example in USCIS handbook (http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-618.pdf) are not included here. Below is a snapshot of what I have gleaned from Internet so far, and please add your own input(s):
LIST of DO's :
[This is an evolving list thanks to valuable inputs from folks here and elsewhere, so keep checking back.]
Cheers,
Stuck(no more)InTheMuck
Thanks for the detailed information.
I have a unique situation here. My original GC sponsor (a multi billion dollar industry leader) laid me off after 6 months of I485 due to lack of position in the company.
I ported my GC using AC 21 and joined another small consulting company. Now my GC is approved and I have an offer in hand from another company.
Will it be a good idea to move or do I have to wait for 6 months or 1 year before I make an employment switch.
My most important consideration is that there is chance of potential loss of job (may god forbid) with the current position. I may be able to save myself by switiching job right now. And of course there is more money on the table.
LIST of DO's :
[This is an evolving list thanks to valuable inputs from folks here and elsewhere, so keep checking back.]
Cheers,
Stuck(no more)InTheMuck
Thanks for the detailed information.
I have a unique situation here. My original GC sponsor (a multi billion dollar industry leader) laid me off after 6 months of I485 due to lack of position in the company.
I ported my GC using AC 21 and joined another small consulting company. Now my GC is approved and I have an offer in hand from another company.
Will it be a good idea to move or do I have to wait for 6 months or 1 year before I make an employment switch.
My most important consideration is that there is chance of potential loss of job (may god forbid) with the current position. I may be able to save myself by switiching job right now. And of course there is more money on the table.
more...
makeup Santa Monica Pier Neon Sign
rawmuk7
08-14 01:34 PM
Chaanakya,
May be your post is the one that I have seen after a long time is pretty much balanced, with usage of good choice of words and very intellectual. Irrespective of you or anybody write the right stuff, there are some or may be a lot of people who have the habit of pinpointing to anything and everything without even giving indepth thought over the logics provided and take the stuff to their ego. People wont improve and the basic mentality never changes. And then comes the band wagon. Every person things of me, myself and I, none thought of us, ours and we.
Thats the root cause of the issue. Your email has had good statements and well appreciated. Thanks
May be your post is the one that I have seen after a long time is pretty much balanced, with usage of good choice of words and very intellectual. Irrespective of you or anybody write the right stuff, there are some or may be a lot of people who have the habit of pinpointing to anything and everything without even giving indepth thought over the logics provided and take the stuff to their ego. People wont improve and the basic mentality never changes. And then comes the band wagon. Every person things of me, myself and I, none thought of us, ours and we.
Thats the root cause of the issue. Your email has had good statements and well appreciated. Thanks
girlfriend at the Santa Monica Pier
webm
08-27 12:31 PM
what DEC 2001 ? Is this for India China or rest of the world?
It's mostly EB3-I/ROW aswell..
It's mostly EB3-I/ROW aswell..
hairstyles HOTKISS. Mexican dinner on
Sideliner
07-16 10:44 AM
Please stop the spread of incorrect information, designed to create hatred on high skilled immigrants.
SunnySurya
05-23 03:15 PM
Paskal, Nixtor and other moderators, please run a quick check on dbcd.
I suspect he is same as pointlesswait.
Agree with original post.
Numbers USA people are angry right wing citizens.
Calls from legal aliens who can't vote won't move lawmakers one bit. Money and votes are the only 2 things that matter to politicians.
Pressure groups and lobbyists have far more reach and influence. IV as a group can use lobbyists and other influence to get a lot more done. Individual phone calls are a waste.
DBCD
I suspect he is same as pointlesswait.
Agree with original post.
Numbers USA people are angry right wing citizens.
Calls from legal aliens who can't vote won't move lawmakers one bit. Money and votes are the only 2 things that matter to politicians.
Pressure groups and lobbyists have far more reach and influence. IV as a group can use lobbyists and other influence to get a lot more done. Individual phone calls are a waste.
DBCD
agtexas2007
12-10 10:47 PM
Can you tell me what do i have to do for WOM. Do i have to hire a attorney or i can do myself?
When GCSOON-Ihope becomes GC-IgotIt!
Guys, guess what I am holding in my hand? Yes, that bit of plastic, object of our fantasies �.and nightmares. After filing Writ of Mandamus on November 1st, things went amazingly quickly and smoothly: on December 1st, the US attorney gave confirmation that the case has been approved and I received the card in the mail on 12/07.
What did I feel then? Really indescribable�Happy? It goes way beyond that.
I feel more relieved than anything else, like if I had a ton of lead off my shoulders�
May my story inspire, give hope and faith to all of you guys who are so depressed at the moment because of what happened, or did not happen should I say, in that shameful Congress.
As you will see, I had my head in a brick wall more than once. More than once, I was devastated and, still, I never gave up and made it through.
So, please, enjoy the holidays: as long as there is life, there is hope.
I know something about it:
Come here in 1993 as a student on F1 visa. Graduate and got Work Permit (OPT).
Find dream job in dream company. Hired directly by CEO himself.
Company loves me and applies right away for H1 and then Labor Cert.
Life is beautiful. The start of the American Dream. Not for long.
Attorney has been working for company for years. Always successfully.
Picks me for his first failure: screws up completely.
H1 denied. Labor Cert denied. Company gets mad: attorney is fired.
OPT runs out: company still loves me but�I am now out of status and�fired too.
Welcome to America. Life has turned dark. The start of my American Nightmare.
I am disgusted. Decide to go back to my home country (France).
I miss California. Find new company that loves me: apply for H1 again (this time, I am paying all fees, out of my meager savings).
H1 is approved, got stamp at embassy in Paris. I am back. Life is beautiful again.
Not for long. Exactly 2 hours (no kidding).
Find out that company is a sweat-shop and boss is a crook.
Pays me half (yes, half) what he was supposed to.
Go to INS to complain: �If you are not happy, go back to your home country�.
I swear that it is exactly what I am told.
Consult attorneys for a possible lawsuit: � Alas, your situation happens more often than you can imagine. Many unscrupulous employers use and abuse of would-be immigrants like you. Don�t waste your time and money in a lawsuit, just find yourself a new job�and be more careful this time�.
I am broke. Can�t even go back �home� and anyway I don�t want to.
Not with just my tail between my legs for the second time.
Home is here. I want my American Dream and I will get it, no matter what.
Decide to swallow my pride and endure the humiliation until I can find new employer willing to sponsor new H1 and pay all fees. I just can�t afford anything as I am hardly surviving.
Employer wants to fire me: �you are always complaining about the money�.
I have to threaten him (yes I did) to report his company to Dept. of Labor (most his employees are illegals and as abused as I am, not getting paid for overtime and so on�).
Imagine in what kind of atmosphere I am working�but I need this job to remain legal until I can find something else.
For sure, I will be out of there within a couple months at the most.
Don�t know yet that this nightmare will last�2 years. Still can�t believe it.
Had I known, I would have fled the first day, no matter what.
In my specialty, jobs are not easy to find.
Not to mention that this time, I have to be very �choosy��
Companies that I approach:
a) don�t want to hear about immigration or
b) don�t want to pay attorney fees or
c) don�t want to pay at least prevailing wage or
d) all of the above
All doors seem to be closed.
I have never felt that bad in my life: go see the doctor.
�You have all the symptoms of someone who is having�a nervous depression.
Do you want me to refer you to a good psy who could help you?�
No, thanks. I know why I am sick.
Finally find new company that loves me: apply for new H1 and they pay all fees.
H1 approved.
This time, I am holding my breath. We are now in December 2000. Seven years since I first came in the US. Time flies�and no GC in sight.
Job is nice, company is nice. Recovering from depression.
Boss loves me: decides to start for me RIR Labor in�.May 2001.
Yes, one month after that damn month of April 2001. You know what I mean.
Six months of advertising.
PD is January 2002.
Labor Cert approved �in July 2004. Concurrent filing I-140/I-485 in August 2004.
Get EAD. FP in September 2004.
Things change: company is now going down. Boss still loves me but�lays me off.
(Re)(Re) Start of my American Nightmare?
Attorney says: �Don�t worry (!!!) Employer loves you. Won�t revoke I-140. GC is for future job. Find new H1 job to maintain status and see what happens�.
This time, I am lucky (!) and find right away new H1 job. Company is OK, job is OK.
Later, previous company nicely recovers: got rehired!
Only thing: I will have to pay all fees from now on. Don�t care. Back on the right track.
Do Medical in April 2005.
I-140 approved in May 2005�but visas are now �Unavailable�. Nothing to worry about.
October is around the corner and new numbers will be available, right?
Just a few more months and I will have my GC. Wrong.
October bulletin comes out. EB3 World is back to March 2001 (PD is 01/2002).
I swear that I almost s..t in my pants. When is too much�just too much?
How much more frustration and anguish can I endure? More, much more.
By rage and stress, I pack up an extra 20 lbs in just a few months.
Most people lose weight when they are under extreme stress and/or depression, I do the opposite. I am now 40 lbs overweight.
Second EAD. FP again in October 2005. Life is paced by visa bulletins�
September 2006 bulletin comes out: EB3 World has now passed my PD.
I am holding my breath again. Rightly so, for the umpteenth time.
Third EAD.
Wait 2 weeks and start inquiring about the status of my application.
Call so-called �Customer service�: as usual they know jack s..t.
�Your application is still pending�. Thanks, I already knew that.
Make Infopass appointment at Los Angeles downtown office.
�Sir, I can�t tell you anything specific because your case is at the Laguna Niguel office.
Contact them at: CSC-XII@dhs.gov�
E-mail #1 on 09/18: (�) Status of my case? (�)
Response on 09/27: �the I-485 at question is still pending FBI name check clearance.
Once the file has been cleared by FBI, it will be adjudicated. The service has no control on how long it takes FBI to clear the case�.
E-mail #2 on 09/27: (�) When was that initiated? (�)
Response on 10/02: (�) On or about 08/19/2004. (�)
This time, I surprise myself: I am one more time devastated but remain strangely calm.
Even laugh about it. Nervously. Too much is just too much.
I had heard about that Name Check aberration before but had ignored it.
Like most people involved in that GC mess, I refused to worry in advance.
One bridge to cross at the time, please.
Weirdly enough, I am now almost relieved. Why? Because for the first time ever, I can be proactive and I CAN ACT!
I call my lawyer and tell her about those 2 e-mails: �That�s good enough to file Writ of Mandamus. That summarizes the whole situation, we don�t need anything else�.
WOM is filed on November 1st.
(I requested FOIPA and contacted Senators, President, Vice-President etc, etc�
only later just in case we would have needed more ammunitions).
After that, things go fast:
11/ 29: without any warning (!), LUD: �Your card has been ordered�.
12/01: confirmation from the Assistant US Attorney that my case has been approved.
12/04 LUD: �Your case has been approved�.
(So, they notify you that the card has been ordered�before notifying that the case has been approved�).
12/05: receive Approval Notice in the mail and my attorney indicates that she will then dismiss the Mandamus complaint.
12/07: receive the Magic Card in the mail (regular mail, even not certified, unbelievable�).
What a timing! Could I dream of a better Christmas Gift?
Who said Papa Noel/Santa or Banta Claus/Little Red Riding Hood did not exist?
:) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :)
When GCSOON-Ihope becomes GC-IgotIt!
Guys, guess what I am holding in my hand? Yes, that bit of plastic, object of our fantasies �.and nightmares. After filing Writ of Mandamus on November 1st, things went amazingly quickly and smoothly: on December 1st, the US attorney gave confirmation that the case has been approved and I received the card in the mail on 12/07.
What did I feel then? Really indescribable�Happy? It goes way beyond that.
I feel more relieved than anything else, like if I had a ton of lead off my shoulders�
May my story inspire, give hope and faith to all of you guys who are so depressed at the moment because of what happened, or did not happen should I say, in that shameful Congress.
As you will see, I had my head in a brick wall more than once. More than once, I was devastated and, still, I never gave up and made it through.
So, please, enjoy the holidays: as long as there is life, there is hope.
I know something about it:
Come here in 1993 as a student on F1 visa. Graduate and got Work Permit (OPT).
Find dream job in dream company. Hired directly by CEO himself.
Company loves me and applies right away for H1 and then Labor Cert.
Life is beautiful. The start of the American Dream. Not for long.
Attorney has been working for company for years. Always successfully.
Picks me for his first failure: screws up completely.
H1 denied. Labor Cert denied. Company gets mad: attorney is fired.
OPT runs out: company still loves me but�I am now out of status and�fired too.
Welcome to America. Life has turned dark. The start of my American Nightmare.
I am disgusted. Decide to go back to my home country (France).
I miss California. Find new company that loves me: apply for H1 again (this time, I am paying all fees, out of my meager savings).
H1 is approved, got stamp at embassy in Paris. I am back. Life is beautiful again.
Not for long. Exactly 2 hours (no kidding).
Find out that company is a sweat-shop and boss is a crook.
Pays me half (yes, half) what he was supposed to.
Go to INS to complain: �If you are not happy, go back to your home country�.
I swear that it is exactly what I am told.
Consult attorneys for a possible lawsuit: � Alas, your situation happens more often than you can imagine. Many unscrupulous employers use and abuse of would-be immigrants like you. Don�t waste your time and money in a lawsuit, just find yourself a new job�and be more careful this time�.
I am broke. Can�t even go back �home� and anyway I don�t want to.
Not with just my tail between my legs for the second time.
Home is here. I want my American Dream and I will get it, no matter what.
Decide to swallow my pride and endure the humiliation until I can find new employer willing to sponsor new H1 and pay all fees. I just can�t afford anything as I am hardly surviving.
Employer wants to fire me: �you are always complaining about the money�.
I have to threaten him (yes I did) to report his company to Dept. of Labor (most his employees are illegals and as abused as I am, not getting paid for overtime and so on�).
Imagine in what kind of atmosphere I am working�but I need this job to remain legal until I can find something else.
For sure, I will be out of there within a couple months at the most.
Don�t know yet that this nightmare will last�2 years. Still can�t believe it.
Had I known, I would have fled the first day, no matter what.
In my specialty, jobs are not easy to find.
Not to mention that this time, I have to be very �choosy��
Companies that I approach:
a) don�t want to hear about immigration or
b) don�t want to pay attorney fees or
c) don�t want to pay at least prevailing wage or
d) all of the above
All doors seem to be closed.
I have never felt that bad in my life: go see the doctor.
�You have all the symptoms of someone who is having�a nervous depression.
Do you want me to refer you to a good psy who could help you?�
No, thanks. I know why I am sick.
Finally find new company that loves me: apply for new H1 and they pay all fees.
H1 approved.
This time, I am holding my breath. We are now in December 2000. Seven years since I first came in the US. Time flies�and no GC in sight.
Job is nice, company is nice. Recovering from depression.
Boss loves me: decides to start for me RIR Labor in�.May 2001.
Yes, one month after that damn month of April 2001. You know what I mean.
Six months of advertising.
PD is January 2002.
Labor Cert approved �in July 2004. Concurrent filing I-140/I-485 in August 2004.
Get EAD. FP in September 2004.
Things change: company is now going down. Boss still loves me but�lays me off.
(Re)(Re) Start of my American Nightmare?
Attorney says: �Don�t worry (!!!) Employer loves you. Won�t revoke I-140. GC is for future job. Find new H1 job to maintain status and see what happens�.
This time, I am lucky (!) and find right away new H1 job. Company is OK, job is OK.
Later, previous company nicely recovers: got rehired!
Only thing: I will have to pay all fees from now on. Don�t care. Back on the right track.
Do Medical in April 2005.
I-140 approved in May 2005�but visas are now �Unavailable�. Nothing to worry about.
October is around the corner and new numbers will be available, right?
Just a few more months and I will have my GC. Wrong.
October bulletin comes out. EB3 World is back to March 2001 (PD is 01/2002).
I swear that I almost s..t in my pants. When is too much�just too much?
How much more frustration and anguish can I endure? More, much more.
By rage and stress, I pack up an extra 20 lbs in just a few months.
Most people lose weight when they are under extreme stress and/or depression, I do the opposite. I am now 40 lbs overweight.
Second EAD. FP again in October 2005. Life is paced by visa bulletins�
September 2006 bulletin comes out: EB3 World has now passed my PD.
I am holding my breath again. Rightly so, for the umpteenth time.
Third EAD.
Wait 2 weeks and start inquiring about the status of my application.
Call so-called �Customer service�: as usual they know jack s..t.
�Your application is still pending�. Thanks, I already knew that.
Make Infopass appointment at Los Angeles downtown office.
�Sir, I can�t tell you anything specific because your case is at the Laguna Niguel office.
Contact them at: CSC-XII@dhs.gov�
E-mail #1 on 09/18: (�) Status of my case? (�)
Response on 09/27: �the I-485 at question is still pending FBI name check clearance.
Once the file has been cleared by FBI, it will be adjudicated. The service has no control on how long it takes FBI to clear the case�.
E-mail #2 on 09/27: (�) When was that initiated? (�)
Response on 10/02: (�) On or about 08/19/2004. (�)
This time, I surprise myself: I am one more time devastated but remain strangely calm.
Even laugh about it. Nervously. Too much is just too much.
I had heard about that Name Check aberration before but had ignored it.
Like most people involved in that GC mess, I refused to worry in advance.
One bridge to cross at the time, please.
Weirdly enough, I am now almost relieved. Why? Because for the first time ever, I can be proactive and I CAN ACT!
I call my lawyer and tell her about those 2 e-mails: �That�s good enough to file Writ of Mandamus. That summarizes the whole situation, we don�t need anything else�.
WOM is filed on November 1st.
(I requested FOIPA and contacted Senators, President, Vice-President etc, etc�
only later just in case we would have needed more ammunitions).
After that, things go fast:
11/ 29: without any warning (!), LUD: �Your card has been ordered�.
12/01: confirmation from the Assistant US Attorney that my case has been approved.
12/04 LUD: �Your case has been approved�.
(So, they notify you that the card has been ordered�before notifying that the case has been approved�).
12/05: receive Approval Notice in the mail and my attorney indicates that she will then dismiss the Mandamus complaint.
12/07: receive the Magic Card in the mail (regular mail, even not certified, unbelievable�).
What a timing! Could I dream of a better Christmas Gift?
Who said Papa Noel/Santa or Banta Claus/Little Red Riding Hood did not exist?
:) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :)
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