panini
05-11 04:49 PM
Mind you the civil war in SL is against the LTTE, not the Tamils.
Correct! And it is not even a "Civil War". It is really a war ti erradicate terrorism from Sri Lankan soil. The term Civil War refers to a war between people in a country. The SL government is not waging a war against it's Tamil citizens but against a terrorist group.
Correct! And it is not even a "Civil War". It is really a war ti erradicate terrorism from Sri Lankan soil. The term Civil War refers to a war between people in a country. The SL government is not waging a war against it's Tamil citizens but against a terrorist group.
wallpaper 2012 Hyundai Grandeur interior
walking_dude
02-13 01:57 PM
I know that, I was part of it. Lawsuit will require more than that amount if it gets protracted. Keeping the money angle apart, how many are ready to put their names on the plaintiff list?
We (MI chapter) tried to get two members who were impacted to participate in a lawsuit filed by another organization. It was free for them, they didn't have to pay a dime. Guess what, both of them bailed out at the last moment.
I'm not discouraging anyone here. Someone please conduct a poll on contribution pledges, and active participation. Then we will get an approximate understanding of how much we can raise, and how many are willing to have their name on the the lawsuit.
Show me the money!
But we also have members making $30K fundraising effort successful in 7 days! Hence I believe if the IV core decides to explore the possibility of a lawsuit, we can raise enough money to hire an attorney for that.
We (MI chapter) tried to get two members who were impacted to participate in a lawsuit filed by another organization. It was free for them, they didn't have to pay a dime. Guess what, both of them bailed out at the last moment.
I'm not discouraging anyone here. Someone please conduct a poll on contribution pledges, and active participation. Then we will get an approximate understanding of how much we can raise, and how many are willing to have their name on the the lawsuit.
Show me the money!
But we also have members making $30K fundraising effort successful in 7 days! Hence I believe if the IV core decides to explore the possibility of a lawsuit, we can raise enough money to hire an attorney for that.
delax
07-23 01:47 PM
See this post by Nixstor:
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?p=254275#post254275
If you ignore the VB predictions in the post, the key thing to note is that USCIS and DOS are in constant touch on a weekly basis after the July 07 fiasco. They know exactly the demand and usage rates.
This leads me to one of the following two conclusions:
Either USCIS has intimated to DOS that it can process only X number of cases in the next two months and visas remaining are more than that which is why DOS pushed the dates forward so that consular posts can also maximize usage OR
The numbers remaining are very large for a variety of reasons (category and FB spill over) and USCIS has agreed to process at least a majority if not all the cases within a certain priority date - probably Jun 2006. Based on that DOS agreed to move the PD to June 2006 after also factoring in the CP usage.
Obviously the latter is better for us - but it could be the former as well.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?p=254275#post254275
If you ignore the VB predictions in the post, the key thing to note is that USCIS and DOS are in constant touch on a weekly basis after the July 07 fiasco. They know exactly the demand and usage rates.
This leads me to one of the following two conclusions:
Either USCIS has intimated to DOS that it can process only X number of cases in the next two months and visas remaining are more than that which is why DOS pushed the dates forward so that consular posts can also maximize usage OR
The numbers remaining are very large for a variety of reasons (category and FB spill over) and USCIS has agreed to process at least a majority if not all the cases within a certain priority date - probably Jun 2006. Based on that DOS agreed to move the PD to June 2006 after also factoring in the CP usage.
Obviously the latter is better for us - but it could be the former as well.
2011 Hyundai Grandeur
rbalaji5
03-30 02:29 PM
Do some research on Nuclear deal and see what it will bring to India in the next couple of decades. And tell me what Mr.Advani brought us when they were in power.
We need food and shelter to sleep than Nuclear Deal I like your Future prediction of Nuclear deal.!!. (obviously, we are hungry and looking for food and place to sleep :)
Letz change the Govt and see what will they do in future. (We did n't see anything big with Congress for the past 4 decades -
We need food and shelter to sleep than Nuclear Deal I like your Future prediction of Nuclear deal.!!. (obviously, we are hungry and looking for food and place to sleep :)
Letz change the Govt and see what will they do in future. (We did n't see anything big with Congress for the past 4 decades -
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Jerrome
09-14 05:05 PM
Your assumption is correct, But i am not sure if the spillover happens every quarter. Are you sure it happens every quarter. I thought it happens only @ last quarter.
pmb76
04-02 05:31 PM
What do you have to say about all well educated and intelligent bureaucrat IAS, IPS etc..
Most of the so called well educated & intelligent bureaucrat IAS, IPS etc are bottom feeders and crooks. They are only there to milk the system dry and fill their own pockets. No offence but these so called IAS/IPS folks are te ones that have screwed the Indian democracy and given it a bad name.
Most of the so called well educated & intelligent bureaucrat IAS, IPS etc are bottom feeders and crooks. They are only there to milk the system dry and fill their own pockets. No offence but these so called IAS/IPS folks are te ones that have screwed the Indian democracy and given it a bad name.
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waitingmygc
01-14 02:30 PM
By remembering July, 2007 fiasco, I see an opportunity to build a lobby here in favor of legal immigrants (H1B, waiting for GC etc.)which will help all.
Act now, by mailing and talking to your employer about this memorandum if working with consulting company (doesn�t matter working with direct client or not, has EAD or not, GC priority is close or far) because employer is worst affected, they will of course will engage the attorneys. Attorneys are also affected with memorandum. This will help to build a big lobby here (remember July, 2007 fiasco) . Then, joining of IV members will help in result of BIG BIG BIG lobby.
Act now, by mailing and talking to your employer about this memorandum if working with consulting company (doesn�t matter working with direct client or not, has EAD or not, GC priority is close or far) because employer is worst affected, they will of course will engage the attorneys. Attorneys are also affected with memorandum. This will help to build a big lobby here (remember July, 2007 fiasco) . Then, joining of IV members will help in result of BIG BIG BIG lobby.
2010 2012 Hyundai Grandeur / Azera
dan19
08-30 04:58 PM
I am doing my Canadian Immigration myself.
It is fairly a simple and straightforward process. So my advice is "Do it yourself". Immigration lawyers do normally charge more that $1000 and make mistakes.
Since it takes around 1.5 years for the entire process to complete, send the application as soon as possible. Dont wait for gathering all the document! That will ensure that you get a early priority date. If more documents are needed, they will ask you. (Most people sent English Proficiency and Police Certificates after submitting the application, though they are required to be part of the initial application)
I can describe the procedure:
1. Calculate your points based on the information on Canada Immigration website. If it is more that 67, you are good.
2. To prove English proficiency, take IELTS test. You need to register for the test as soon as possible since some centers are always full. (Some of my friends who studied in USA skipped IELTS - rather they wrote a letter stating that they are proficient in English as they studied/worked in USA)
3. Make sure you have the required funds. It's around $13,000 for a 2 member family. (Again check the Canadian Immigration website for accurate info)
4. Get experience letters if you are claiming experience.
5. Get Birth Certificates and Police Certificates. If you are an Indian, the link you need to look for is http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/misc_guide.asp
6. Though they do ask you to send US FBI Police Certificates, do it later. (They will ask you for updated FBI Police Certificates evenif you submit it earlier)
7. Fill the forms, attach the documents and send it!!!!
Visit http://www.canada-city.ca/canada-immigration/ or
http://www.immigration.ca/discussion/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4 for further discussions.
Our frustration with the US legal immigration and retrogression seems endless. My wife and I are considering immigration prospects to Canada. Can somebody please suggest good responsive lawfirms that could handle a Canadian PR application? We would also appreciate some insight on Canadian immigration prospects for physicians. Thanks
It is fairly a simple and straightforward process. So my advice is "Do it yourself". Immigration lawyers do normally charge more that $1000 and make mistakes.
Since it takes around 1.5 years for the entire process to complete, send the application as soon as possible. Dont wait for gathering all the document! That will ensure that you get a early priority date. If more documents are needed, they will ask you. (Most people sent English Proficiency and Police Certificates after submitting the application, though they are required to be part of the initial application)
I can describe the procedure:
1. Calculate your points based on the information on Canada Immigration website. If it is more that 67, you are good.
2. To prove English proficiency, take IELTS test. You need to register for the test as soon as possible since some centers are always full. (Some of my friends who studied in USA skipped IELTS - rather they wrote a letter stating that they are proficient in English as they studied/worked in USA)
3. Make sure you have the required funds. It's around $13,000 for a 2 member family. (Again check the Canadian Immigration website for accurate info)
4. Get experience letters if you are claiming experience.
5. Get Birth Certificates and Police Certificates. If you are an Indian, the link you need to look for is http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/misc_guide.asp
6. Though they do ask you to send US FBI Police Certificates, do it later. (They will ask you for updated FBI Police Certificates evenif you submit it earlier)
7. Fill the forms, attach the documents and send it!!!!
Visit http://www.canada-city.ca/canada-immigration/ or
http://www.immigration.ca/discussion/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4 for further discussions.
Our frustration with the US legal immigration and retrogression seems endless. My wife and I are considering immigration prospects to Canada. Can somebody please suggest good responsive lawfirms that could handle a Canadian PR application? We would also appreciate some insight on Canadian immigration prospects for physicians. Thanks
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surabhi
07-21 05:35 PM
That seems to be correct interpretation. This makes me dizzy, too good to be true. :D
That's because of per country quotas. There may be millions waiting for 15 years under the brothers and sisters category, but once they hit the country limit they are done. The unused numbers may go to brothers and sisters of petitioners from non-backlogged countries. If not, these numbers will flow to EB.
All FB categories are retrogressed. No category is " Current" so that the visas should spill over. ANd the most recent availability is category 2A.( October, 2003)
Does this mean there are not enough approvable applications. Doesnt sound right to me with 5 years of minimum retrogression and upto 20 years in case of Philippines for FB category 4.
Still doesnt make much sense to my how even with USCIS ineffeicienes should there be a spillover.
That's because of per country quotas. There may be millions waiting for 15 years under the brothers and sisters category, but once they hit the country limit they are done. The unused numbers may go to brothers and sisters of petitioners from non-backlogged countries. If not, these numbers will flow to EB.
All FB categories are retrogressed. No category is " Current" so that the visas should spill over. ANd the most recent availability is category 2A.( October, 2003)
Does this mean there are not enough approvable applications. Doesnt sound right to me with 5 years of minimum retrogression and upto 20 years in case of Philippines for FB category 4.
Still doesnt make much sense to my how even with USCIS ineffeicienes should there be a spillover.
hair With Hyundai#39;s recent trend it
PavanV
09-04 01:04 PM
I am having a gala time reading the threads, thanks for the free entertainment folks :D, please keep going.
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gcisadawg
06-12 10:54 AM
Dude... he is talking about the second best engineering college in India that is located in Rajasthan.. aka - BITS Pilani (my guess).
I think that is correct. As far as I know, during 80s and early 90s, BITS, Pilani was the second best after IITs.
I think that is correct. As far as I know, during 80s and early 90s, BITS, Pilani was the second best after IITs.
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BharatPremi
07-11 12:48 PM
BharatPremi,
Same applies to you.. If you are so crazy about Bharat, what are you doing here.... HEHEHE. Just thought that it was kinda funny statement because of your name....BharatPremi --- :D
My "Avtar Name" is "BharatPremi" not "BharatVasi" To do "Prem" you do not have to be "vasi":)
Same applies to you.. If you are so crazy about Bharat, what are you doing here.... HEHEHE. Just thought that it was kinda funny statement because of your name....BharatPremi --- :D
My "Avtar Name" is "BharatPremi" not "BharatVasi" To do "Prem" you do not have to be "vasi":)
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house 2005 Hyundai Grandeur
snathan
01-15 09:15 PM
USA was like that for past 100 years. Many times Protectionist bills were passed and many times they were relaxed in past. There will be impacts but it will not bring down the country just because they block a few thousand H1bs. If USA needs to go down there should be some other alternative country should come up relative to that level. India and china have a potential but nowhere near to that for now as they so much dependent on USA and dollar.
Stop your crap...your argument is irrelavent and does not have any logic.
Stop your crap...your argument is irrelavent and does not have any logic.
tattoo Look: New Hyundai Grandeur
jhaalaa
01-13 05:19 PM
IV Core and Administrators
1. AOS applicants using EAD are presently unaffected (if they do not have H1) by this memo. Could you please inquire from USCIS contacts, in case more similar "guidelines" are being planned for folks using EADs?
2. Also is something more being planned/announced for AC21's "same or similar" criteria? A while back we had a thread collecting evidences and suggestions from the IV members about its interpretation. Please help provide a status update about the meetings with USCIS, IV core group discussions and plans, etc.
Thanks for all your efforts.
Best Wishes for all.
1. AOS applicants using EAD are presently unaffected (if they do not have H1) by this memo. Could you please inquire from USCIS contacts, in case more similar "guidelines" are being planned for folks using EADs?
2. Also is something more being planned/announced for AC21's "same or similar" criteria? A while back we had a thread collecting evidences and suggestions from the IV members about its interpretation. Please help provide a status update about the meetings with USCIS, IV core group discussions and plans, etc.
Thanks for all your efforts.
Best Wishes for all.
more...
pictures 2012 Hyundai Grandeur Revealed
logiclife
06-28 07:25 PM
can you name this firm please?
Also, anyone using Murthy/rajiv Khanna might want to ping them and get their thoughts on this. Dont know if it matters, consensus now is that dates can go back mid-month and USCIS can also stop accepting applications.
Like I said, after AILA's memo came out yesterday, all the lawyers who were saying "it wont happen" have suddenly flipped and now they are saying "Anything can happen".
Sometimes I wonder what are we paying them for if we have to send them URL from AILA about various memos and directives? Isnt it a part of job description to keep an eye out on what's going on at USCIS ? It is available on websites for the whole world to see after all. I wonder how efficient these lawyers were when Internet didnt exist and everything was thru phones and postal services.
And ever since the dates got current for the whole world in July, lawyers are snapping back when you email/call them as if its our fault that dates suddenly became current for the whole world ? If its too much burden, then maybe its time to look for some other profession. No one is putting a gun on your head saying : "Be an immigration lawyer".
Also, anyone using Murthy/rajiv Khanna might want to ping them and get their thoughts on this. Dont know if it matters, consensus now is that dates can go back mid-month and USCIS can also stop accepting applications.
Like I said, after AILA's memo came out yesterday, all the lawyers who were saying "it wont happen" have suddenly flipped and now they are saying "Anything can happen".
Sometimes I wonder what are we paying them for if we have to send them URL from AILA about various memos and directives? Isnt it a part of job description to keep an eye out on what's going on at USCIS ? It is available on websites for the whole world to see after all. I wonder how efficient these lawyers were when Internet didnt exist and everything was thru phones and postal services.
And ever since the dates got current for the whole world in July, lawyers are snapping back when you email/call them as if its our fault that dates suddenly became current for the whole world ? If its too much burden, then maybe its time to look for some other profession. No one is putting a gun on your head saying : "Be an immigration lawyer".
dresses 2005 Hyundai Grandeur
santb1975
02-12 10:46 PM
???
more...
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kondur_007
07-22 02:20 PM
for EB3 - I guess it is good that they are not allowing concurrent /premium 140 filing ..am I right ? because if they make EB2 current and they cannot use up the visas then they would make EB3-ww available ? wishfull thinking ..but hope that it works / happens that way
Yes, that is a wishful thinking.
The issue for EB3 is this:
There is already a big backlog of EB2 cases, and unless EB2 numbers overflow to EB3, it will not advance to any appreciable extent. (also the number of filers in EB3 is higher than in EB2: including large numbers in EB3 ROW--not just highly subscribed countries).
It would be anybody's guess when EB3 will move; but my guess is: not for next 2-3 years and may be longer (I dont mean to offend anyone, this is just my guess) unless there is a change in law (likely to happen with new president).
If I were EB3 today, this is what I would do: Try to get EB2. (and I do realize that it is very expensive, time consuming and merely impossible for many EB3). When I mentioned this in one of my previous posts, I got an angry reply "then EB2 will become like EB3"....BUT THIS JUST SOMETHING FROM THE STAND POINT OF SOMEONE IN EB3....remember, i dont want people ahead of me in line either (I am EB2 and people switching from EB3 to EB2 with older priority dates will only delay MY GC; this is just an opinion from the stand point of EB3).
If you are EB3 (and PD is not VERY old), and if you can not switch to EB2; sit back and relax...be happy with your EAD and AP and it is only a matter of time (I know, it is easy to say and I really do not mean to offend anyone here, but that is the reality...).
Good luck to everyone...
Yes, that is a wishful thinking.
The issue for EB3 is this:
There is already a big backlog of EB2 cases, and unless EB2 numbers overflow to EB3, it will not advance to any appreciable extent. (also the number of filers in EB3 is higher than in EB2: including large numbers in EB3 ROW--not just highly subscribed countries).
It would be anybody's guess when EB3 will move; but my guess is: not for next 2-3 years and may be longer (I dont mean to offend anyone, this is just my guess) unless there is a change in law (likely to happen with new president).
If I were EB3 today, this is what I would do: Try to get EB2. (and I do realize that it is very expensive, time consuming and merely impossible for many EB3). When I mentioned this in one of my previous posts, I got an angry reply "then EB2 will become like EB3"....BUT THIS JUST SOMETHING FROM THE STAND POINT OF SOMEONE IN EB3....remember, i dont want people ahead of me in line either (I am EB2 and people switching from EB3 to EB2 with older priority dates will only delay MY GC; this is just an opinion from the stand point of EB3).
If you are EB3 (and PD is not VERY old), and if you can not switch to EB2; sit back and relax...be happy with your EAD and AP and it is only a matter of time (I know, it is easy to say and I really do not mean to offend anyone here, but that is the reality...).
Good luck to everyone...
girlfriend Hyundai Grandeur
Khujaokutta
04-20 07:42 PM
should be ' NO CHANGE'
i.e. continue with what we had for the past 5 years
India deserves nothing but the best and so there should be 'No Change' in leadership
i.e. continue with what we had for the past 5 years
India deserves nothing but the best and so there should be 'No Change' in leadership
hairstyles Hyundai Grandeur used car
newtoearth
05-03 01:51 AM
...
old_hat
05-03 01:28 AM
[QUOTE=newtoearth;338494]Dear dreamworld I am an Indian (period)
I am who wants to see my fellow indians and country free from trrorism Either Islamic or Tamil or any other kind...
"I am Indian (Period)" this what all Srilankans posting in Indian or Public forum say.
Second ... Why do you call Tamil as terrorist, we do not have Tamil terrorism in India .... you have gotten everything wrong in your head .... we all are talking about Srilankan Tamil civilians not the LTTE. You better get it straight we are only talking about the humanitarian crisis faced by the Srilankan Tamils if you get it mixed up its your problem.
Pls refrain from posting any hate message about Tamils in this forum.
Dude you are missing his point. He did not call Tamils terrorists. he called LTTE terrorists and that is TRUE in all senses of the word.
I am who wants to see my fellow indians and country free from trrorism Either Islamic or Tamil or any other kind...
"I am Indian (Period)" this what all Srilankans posting in Indian or Public forum say.
Second ... Why do you call Tamil as terrorist, we do not have Tamil terrorism in India .... you have gotten everything wrong in your head .... we all are talking about Srilankan Tamil civilians not the LTTE. You better get it straight we are only talking about the humanitarian crisis faced by the Srilankan Tamils if you get it mixed up its your problem.
Pls refrain from posting any hate message about Tamils in this forum.
Dude you are missing his point. He did not call Tamils terrorists. he called LTTE terrorists and that is TRUE in all senses of the word.
hopefulgc
09-23 11:43 AM
And so it begins... a guy puts on the table a good idea.. and then everyone start listing what is wrong with it or how it does not fit in their small self-centered universe.
Let the censure begin!
As completely unrelated these two issues are (from a law maker's perspective) on a normal day, these are possibly those times when each of these issues can help the other.
IV has been discussing about the possibility of one for two solution (partial). The idea is to request congress to exempt EB applicants & their dependents from numerical limits of the Immigrant visas, if they buy a home. It is my belief that market sentiment is the most important thing in any financial market(s) and the housing prospects look pretty bleak. There are lot of members in the EB community that have NOT bought their own home, even though they could afford one because of the uncertainty with EB GC. IV's idea is to bridge the financial committees and judiciary committees in the House/Senate and see if corresponding Chairman/Ranking members are willing to listen. Things are moving so fast with the 700bn USD bail out plan and we will NOT have time to do things the normal way, through our counsel. We have to present this idea to the corresponding staff members of key members of congress (see list below) and see if this gets traction now or going forward.
Please do not bring EB-5 discussion/comparison here. The proposed partial solution is different from EB-5 in that EB-5 investors invest money and we are investing in our future with a genuine intention of making USA our permanent home.
If you already have a home, thats fine. Any such legislation will reduce the wait times in EB categories and we need housing markets to rebound for a safer economy before the ripple effects are felt every where.
Who to write to
Staff members(Chief of Staff, Legislative LA, Financial LA, Legislative Director) of Chairman/Ranking members of House/Senate Judiciary committee & Finance/Banking committee, Staff members of your representative and your senators. Please find staff members of the committees in the spreadsheet (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pptN-jEpAiyd3snslhPjBfw).
You can find your representative & senator staff members on this website (http://www.outsourcecongress.org/outsource/congress/schstaffers.html).
Please use valid email addresses and NOT fictitious/junk mail. It undermines the whole purpose and our emails will be flagged by mail scanners / spam checkers as some thing similar to famous Nigeria bank account scams.
Email Subject: Proposal to alleviate current US Housing/economic crisis
Content/Message
SUMMARY
This proposal alleviates the current US economic crisis, by motivating the US high skilled, legal immigrant workers to purchase homes. The size of this immigrant population is approximately 800,000 individuals. This effort if successful would inject up to US$ 20Billion approximately into the economy (approximately US$ 100 Billion in houses sold across the country) , while at the same time directing this money into the root cause of the economic crisis � the illiquidity of the national housing market. The above calculation is done
assuming a median US home price of $212,400 and buyers making a down-payment of 20% of the cost of the home. Roughly estimating 400,000 buyers.
BACKGROUND
Undoubtedly, we are all devastated by the shake up on Wall Street in the past 15 days. Experts agree that the underpinning problem is the housing crisis caused by sub-prime mortgage loans. Many of us, who cannot afford our monthly mortgage payments are losing homes and putting them up for sale and foreclosure, which further adds to the crisis. At the same time, most of the Employment-based (EB) immigrant community would like to purchase homes and make the United States a permanent home for their families. These EB immigrants however, are living in a state of limbo, mostly in rental apartments because of the delays and uncertainties involved with the EB immigration procedure. The wait times in EB categories are exacerbated by the delays in processing by USCIS, even though eligible applicants have filed for Permanent Residency also known as Adjustment of Status. Such processing delays have resulted in the wastage of 218,000 immigrant visa numbers (Page 52 of USCIS Ombudsman Annual report 2007). The current Department of State visa bulletin shows 7+ years of wait times in certain categories. We strongly believe that legislation can be worked out in such a way that the housing markets all over the country can move towards recovery, while at the same time motivating the Green Card applicants to catalyze this recovery.
It should be noted that this proposal by no means brings more immigrant workers into the US. The workers in the EB, skilled category are already present in the US, doing skilled jobs that no US worker is available to do. They are part of the long queue of backlogged cases that USICIS will eventually process; however, this wait can take years and in that case could not be used as a tool to minimize the course of the current economic crisis.
SOLUTION
Congress can pass legislation that exempts EB green card applicants and their dependents from the numerical limits of visa numbers, provided applicant(s) have bought a home making 20% down payment on the sale price of the home, for a time period deemed necessary by the congress.
How can Employment based Immigrants help alleviate the housing problem?
(1) Employment based immigrants are highly skilled and are employed in occupations such as Software, IT, Health care, Energy, Finance, Education and Research & Development across the United States.
(2) Average income of these individuals/households is around 65,000/130,000 USD.
(3) All these Employment based immigrants have gone through Department of Labor�s recruiting process, which certifies that there is no willing, able and qualified US Citizen to do the job.
(4) Most of the Employment based immigrants have excellent credit history and good source of income to make the payments needed for their home mortgage.
(5) By requiring a 20% down payment from this group of buyers, Congress can directly channel this money to where it is need most � at the banks.
(6) Employment based green card applicants have been living in the United States for 6-8 years. Many of them have US graduate degrees in their fields of expertise. These applicants are well versed with the American culture and will not change the cultural landscape.
(7) Financial burden on US government and treasury will be reduced drastically if the glut of houses in the market decreases.
As a member of the community that wants to make the US its permanent home, I want to contribute to a solution that helps USA and US during these tough times. I sincerely believe that the 30 year commitment on mortgages by Employment based immigrants in the housing market, backed by solid, risk free mortgages can turn the down ward spiral in the housing market into a upward spiral.
END OF CONTENT
Let the censure begin!
As completely unrelated these two issues are (from a law maker's perspective) on a normal day, these are possibly those times when each of these issues can help the other.
IV has been discussing about the possibility of one for two solution (partial). The idea is to request congress to exempt EB applicants & their dependents from numerical limits of the Immigrant visas, if they buy a home. It is my belief that market sentiment is the most important thing in any financial market(s) and the housing prospects look pretty bleak. There are lot of members in the EB community that have NOT bought their own home, even though they could afford one because of the uncertainty with EB GC. IV's idea is to bridge the financial committees and judiciary committees in the House/Senate and see if corresponding Chairman/Ranking members are willing to listen. Things are moving so fast with the 700bn USD bail out plan and we will NOT have time to do things the normal way, through our counsel. We have to present this idea to the corresponding staff members of key members of congress (see list below) and see if this gets traction now or going forward.
Please do not bring EB-5 discussion/comparison here. The proposed partial solution is different from EB-5 in that EB-5 investors invest money and we are investing in our future with a genuine intention of making USA our permanent home.
If you already have a home, thats fine. Any such legislation will reduce the wait times in EB categories and we need housing markets to rebound for a safer economy before the ripple effects are felt every where.
Who to write to
Staff members(Chief of Staff, Legislative LA, Financial LA, Legislative Director) of Chairman/Ranking members of House/Senate Judiciary committee & Finance/Banking committee, Staff members of your representative and your senators. Please find staff members of the committees in the spreadsheet (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pptN-jEpAiyd3snslhPjBfw).
You can find your representative & senator staff members on this website (http://www.outsourcecongress.org/outsource/congress/schstaffers.html).
Please use valid email addresses and NOT fictitious/junk mail. It undermines the whole purpose and our emails will be flagged by mail scanners / spam checkers as some thing similar to famous Nigeria bank account scams.
Email Subject: Proposal to alleviate current US Housing/economic crisis
Content/Message
SUMMARY
This proposal alleviates the current US economic crisis, by motivating the US high skilled, legal immigrant workers to purchase homes. The size of this immigrant population is approximately 800,000 individuals. This effort if successful would inject up to US$ 20Billion approximately into the economy (approximately US$ 100 Billion in houses sold across the country) , while at the same time directing this money into the root cause of the economic crisis � the illiquidity of the national housing market. The above calculation is done
assuming a median US home price of $212,400 and buyers making a down-payment of 20% of the cost of the home. Roughly estimating 400,000 buyers.
BACKGROUND
Undoubtedly, we are all devastated by the shake up on Wall Street in the past 15 days. Experts agree that the underpinning problem is the housing crisis caused by sub-prime mortgage loans. Many of us, who cannot afford our monthly mortgage payments are losing homes and putting them up for sale and foreclosure, which further adds to the crisis. At the same time, most of the Employment-based (EB) immigrant community would like to purchase homes and make the United States a permanent home for their families. These EB immigrants however, are living in a state of limbo, mostly in rental apartments because of the delays and uncertainties involved with the EB immigration procedure. The wait times in EB categories are exacerbated by the delays in processing by USCIS, even though eligible applicants have filed for Permanent Residency also known as Adjustment of Status. Such processing delays have resulted in the wastage of 218,000 immigrant visa numbers (Page 52 of USCIS Ombudsman Annual report 2007). The current Department of State visa bulletin shows 7+ years of wait times in certain categories. We strongly believe that legislation can be worked out in such a way that the housing markets all over the country can move towards recovery, while at the same time motivating the Green Card applicants to catalyze this recovery.
It should be noted that this proposal by no means brings more immigrant workers into the US. The workers in the EB, skilled category are already present in the US, doing skilled jobs that no US worker is available to do. They are part of the long queue of backlogged cases that USICIS will eventually process; however, this wait can take years and in that case could not be used as a tool to minimize the course of the current economic crisis.
SOLUTION
Congress can pass legislation that exempts EB green card applicants and their dependents from the numerical limits of visa numbers, provided applicant(s) have bought a home making 20% down payment on the sale price of the home, for a time period deemed necessary by the congress.
How can Employment based Immigrants help alleviate the housing problem?
(1) Employment based immigrants are highly skilled and are employed in occupations such as Software, IT, Health care, Energy, Finance, Education and Research & Development across the United States.
(2) Average income of these individuals/households is around 65,000/130,000 USD.
(3) All these Employment based immigrants have gone through Department of Labor�s recruiting process, which certifies that there is no willing, able and qualified US Citizen to do the job.
(4) Most of the Employment based immigrants have excellent credit history and good source of income to make the payments needed for their home mortgage.
(5) By requiring a 20% down payment from this group of buyers, Congress can directly channel this money to where it is need most � at the banks.
(6) Employment based green card applicants have been living in the United States for 6-8 years. Many of them have US graduate degrees in their fields of expertise. These applicants are well versed with the American culture and will not change the cultural landscape.
(7) Financial burden on US government and treasury will be reduced drastically if the glut of houses in the market decreases.
As a member of the community that wants to make the US its permanent home, I want to contribute to a solution that helps USA and US during these tough times. I sincerely believe that the 30 year commitment on mortgages by Employment based immigrants in the housing market, backed by solid, risk free mortgages can turn the down ward spiral in the housing market into a upward spiral.
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