Bills, Rules & Politics

[vbollu]

not only that, the first 4 years bama had an absolute majority in both house and senate, didn't touch a single immigration bill, bought Obama care and spent whole 4 years. at least bama could have tried I-140 with out adding any conditions, we could have been in better position. every one believed that republicans did good thing to the legal immigration just because bush made current once in 2007 and expected republican president, this president is showing his middle finger to all the immigrants from day 1 he got elected.

[qesehmk]

not only that, the first 4 years bama had an absolute majority in both house and senate, didn't touch a single immigration bill, bought Obama care and spent whole 4 years. at least bama could have tried I-140 with out adding any conditions, we could have been in better position. every one believed that republicans did good thing to the legal immigration just because bush made current once in 2007 and expected republican president, this president is showing his middle finger to all the immigrants from day 1 he got elected.

Bush was quite pro-immigration. It's a shame his efforts went waste. Obama to his credit did give significant relief to immigrant via executive actions such as EAD for H4, and DACA. This current administration is entirely anti-immigrant and racist.

[iatiam]

Bush was quite pro-immigration. It's a shame his efforts went waste. Obama to his credit did give significant relief to immigrant via executive actions such as EAD for H4, and DACA. This current administration is entirely anti-immigrant and racist.

With due respect, the reason why EB4 stopped giving SO is because of the fact rule

[qesehmk]

Q, The "friendly" admin made things tougher for H1B from 2009-2013 due to recession. They diluted their own rules regarding client letter for H1 filing in 2012 to open the H1B flood gates again. They provided 3 year OPT, playing cahoots to the industry, while doing nothing to reduce the wait time for immigrants.
Not ignoring the fact, we got a completely watered down H4-EAD, while completely fooling applicants on 140-EAD. It was done back in 2007 and there was a precedence. Nothing for the kids who were born outside US, and lived almost all their life here.

Oh, there was another minor thing back in 2009-2010 if you recall, if the companies had laid off citizens, they cannot start the GC process for H1's for 6 months.

Even the filing date push back in September 2015 after it was supposed to give some respite for people waiting from May 2010 to June 2011 in Eb2 showed that the 'friendly' admin did not care much.

Citizen Indians moved to Trump, because of how Obama admin treated Modi with visa denial during his time. They started identifying themselves with republican values. They don't care about H1B's concerns.

Ace - everything you mention about Obama admin is what you would expect a normal admin to do - which is - implement immigration policy as an extension of economic policy. That's what immigration is for America - an economic imperative. They did not do anything out of malice unlike current admin.
As per why citizens voted for Trump - that's getting into politics and not useful for our discussion - so I will refrain from commenting. Not to mean you can't discuss it.

Q, I respect you for starting this forum and the work you have done, but you are wrong on this one. Most people didn't even read the rule. Here is the official USCIS link for the rule.

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-rele...issibility-law

I do not see anything wrong with this rule. Also there is a key point all liberal and fake news media is not telling. This rule will apply to only new applications received on or after October 15th. Trump is not anti immigrant nor he is racist. Democrats do not like immigrants, but they want votes that is why they support illegal immigration. I hope you do more research and find the truth.

Prabhakar - welcome to forum. I have no emotional investment on my opinions. I am just saying things as I see them. Of course others can see it differently ... not a problem. I do want to say that while democrats and republican politicians take stance to ensure they stay in power - the American people - even today - are quite immigrant friendly. Despite of everything - I think US is the best place to immigrate in the world both from economic and social perspective.

[qesehmk]

Respectfully, I think you and others are confusing your own well being with broader pro or anti immigrant sentiment. I frankly do not remember what EB4 rule you mention - but lets say Bush relaxed EB4 (religious workers) category to allow more priest in ... that is not anti other categories. Yes it may have hurt spillover .... but that does not make it anti other categories.

With due respect, the reason why EB4 stopped giving SO is because of the fact rule

[numgc1234]

I am not sure how immigrating to US is the best choice, since I have been here from 2007 and still on H1B with no light at the end of the tunnel. I dont want to discuss what if I have stayed back, but with the current scenario I regret coming here.. My one of the biggest regret with earlier admin is when they can go all way to give EAD to undocumented and still could not help the folks like us is so unfair.
It is difficult to walk on thread for 12 years wondering how the economy behaves , will I have the job or can I invest with out any hope. So please don't preach the future generation stating that this is the best country to immigrate ...

[qesehmk]

I am not sure how immigrating to US is the best choice,

Agree ... it is not the best choice for everybody. But for those who want to immigrate - I do not know another soul who left US and settled in UK/Canada/Austria/Aussie or anywhere else. The only people I know who left US went back to their own homecountries. I know Jim Rogers went to Hong Kong. But then I don't know him personally

[numgc1234]

considering the time period, immigrants might have invested emotionally ...

[qesehmk]

considering the time period, immigrants might have invested emotionally ...

True. Every which way ....

But here is a perspective by John Lennon who famously said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

My last post for the day .... Peace and Cheers!

[iatiam]

Respectfully, I think you and others are confusing your own well being with broader pro or anti immigrant sentiment. I frankly do not remember what EB4 rule you mention - but lets say Bush relaxed EB4 (religious workers) category to allow more priest in ... that is not anti other categories. Yes it may have hurt spillover .... but that does not make it anti other categories.

You are comparing a hypothetical situation with some thing that really happened. The DACA issuance by Obama caused a deluge of illegal immigrants in the southern border and a lot of them qualified for special immigrant juvenile status which takes the visa numbers from EB4 category. You can read about it here,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specia...uvenile_Status

[qesehmk]

You are comparing a hypothetical situation with some thing that really happened. The DACA issuance by Obama caused a deluge of illegal immigrants in the southern border and a lot of them qualified for special immigrant juvenile status which takes the visa numbers from EB4 category. You can read about it here,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specia...uvenile_Status

Thanks for the info. What happened under SIJu is called "JUSTICE". Those kids were in more unfortunate situation than somebody like you. Were you smuggled into the United States or did your parents die or got deported to India while you were a juvenile over here?

Nothing wrong in what was done there. It was not done with the goal to reduce overall legal immigration. The current administration's goal is to reduce overall legal immigration.

[iatiam]

Thanks for the info. What happened under SIJu is called "JUSTICE". Those kids were in more unfortunate situation than somebody like you. Were you smuggled into the United States or did your parents die or got deported to India while you were a juvenile over here?

Nothing wrong in what was done there. It was not done with the goal to reduce overall legal immigration. The current administration's goal is to reduce overall legal immigration.

This is my last post on this.

SIJ visas came from EB category which is the real injustice. It's easy to do virtue signalling if you have already have GC or citizenship and have absolutely no skin in the game.

[qesehmk]

This is my last post on this.

SIJ visas came from EB category which is the real injustice. It's easy to do virtue signalling if you have already have GC or citizenship and have absolutely no skin in the game.

Those laws were on the books since 1990. So your objection is baseless. So lets forget virtue. What was done was justice under existing legal framework. Having skin in the game doesn't ensure that the person will not care only about his/her skin. I have seen this repeatedly. People forget common good and complain about other immigrants FB vs EB, EB1 vs EB2 vs EB3, or India vs ROW etc.

[NJMavarick]

Glad to hear everyone's comments and frustrations. Sometimes this forum feels like only the "toppers" are posting and the "back benchers" are not encouraged OR afraid because of the higher standards here.

Looking at the approval trend in trackitt, EB3I 2009 applicants barely got any approval (less than 10% of total). So almost the entire 2009 EB3I that was current is still waiting for visas. I also agree with your view that more people in India (typically EB3I) are getting eligible to do CP. One of my friends in India decided not to pursue GC even though his company supported him to do it.

Usually there is some election year magic. I wish for that next year. Otherwise it is going to be the story of no spillover and another 2-3 years to clear 2009. The immigration system is so complex that no one can predict the cascading effects. I for one supported Obama admin's streamlining of GCs process till it systematically reduced the Spillover to India. It took about 2 or 3 years for that to play out. Maybe the "Inadmissability on Public Charge" rule might turnout to be positive. So we have to wait and see how the new Public Charge rule plays out. It is too early to say anything about its impacts now.

13 states are already suing for this rule! It may go to Supreme Court eventually, in which case the effect of this will be felt much later.

Link: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...blic-benefits/

[iatiam]

13 states are already suing for this rule! It may go to Supreme Court eventually, in which case the effect of this will be felt much later.

Link: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...blic-benefits/

That's Trump's MO. He knows these will be challenged in states and will find a way to the Supreme Court where a conservative bench will uphold it. Hopefully his DACA cancellation will also be upheld by the court and stem the flow of illegals. If Obama can bring an executive order, I don't understand why his predecessor can't cancel it.

Iatiam

[gcy2k07]

Ace - everything you mention about Obama admin is what you would expect a normal admin to do - which is - implement immigration policy as an extension of economic policy. That's what immigration is for America - an economic imperative. They did not do anything out of malice unlike current admin.
As per why citizens voted for Trump - that's getting into politics and not useful for our discussion - so I will refrain from commenting. Not to mean you can't discuss it.


Prabhakar - welcome to forum. I have no emotional investment on my opinions. I am just saying things as I see them. Of course others can see it differently ... not a problem. I do want to say that while democrats and republican politicians take stance to ensure they stay in power - the American people - even today - are quite immigrant friendly. Despite of everything - I think US is the best place to immigrate in the world both from economic and social perspective.

Q- I just returned from a vacation in Europe where I had lived for a few years. Couldn't agree more with you views above!

[qesehmk]

Q- I just returned from a vacation in Europe where I had lived for a few years. Couldn't agree more with you views above!

People generally are the same world over. When they come to US they become part of American experience. That experience is what makes America unique in the world.

[abcx13]

Economic Times - How the American dream is souring for many Indian IT workers

[rock581]

https://www.facebook.com/Immigration...27876040611937

[gs1968]

https://www.facebook.com/Immigration...27876040611937

Thank you for posting this great news. Hopefully this is the week this saga that started in 2008 ends! However the DOS released the October Visa bulletin overnight which I feel could have waited till they know how these bills play out. They will have to make adjustments later in the year once this bill becomes law.

[EB22010Dec]

Thank you for posting this great news. Hopefully this is the week this saga that started in 2008 ends! However the DOS released the October Visa bulletin overnight which I feel could have waited till they know how these bills play out. They will have to make adjustments later in the year once this bill becomes law.

What happens next ? If it passes the senate.

[iatiam]

What happens next ? If it passes the senate.

It has to go back to House because of the two amendments added to Senate version. I would imagine this part would be easy since the "majority of majority" in House is already co-sponsoring the bill. And then it goes to the president's desk and if he signs, it becomes the law. I think if two-third of the Senate votes in support, president cannot veto the bill.

Again, medium to long shot chances of passage but then again, this is the best position the bill has been in last ten years or so. Also, with the John Oliver show, the issue started getting more attention.

Iatiam

[gs1968]

It has to go back to House because of the two amendments added to Senate version. I would imagine this part would be easy since the "majority of majority" in House is already co-sponsoring the bill. And then it goes to the president's desk and if he signs, it becomes the law. I think if two-third of the Senate votes in support, president cannot veto the bill.

Again, medium to long shot chances of passage but then again, this is the best position the bill has been in last ten years or so. Also, with the John Oliver show, the issue started getting more attention.

Iatiam

I think the odds are better than that. These things have been under negotiation I would assume through most of the summer and the John Oliver show though informative probably did not influence this much. It does reduce the available pool by 5000 from what I presume will be EB-3. DOS probably has a backup visa bulletin calculated in case this becomes law by the end of the month and revoke the existing bulletin with an updated one reflecting the law's guidelines before October 1

[mcmilers]

https://www.am22tech.com/hr1044-s386...-senate-floor/

this article says, it immediately comes into effect if and when the president signs the bill into law. And dates are estimated to move to Sep 2014 for EB-1,2 and 3. Can anyone corroborate that?

[iatiam]

I think the odds are better than that. These things have been under negotiation I would assume through most of the summer and the John Oliver show though informative probably did not influence this much. It does reduce the available pool by 5000 from what I presume will be EB-3. DOS probably has a backup visa bulletin calculated in case this becomes law by the end of the month and revoke the existing bulletin with an updated one reflecting the law's guidelines before October 1

Certainly! Hope springs eternal.

Having worked on this bill for several years now, mostly meeting with congressmen and congresswomen, I am very happy to see the bill come this far. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Iatiam