Kama Of Kingstone

- How has greencard changed your life after receiving it?

It was a relief. No change on the work or personal side of life. Still at the same job. It pays well (always has) and I like it.

- What did you do on the day you received it?

Called my wife (who was in India). Bought a bottle of 'Blue Label' and polished it off in one night. Skipped the next day at work b'cos of the hangover.

** For people who wonder what happens if your GC is approved when you are in India. My wife was in India when our GC was approved. I did not mail her the GC. She entered US using Advance Parole. At the POE, she was asked if she was aware that her GC was approved. She did say "yes" and she was welcomed into US without any hassles.

- How did the long wait upset your life?

The wait was long (PD : May 2002 , GC AD : June 2007). The initial stage (2002 to 2004) was carefree (not worried about GC. More focussed on establishing career). The middle stage (2005 to 2006) was painful. We were in the I485 stage for almost 3 years. Then the final stage (2006 onwards) was carefree again. We had given up on the GC process and had decided that it will come when it has to come. We even bought a house in 2006 and decided to live life as we always wanted to. And then suddenly the GC arrived in June 2007 (interestingly there was no email .. nor any LUDs).

The only frustrating thing in the I485 stage was the annual renewal for EAD, AP. Fortunately, my employer paid for all that (including spouse). But it was hassle to get the papers ready, fill in the forms, interact with the immigration department ..so on. This was a little irritating every year.


- How did immigrationvoice help you during this long wait?

The immigrationvoice leaders are very inspiring. It is very heartening to see everyone so excited and willing to stand up for a common cause. Of course, there are the occasional "wet towels" in the forums who want to see the negative in everything. But I have seen the IV leaders learn to ignore them.

- Would you like to continue your support to immigration voice and help others waiting?

Sure. We are hard pressed for time. But have contributed financially in the past (anonymously). We believe in doing a deed and not talking about it. (so please do not read more in the financial contribution part). We will continue to send in the few dollars as usual.

- Any advice for everyone?

It is very easy to say that do not let this process affect you. And we are not going to say it. It is like preaching to the choir.

All we can say is "Hang in there". Plan for your future. Have your goals and work towards them. And we hope GC is just one of them.

Guys go to this website and sign up and vote yes for this bill.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s1085/show

done.

http://digg.com/politics/Green_card_hopefuls_to_resort_to_Gandhigiri_in_US

22 diggs already. 500 diggs will make it a top story!

(d) Form I-140 Petition Must be Approved Prior to a Favorable Determination of a �106(c) AC21 portability request.

this could be read 2 ways...either you need have an approved I-140 prior to filing for portability OR the adjudicator needs to approve the I-140 prior to determining portability.



According to the 2005 memorandum, it was possible to change employers even if the 140 was not approved. But it was clear that an RFE that was not responded to, would deny everything.

Now it appears, they would require an approved 140.

sent the fax.

what the heck happenned. The text has completely changed since I voted. When I voted it clearly stated the unused visas would be recaptured for family based and employment based immigrants. now it only says for family based immigrants. Have we (employment based) been shafted, is visa recapture for us Eb immigrants or not?

Where did you read the new text ?

bump

I never thought that working for a contractor was something bad!! In fact, I was thinking that contracting is better than working full time! Am I missing something here???

I mean think about it... you get to work on different projects and you get to learn new stuff, new environments, new people!

Stay as a full timer and you don't grow (well not like a contractor anyways!). All in all, I think it takes more effort to be a contractor!

I guess it is a career choice! I personally would rather be a contractor!

July 2nd filer.

Transfered from NSC to CSC. My bad luck. Didn't apply EAD, AP. No news on FP. I heard that CSC processes FP lat than other centers. I know my neighbours got FP notices who filed a month later from NSC.

Unless USCIS shows significant improvements in efficiency (which I doubt), increasing fee is nothing but a way to milk immigrant community more.

Oooo excitin'!.... :bounce:

So whats the final date Eilsoe? When the winner is announced I mean...

- Soul :goatee:

Requested all my friends to fax..

Yeah... very good, now there is two.... this is the proof why EB is not moving or why there is no unity. Keep on arguing and disunite that is the usual desi NRI habit. especially people in USA.

Brush your GK about Hindu religion.. and this word is just phrased by a Irish Padri just to fool Hindus and you become a trap of it.. I pity Wake up and dont be in a fools world!

"Sakthisagar", get you facts right, supreme court of india ruled that "Hinduism represented a way of life", and funny thing is you are talking about unity, check your posts, if someone disagrees with you you start talking BS about that person, tonyHK12 being an atheist for me does not imply anything -ve about him,

I support.

EB2
PD: May.2004
Name Check pending.

YOu can surrender your GC letting know the USCICS that, it got approved when the PD was not current. I had read this on murthy.com. Browse the website to learn more about it or contact murthy.com attorney's.

How am I so sure...?? Even I am one amoung them praying for 485 not getting approved untill I get married. My PD is 2006, so I guess I don't have to worry too much.


Hi Suresh,


I'm in the same situation as you are in.. Can you please let me know which option did you choose?..

Thanks in advance.

If i get correctly...Labour Substitutionhas been banned..right???

DOL has ended Labor subsitution since July 16 of this year.

LC applied : Dec'2003
Approved : July' 2006
I-485 RD : July' 2007
I-485 AD : Nov'2007

- How has greencard changed your life after receiving it?
A cautious sense of freedom. Suddenly a lot more opportunities opened up and more employers started to show interest. My Desi employer is suddenly on the receiving end and I dictate the terms. Yes, Still workiing with them after 6 months, but that was my own decision to stick with them. Leaving them next month for a 50% raise in salary :)

- What did you do on the day you received it?
I got up at 7:00 that morning of Dec 3rd, (starting dec 3rd my date was not current anymore) , still half asleep, checked my email and got the shock of my life --"Welcome notice sent..." checked it multiple times then woke up my wife and almost dragged her to the computer and made her read the emails with half closed eyes... Our town recieved record rainfall that day and all streets got flooded, so no work :) Went to a Thai place for dinner that night with another family who are very close friend of ours.

-How did the long wait upset your life?
The feeling of uncertanity was terrible. Had to deal with the employer on a daily basis. They sat on my paperwork for 6 weeks, made me sign a million agreements and still did not file my case in June even though my date was current. I was devastated on the morning of July 2nd and rest is very well known to everyone here.

-How did immigrationvoice help you during this long wait?
What can I say? IV took me from what I mentioned in my last point to where I am right now - Waiting for my paycheck with 50% more and above that without any doubts about it coming :)

- Would you like to continue your support to immigration voice and help others waiting?
YES - Or I wouldn' be here 6 months after gettting my GC. Sent another contribution of $50 today.(Paypal Transaction ID #23M509897Y2455252)

- Any advice for everyone?
Have faith in yourself and God. and remember whatever happens , happens for the best.. Even We agree that the GC came at the right time for us. My wife got to spend 100% of her time with our daughter until she was ready to go to a pre-school. And we got a very good friend during the DC rally.. Hello EB3Retro ! :)

Isnt no one reading this post?
only three Cos so far?
Shrey, please send me the plan for presentation .
Cheers mates

Hi all legal eagles, advice please

My case is quite complicated. Here is my situation.

(1) Applied for I-485 (Adjustment of status) in July 2007. EB2-India category, PD March 2006.
(2) Wife missed the bus when I applied for I-485. Her papers were not ready at that time.
(3) Changed job utilizing AC21. So no more H1 status for me. Working on EAD in a new company. Living in US on a pending I-485 status.
(4) Sent wife to India so that she will not stay in the US on an invalid H4. (After I quit my company, I assumed my H1 and my wife's H4 became automatically invalid because they belonged to my previous company. In any case those H1/H4 have expired too now.).
(5) I was planning to call wife on a visitor visa. We planned to apply her I-485 once she is in US and dates become current for her.
(6) Suddenly, my PD is current as per the latest bulletin!! Totally unexpected!!
(7) Wife can't come back to US on a short notice on a visitor visa because of many pending tasks back at home.


Now the big question is, is it worthwhile to apply for my wife's I-485 in India through a consular processing route? My understanding is that consular processing does not provide the benefits of EAD and advanced parole. So my wife will anyway have to come to US on a visitor visa. So we may as well apply her I-485 in US itself. At least then our applications will be processed together and she will get the benefits of EAD. And if there are any immigration interviews we can go together too.

But the risk in this plan is that
(1) By the time she is back in US the dates may retrogress again.
(2) Worse, my GC may get approved this month itself, before my wife even has a chance of applying her own I-485, cutting off my wife's chances of getting a dependent GC based on my GC forever.

Now my hunch is that risk no. 1 is a low risk. Either the dates won't retrogress again, or even if they do, they will move forward in October again. So we can live with that.

Risk no. 2 is a bigger risk. But can USCIS take a decision on my I-485 petition so quickly. I don't think so. But if it does, then we lovers will be torn apart.

And lastly, has anybody ever heard of "Follow to join" procedure? What exactly is it and can we utilize it to our benefit?

Let us Focus on Rally/ Focus on Local Chapter/Focus raising money; if we want to see any change soon.