gee_see
10-19 11:04 AM
Could you point out some sites where salary issue is mentioned (impact of decrease in salary for AC21)?
meridiani.planum
02-01 05:23 AM
thanks for the reply..this means having a dependent visa is the key at the time of approval..
if the application was approved and the wife was on h4 (but didnot file her i485 yet..) then she could still file for her i485?
yes. if your wife was on H4, as soon as your 485 is approved, her H4 ends. However since your 485 is getting approved, your PD is presumably current meaning she is eligible to immediately file 485, and get to that as a legal status. If she has a dependent visa approved, and has travelled here thats nice, otherwise she has to file a 485 from your home country as a follow-to-join and htat can take some time for her to travel here.
There is no 6 month grace period as such. Its just that upto 6 months of out-of-status is forgiven at 485 approval, and since on your 485 approval your H1 ends and so does her h4, it makes her status-less here. Being in that state upto 6 months is forgiven for 485.
Its most important that you get married before the approval of your 485. Do court-marriage if your PD is current, to be on the safe side, even if the actual ceremony is still a month or two away. When to honeymoon is upto you. Cant let USCIS decide EVERYTHING, can we...
if the application was approved and the wife was on h4 (but didnot file her i485 yet..) then she could still file for her i485?
yes. if your wife was on H4, as soon as your 485 is approved, her H4 ends. However since your 485 is getting approved, your PD is presumably current meaning she is eligible to immediately file 485, and get to that as a legal status. If she has a dependent visa approved, and has travelled here thats nice, otherwise she has to file a 485 from your home country as a follow-to-join and htat can take some time for her to travel here.
There is no 6 month grace period as such. Its just that upto 6 months of out-of-status is forgiven at 485 approval, and since on your 485 approval your H1 ends and so does her h4, it makes her status-less here. Being in that state upto 6 months is forgiven for 485.
Its most important that you get married before the approval of your 485. Do court-marriage if your PD is current, to be on the safe side, even if the actual ceremony is still a month or two away. When to honeymoon is upto you. Cant let USCIS decide EVERYTHING, can we...
harryom
01-18 01:01 PM
No actually its seems different from the receipt numbers which usually starts with SRC-xxxxxxxxxx
This one seems different like : PIT-xxxxxxxxxxTSC
It doesn't seems to work anywhere.
try entering that number here
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/caseStatusSearchDisplay.do
BUT, I am assuming she gave u the Receipt number for online tracking, which you may already have from ur receipt notice...DOES it start with SRC or LIN?
This one seems different like : PIT-xxxxxxxxxxTSC
It doesn't seems to work anywhere.
try entering that number here
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/caseStatusSearchDisplay.do
BUT, I am assuming she gave u the Receipt number for online tracking, which you may already have from ur receipt notice...DOES it start with SRC or LIN?
pbojja
04-20 02:22 PM
I-94 also does not have the date written
Just take the passports and required documents to Chicago Airport , there will be a Customs and Border office inside the International terminal, they will be able to fix it .
Just take the passports and required documents to Chicago Airport , there will be a Customs and Border office inside the International terminal, they will be able to fix it .
more...
Ann Ruben
05-15 04:15 PM
I believe that in the original post, Keerthi indicated that he was in India.
TeddyKoochu
01-06 09:11 AM
Please advise if 5.5+ years of experience and an Advanced degree in Electronics would qualify me for porting me from EB2 to EB1. I have been waiting to file for my I-140 over an year now but things aren't looking anywhere near to it.
So just wanted to understand if this was even legally possible.
Even I have a very similar question. I have bachelors in engineering from a prominent college in India with almost 10 Years of work experience in IT. My EB2 I140 is approved but I have not been able to apply for I485 as I missed the July 07 window. Please advise if there is a possibility that I can apply for EB1-A. I understand that EB1-B requires a PhD. and EB1-C requires the current / future job to have a global /mnc managerial profile so Iam not eligible for that, I do have managerial experienece from my previous job / positions in India. Please advice if EB1-A also mandates a research profile or can professionals not having a research background also apply. I believe that EB1-A is a self application not a company application. Really appreciate some valued advice.
So just wanted to understand if this was even legally possible.
Even I have a very similar question. I have bachelors in engineering from a prominent college in India with almost 10 Years of work experience in IT. My EB2 I140 is approved but I have not been able to apply for I485 as I missed the July 07 window. Please advise if there is a possibility that I can apply for EB1-A. I understand that EB1-B requires a PhD. and EB1-C requires the current / future job to have a global /mnc managerial profile so Iam not eligible for that, I do have managerial experienece from my previous job / positions in India. Please advice if EB1-A also mandates a research profile or can professionals not having a research background also apply. I believe that EB1-A is a self application not a company application. Really appreciate some valued advice.
more...
BMS1
08-21 07:07 PM
You are saying ur PD was Sec 2005? Mine is Dec 2005. Should I also expect it sometime soon :)?
If it is Dec 2005 you must be from non-retro and going by the many approvals for non-retro, you should certainly expect it soon (especially if other checks are complete)
If it is Dec 2005 you must be from non-retro and going by the many approvals for non-retro, you should certainly expect it soon (especially if other checks are complete)
saileshdude
07-21 06:41 PM
In rare cases RFE has been issued. My doc also wrote that I need to follow-up with my PCP for INH treatment on my medical form. I visited my PCP and they sent me to a Infectious Disease specialist. The ID specialist said that there is no urgency for treatment although it is recommended to have the treatment. But said I can my take my own time to think if I need to go through the treatment.
Asked what if USCIS sends an RFE, the ID said that they usually do not ask for it for younger people but for someone over 50 , they may ask. In any case he said if I received any RFE he was willing to provide me a letter that INH treatment is not urgently needed.
Asked what if USCIS sends an RFE, the ID said that they usually do not ask for it for younger people but for someone over 50 , they may ask. In any case he said if I received any RFE he was willing to provide me a letter that INH treatment is not urgently needed.
more...
desi3933
05-14 01:33 PM
H-1B is approved from Oct/1/2009. Currently I should be on L-1B. As per this article, I think I can travel without jeopardizing my future status. They call it the 'Hernandez letter'. Is this true?
http://www.murthy.com/news/n_cosapp.html
Thanks..
Well, you didn't mention in your original post that COS date is 01/10/2009 and I assumed that COS date was date of approval.
In this case, yes your H1 COS is approved with deferred change of status date of Oct 1st. And Hernandez Letter does cover such scenario.
However, please keep this mind (mentioned in that link)
This analysis was provided by the USCIS in the form of letter guidance. Such guidance does not carry the binding force of law or regulation and generally is given less weight than even a USCIS policy memo.
Since when you come back you will have different I-94 number as compare to I-94 number on COS approval letter. This can cause explanation/issues down the line. Please consult your attorney and have professional advice.
Hernandez Letter does not have binding force of law. This is something difficult to ignore for me. But, that's just me.
______________________
Not a legal advice.
US citizen of Indian origin
.
http://www.murthy.com/news/n_cosapp.html
Thanks..
Well, you didn't mention in your original post that COS date is 01/10/2009 and I assumed that COS date was date of approval.
In this case, yes your H1 COS is approved with deferred change of status date of Oct 1st. And Hernandez Letter does cover such scenario.
However, please keep this mind (mentioned in that link)
This analysis was provided by the USCIS in the form of letter guidance. Such guidance does not carry the binding force of law or regulation and generally is given less weight than even a USCIS policy memo.
Since when you come back you will have different I-94 number as compare to I-94 number on COS approval letter. This can cause explanation/issues down the line. Please consult your attorney and have professional advice.
Hernandez Letter does not have binding force of law. This is something difficult to ignore for me. But, that's just me.
______________________
Not a legal advice.
US citizen of Indian origin
.
bank_king2003
04-22 02:04 PM
So basically you are saying you cannot sue the people responsible for greencard problem.
I think the only option left is to either sue God or sue yourself for your bad luck.
Sorry if i was not clear. i meant to say that for visa recapture one cant file a lawsuit against USCIS but one can definately file a lawsuit on USCIS for following things if at all we can prove it
1) if quarterly soillover is a law and USCIS not doing it they are doing something against the law so we can file a lawsuit against it but again how can we prove that they are not doing quarterly spillover.
2) If USCIS doesnt use full numbers assigned for Green Cards and waste them you can again sue them for that but will it be succesfull or not that has to be researched.
3) That H1b employee - employer relation memo is a best example to file a lawsuit against them as there interpratation of the law was completely wrong but noone did it.
I think the only option left is to either sue God or sue yourself for your bad luck.
Sorry if i was not clear. i meant to say that for visa recapture one cant file a lawsuit against USCIS but one can definately file a lawsuit on USCIS for following things if at all we can prove it
1) if quarterly soillover is a law and USCIS not doing it they are doing something against the law so we can file a lawsuit against it but again how can we prove that they are not doing quarterly spillover.
2) If USCIS doesnt use full numbers assigned for Green Cards and waste them you can again sue them for that but will it be succesfull or not that has to be researched.
3) That H1b employee - employer relation memo is a best example to file a lawsuit against them as there interpratation of the law was completely wrong but noone did it.
more...
puskeygadha
05-22 11:42 AM
After labor is approved do we need hardcopy of labor to file
I140 and 1485..OR ELECTRONIC RECEIT WILL DO
tHANKS
I140 and 1485..OR ELECTRONIC RECEIT WILL DO
tHANKS
immigrationvoice1
12-10 04:03 PM
Please share the information on various Master degrees that you have done/doing/planning to do along with the University/school name and website information...
more...
sheela
09-23 11:18 AM
Anybody having experience with USCIS Ombudsman office. How urgent the cases are taken and how soon they are resolved? Does assistance help?
chanduv23
03-14 06:50 AM
If someone completes their residency in US and gets a license to practice medicine, will this MD degree be valid in Canada and Australia?
My wife is doing her residency and due to this retrogression we want to have a plan B, and for plan B we want to know if it is worth moving to Canada or Australia after she completes her Residency? While I am in IT, I think the job scene is almost same everywhere which is based on experience.
I am sure a lot of IV members are physicians and would be looking into these options also. Please share your thoughts.
My wife is doing her residency and due to this retrogression we want to have a plan B, and for plan B we want to know if it is worth moving to Canada or Australia after she completes her Residency? While I am in IT, I think the job scene is almost same everywhere which is based on experience.
I am sure a lot of IV members are physicians and would be looking into these options also. Please share your thoughts.
more...
Desertfox
11-09 05:33 PM
Is it possible to change this thread title to "Indian doctors win legal battle in UK"??
unseenguy
06-16 01:12 AM
I agree with above posters.
Ask for shorter duration visa.
leave siblings out
Show strong financial position to supprt their stay in US
Show strong ties to home country. (leaving siblings out & adding grandparents care is a good thing), but also show strong monetory ties such as property in home country.
Ask for shorter duration visa.
leave siblings out
Show strong financial position to supprt their stay in US
Show strong ties to home country. (leaving siblings out & adding grandparents care is a good thing), but also show strong monetory ties such as property in home country.
more...
sledge_hammer
05-14 04:35 PM
Only 215 votes for EB2 India?
Assuming an equal number for EB3 India, EB2 China, and EB3 China, we have a total of 856 people who have applied for PD?
We have more than 8000 members, so are we to assume the 7000 and odd members are ROW?
Something doesn't add up.
Can ROW people please have a poll for yourselves?
Assuming an equal number for EB3 India, EB2 China, and EB3 China, we have a total of 856 people who have applied for PD?
We have more than 8000 members, so are we to assume the 7000 and odd members are ROW?
Something doesn't add up.
Can ROW people please have a poll for yourselves?
a1b2c3
02-11 11:26 PM
Did you contacted congressman or opened any SR's ?
I've contacted the congressmen. There are 200 odd cases at NSC still lying unprocessed with earlier PD and RD (than mine) while the cutoff dates move forward for EB2-I. Are they going process all others before mine?
With this some lucky ones will get out and other unlucky ones will complain to the congressmen. Movements without clearing up the earlier cases will cause more problems.
Btw, Chris, what is your status?
I've contacted the congressmen. There are 200 odd cases at NSC still lying unprocessed with earlier PD and RD (than mine) while the cutoff dates move forward for EB2-I. Are they going process all others before mine?
With this some lucky ones will get out and other unlucky ones will complain to the congressmen. Movements without clearing up the earlier cases will cause more problems.
Btw, Chris, what is your status?
anilsal
10-27 10:09 AM
as the chapter leaders can appraise you of what is possible, what is the view of leaders towards skilled immigration etc.
Rather than vent your frustration on the forums, direct them constructively to some IV activity.
Rather than vent your frustration on the forums, direct them constructively to some IV activity.
titu1972
02-29 08:56 AM
Receipts usually sends to Attorney, who represent your case, if you signed G-28 form. You only get Notice for FP, Original EAD, AP. So don't worry abt the receipt. It should be with your attroney.
Blog Feeds
06-27 06:50 PM
AILA Leadership Has Just Posted the Following:
President Obama and Congress members met privately at the White House on Thursday for their first major discussion of immigration reform. A Way Forward on Immigration (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/opinion/27sat1.html). New York Times Editorial June 27, 2009. President Obama has a lot on his plate dealing with the economy, health and energy but his approach to immigration reform indicates a clear grasp of the complex dynamic needed to win the battle. The need to reform our immigration laws now could not be more immediate or urgent. There is a crisis in immigration and the need to fix this mess has never been more critical. Immigration raids in our communities and our factories, along with the horrific conditions of detention, have created dread and anxiety within our immigrant population. The process of obtaining lawful status has become unreasonably difficult, and there are few options for the millions of immigrants, many of whom have deep roots here, but entered without visas or have expired visas. Millions of these people have U.S. citizen spouses and children, but no path to legalization. Despite decades of living in the U.S., and contributing to our economy, and whether applying for immigrant or nonimmigrant visas, the pattern is the same: restrictive adjudications coupled with outdated visa quotas that choke the system and make the attainment of lawful status virtually impossible. Whether applying through family or employment, the waiting lines are as protracted as they are preposterous. Many with advanced degrees wait for years and family visa waiting lines routinely extend a decade or longer. Due process protections that form the basis of our great democracy have been stripped from immigrants.
President Obama told a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week that Congress should begin debating a comprehensive immigration by year�s end or early next year, but Republicans said they would support a measure only if it included an expansion of guest worker programs. Republicans Focus on Guest Workers in Immigration Debate (javascript:popup(). The White House released President Obama's remarks following a meeting on June 25, 2009 with congressional leaders to discuss immigration reform, in which he expresses his administration's support for CIR and indicates a clear understanding of the issues and how to fix them. President Obama's Remarks Following June 25 Meeting on Immigration Reform with Congressional Leaders (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29384)
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) understand immigration in a way that only a doctor understands medical ailments or an engineer understands building bridges. We know the issues from a deep perspective and not merely from an emotional view. We believe that a sensible comprehensive immigration reform package will have to include smart enforcement, a path to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the U.S., elimination of family and employment-based visa backlogs, adequate visas to meet the needs of U.S. families and businesses, a new visa program for essential workers, and due process protections to restore the rule of law in our immigration adjudications and courts. AILA Welcomes Obama's Proactive Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform This Year (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29372).
The current immigration system is broken and to allow the status quo to continue will only make things worse for the country. Until Congress deals responsibly with immigration - making taxpayers out of all immigrants, making all employers follow sensible rules, and creating a functioning legal immigration system - everything else on the President's domestic agenda is vulnerable to being dragged down. This is the year and this is the moment for a popular President to work with Congress to address a national issue in a way that benefits the American people and our economy. The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released a new housing report which notes, �immigrants could be a key element to recovery." Immigration Impact, June 26, 2009, Immigrant Homebuyers Play Crucial Role in Housing Market Revival (javascript:popup(). The president announced that he has charged DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano with leading a bipartisan, bicameral working group to help negotiate and move a legislative package later this year, and those of us who have been championing immigration reform�and who have been training for this day�are off to the races (http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/statements/2009/06/White_House_immigration_meeting_statement062509.ht ml). President Kicks Off Immigration Reform (javascript:popup()"The White House meeting yesterday demonstrated that the question is no longer whether reform is necessary or whether it can be achieved this Congress. Those questions were answered squarely in the affirmative." Center for American Progress (CAP), June 26, 2009.
The CAP report articulates five principles for responsible immigration reform grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. The nation�s broken immigration system undermines our core national values, disserves our economic and security interests, and diminishes our moral standing in the world. Congress has for years now overseen an explosion of expensive, ineffective enforcement policies that have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, enriched criminal syndicates, divided families, disrupted communities, and battered local economies rather than confronting our failed policies with common sense solutions grounded in what is best for our nation. In short, Congress has sacrificed our national interest at the altar of a destined-to-fail, get-tough enforcement strategy.
Confronted with this crisis the United States is left with three options: 1) preserve the status quo�an option that no responsible policymaker would advance; 2) drive millions of workers and families out of our communities, which CAP estimates would run over $41 billion annually; or 3) embrace tough but fair and practical solutions.
The Center for American Progress correctly concludes that the status quo is untenable, mass deportation is contrary to our national interests and values, and the only viable approach is comprehensive immigration reform. Such reform would require immigrants to register and become legal, pay taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks.
Five key principles for reform should guide the president and Congress as they begin to reengage this pressing domestic priority. CAP�s principles for responsible immigration reform are grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. They are:
Resolve the status of the undocumented
It is morally and economically unacceptable for the wealthiest nation on earth to have 12 million people living and functioning in an underground economy in the United States. Our �shining city upon a hill� is casting a dark shadow over a large class of workers. These workers and their families are interwoven in our communities, yet they are proscribed from becoming full members of our society. Their labor enhances the nation�s competitiveness and enables economic growth, but their lack of legal status exposes them and their U.S. counterparts to manipulation and exploitation. Effective reform must require those living in the United States illegally to register, pay their full share of taxes, learn English, complete background checks, and earn the privilege of citizenship. The country will in turn benefit from an expanded tax base, a more robust rule of law, a workforce less vulnerable to exploitation, and a level playing field for all workers.
Enhance legal immigration channels and labor mobility
Globalization has made it increasingly more efficient to move capital, goods, and services across national borders. Yet legal channels facilitating movement of labor have not kept pace with this rapid development, even though immigration is an integral part of the American economy. The demands of global competitiveness require increased overall levels of legal immigration. Immigrants serve important roles in the success of the nation�s economy in boardrooms and corn fields, in Silicon Valley and the San Fernando Valley. Demographic trends show that an aging United States will need more workers across all occupation levels. Employment-based immigration and family-based immigration complement each other and should not be pitted against one another in a zero-sum game. Target levels should be adjusted to acknowledge that immigration is an engine of economic dynamism and to ensure that close families are not separated for years by outdated limitations. The United States must embrace the inevitable shift toward a well-regulated, legal, global labor market in order to retain our economic leadership.
Protect U.S. workers
Comprehensive immigration reform will benefit all U.S. workers. A program that brings undocumented immigrants out of the shadows will improve accountability for all employers. And a clear but rigorous path toward citizenship would diminish U.S. workers� vulnerability to unscrupulous employers. This creates fair, not exploitative, competition.
Any reforms must also protect American workers by safeguarding their ability to defend their rights, including the rights to change jobs freely and organize without fear, and to earn a fair wage. Millions of American workers are experiencing unemployment or underemployment in today�s economy, and we should strive to provide just wages for all workers and terminate policies that enable employers to participate in a race to the bottom of the wage ladder.
Foster an inclusive American identity
Our country�s identity is shaped by core values of equality, freedom, and opportunity. Immigration and the process of assimilation constantly tests and ultimately strengthens and deepens our commitment to those values. We must be vigilant, however, to ensure that newcomers have access to programs�language and civic education�that facilitate their integration into the nation�s social and cultural fabric. Naturalization, the cornerstone of integration and first step in civic participation for new citizens, must be accessible and encouraged.
Adopt smart enforcement policies and safeguards
The U.S. Border Patrol�s annual budget has more than quintupled since 1993 while the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has tripled to approximately 12 million during that same time period. Militarization of the border has obviously failed as an immigration control strategy.
CAP has a clear grasp of the essential ingredients to reforming our immigration laws and the American public gets it. More than 80 percent (http://amvoice.3cdn.net/ea94778f39d6c895c3_zvm6beppq.pdf) of Americans across the country, across party lines, and across nearly all demographic cross-sections, want comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, makes employers accountable, and requires undocumented workers to register, learn English, and pay taxes.
The president and Congress must move forward on the path they laid out this week and the American public is clearly behind the popular president.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/186823568153827945-1584438715913274381?l=ailaleadership.blogspot.com
More... (http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2009/06/immigration-reform-now-reality.html)
President Obama and Congress members met privately at the White House on Thursday for their first major discussion of immigration reform. A Way Forward on Immigration (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/opinion/27sat1.html). New York Times Editorial June 27, 2009. President Obama has a lot on his plate dealing with the economy, health and energy but his approach to immigration reform indicates a clear grasp of the complex dynamic needed to win the battle. The need to reform our immigration laws now could not be more immediate or urgent. There is a crisis in immigration and the need to fix this mess has never been more critical. Immigration raids in our communities and our factories, along with the horrific conditions of detention, have created dread and anxiety within our immigrant population. The process of obtaining lawful status has become unreasonably difficult, and there are few options for the millions of immigrants, many of whom have deep roots here, but entered without visas or have expired visas. Millions of these people have U.S. citizen spouses and children, but no path to legalization. Despite decades of living in the U.S., and contributing to our economy, and whether applying for immigrant or nonimmigrant visas, the pattern is the same: restrictive adjudications coupled with outdated visa quotas that choke the system and make the attainment of lawful status virtually impossible. Whether applying through family or employment, the waiting lines are as protracted as they are preposterous. Many with advanced degrees wait for years and family visa waiting lines routinely extend a decade or longer. Due process protections that form the basis of our great democracy have been stripped from immigrants.
President Obama told a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week that Congress should begin debating a comprehensive immigration by year�s end or early next year, but Republicans said they would support a measure only if it included an expansion of guest worker programs. Republicans Focus on Guest Workers in Immigration Debate (javascript:popup(). The White House released President Obama's remarks following a meeting on June 25, 2009 with congressional leaders to discuss immigration reform, in which he expresses his administration's support for CIR and indicates a clear understanding of the issues and how to fix them. President Obama's Remarks Following June 25 Meeting on Immigration Reform with Congressional Leaders (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29384)
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) understand immigration in a way that only a doctor understands medical ailments or an engineer understands building bridges. We know the issues from a deep perspective and not merely from an emotional view. We believe that a sensible comprehensive immigration reform package will have to include smart enforcement, a path to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the U.S., elimination of family and employment-based visa backlogs, adequate visas to meet the needs of U.S. families and businesses, a new visa program for essential workers, and due process protections to restore the rule of law in our immigration adjudications and courts. AILA Welcomes Obama's Proactive Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform This Year (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29372).
The current immigration system is broken and to allow the status quo to continue will only make things worse for the country. Until Congress deals responsibly with immigration - making taxpayers out of all immigrants, making all employers follow sensible rules, and creating a functioning legal immigration system - everything else on the President's domestic agenda is vulnerable to being dragged down. This is the year and this is the moment for a popular President to work with Congress to address a national issue in a way that benefits the American people and our economy. The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released a new housing report which notes, �immigrants could be a key element to recovery." Immigration Impact, June 26, 2009, Immigrant Homebuyers Play Crucial Role in Housing Market Revival (javascript:popup(). The president announced that he has charged DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano with leading a bipartisan, bicameral working group to help negotiate and move a legislative package later this year, and those of us who have been championing immigration reform�and who have been training for this day�are off to the races (http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/statements/2009/06/White_House_immigration_meeting_statement062509.ht ml). President Kicks Off Immigration Reform (javascript:popup()"The White House meeting yesterday demonstrated that the question is no longer whether reform is necessary or whether it can be achieved this Congress. Those questions were answered squarely in the affirmative." Center for American Progress (CAP), June 26, 2009.
The CAP report articulates five principles for responsible immigration reform grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. The nation�s broken immigration system undermines our core national values, disserves our economic and security interests, and diminishes our moral standing in the world. Congress has for years now overseen an explosion of expensive, ineffective enforcement policies that have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, enriched criminal syndicates, divided families, disrupted communities, and battered local economies rather than confronting our failed policies with common sense solutions grounded in what is best for our nation. In short, Congress has sacrificed our national interest at the altar of a destined-to-fail, get-tough enforcement strategy.
Confronted with this crisis the United States is left with three options: 1) preserve the status quo�an option that no responsible policymaker would advance; 2) drive millions of workers and families out of our communities, which CAP estimates would run over $41 billion annually; or 3) embrace tough but fair and practical solutions.
The Center for American Progress correctly concludes that the status quo is untenable, mass deportation is contrary to our national interests and values, and the only viable approach is comprehensive immigration reform. Such reform would require immigrants to register and become legal, pay taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks.
Five key principles for reform should guide the president and Congress as they begin to reengage this pressing domestic priority. CAP�s principles for responsible immigration reform are grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. They are:
Resolve the status of the undocumented
It is morally and economically unacceptable for the wealthiest nation on earth to have 12 million people living and functioning in an underground economy in the United States. Our �shining city upon a hill� is casting a dark shadow over a large class of workers. These workers and their families are interwoven in our communities, yet they are proscribed from becoming full members of our society. Their labor enhances the nation�s competitiveness and enables economic growth, but their lack of legal status exposes them and their U.S. counterparts to manipulation and exploitation. Effective reform must require those living in the United States illegally to register, pay their full share of taxes, learn English, complete background checks, and earn the privilege of citizenship. The country will in turn benefit from an expanded tax base, a more robust rule of law, a workforce less vulnerable to exploitation, and a level playing field for all workers.
Enhance legal immigration channels and labor mobility
Globalization has made it increasingly more efficient to move capital, goods, and services across national borders. Yet legal channels facilitating movement of labor have not kept pace with this rapid development, even though immigration is an integral part of the American economy. The demands of global competitiveness require increased overall levels of legal immigration. Immigrants serve important roles in the success of the nation�s economy in boardrooms and corn fields, in Silicon Valley and the San Fernando Valley. Demographic trends show that an aging United States will need more workers across all occupation levels. Employment-based immigration and family-based immigration complement each other and should not be pitted against one another in a zero-sum game. Target levels should be adjusted to acknowledge that immigration is an engine of economic dynamism and to ensure that close families are not separated for years by outdated limitations. The United States must embrace the inevitable shift toward a well-regulated, legal, global labor market in order to retain our economic leadership.
Protect U.S. workers
Comprehensive immigration reform will benefit all U.S. workers. A program that brings undocumented immigrants out of the shadows will improve accountability for all employers. And a clear but rigorous path toward citizenship would diminish U.S. workers� vulnerability to unscrupulous employers. This creates fair, not exploitative, competition.
Any reforms must also protect American workers by safeguarding their ability to defend their rights, including the rights to change jobs freely and organize without fear, and to earn a fair wage. Millions of American workers are experiencing unemployment or underemployment in today�s economy, and we should strive to provide just wages for all workers and terminate policies that enable employers to participate in a race to the bottom of the wage ladder.
Foster an inclusive American identity
Our country�s identity is shaped by core values of equality, freedom, and opportunity. Immigration and the process of assimilation constantly tests and ultimately strengthens and deepens our commitment to those values. We must be vigilant, however, to ensure that newcomers have access to programs�language and civic education�that facilitate their integration into the nation�s social and cultural fabric. Naturalization, the cornerstone of integration and first step in civic participation for new citizens, must be accessible and encouraged.
Adopt smart enforcement policies and safeguards
The U.S. Border Patrol�s annual budget has more than quintupled since 1993 while the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has tripled to approximately 12 million during that same time period. Militarization of the border has obviously failed as an immigration control strategy.
CAP has a clear grasp of the essential ingredients to reforming our immigration laws and the American public gets it. More than 80 percent (http://amvoice.3cdn.net/ea94778f39d6c895c3_zvm6beppq.pdf) of Americans across the country, across party lines, and across nearly all demographic cross-sections, want comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, makes employers accountable, and requires undocumented workers to register, learn English, and pay taxes.
The president and Congress must move forward on the path they laid out this week and the American public is clearly behind the popular president.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/186823568153827945-1584438715913274381?l=ailaleadership.blogspot.com
More... (http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2009/06/immigration-reform-now-reality.html)
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