
frostrated
03-16 03:06 PM
please see below.
Background:
My wife and I are currently working on EADs obtained through my previous employer filing for my green card (eb3 India, pri date: dec 2005), my wife is a dependant on this greencard petition. We last re-entered US using our AP. Two years ago, more than six months after my I-140 got approved, I changed my employer (to a similar position in the IT field itself) and my new (and current) employer filed for AC-21. They have also obtained a I-797 for me as a backup which I have used. Also prior to getting my EAD, my wife worked on an H1 visa for a year and then we got EAD, she has been working on that ever since. Our EAD was recently submitted for renewal and will be valid for the next two years.
I got accepted into a fulltime MBA program in the US, which I am planning to attend. This would mean that I quit my current job and after the two years in MBA I will be joining a different employer in a different field (ie: I will be moving out of IT into something like finance). I am assuming transition to F1 is out of question since I have shown immigration intent
Questions:
1) Will it be legal for me to go fulltime to school on an AOS pending status? Yes you can go to school while in AOS. But you cant go to school full time when in AOS if you are the primary applicant. You need to be still employed full time in your line of work.
2) Will I have trouble, re-entering the US on an AP if I travel overseas during the time I am enrolled in school? Yes. Your AP is no longer valid, as you are no more working for the sponsor of your permanent residency.
3) Can I use this EAD card to go for an internship between my first and second year (the job will not be IT)? Only if you are a dependent of the primary applicant.
4) Can I use this EAD card to work fulltime after MBA graduation, provided it is still valid for a few more months (the job will not be IT)? Only if you are a dependent of the primary applicant.
5) If my post-MBA employer files for a greencard for me in the new position which is different from IT, will I be able to use my old priority date of Dec 2005? Yes you can. You will need to file a new labor, and request that they use the old priority date. You can also file in EB2 and request they use the EB3 filing date of Dec 2005.
6) To mitigate risk, my wife is planning to go into H1 so that I can get an H4 if going to school on EAD doesn't work. Is this strategy to use H1 during school time (and travel overseas and re-enter using H4) and use EAD while internship safe? Using H1 on your wife, and you being on H4 is safe. But you cannot use the EAD anymore. Your EAD is tied to your employment, unless you are the dependent on the primary applicant for AOS.
7) If my wife cannot find a H1 job, can she work on her EAD while I am also using EAD to go to school. No. When you quit working and go to school, both of you are in illegal status. To remain in status, she either needs to convert to H1 or you need to convert to F1 and have her here as F2. Best bet, is for her to convert to H1 and you to either H4 or F1.
8) I am assuming that for any EAD based status to work, I need to have a future job offer in the same category. My current employer will not do that.I can get a future job offer from a small IT consulting firm in the same IT field for which my greencard application was filed for. Will that be good enough to keep my EAD alive while in school? No. For your EAD to be valid, you still need to be working. Stopping work does not enable you to continue to be in EAD status.
Thanks SO much for answering. I have this wonderful opportunity in front of me and I really hope immigration will not be a road block to achieve my dreams.
Background:
My wife and I are currently working on EADs obtained through my previous employer filing for my green card (eb3 India, pri date: dec 2005), my wife is a dependant on this greencard petition. We last re-entered US using our AP. Two years ago, more than six months after my I-140 got approved, I changed my employer (to a similar position in the IT field itself) and my new (and current) employer filed for AC-21. They have also obtained a I-797 for me as a backup which I have used. Also prior to getting my EAD, my wife worked on an H1 visa for a year and then we got EAD, she has been working on that ever since. Our EAD was recently submitted for renewal and will be valid for the next two years.
I got accepted into a fulltime MBA program in the US, which I am planning to attend. This would mean that I quit my current job and after the two years in MBA I will be joining a different employer in a different field (ie: I will be moving out of IT into something like finance). I am assuming transition to F1 is out of question since I have shown immigration intent
Questions:
1) Will it be legal for me to go fulltime to school on an AOS pending status? Yes you can go to school while in AOS. But you cant go to school full time when in AOS if you are the primary applicant. You need to be still employed full time in your line of work.
2) Will I have trouble, re-entering the US on an AP if I travel overseas during the time I am enrolled in school? Yes. Your AP is no longer valid, as you are no more working for the sponsor of your permanent residency.
3) Can I use this EAD card to go for an internship between my first and second year (the job will not be IT)? Only if you are a dependent of the primary applicant.
4) Can I use this EAD card to work fulltime after MBA graduation, provided it is still valid for a few more months (the job will not be IT)? Only if you are a dependent of the primary applicant.
5) If my post-MBA employer files for a greencard for me in the new position which is different from IT, will I be able to use my old priority date of Dec 2005? Yes you can. You will need to file a new labor, and request that they use the old priority date. You can also file in EB2 and request they use the EB3 filing date of Dec 2005.
6) To mitigate risk, my wife is planning to go into H1 so that I can get an H4 if going to school on EAD doesn't work. Is this strategy to use H1 during school time (and travel overseas and re-enter using H4) and use EAD while internship safe? Using H1 on your wife, and you being on H4 is safe. But you cannot use the EAD anymore. Your EAD is tied to your employment, unless you are the dependent on the primary applicant for AOS.
7) If my wife cannot find a H1 job, can she work on her EAD while I am also using EAD to go to school. No. When you quit working and go to school, both of you are in illegal status. To remain in status, she either needs to convert to H1 or you need to convert to F1 and have her here as F2. Best bet, is for her to convert to H1 and you to either H4 or F1.
8) I am assuming that for any EAD based status to work, I need to have a future job offer in the same category. My current employer will not do that.I can get a future job offer from a small IT consulting firm in the same IT field for which my greencard application was filed for. Will that be good enough to keep my EAD alive while in school? No. For your EAD to be valid, you still need to be working. Stopping work does not enable you to continue to be in EAD status.
Thanks SO much for answering. I have this wonderful opportunity in front of me and I really hope immigration will not be a road block to achieve my dreams.
wallpaper 2011 Volkswagen Passat US
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nareshg
10-05 01:11 AM
Hi,
what is your online status after RFE. Does online status change to "RFE" from "Received and pending" once we get RFE. My employer dont tell me much about my I140 status or RFE but I have receipt number. I can check online
Thanks.
When I spoke to my lawyer 2 weeks back or so they said that it at times takes 1 month to get the RFE by mail....sounds strange I got my EAD a week or so after the status changes online....to approved..
I have to ask them again as to what is happening, have not heard back from them....
my current status as of 10/4/2007 says...
Current Status: We mailed you a notice requesting additional evidence.
On August 29, 2007, we mailed a notice requesting additional evidence and/or information in this case. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the evidence and/or information requested. This case will be held in suspense until we either receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once you submit the information and/or evidence requested, you will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something further from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service.
Hoping that as it is 140 it is something to do with the company and the lawyers will take care of it, hopefully it is not to do something with my case individually....
what is your online status after RFE. Does online status change to "RFE" from "Received and pending" once we get RFE. My employer dont tell me much about my I140 status or RFE but I have receipt number. I can check online
Thanks.
When I spoke to my lawyer 2 weeks back or so they said that it at times takes 1 month to get the RFE by mail....sounds strange I got my EAD a week or so after the status changes online....to approved..
I have to ask them again as to what is happening, have not heard back from them....
my current status as of 10/4/2007 says...
Current Status: We mailed you a notice requesting additional evidence.
On August 29, 2007, we mailed a notice requesting additional evidence and/or information in this case. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the evidence and/or information requested. This case will be held in suspense until we either receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once you submit the information and/or evidence requested, you will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something further from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service.
Hoping that as it is 140 it is something to do with the company and the lawyers will take care of it, hopefully it is not to do something with my case individually....

nixstor
02-24 07:20 PM
Visa stamping is not necessary to remain in the US so wondering why a CPA would consider this a necessary work expense.
Thats correct.
Every one can interpret them to their own way and can decide whether its deductible or not. Any thing related to business expenses, if IRS were to question the tax payer, IRS will ask for written substantiation from the employer. Guess what happens! The same CPA who told all these rosy stories and got a decent percentage on your fattest return simply tells you to get that letter. With out all that documentation, I doubt they will fight the audit.
Thats correct.
Every one can interpret them to their own way and can decide whether its deductible or not. Any thing related to business expenses, if IRS were to question the tax payer, IRS will ask for written substantiation from the employer. Guess what happens! The same CPA who told all these rosy stories and got a decent percentage on your fattest return simply tells you to get that letter. With out all that documentation, I doubt they will fight the audit.
2011 The New Passat Reigns over the

njboy
09-25 05:27 PM
venky is right..find out why it was rejected..im sure an rfe was requested..right? did you finish your MS by april?
however, venky, your suggestions are not very sound..did you hear that that h1 quota is over? how can his future employer file for him? he can only start working oct 08 earliest
however, venky, your suggestions are not very sound..did you hear that that h1 quota is over? how can his future employer file for him? he can only start working oct 08 earliest
more...

pappu
11-21 06:49 AM
Should we mail paulmcd@cmp.com (Paul McDougall )of information Week.
See: http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=194700008&subSection=All+Stories
sure. send it.
The article says---
"A lobby group backed by IBM, Microsoft, Intel, and other tech industry giants is urging Congress to pass a new research and development tax credit and increase the supply of H1-B immigrant visas before the current session adjourns."
H1B visa is not an immigrant visa. It is a non immigrant visa. Everybody confuses H1B visa as the immigrant high skilled visas (Gcs). Moreover this article has no mention of greencards.
Gcs are not part of their agenda as per their website-- http://www.itaa.org/policy/immigration/
We will be neglected and our voice will not be heard if we dont do anything. IV core is working hard but they cannot do it alone without the help from each and every member. Each IV member is important to our success. We cannot afford to leave it to others to do it for us. The collective muscle of our efforts will create miracles for us. I see from a total of 450+ members that logged in yesterday only 12 people sent emails to 60 min. This kind of response to calls for action will not help our cause. Same goes for the state chapters. How many of us have actually gone to the state chapter thread and signed up? Pls. ask this yourself before posting new messages on the forum.
See: http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=194700008&subSection=All+Stories
sure. send it.
The article says---
"A lobby group backed by IBM, Microsoft, Intel, and other tech industry giants is urging Congress to pass a new research and development tax credit and increase the supply of H1-B immigrant visas before the current session adjourns."
H1B visa is not an immigrant visa. It is a non immigrant visa. Everybody confuses H1B visa as the immigrant high skilled visas (Gcs). Moreover this article has no mention of greencards.
Gcs are not part of their agenda as per their website-- http://www.itaa.org/policy/immigration/
We will be neglected and our voice will not be heard if we dont do anything. IV core is working hard but they cannot do it alone without the help from each and every member. Each IV member is important to our success. We cannot afford to leave it to others to do it for us. The collective muscle of our efforts will create miracles for us. I see from a total of 450+ members that logged in yesterday only 12 people sent emails to 60 min. This kind of response to calls for action will not help our cause. Same goes for the state chapters. How many of us have actually gone to the state chapter thread and signed up? Pls. ask this yourself before posting new messages on the forum.

knowDOL
05-19 02:18 PM
I have not heard of anyone filing I485 without notifying the sponsoring employer and if it is feasible to do like that. however, there is nothing wrong in finding the I485 form in uscis.gov website and read through the info. May be you will get some idea on what you want to get it done is something possible or not. good luck. Think coolly. have some coffee or mint.
more...

TeddyKoochu
10-15 08:29 AM
Teddy
Is there any source on any site which gives idea that they are thinking of it. Since we have close to 800 members who joined for filling 485 when date is not current we can ask IV core to make this campaign officially and push for this one. Even we know 800 are not a good strength still it may help if govt is willing
gc_on_demand - Here are the links from other sites.
From Ron Gotcher's Forum
http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/10321-uscis-considering-permit-pre-filing-i-485-applications-approved-i-140-a.html
I could not find anything on any official site. There are blogs going on all popular immigration sites on this topic.
I believe that since the agencies are thinking about this provision (Even though this has been in the news since a year) has better likelihood of being implemented.
skgs200,aksharan, cbpds the EAD / AP part appears to be disputed nobody is clear on this. Yes there maybe a fee for this but it does bring us a step closer.
Is there any source on any site which gives idea that they are thinking of it. Since we have close to 800 members who joined for filling 485 when date is not current we can ask IV core to make this campaign officially and push for this one. Even we know 800 are not a good strength still it may help if govt is willing
gc_on_demand - Here are the links from other sites.
From Ron Gotcher's Forum
http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/10321-uscis-considering-permit-pre-filing-i-485-applications-approved-i-140-a.html
I could not find anything on any official site. There are blogs going on all popular immigration sites on this topic.
I believe that since the agencies are thinking about this provision (Even though this has been in the news since a year) has better likelihood of being implemented.
skgs200,aksharan, cbpds the EAD / AP part appears to be disputed nobody is clear on this. Yes there maybe a fee for this but it does bring us a step closer.
2010 The 2011 Volkswagen Passat

sumansk
07-16 01:10 PM
Thanks for the update..But the 'bueatifulmind' cannot 'waitendless':D
more...

john2255
07-20 02:44 PM
I am sorry to start a new thread but I feel the following thread is not getting the importance it should get. Everyone please dont miss the following thread. Its a big defeat during our celebrations.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10751
Major loss to us Cornyn amendment rejected
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10751
Major loss to us Cornyn amendment rejected
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pappu
02-18 10:20 AM
The flyer created by NJ chapter has been uploaded in the resources section
Flyer_2007 version (word file)
http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=36&mosmsg=Item+succesfully+saved.
Flyer_2007 version (word file)
http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=36&mosmsg=Item+succesfully+saved.
more...

rakesh_uvce
10-10 09:01 AM
hi mpadapa,
I couldnt find that question. Do you know aapprox what time after the conference call started or the name of the guy who posted that question?
thanks
I couldnt find that question. Do you know aapprox what time after the conference call started or the name of the guy who posted that question?
thanks
hot 2011 Volkswagen Passat

gc_wannabe
06-17 09:12 PM
TOTALLY unknown...
No one knows what they look at and won't look at while deciding on your I485. If you one of the "chosen" one, you may get called for personal interview and I have heard lots of horror stories about the stuff they asked at the interview. At the same most of the people get the GC without hitch.
So, the morale of the story is stop worrying. There is nothing you can do/prepare to effect decision on your I-485. Since you have played by book and assuming you don't have any law related issues, you should be fine.
Cheers
ArkBird
Thank you.
No one knows what they look at and won't look at while deciding on your I485. If you one of the "chosen" one, you may get called for personal interview and I have heard lots of horror stories about the stuff they asked at the interview. At the same most of the people get the GC without hitch.
So, the morale of the story is stop worrying. There is nothing you can do/prepare to effect decision on your I-485. Since you have played by book and assuming you don't have any law related issues, you should be fine.
Cheers
ArkBird
Thank you.
more...
house 2011 volkswagen passat cc

mundram
04-20 02:09 PM
Luckily it was Dalls Airport (DFW) for me...but in my opinion you will have to go to the (international) airport!!
tattoo 2011 Volkswagen Passat

Templarian
11-24 10:02 AM
No members have written a tutorial for Flex as of yet. Kirupa has said it a thousand times there has to be valid tutorials for there to be a forum (a simple search would have shown this).
My suggestion write a few well written tutorials on flex specific topics and submit them to Kirupa.
Also Kirupa is a MS developer so its only inherent that he writes what he knows best... I don't think he really even uses Flash very much anymore, except when he wrote that tutorial about some of the new features.
Search Results:
http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289365
http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=276516
My suggestion write a few well written tutorials on flex specific topics and submit them to Kirupa.
Also Kirupa is a MS developer so its only inherent that he writes what he knows best... I don't think he really even uses Flash very much anymore, except when he wrote that tutorial about some of the new features.
Search Results:
http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289365
http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=276516
more...
pictures VW Passat 2011 interior

needinfo80
09-08 11:47 PM
Got medical RFE at 485 stage.Here are RFE details :
The civil surgeon's signature on the supplement Form to I-693 submmitted with your application to adjust status is photocopy and is therefore unacceptable.Your original Supplement Form to I-693 is hereby returned to you in the enclosed sealed envelope.Take this letter and your enlclosed Supplemental Form I-693 to the civil surgeon who administered your vaccinations.ONLY THE CIVIL SURGEON SHOULD OPEN THE SEALED ENVELOPE.The civil surgeon must verify that he or she completed the Supplemental Form to I-693 and place it in a sealed envelope before returning it to you.
The medical examination report,Form I-693 submitted with your application to adjust status ,also contains a photocopied signature and is therefore unacceptable.Your orginal Form I-693 is hereby returned to you in the enclosed sealed envelope.Take this letter and your enclosed Form I-693 to civil surgeon who conducted your medical examination.ONLY THE CIVIL SURGEON SHOULD OPEN THE SEALED ENVELOPE.The civil surgeon must verify that he or she completed the medical examination recorded on the I-693 and must sign and date the form in the space provided.
Did anyone receive similar RFE?If yes,how did you handle this RFE?
Do I need to take the tests again?
Can doctor fill a new form based on the previous results.
Appreciate your help and guidance in this matter.
Thanks
The civil surgeon's signature on the supplement Form to I-693 submmitted with your application to adjust status is photocopy and is therefore unacceptable.Your original Supplement Form to I-693 is hereby returned to you in the enclosed sealed envelope.Take this letter and your enlclosed Supplemental Form I-693 to the civil surgeon who administered your vaccinations.ONLY THE CIVIL SURGEON SHOULD OPEN THE SEALED ENVELOPE.The civil surgeon must verify that he or she completed the Supplemental Form to I-693 and place it in a sealed envelope before returning it to you.
The medical examination report,Form I-693 submitted with your application to adjust status ,also contains a photocopied signature and is therefore unacceptable.Your orginal Form I-693 is hereby returned to you in the enclosed sealed envelope.Take this letter and your enclosed Form I-693 to civil surgeon who conducted your medical examination.ONLY THE CIVIL SURGEON SHOULD OPEN THE SEALED ENVELOPE.The civil surgeon must verify that he or she completed the medical examination recorded on the I-693 and must sign and date the form in the space provided.
Did anyone receive similar RFE?If yes,how did you handle this RFE?
Do I need to take the tests again?
Can doctor fill a new form based on the previous results.
Appreciate your help and guidance in this matter.
Thanks
dresses 2011 Volkswagen Passat Saloon

waitingnwaiting
01-19 12:32 PM
Let us start a thread to list of EB3 Immigrants that have done well in USA.
We always say Einstein or Noble prize winner names. But those people are EB2 or EB1. What about EB3 that is most backlogged. There will be lot of great people who came in this category. Let us find their names and list here.
We always say Einstein or Noble prize winner names. But those people are EB2 or EB1. What about EB3 that is most backlogged. There will be lot of great people who came in this category. Let us find their names and list here.
more...
makeup VW Passat 2011 Interior

humdesi
12-07 10:37 PM
I've known a few EB-1's. The typical profile is a guy with a few years experience working in a desi outsourcing company in India. Their direct reports are a few freshers from colleges you've never heard of, some with 3 yr diplomas.
After a year, they move here on L-1 visa and promptly apply for GC. In the US, their direct reports are other fresh H-1Bs or L-1s. They plan the whole thing just with an EB-1 in mind - and they get it too.
In the past EB-1 numbers have been unused and distributed to EB-2/EB-3. I don't see that happening in the future.
After a year, they move here on L-1 visa and promptly apply for GC. In the US, their direct reports are other fresh H-1Bs or L-1s. They plan the whole thing just with an EB-1 in mind - and they get it too.
In the past EB-1 numbers have been unused and distributed to EB-2/EB-3. I don't see that happening in the future.
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ItIsNotFunny
04-27 12:39 PM
I think even if the EB2 I-140 is already approved, you still could port the PD, but most important thing is you need your EB3 I-140 approved for porting the PD. Please talk to a good lawyer.
This is correct as per my knowledge.
This is correct as per my knowledge.
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GCNirvana007
04-08 06:26 PM
As if your ID has any value?
Who cares about annonymous IDs anyways. :D:D:D
Thanks. Hope you get GC soon as well.
Who cares about annonymous IDs anyways. :D:D:D
Thanks. Hope you get GC soon as well.
vedicman
11-30 09:00 AM
The Startup Case For Immigration Reform - Maureen Farrell - Scaling Up - Forbes (http://blogs.forbes.com/maureenfarrell/2010/11/23/startups%E2%80%99-case-for-immigration/?boxes=Homepagechannels)
It�s not just Google that�s worried about attracting and retaining top technical talent. However, the search giant�s recent 10% raise for all its employees is a leading indicator of the talent and compensation war surging through Silicon Valley, and among tech startups around the US.
�It�s the worst I�ve seen since the late 1990s,� says Bessemer Venture Partner�s David Cowan, who estimates that salaries for experienced engineers are up about 20% from before the crisis. Charles River Partners� George Zachary says it takes between $90,000 and $100,000 to land even starting engineers compared to $75,000 to $80,000 just six months ago.
Of the dozen venture capitalists and CEOs I spoke to who are seeing this trend, nearly all say a business-friendly immigration policy could help them find talent to help them grow startups.
�Everyone of my startups has an issue with trying to fill out their engineering headcount plan,� says Cowan. �There are lots of talented engineers around the world. If we invited them to participate in our industry here in the U.S. we would see more Googles and Facebooks.�
Large and small businesses are lining up behind an immigration policy that would make it easier for entrepreneurs and high-tech professionals to come or stay in the United States. Congress did not move forward on comprehensive immigration reform before the midterm election. It has also failed to pass several of the more specific immigration proposals made in recent years. One of these, the DREAM Act, would have allowed alien students who graduate from college or served for two years in the military to stay in the US. Another, the Startup Visa Act, sought to give a visa to anyone who�s received $1 million in equity investment in their company and would create 10 US jobs.
Expect a concerted push to reverse what�s seen as a brain drain from big business and the venture capital industry. Jim Turley, the CEO of Ernst and Young who serves on Obama�s National Export Council, advocates a policy of what he calls �staple diplomacy.� Explaining it he said: �Whenever there�s a student from anywhere in the world who is walking across the stage from a leading university getting his or her PhD or masters we should staple a visa there to him or her and say you�re welcome to stay.�
Immigration proponents cite studies by Duke Professor Vivek Wadhwa, who determined that immigrants created a quarter of all technology and engineering firms founded in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005. Foreign-born nationals residing in this country were part of nearly one-quarter of patents filed in 2006.
Right now entrepreneurs and businesses have two options to bring highly skilled international residents into the US: the EB-5 visa and the H1B visa. With the EB-5 visa, immigrant investors can obtain a green card if they invest $1 million into a new or existing business and create at least 10 jobs. Less than half of last year�s 10,000 EB-5 slots were filled. Eleanor Pelta, the President-Elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis in Washington says foreign nationals are wary of using these visas to start a new business because if a business runs into trouble and the company doesn�t employ 10 workers two years later, the investor will lose his or her provisional visa. �It�s a dicey proposition because you have to use your own money or secure it with your own assets and you might not get a visa at the end of it anyway,� she says.
The H-1B visa is for highly skilled foreign workers who will fill jobs that Americans can�t. US companies must sponsor these visas. The US caps this visa category at 65,000 individuals and it�s nearly always oversubscribed. Cleveland immigration attorney David Leopold and current President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association expects that this fiscal year�s (staring on October 1, 2010) visa slots will be filled by January of 2011. �So from January through next October, no companies can bring in skilled workers on these visas.�
The United States� Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra says President Obama has tried to lower administrative barriers for bringing foreign nationals into the US for professional development. �In his first year the President wanted to make sure scientists around the world who wanted to visit the US to participate in conferences and seminars could do that,� says Chopra. �We have streamlined that process and efforts so they can participate in ways that are a lot more friendly to their participation.�
Many in Silicon Valley question how well even that move has worked. New Enterprise Associates Scott Sandell who invests in companies in Silicon Valley and China says it�s hard to bring in top executives from Chinese firms to meet with executives from his US companies. �Immigration agents are more overwhelmed and seem to have more trouble processing applications than they ever have,� says Sandell, noting that it�s been worse in the past six months.
Still both Chopra and Undersecretary of Commerce Francisco Sanchez say that Obama will put political capital behind immigration reform in the next Congress. �We are obviously committed to comprehensive solution for immigration reform,� asserts Chopra. �There are clear areas of consensus in this country around reform, and areas of high-growth entrepreneurship clearly might be one that we can take action on sooner.�
It�s not just Google that�s worried about attracting and retaining top technical talent. However, the search giant�s recent 10% raise for all its employees is a leading indicator of the talent and compensation war surging through Silicon Valley, and among tech startups around the US.
�It�s the worst I�ve seen since the late 1990s,� says Bessemer Venture Partner�s David Cowan, who estimates that salaries for experienced engineers are up about 20% from before the crisis. Charles River Partners� George Zachary says it takes between $90,000 and $100,000 to land even starting engineers compared to $75,000 to $80,000 just six months ago.
Of the dozen venture capitalists and CEOs I spoke to who are seeing this trend, nearly all say a business-friendly immigration policy could help them find talent to help them grow startups.
�Everyone of my startups has an issue with trying to fill out their engineering headcount plan,� says Cowan. �There are lots of talented engineers around the world. If we invited them to participate in our industry here in the U.S. we would see more Googles and Facebooks.�
Large and small businesses are lining up behind an immigration policy that would make it easier for entrepreneurs and high-tech professionals to come or stay in the United States. Congress did not move forward on comprehensive immigration reform before the midterm election. It has also failed to pass several of the more specific immigration proposals made in recent years. One of these, the DREAM Act, would have allowed alien students who graduate from college or served for two years in the military to stay in the US. Another, the Startup Visa Act, sought to give a visa to anyone who�s received $1 million in equity investment in their company and would create 10 US jobs.
Expect a concerted push to reverse what�s seen as a brain drain from big business and the venture capital industry. Jim Turley, the CEO of Ernst and Young who serves on Obama�s National Export Council, advocates a policy of what he calls �staple diplomacy.� Explaining it he said: �Whenever there�s a student from anywhere in the world who is walking across the stage from a leading university getting his or her PhD or masters we should staple a visa there to him or her and say you�re welcome to stay.�
Immigration proponents cite studies by Duke Professor Vivek Wadhwa, who determined that immigrants created a quarter of all technology and engineering firms founded in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005. Foreign-born nationals residing in this country were part of nearly one-quarter of patents filed in 2006.
Right now entrepreneurs and businesses have two options to bring highly skilled international residents into the US: the EB-5 visa and the H1B visa. With the EB-5 visa, immigrant investors can obtain a green card if they invest $1 million into a new or existing business and create at least 10 jobs. Less than half of last year�s 10,000 EB-5 slots were filled. Eleanor Pelta, the President-Elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis in Washington says foreign nationals are wary of using these visas to start a new business because if a business runs into trouble and the company doesn�t employ 10 workers two years later, the investor will lose his or her provisional visa. �It�s a dicey proposition because you have to use your own money or secure it with your own assets and you might not get a visa at the end of it anyway,� she says.
The H-1B visa is for highly skilled foreign workers who will fill jobs that Americans can�t. US companies must sponsor these visas. The US caps this visa category at 65,000 individuals and it�s nearly always oversubscribed. Cleveland immigration attorney David Leopold and current President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association expects that this fiscal year�s (staring on October 1, 2010) visa slots will be filled by January of 2011. �So from January through next October, no companies can bring in skilled workers on these visas.�
The United States� Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra says President Obama has tried to lower administrative barriers for bringing foreign nationals into the US for professional development. �In his first year the President wanted to make sure scientists around the world who wanted to visit the US to participate in conferences and seminars could do that,� says Chopra. �We have streamlined that process and efforts so they can participate in ways that are a lot more friendly to their participation.�
Many in Silicon Valley question how well even that move has worked. New Enterprise Associates Scott Sandell who invests in companies in Silicon Valley and China says it�s hard to bring in top executives from Chinese firms to meet with executives from his US companies. �Immigration agents are more overwhelmed and seem to have more trouble processing applications than they ever have,� says Sandell, noting that it�s been worse in the past six months.
Still both Chopra and Undersecretary of Commerce Francisco Sanchez say that Obama will put political capital behind immigration reform in the next Congress. �We are obviously committed to comprehensive solution for immigration reform,� asserts Chopra. �There are clear areas of consensus in this country around reform, and areas of high-growth entrepreneurship clearly might be one that we can take action on sooner.�
reverendflash
05-27 03:31 PM
Well, Fester's is the most ugly, Golgi's is the least immaginative, but Soul's transitions and blinking graphics are the nastiest...
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Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif
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