cagcwait
02-21 05:00 PM
Info posted by BerkeleyBee in a different thread. This should be in the Resources section..
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BerkeleyBee's post in CA - Meet the Lawmakers thread
Meeting with Dianne Feinstein's staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb 15, 2006
Today, four members of IV met with 3 staffers from Dianne Feinstein�s office in San Francisco.
Two constituent services representatives, who deal with immigration problems on a daily basis (helping people with labor cert, I-140, I-485, security check etc problems) and one assistant field representative who interfaces with the Senator�s staff in DC on a whole host of issues.
We spent 1.5 hours with them. We went through our presentation, answering questions and giving examples all the way. Then we spent some time talking about how they could help us, suggestions about what IV should do, and how we could work with them. All in all it was an excellent meeting � they were riveted through out � asked lots of questions and were very supportive.
TAKEAWAYS
1.Getting the Word Out to Lawmakers
� They all said they learned a lot from our presentation � the people who deal with immigration problems on a nitty gritty daily level didn�t know the big picture on legal immigration, and the field representative didn�t know anything about the particular problems of legal EB immigrants.
� The field representative said she had had three meeting with immigration related groups that day already, and that the Senator�s staff has been hearing about immigration a lot BUT this was the first time she was hearing about legal skilled immigrants!!
� They thought our goals were reasonable and that they would be supportive. They thought we should reach out to as many other lawmakers as possible
BOTTOM LINE: Do you want favorable legislation not to pass simply because people didn�t know about our problems??? No! We need to get the word out.
2.Content
� They repeatedly said they were impressed with our presentation (go check it out).
� They liked the fact that we had an easy to read table which showed which of the current bills addressed some of our goals.
� They liked the fact that we printed and bound two copies of the presentation to give them.
� We also gave them copies of our tri-fold brochure
� We also gave them a number tabbed, bound copy of the following
-Must Read Documents on Legal Skilled Immigration
a) CIS Ombudsman's Report:
http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlib...eport_2005.pdf
b) GAO Report on Backlogs at USCIS
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0620.pdf
c) Exec Summary of NAS Rising Above a Gathering Storm
http://fermat.nap.edu/catalog/11463.html
d) How Visa Date Cutoffs Are Established from July 2000 Bulletin
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/visa_b...7bulletin.html
e) President�s Economic Report: Chapter 2: Skills for the U.S. Workforce.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/ch2-erp06.pdf
3.Action Items
� We decided to keep in touch � I will follow up on the feedback they get from the Senator�s DC staffers.
� They wanted to know more about how our meetings with other lawmakers are going.
� I offered to act as source of facts and examples for their office on these issues � since I have read the relevant documents and data carefully.
� They suggested that we keep reaching out to members of the House � especially those who are in states without a lot of tech sector firms � those are the people who are least likely to know about our existence, let alone our problems.
BOTTOM LINE: I will keep in touch with all three, sharing talking points and getting feedback.
4. Lessons for future meetings with lawmakers/ Lessons for other states
� Do not be intimidated by the idea of initiating a meeting with the staffers of lawmaker � they do this all the time, and are friendly, easy to talk to, it is their job to listen to you� just put yourselves in the mindset of someone telling a story to a friendly audience.
� Get organized, print and bind copies of the presentation and additional docs listed above to give to them.
� Do a dry run of the talk, so that you build a narrative patter to go with the slides � this worked really well in this meeting.
� Whenever possible use examples from the experience of the IV members present to illustrate the point in the slide � for example when we were doing the I-485 Life with and Without Slide, we used Ollie and Neha�s experiences with layoffs and partner not being able to work
� Ask how you can follow up with them, what they would like you to do
� Write to thank them for their time and reiterate your basic points
************************************************** ********
BerkeleyBee's post in CA - Meet the Lawmakers thread
Meeting with Dianne Feinstein's staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb 15, 2006
Today, four members of IV met with 3 staffers from Dianne Feinstein�s office in San Francisco.
Two constituent services representatives, who deal with immigration problems on a daily basis (helping people with labor cert, I-140, I-485, security check etc problems) and one assistant field representative who interfaces with the Senator�s staff in DC on a whole host of issues.
We spent 1.5 hours with them. We went through our presentation, answering questions and giving examples all the way. Then we spent some time talking about how they could help us, suggestions about what IV should do, and how we could work with them. All in all it was an excellent meeting � they were riveted through out � asked lots of questions and were very supportive.
TAKEAWAYS
1.Getting the Word Out to Lawmakers
� They all said they learned a lot from our presentation � the people who deal with immigration problems on a nitty gritty daily level didn�t know the big picture on legal immigration, and the field representative didn�t know anything about the particular problems of legal EB immigrants.
� The field representative said she had had three meeting with immigration related groups that day already, and that the Senator�s staff has been hearing about immigration a lot BUT this was the first time she was hearing about legal skilled immigrants!!
� They thought our goals were reasonable and that they would be supportive. They thought we should reach out to as many other lawmakers as possible
BOTTOM LINE: Do you want favorable legislation not to pass simply because people didn�t know about our problems??? No! We need to get the word out.
2.Content
� They repeatedly said they were impressed with our presentation (go check it out).
� They liked the fact that we had an easy to read table which showed which of the current bills addressed some of our goals.
� They liked the fact that we printed and bound two copies of the presentation to give them.
� We also gave them copies of our tri-fold brochure
� We also gave them a number tabbed, bound copy of the following
-Must Read Documents on Legal Skilled Immigration
a) CIS Ombudsman's Report:
http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlib...eport_2005.pdf
b) GAO Report on Backlogs at USCIS
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0620.pdf
c) Exec Summary of NAS Rising Above a Gathering Storm
http://fermat.nap.edu/catalog/11463.html
d) How Visa Date Cutoffs Are Established from July 2000 Bulletin
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/visa_b...7bulletin.html
e) President�s Economic Report: Chapter 2: Skills for the U.S. Workforce.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/ch2-erp06.pdf
3.Action Items
� We decided to keep in touch � I will follow up on the feedback they get from the Senator�s DC staffers.
� They wanted to know more about how our meetings with other lawmakers are going.
� I offered to act as source of facts and examples for their office on these issues � since I have read the relevant documents and data carefully.
� They suggested that we keep reaching out to members of the House � especially those who are in states without a lot of tech sector firms � those are the people who are least likely to know about our existence, let alone our problems.
BOTTOM LINE: I will keep in touch with all three, sharing talking points and getting feedback.
4. Lessons for future meetings with lawmakers/ Lessons for other states
� Do not be intimidated by the idea of initiating a meeting with the staffers of lawmaker � they do this all the time, and are friendly, easy to talk to, it is their job to listen to you� just put yourselves in the mindset of someone telling a story to a friendly audience.
� Get organized, print and bind copies of the presentation and additional docs listed above to give to them.
� Do a dry run of the talk, so that you build a narrative patter to go with the slides � this worked really well in this meeting.
� Whenever possible use examples from the experience of the IV members present to illustrate the point in the slide � for example when we were doing the I-485 Life with and Without Slide, we used Ollie and Neha�s experiences with layoffs and partner not being able to work
� Ask how you can follow up with them, what they would like you to do
� Write to thank them for their time and reiterate your basic points
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antihero
11-27 12:51 AM
I recently used the AP to enter the US. There were no issues in the US. However, the immigration official in India had some confusion trying to understand the AP. I had to show him a letter that my company's lawyer had given me listing the details of the AP and that I could use it for entering the US.
Hi Guru,
So did you have any other US visa in your passport, or were you carrying just AP document?
Hi Guru,
So did you have any other US visa in your passport, or were you carrying just AP document?
Beemar
04-02 12:56 AM
Babu Moshay, control your temper. As it is we dont have many non-indians in our group. You are putting off stray non-indians who come here to seek advice. (This guy is from Romania).
If you cannot f***ing write that you are visiting your parents then you better not live in a country like thatt...are you a fool or what??
If you cannot f***ing write that you are visiting your parents then you better not live in a country like thatt...are you a fool or what??
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digital2k
08-06 02:20 PM
*
more...
bigboy007
09-29 09:12 AM
We have taken indian jewellary with us when we travelled to India. I dont think it is a problem and you dont have to declare it in customs. I think if you are carrying cold in the form on coins or bars, you will have to pay customs. I dont remember but it says in the customs form that personal jewellary need not be mentioned. I would check the india's customs website.
Customs duty for any jewelry if not wearing as in custom rules. but i have noticed duty for coins and jewelry being actively pursued.
Customs duty for any jewelry if not wearing as in custom rules. but i have noticed duty for coins and jewelry being actively pursued.
usirit
10-25 11:17 AM
Thank you for taking the lead on this.... I'll be @ 11:00 am
more...
dingudi
03-07 09:42 AM
Visa stamping interview --> Feb 8th
Was asked to submit technical questionnaire and other documents as per 221g which I did
Received email confirmation that they have "received" the documents and sending it to DOS for further processing and will email me in sometime
After waiting for one month and no sign of the elusive email, I flew in to LAX and used my Advanced Parole successfully. I had not cancelled my pending H1B application.
The POE officer was very polite unlike the officer at the Mumbai consulate. They didn't ask me even "one" question about my pending h1B application or the H1b in general, had to wait in the secondary inspection room while they looked up my information. Was out in 20-25 mins.
When I asked the POE officer what happens to the H1, he said it gets void. But as per earlier INS memos(Cronin Memo) and threads on forums, this is not the case right ? although I didn't start a discussion on this with him, because I didn't want to confuse him. My I-94 has AOS written on it which probably puts me in a Parolee status.
Now my question is:
---------------------------------------
I really would like to get back on the H1 status, so when the email arrives from Mumbai, does anyone know if its possible to withdraw the application .
Then arrange for the h1B visa stamping interview at say Tijuana, Mexico which is 2 hours drive from where I live. Wouldn't I be in the PIMS system now (since I would have received the email from the mum consulate) and make the stamping faster at the regular timelines. I have my multiple entry AP as backup, so I can be back if I need to.
I'd really appreciate if anyone can shed any light on this, I really hate to work on my EAD and would like to continue on the H1 as a backup for my entire family's sake.
What you did was technically , not an appropriate step. It is clearly mentioned on AP that it is not intended to circumvent the visa process and this is exactly what you did. Either you should travel on AP OR apply for visa and wait for the visa. One of my friends did this and POE was not happy with it. So one should use AP very carefully.
Was asked to submit technical questionnaire and other documents as per 221g which I did
Received email confirmation that they have "received" the documents and sending it to DOS for further processing and will email me in sometime
After waiting for one month and no sign of the elusive email, I flew in to LAX and used my Advanced Parole successfully. I had not cancelled my pending H1B application.
The POE officer was very polite unlike the officer at the Mumbai consulate. They didn't ask me even "one" question about my pending h1B application or the H1b in general, had to wait in the secondary inspection room while they looked up my information. Was out in 20-25 mins.
When I asked the POE officer what happens to the H1, he said it gets void. But as per earlier INS memos(Cronin Memo) and threads on forums, this is not the case right ? although I didn't start a discussion on this with him, because I didn't want to confuse him. My I-94 has AOS written on it which probably puts me in a Parolee status.
Now my question is:
---------------------------------------
I really would like to get back on the H1 status, so when the email arrives from Mumbai, does anyone know if its possible to withdraw the application .
Then arrange for the h1B visa stamping interview at say Tijuana, Mexico which is 2 hours drive from where I live. Wouldn't I be in the PIMS system now (since I would have received the email from the mum consulate) and make the stamping faster at the regular timelines. I have my multiple entry AP as backup, so I can be back if I need to.
I'd really appreciate if anyone can shed any light on this, I really hate to work on my EAD and would like to continue on the H1 as a backup for my entire family's sake.
What you did was technically , not an appropriate step. It is clearly mentioned on AP that it is not intended to circumvent the visa process and this is exactly what you did. Either you should travel on AP OR apply for visa and wait for the visa. One of my friends did this and POE was not happy with it. So one should use AP very carefully.
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hariswaminathan
01-10 04:46 PM
I prefer your theory to Infopass officer. Sincerely hope you are right because Name check is not where i want to be stuck in.
So, this would mean anyone stuck in name check should never receive FP--correct? I don't think that's the case...i know of a lot of people who get FP notices every 15 (or is it 18?) months or so and are stuck in name checks forever.
The two processes Name check & FP are parallel, not sequential.
I have myself not rcvd FP - July 2nd filer NSC-CSC-NSC transfer victim :-). My way of looking at things is that CSC transferred I-485 to NSC in late September. So my I-485 is queued after an August 17th filer. August 17th filers have rcvd their FPs recently (Bay Area, CA), so it should not be that far away. (BTW, I am not dying to get FP done, i just want to shorten my stay-alert-for-FP window and get it over with it)
USCIS works in strange ways...i may be using logic that's beyond their IQ :)
Take it easy...
So, this would mean anyone stuck in name check should never receive FP--correct? I don't think that's the case...i know of a lot of people who get FP notices every 15 (or is it 18?) months or so and are stuck in name checks forever.
The two processes Name check & FP are parallel, not sequential.
I have myself not rcvd FP - July 2nd filer NSC-CSC-NSC transfer victim :-). My way of looking at things is that CSC transferred I-485 to NSC in late September. So my I-485 is queued after an August 17th filer. August 17th filers have rcvd their FPs recently (Bay Area, CA), so it should not be that far away. (BTW, I am not dying to get FP done, i just want to shorten my stay-alert-for-FP window and get it over with it)
USCIS works in strange ways...i may be using logic that's beyond their IQ :)
Take it easy...
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Dipika
11-25 02:05 PM
Thanks for correcting me. i am sorry for wrong info. i'm not able to open all links in office, as firewall block forum links, so missed to read the rule.
Here is the OFFICIAL link from US Consulate at Tijuana
Visa Services (http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/niv.html)
Who Can Apply in Mexico
TCN Applicants residing in the United States, seeking to renew their visa in any category except B1/2 (tourist/business), if the current visa was issued in the applicant's country of nationality, former residence, or in Mexico. A spouse or dependent children may apply with the principal visa holder if the principal meets the criteria above. A renewal is a case where an applicant for the same type of visa is made and does not include persons who seek to change from one visa category to another or who are seeking any other type of “change of status” even if that change has been authorized by the Department of Homeland Security.
Here is the OFFICIAL link from US Consulate at Tijuana
Visa Services (http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/niv.html)
Who Can Apply in Mexico
TCN Applicants residing in the United States, seeking to renew their visa in any category except B1/2 (tourist/business), if the current visa was issued in the applicant's country of nationality, former residence, or in Mexico. A spouse or dependent children may apply with the principal visa holder if the principal meets the criteria above. A renewal is a case where an applicant for the same type of visa is made and does not include persons who seek to change from one visa category to another or who are seeking any other type of “change of status” even if that change has been authorized by the Department of Homeland Security.
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Anders �stberg
July 16th, 2004, 01:40 PM
Thanks for the kind comments!
I've processed some more, plus added a few new ones from today, so I had to start a new Swallows gallery (http://www.dphoto.us/forumphotos/showgallery.php/cat/776). Please visit and tell me what you think! :)
I've processed some more, plus added a few new ones from today, so I had to start a new Swallows gallery (http://www.dphoto.us/forumphotos/showgallery.php/cat/776). Please visit and tell me what you think! :)