pappu
02-02 02:54 PM
House Immigration Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Naturalization
On January 17, the House Immigration Subcommittee held its first oversight hearing of the year, and the subject was the naturalization processing backlogs. Due to a confluence of factors, including a very significant fee increase that went into effect on July 30, 2007, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received approximately double the number of naturalization applications in its Fiscal Year 2007 than it had during the previous year. USCIS is saying that, as of now, anyone who applied for naturalization after June 1, 2007, can expect to wait 16 to 18 months to have their application processed.
Remarks by Subcommittee Members
In her opening comment, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee, noted that one year ago, the Subcommittee had a hearing on the proposed fee increase, and was told by USCIS that it need the fee increase to increase efficiency. At the time, the processing time for citizenship applications was six months.
Representative Steve King (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee, played the role of immigration historian. In his opening statement (and in his questioning), he focused almost exclusively on the INS� Citizenship USA program of ten years ago�back in the day before computers were standard issue in the immigration agency. In that effort to deal with a naturalization backlog, some applicants were granted citizenship before criminal background checks were completed, and some who received citizenship were found later not to be eligible. (Since then, however, much more stringent processes have been put in place to screen applications for naturalization. And the agency now does have computers.)
USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez
Emilio Gonzalez, Director of USCIS, gave some background on the development of the backlog and summarized what USCIS was doing about it. During June, July, and August of last year, USCIS received three million immigration benefit applications of all kinds. Their first priority was issuing receipts for those applications. Next, they processed and sent work authorizations, which they are required to do within 90 days.
In the meantime, a large number of naturalization applications piled up. To deal with the extra workload, USCIS is hiring 1,500 new employees (in addition to the extra staff they planned to hire after the new fees went into effect). The agency is also re-hiring former (retired) employees. While waiting for the additional staff to be trained and deployed, the agency will be asking current staff to work overtime, using budgeted overtime early in the Fiscal Year.
Other steps are also being taken. Still, Mr. Gonzalez noted (in his written testimony) that it will take until the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2010 before the agency is back to a six-month processing time.
During the question and answer session, there was a fair amount of discussion about a portion of the backlog that preceded the surge in applications and was caused by a delay in the background checks conducted by the FBI. Some individuals have been in limbo for well over a year waiting for clearance from the FBI, and Mr. Gonzalez noted that last year more than 5,000 lawsuits were filed against the agency�80% on the FBI name check delays. The FBI, he said, has a paper-based system that is only beginning to be addressed. For now, it takes people to handle the files. The FBI has brought on some additional contract personnel and full-time employees to work on this problem.
Rep. Lofgren said that she would ask the FBI to come before the Subcommittee to explain its perspective on the name check delays. [Subsequently, we were told that the full Judiciary Committee will have a hearing with the FBI on a range of issues, including the name check issue.]
Non-Government Witnesses
Also testifying at the hearing were Arturo Vargas, Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and Fred Tsao, Policy Director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Mr. Vargas said that his organization kept USCIS apprised of its efforts to get immigrants to become citizens and the agency should have taken that information, plus experience with past fee increases, into account to take steps to be better prepared for the surge in applications. NALEO is recommending that the agency focus sufficiently on reducing the backlog so that all immigrants who applied for naturalization in Fiscal Year 2007 (which ended September 30, 2007) are sworn in as citizens by July 4, 2008. Otherwise, many immigrants who applied for citizenship last summer will not be able to vote in the elections this November.
Mr. Tsao echoed the point about USCIS having ample information that a surge in applications was coming. He recommended that USCIS (and the FBI) report regularly to the Subcommittee regarding progress being made on reducing the backlog.
In concluding the hearing, Rep. Lofgren suggested that she might also conduct a hearing on the agency�s information technology.
Additional Information
In a subsequent meeting with community-based organizations, Michael Aytes, Associate Director for Domestic Operations of USCIS, gave some additional specifics on the status of the naturalization backlogs. He noted that the total number of new employees being hired will be approximately 3,000�between the additional staff they are hiring to deal with the backlog and the extra staff being paid for by the fee increases. Regarding the FBI name check issue, he noted that, during the House hearing, every member of the Subcommittee�Republican and Democrat�inquired about the name check issue, and that this issue is now being dealt with at high levels both in the Justice Department (in which the FBI is located) and in DHS. He indicated that decisions have been made on the hiring of many of the new adjudicators that are being brought on board, but training and placement are still weeks away, at least.
He also said that the agency is starting Saturday and evening interviews, and applicants should be encouraged to make every effort to show up for their interviews.
On January 17, the House Immigration Subcommittee held its first oversight hearing of the year, and the subject was the naturalization processing backlogs. Due to a confluence of factors, including a very significant fee increase that went into effect on July 30, 2007, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received approximately double the number of naturalization applications in its Fiscal Year 2007 than it had during the previous year. USCIS is saying that, as of now, anyone who applied for naturalization after June 1, 2007, can expect to wait 16 to 18 months to have their application processed.
Remarks by Subcommittee Members
In her opening comment, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee, noted that one year ago, the Subcommittee had a hearing on the proposed fee increase, and was told by USCIS that it need the fee increase to increase efficiency. At the time, the processing time for citizenship applications was six months.
Representative Steve King (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee, played the role of immigration historian. In his opening statement (and in his questioning), he focused almost exclusively on the INS� Citizenship USA program of ten years ago�back in the day before computers were standard issue in the immigration agency. In that effort to deal with a naturalization backlog, some applicants were granted citizenship before criminal background checks were completed, and some who received citizenship were found later not to be eligible. (Since then, however, much more stringent processes have been put in place to screen applications for naturalization. And the agency now does have computers.)
USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez
Emilio Gonzalez, Director of USCIS, gave some background on the development of the backlog and summarized what USCIS was doing about it. During June, July, and August of last year, USCIS received three million immigration benefit applications of all kinds. Their first priority was issuing receipts for those applications. Next, they processed and sent work authorizations, which they are required to do within 90 days.
In the meantime, a large number of naturalization applications piled up. To deal with the extra workload, USCIS is hiring 1,500 new employees (in addition to the extra staff they planned to hire after the new fees went into effect). The agency is also re-hiring former (retired) employees. While waiting for the additional staff to be trained and deployed, the agency will be asking current staff to work overtime, using budgeted overtime early in the Fiscal Year.
Other steps are also being taken. Still, Mr. Gonzalez noted (in his written testimony) that it will take until the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2010 before the agency is back to a six-month processing time.
During the question and answer session, there was a fair amount of discussion about a portion of the backlog that preceded the surge in applications and was caused by a delay in the background checks conducted by the FBI. Some individuals have been in limbo for well over a year waiting for clearance from the FBI, and Mr. Gonzalez noted that last year more than 5,000 lawsuits were filed against the agency�80% on the FBI name check delays. The FBI, he said, has a paper-based system that is only beginning to be addressed. For now, it takes people to handle the files. The FBI has brought on some additional contract personnel and full-time employees to work on this problem.
Rep. Lofgren said that she would ask the FBI to come before the Subcommittee to explain its perspective on the name check delays. [Subsequently, we were told that the full Judiciary Committee will have a hearing with the FBI on a range of issues, including the name check issue.]
Non-Government Witnesses
Also testifying at the hearing were Arturo Vargas, Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and Fred Tsao, Policy Director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Mr. Vargas said that his organization kept USCIS apprised of its efforts to get immigrants to become citizens and the agency should have taken that information, plus experience with past fee increases, into account to take steps to be better prepared for the surge in applications. NALEO is recommending that the agency focus sufficiently on reducing the backlog so that all immigrants who applied for naturalization in Fiscal Year 2007 (which ended September 30, 2007) are sworn in as citizens by July 4, 2008. Otherwise, many immigrants who applied for citizenship last summer will not be able to vote in the elections this November.
Mr. Tsao echoed the point about USCIS having ample information that a surge in applications was coming. He recommended that USCIS (and the FBI) report regularly to the Subcommittee regarding progress being made on reducing the backlog.
In concluding the hearing, Rep. Lofgren suggested that she might also conduct a hearing on the agency�s information technology.
Additional Information
In a subsequent meeting with community-based organizations, Michael Aytes, Associate Director for Domestic Operations of USCIS, gave some additional specifics on the status of the naturalization backlogs. He noted that the total number of new employees being hired will be approximately 3,000�between the additional staff they are hiring to deal with the backlog and the extra staff being paid for by the fee increases. Regarding the FBI name check issue, he noted that, during the House hearing, every member of the Subcommittee�Republican and Democrat�inquired about the name check issue, and that this issue is now being dealt with at high levels both in the Justice Department (in which the FBI is located) and in DHS. He indicated that decisions have been made on the hiring of many of the new adjudicators that are being brought on board, but training and placement are still weeks away, at least.
He also said that the agency is starting Saturday and evening interviews, and applicants should be encouraged to make every effort to show up for their interviews.
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rayen
05-27 07:08 PM
Experts,
I am in the process of applying AP ( Paper) What should I put Q3# Class of Admission . I used my AP while entering but still in H1. Please advice.
Thanks,
I am in the process of applying AP ( Paper) What should I put Q3# Class of Admission . I used my AP while entering but still in H1. Please advice.
Thanks,
permfiling
10-20 11:56 PM
Thank you Prashanthi for your reply.
I have a letter (it's in email format) that shows my lay-off is because of "lack of work". However, this letter is for the time before my GC was approved. I suppose that I need to get a letter from the company dated sometime after my GC approval date in order to present that in the time my citizenship process to justify that the job offer was not speculative; right?
That might also possible to get a letter from the company that shows they are willing to hire me in case there's a new project; thanks for your comment on this.
I think as Attorney Prashanthi mentioned, uscis might consider the current economic situation as well but b/w now and 5 yrs uscis might have updated laws too.
I have a letter (it's in email format) that shows my lay-off is because of "lack of work". However, this letter is for the time before my GC was approved. I suppose that I need to get a letter from the company dated sometime after my GC approval date in order to present that in the time my citizenship process to justify that the job offer was not speculative; right?
That might also possible to get a letter from the company that shows they are willing to hire me in case there's a new project; thanks for your comment on this.
I think as Attorney Prashanthi mentioned, uscis might consider the current economic situation as well but b/w now and 5 yrs uscis might have updated laws too.
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danu2007
07-13 04:21 PM
So far only 1327 members signed the petition. This needs around 5000 signatures.
This will show the number of filed I-485 applications to Chertoff..Please sign..
--------------------------------------------------
Please sign your petition and give support to Congresswoman Lofgren's requests from her letter dated July 9th, 2007. Doing so is the only way we can begin to restore fairness to this process.
http://www.immigrantslist.org/page/petition/Chertoff
-----------------------------------------------------
This will show the number of filed I-485 applications to Chertoff..Please sign..
--------------------------------------------------
Please sign your petition and give support to Congresswoman Lofgren's requests from her letter dated July 9th, 2007. Doing so is the only way we can begin to restore fairness to this process.
http://www.immigrantslist.org/page/petition/Chertoff
-----------------------------------------------------
more...
nozerd
04-09 12:11 PM
Yes I have been in US since 1991. Here is my story.
1991 1996 - Did Bachelors in US.
1996 -1998 - Masters
1999 - 2009 - On H1. Have been with same firm for over 10 yrs though I have had several promotions. Always kept H1 though spouse started working on EAD in Jan 2009.
Its been some wait. There have been time I felt so frustrated with this process I literally cried or felt like punching someone.
I wont really believe till I have card in my hand. Difficult to trust USCIS.
If I remember right from your older post you are the one who was waiting for some 15-18 years right ? You deserve it. Congrats my friend and enjoy your life ahead.
1991 1996 - Did Bachelors in US.
1996 -1998 - Masters
1999 - 2009 - On H1. Have been with same firm for over 10 yrs though I have had several promotions. Always kept H1 though spouse started working on EAD in Jan 2009.
Its been some wait. There have been time I felt so frustrated with this process I literally cried or felt like punching someone.
I wont really believe till I have card in my hand. Difficult to trust USCIS.
If I remember right from your older post you are the one who was waiting for some 15-18 years right ? You deserve it. Congrats my friend and enjoy your life ahead.
kopguy
06-09 12:05 PM
Marketplace, a popular radio business program talks about the necessity to ease green cards for educated immigrants.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/06/08/pm_entrepreneurship/
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/06/08/pm_entrepreneurship/
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bobsn
04-02 03:52 PM
So Let me get this clear in my head..
If the I-94 is valid for 6 months and then if you need to extend the stay of your parents
option 1: to apply for extension with the USCIS .. (can someone please provide the process to do this)
Do you know if USCIS would accept that the mother is here to help out the daughter thru pregnancy?
option 2: Go out of the US (Mexico, West Indies) and return in 1 month?
option 3: Can you go to Canada like say at the end of month 4, stay there for a few days and come back into US for another 3-6 months. Does this work at all?
option 4: Request the officer at POE for a longer stay (> 6months) showing supporting documents.
Thanks
If the I-94 is valid for 6 months and then if you need to extend the stay of your parents
option 1: to apply for extension with the USCIS .. (can someone please provide the process to do this)
Do you know if USCIS would accept that the mother is here to help out the daughter thru pregnancy?
option 2: Go out of the US (Mexico, West Indies) and return in 1 month?
option 3: Can you go to Canada like say at the end of month 4, stay there for a few days and come back into US for another 3-6 months. Does this work at all?
option 4: Request the officer at POE for a longer stay (> 6months) showing supporting documents.
Thanks
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GCwaitforever
09-26 10:57 PM
You need experience letter from employer A. Explain to employer A that you are attempting a switch to EB2 for your own career and if it does not work out, you will stick with theim. Telling lies is not a good idea.
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p_kumar
02-07 11:24 AM
All three options put a dent in your life. But I guess the golden period of life is over, remaining period of life will go raising your kids, looking after your parents. Sometimes I like the American culture a lot; you get to enjoy all life long!
American culture as we know it maybe ending. Social security will not be enough to support the baby boomers and many will end up being a burden on their children. In a way, we always have an option of going back to india but for americans?.
American culture as we know it maybe ending. Social security will not be enough to support the baby boomers and many will end up being a burden on their children. In a way, we always have an option of going back to india but for americans?.
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eswaraprasad73
02-15 01:55 PM
I went to Ottawa, Canada in January for visa stamping. I got Visa done.
On that day, I had seen most of the people attended for stamping are indians. Everyone was given visa.
Stamping is pretty easy at Ottawa. They dont ask you much questions. If one has all the required documents for visa stamping, its very easy to get stamping at ottawa.
Good Luck for your stamping.
On that day, I had seen most of the people attended for stamping are indians. Everyone was given visa.
Stamping is pretty easy at Ottawa. They dont ask you much questions. If one has all the required documents for visa stamping, its very easy to get stamping at ottawa.
Good Luck for your stamping.
more...
Redeye
04-10 10:58 AM
But look at this from Prashanthi Reddy.
http://www.reddyesq.com/GC.html#37
I am presently on H1-B and filed I-140 and I-485 under Exceptional Ability & National Interest Waiver category, I got EAD (I-765) approval also;, can I do any part time job by using EAD as well as maintaining my H1-B status?
Yes you can, as long as you continue to work for the employer that has sponsored you for the Green Card.
I want to solid answer if possible no gray area type answers. I am done with gray areas. After 6 years of wait last thing I want is gray area :) that is reason why I posted.
http://www.reddyesq.com/GC.html#37
I am presently on H1-B and filed I-140 and I-485 under Exceptional Ability & National Interest Waiver category, I got EAD (I-765) approval also;, can I do any part time job by using EAD as well as maintaining my H1-B status?
Yes you can, as long as you continue to work for the employer that has sponsored you for the Green Card.
I want to solid answer if possible no gray area type answers. I am done with gray areas. After 6 years of wait last thing I want is gray area :) that is reason why I posted.
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Maverick_2008
04-16 10:14 AM
Thank you all for your input. Now that I have a better perspective, I'll play my cards accordingly.
Cheers,
Maverick_2008
When you are talking about H1 extension, you should keep in mind that there is an additional cost to get an actual visa (if you travel). Ask employer to extend H1, but be smart and apply for EAD. You never know what may happen. Employer or your job can vanish very quickly. You may not have time to wait for a new EAD. No need to jeopardize your GC by saving on EAD extension. As for AP, I do not really see a need for it if you have H1 (although you may experience difficulties with getting H1b stamp, so it may be wise to get AP just in case) or if you are not going to travel.
Gaps in EAD/AP is not a problem from GC perspective, but having a valid EAD all the time is very prudent.
Cheers,
Maverick_2008
When you are talking about H1 extension, you should keep in mind that there is an additional cost to get an actual visa (if you travel). Ask employer to extend H1, but be smart and apply for EAD. You never know what may happen. Employer or your job can vanish very quickly. You may not have time to wait for a new EAD. No need to jeopardize your GC by saving on EAD extension. As for AP, I do not really see a need for it if you have H1 (although you may experience difficulties with getting H1b stamp, so it may be wise to get AP just in case) or if you are not going to travel.
Gaps in EAD/AP is not a problem from GC perspective, but having a valid EAD all the time is very prudent.
more...
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div_bell_2003
12-19 05:01 PM
It does not look like your future green card processing will be affected by any way due to your one year absence, but you might wanna clarify with your attorney about the status of your H1 though. You didn't mention anything on this, but I'm guessing you'll be coming back to the same employer in 2010, just check with them if your one year not being in US payroll would result in revocation of your H1B and they have to apply for a fresh one once you come back.
From the GC front, you don't have anything to worry as far as my knowledge goes.
I am on H1 for the last 3 years. Got my H1 renewed for 3 years last month. Now i have to go back to India for one year (2009) and come back at 2010. I will not be in a payroll for 2009. When i come back to US at 2010, i am planning to start my Green Card processing. I want to know if my one year stay in India will affect my Green Card processing in any way?
Thanks a lot.
From the GC front, you don't have anything to worry as far as my knowledge goes.
I am on H1 for the last 3 years. Got my H1 renewed for 3 years last month. Now i have to go back to India for one year (2009) and come back at 2010. I will not be in a payroll for 2009. When i come back to US at 2010, i am planning to start my Green Card processing. I want to know if my one year stay in India will affect my Green Card processing in any way?
Thanks a lot.
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badluck
07-11 02:05 PM
he is the Gonzalez The Janitor not the Director:rolleyes:
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eagerr2i
07-20 12:31 PM
My wife got her teaching credentail in California last year. You first get your degree evaulated by AERC and then apply to any school that offers a credential program. You do not get much credit for your UG courses. The whole teacher credentail program takes any where between 55 to 65 credit hours to finish. The fee for the program is low as it is subsitized by the state govt's. You will pay instate tution atleast in California. No financial aid on H4 visa.
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TheOmbudsman
09-01 11:42 PM
Yeahh.. Huuuuuraaay ! Have a good weekend all.
Amidst, all the ranting and raving about IV, its goals and silence of the core team in the recent threads, atleast this thread has some appreciation for the core team!
Kudos to the core team...and IV!!
-gc_mania_03
Amidst, all the ranting and raving about IV, its goals and silence of the core team in the recent threads, atleast this thread has some appreciation for the core team!
Kudos to the core team...and IV!!
-gc_mania_03
more...
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seahawks
01-10 11:36 PM
my friends have multiple experiences, I went through Lufthansa, had no problem. My friend was telling me in France you do require, they wont let you board the flight if you dont have transit! Even if you check the consulate, the airlines have no clue. Asian countries like Singapore, absolutely no problem, direct non stop flights no problem either.
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ndbhatt
07-24 12:08 PM
Can I file concurrently I-140 and I-485 if the labor is approved but haven't received the hard copy? What do I need to attach to these applications to substitute for the hard copy?
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trueguy
09-19 07:13 PM
US Govt don't have to worry about it because we don't qualify for UnEmployment Benefits anyways.
Now thats a different story that we pay unemployment and SS taxes but we don't get any benefits out of it.....:(
Now thats a different story that we pay unemployment and SS taxes but we don't get any benefits out of it.....:(
l8A
10-05 10:52 AM
The I-94 is the form you filled out on the plane and had stamped at the port of entry. It should be attached to your passport on the visa page. It will be on the front of the I-94.
Well, as I suspected, the I-94 was expired a month before the I-485 was filed for my wife. So, do you think that would be a problem?
Well, as I suspected, the I-94 was expired a month before the I-485 was filed for my wife. So, do you think that would be a problem?
cybergold
04-28 10:25 AM
Hey Pom, where is Senocular's Robot, it was a very nice one.
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