snathan
01-15 04:03 PM
No this rule is not against the H1B. Kindly read the rule. This rule is against body shopper and who do all kind of illegal activities. No pay on bench, 80-20 , no LCA ,no value addition etc etc. Their whole existence was questionable from day one. Why don't they do the same business with GC holder or US citizen ? Because they are not required in food chain of consulting. Period. Check out people from one state of India buy H1b . I will use the word buy. It's like buying air ticket along with visa fees to come to usa. USCIS is nailing there.
Do you think that purchasing H1B visa is Okay as per us rules ? It was never legal. It is not that they made a new law or changed a rule. They just said , we know where was the hole and they put some bricks there. So your logic they will do to EAD and GC is pure speculation. Yes during second world war they arrested people with Japanese connection.
They have not banned H1B . Period. Why I am happy ? Because now there will be direct relation between job and H1B. No illusion of fake job. Second, now only good companies will be their ( Accenture , deloitte ) and they will need H1b consultant. Mark my word, US companies can not live without H1B and they will hire H1b directly and will sponsor them.
These companies will never bill below a low limit. The Indian body shop and their gulam agree for any rate ( yes even10$/hr for tester job ) and kills the market. It will usher a new era ( good ) for H1B. Due to these cheap desi dallas real companies never felt the need for sponsoring H1B. In my own case , the client did not give offer to perm because I was cheaper in contract to them. Finally when I resigned and on last day of my 2 week notice period client offered me to sponsor H1B. I refused as some one else had already filed my H1b and I continued there. I am happy for the beginning of this new body shop free time.
What about the legitimate people who didnt buy the visa and due to USCIS, struck in GC black hole...? Do you have any way to segregate bad apple from good one. You just want to throw the baby with bath water. Period.
Do you think that purchasing H1B visa is Okay as per us rules ? It was never legal. It is not that they made a new law or changed a rule. They just said , we know where was the hole and they put some bricks there. So your logic they will do to EAD and GC is pure speculation. Yes during second world war they arrested people with Japanese connection.
They have not banned H1B . Period. Why I am happy ? Because now there will be direct relation between job and H1B. No illusion of fake job. Second, now only good companies will be their ( Accenture , deloitte ) and they will need H1b consultant. Mark my word, US companies can not live without H1B and they will hire H1b directly and will sponsor them.
These companies will never bill below a low limit. The Indian body shop and their gulam agree for any rate ( yes even10$/hr for tester job ) and kills the market. It will usher a new era ( good ) for H1B. Due to these cheap desi dallas real companies never felt the need for sponsoring H1B. In my own case , the client did not give offer to perm because I was cheaper in contract to them. Finally when I resigned and on last day of my 2 week notice period client offered me to sponsor H1B. I refused as some one else had already filed my H1b and I continued there. I am happy for the beginning of this new body shop free time.
What about the legitimate people who didnt buy the visa and due to USCIS, struck in GC black hole...? Do you have any way to segregate bad apple from good one. You just want to throw the baby with bath water. Period.
wallpaper Tom Hanks we know now.
z029556
08-14 02:26 PM
Hello Sir/Madam,
Recently I have E-Filed for EAD renew and have sent all the supporting documents the following day. But I have recieved an RFE for the photos I haven't sent along with the documents and asked me submit 2 color passport photos. It was my understading that I don't have to send the photos while E-filing since they will be taken at the bio-metric appt. I am done with my bio-metric appt. Do i need to contact USCIS about this or is there any thing you can suggest me.
Regards
Vijay
p.s I have already responded to the RFE with 2 color photos.
Recently I have E-Filed for EAD renew and have sent all the supporting documents the following day. But I have recieved an RFE for the photos I haven't sent along with the documents and asked me submit 2 color passport photos. It was my understading that I don't have to send the photos while E-filing since they will be taken at the bio-metric appt. I am done with my bio-metric appt. Do i need to contact USCIS about this or is there any thing you can suggest me.
Regards
Vijay
p.s I have already responded to the RFE with 2 color photos.
sk2006
08-15 03:31 AM
SRK detained at US airport for being a Khan - India - NEWS - The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/SRK-detained-at-US-airport-for-being-a-Khan/articleshow/4896236.cms)
Guys we often discussed about facing problems at Port of entry. People being questioned for hours or rumors about people being sent back. I was surprised by reading this news today. This country is going crazy about stopping people just because their surname is "Khan" even if the person has travelled to US earlier. With experience i expect people to get smarter but these people are getting dummer.
Why should it be a surprise?
How do PoE officers know if he is a film star in some foreign language movies?
Even if they knew, why is SRK so special that he should not be checked?
There was an instance when a pop singer from India(Daler Mehdi) was accused of smugling illegal immigrants disguised as musicians. Point is, if somebody is a celebrity, that does not make him/her un touchable?
Guys we often discussed about facing problems at Port of entry. People being questioned for hours or rumors about people being sent back. I was surprised by reading this news today. This country is going crazy about stopping people just because their surname is "Khan" even if the person has travelled to US earlier. With experience i expect people to get smarter but these people are getting dummer.
Why should it be a surprise?
How do PoE officers know if he is a film star in some foreign language movies?
Even if they knew, why is SRK so special that he should not be checked?
There was an instance when a pop singer from India(Daler Mehdi) was accused of smugling illegal immigrants disguised as musicians. Point is, if somebody is a celebrity, that does not make him/her un touchable?
2011 Tom Hanks and long time love
rajsenthil
05-02 07:10 AM
There are few people here trying to mislead the biggest problem. When the Indians support SL Tamils, it is not just ethnic affinity, it is also based on our country's own interest. If India could not handle a country like SL, then what else we can do. I dont like the way India handling this situation, completely ignoring the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Even today, there was bombing on the hospital. It has become common now to bomb schools and hospitals and trying to justify that.
I still find it hard to equate a person death > tens of 1000's of innocent people death.
But still wanting for more deaths. India should step in and stop this genocide. It is shame on us to turn our face and watching it.
I still find it hard to equate a person death > tens of 1000's of innocent people death.
But still wanting for more deaths. India should step in and stop this genocide. It is shame on us to turn our face and watching it.
more...
abhijitp
07-03 08:17 PM
please let me know. i have prepared an excel spreadsheet of contacts from previous IV threads + couple other sites on the web
old_hat
05-02 11:41 PM
You Moron...open your Freaking eyes and read all the posts here. No one is supporting the LTTE. Why do you deviate from the topic again and again. We are talking about the civilians getting killed...but your freaking mind things and talks only about LTTE.
dude if u have no arguments, stop from calling names. i am not the one to be riled by intenet name calling. it is no bravery.
See my other posts and you will clearly see i have said that civilians need to be protected whether they are in darfur, kosovo or lanka. and i was replying to this particular person who was claiming
<i>It is Indian gov. lobbied efforts to ban LTTE by western country. they are well organized, disciplined and high tech group. some people raise another issue, they recruited young children to fight,</i>
this guy is clearly condoning LTTE. Dude either you get a pair of glasses or get some arguments with logic and yeah calling someone moron is not an argument.
dude if u have no arguments, stop from calling names. i am not the one to be riled by intenet name calling. it is no bravery.
See my other posts and you will clearly see i have said that civilians need to be protected whether they are in darfur, kosovo or lanka. and i was replying to this particular person who was claiming
<i>It is Indian gov. lobbied efforts to ban LTTE by western country. they are well organized, disciplined and high tech group. some people raise another issue, they recruited young children to fight,</i>
this guy is clearly condoning LTTE. Dude either you get a pair of glasses or get some arguments with logic and yeah calling someone moron is not an argument.
more...
psaxena
01-19 01:28 PM
what did you do to help IV fight?
Is IV fighting for all of us on this?
People are just discussing and discussing but nobody is doing anything. Are any lawyers doing anything?
Is IV fighting for all of us on this?
People are just discussing and discussing but nobody is doing anything. Are any lawyers doing anything?
2010 Tom Hanks dances the #39;weather
Jerrome
09-15 12:47 PM
How did you say that are Only EB2+ EB3?
What else is there? EB1 does not have labor right..Does EB4 & EB5 has labor process.
What else is there? EB1 does not have labor right..Does EB4 & EB5 has labor process.
more...
alisa
02-18 12:10 PM
Also all arguments came out of UnitedNations unfortunately are already present and deep seated in a very large %age of our compatriots....That is the main reason behind the less mobilization......
I differ with you again, my friend.
The main reason(s) behind less mobilization is this. Pappu described this on a different thread.
1) Ignorance about the true nature of the problem
People like you and I don't know that without a change in the laws, they won't get their greencards for another 10-20 years.
2) Lack of faith and understanding of the system
People like you and I, once they know that they are getting screwed, think that the situation is hopeless. They don't understand that the merits of our case (you alluded to them in your previous posts, the demographic shift due to the baby boomers retiring requires skilled labor in this country), is sufficient to warrant a sympathetic ear to us in the congress. We CAN freaking get out of the mess we are in.
We have to accept these two problems. And then we have to address them. How do we do that? Thats the big question.
I differ with you again, my friend.
The main reason(s) behind less mobilization is this. Pappu described this on a different thread.
1) Ignorance about the true nature of the problem
People like you and I don't know that without a change in the laws, they won't get their greencards for another 10-20 years.
2) Lack of faith and understanding of the system
People like you and I, once they know that they are getting screwed, think that the situation is hopeless. They don't understand that the merits of our case (you alluded to them in your previous posts, the demographic shift due to the baby boomers retiring requires skilled labor in this country), is sufficient to warrant a sympathetic ear to us in the congress. We CAN freaking get out of the mess we are in.
We have to accept these two problems. And then we have to address them. How do we do that? Thats the big question.
hair Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
cygent
12-19 05:06 PM
All,
I have created DIGG article for this, Please digg it.
http://digg.com/business_finance/How_to_Solve_the_Housing_Crisis_Let_in_More_Immigr ants_to_B_2
Add this/your comment that involve the backlogged legal community already working in the USA, instead of more H1's. Thank you!
******
Why is Gary looking outside of USA to tap potential home buyers? Just for folks who aren't aware - there are 500,000 high skilled legal immigrant already in USA who are waiting in queue for numbers of years to get their Permanent Residency. Thanks to the limited visa availability based on country chargeability (birth of applicant) and inefficiency of immigration system, these highly skilled, tax paying and law abiding immgrants are waiting for their Green Card (Permanent residency). Some of them have studied here, worked here for years and US is almost a second home to them. They are sitting on pile of cash, Yes - PILE OF HARD CASH. They wouldn't buy house or any big ticket items until they get Green card. Why not give these people, who are already part of our system, conditional Permanent Residency who buy houses. This will also get us immediately required cash and home inventory will go down as much as 300K at minimum. P.S. I AM TALKING ABOUT HIGH SKILLED LEGAL IMMGRANTS AND NOT ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
I have created DIGG article for this, Please digg it.
http://digg.com/business_finance/How_to_Solve_the_Housing_Crisis_Let_in_More_Immigr ants_to_B_2
Add this/your comment that involve the backlogged legal community already working in the USA, instead of more H1's. Thank you!
******
Why is Gary looking outside of USA to tap potential home buyers? Just for folks who aren't aware - there are 500,000 high skilled legal immigrant already in USA who are waiting in queue for numbers of years to get their Permanent Residency. Thanks to the limited visa availability based on country chargeability (birth of applicant) and inefficiency of immigration system, these highly skilled, tax paying and law abiding immgrants are waiting for their Green Card (Permanent residency). Some of them have studied here, worked here for years and US is almost a second home to them. They are sitting on pile of cash, Yes - PILE OF HARD CASH. They wouldn't buy house or any big ticket items until they get Green card. Why not give these people, who are already part of our system, conditional Permanent Residency who buy houses. This will also get us immediately required cash and home inventory will go down as much as 300K at minimum. P.S. I AM TALKING ABOUT HIGH SKILLED LEGAL IMMGRANTS AND NOT ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
more...
eb3retro
07-22 09:12 AM
not really..i think we want to give a benefit of doubt to the amway person not to do this and lose our friendship (esp when close friends do this to you). We know how to be tough. Been there done that. I came to a conclusion that people who cannot understand the value of friendship can never be true friends. Esp when my close friend spoiled his friendship with me due to amway.
We desis are too polite and can't say NO easily like others. I have learnt to say NO in the US now, makes my life much easier....be nice and say no politely.
We desis are too polite and can't say NO easily like others. I have learnt to say NO in the US now, makes my life much easier....be nice and say no politely.
hot All-around nice guy Tom Hanks
unitednations
02-14 08:46 PM
I'm sorry, I haven't monitored the web-site since my last posting.
Today reality hit me very hard. I am in my late thirties and I haven't had much adversity in my life regarding financial, career, family, etc.
However; today reality really hit me hard.
One gentlemen, his name was Raja Pitchai. He had asked me to help him file his I-140 and ask for cross chargeability to his wife's place of birth (singapore). USCIS accepted his package and his 140 got approved in a couple of months. (his priority date; india became available one month later anyways (he was from india eb2).
He was the one of the nicest guys I have talked to. Very courteous fellow.
They couldn't approve his case because he was stuck in name check. Well, his wife called me today and told me that he passed away last week (brain tumor). He had two U.S. citizen children but him and his wife have no relatives here.
She doesn't seem to be interested to stay here (she wouldn't be able to keep the greencard process going anyways because the death of the petitioner is automatic denial). She is leaving USA and was going through all the things she needs to wind up. I don't know if she would have stayed here if she got the greencard and I didn't want to task. Reality really him home today.
I need a couple of days to get over this.
Today reality hit me very hard. I am in my late thirties and I haven't had much adversity in my life regarding financial, career, family, etc.
However; today reality really hit me hard.
One gentlemen, his name was Raja Pitchai. He had asked me to help him file his I-140 and ask for cross chargeability to his wife's place of birth (singapore). USCIS accepted his package and his 140 got approved in a couple of months. (his priority date; india became available one month later anyways (he was from india eb2).
He was the one of the nicest guys I have talked to. Very courteous fellow.
They couldn't approve his case because he was stuck in name check. Well, his wife called me today and told me that he passed away last week (brain tumor). He had two U.S. citizen children but him and his wife have no relatives here.
She doesn't seem to be interested to stay here (she wouldn't be able to keep the greencard process going anyways because the death of the petitioner is automatic denial). She is leaving USA and was going through all the things she needs to wind up. I don't know if she would have stayed here if she got the greencard and I didn't want to task. Reality really him home today.
I need a couple of days to get over this.
more...
house Tom Hanks Hints at Toy Story 4
akottai
07-22 02:10 PM
When we moved from MN to NJ, we were so happy to find so many Indians around. In an Indian store I found a fellow native and I introduced myself. We were so happy that we found a good neighbor whom we can befriend. I gave them my number and got their number back. I never got any response from them whenever I called - ever. Later, I found the menace of Amway in these parts of world(among desis). I was so ashamed just by knowing that they mistook us for Amway people.
I have been approached by many in Walmart, Macy's and other stores with questions like "are your from Mumbai?", "I have seen your somewhere"... types...
At one point of time, it became very difficult to distinguish between a genuine smile and the e-commerce business smile! I can now understand why they never attended my calls! :)
Anyways, I moved to NC - and no more Amways in this part. Not until now!
I have been approached by many in Walmart, Macy's and other stores with questions like "are your from Mumbai?", "I have seen your somewhere"... types...
At one point of time, it became very difficult to distinguish between a genuine smile and the e-commerce business smile! I can now understand why they never attended my calls! :)
Anyways, I moved to NC - and no more Amways in this part. Not until now!
tattoo and Tom Hanks couple up to
breddy2000
09-03 11:10 PM
chill - u r working in US because have skills - got visa applied for Green card. In what way did Rajiv Gandhi help you? So do you say that everyone immigrating to USA from every country is because of Rajiv Gandhi?
I see that u r arguing just for the sake of arguement. Come on man. expand your thinking capacity - U r responsible for your own life and you do things in life that suits you. Just like how u r a software guru, politics is also a field which has become a "career oriented" field. Now, a lot of people trashed SRK during discussions, I did not understand what his fault was, for such trashing.
Now, the reason why a lot of people trash YSR is because of his corruptive governance - which crossed all limits.
If you think that one has to respect someone just because he/she is a leader - that may not be practical
If you don't know the difference between Policies and Politics I cannot help it.I'm talking about policies created by Govt in Power
That's all I can say....Good luck
CHANDUV23
And your ID is revealed _TrueFacts....That's all I can say and which u are very well aware of.
I see that u r arguing just for the sake of arguement. Come on man. expand your thinking capacity - U r responsible for your own life and you do things in life that suits you. Just like how u r a software guru, politics is also a field which has become a "career oriented" field. Now, a lot of people trashed SRK during discussions, I did not understand what his fault was, for such trashing.
Now, the reason why a lot of people trash YSR is because of his corruptive governance - which crossed all limits.
If you think that one has to respect someone just because he/she is a leader - that may not be practical
If you don't know the difference between Policies and Politics I cannot help it.I'm talking about policies created by Govt in Power
That's all I can say....Good luck
CHANDUV23
And your ID is revealed _TrueFacts....That's all I can say and which u are very well aware of.
more...
pictures with Hanks and Roberts.
gdilla
07-13 12:41 PM
This is the most ridiculous article I've ever seen.
"I should have done my own homework before I applied" - no $hit. What makes you think going to med school in Indian means jack in Canada or the US. You have to get board certified. Duh. And I'm afraid cold calling doesn't work anywhere, including the US... does this work in India? Of course they're not going to listen to you. Jeez. People not doing their due diligence before THEY PACK UP AND MOVE HALF WAY ROUND the world... yeah, that proves to me you are smart enough to hire.
[QUOTE=sankap]Here's an article that appeared in Outlook (India) magazine 8 years ago. Apparently, the situation hasn't changed much since then:
http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fname=international1&fodname=19990125&sid=1
Canada...The Grass Isn't Greener
Outlook: Jan 25, 1999
It's a dream gone sour. Thousands of Indian immigrants who land up in Canada are, more often than not, greeted with unemployment, racism, culture shocks...
SOHAILA CHARNALIA
"I didn't come here to be a chowkidar. I came here believing it to be a land of opportunity; a country that has never known the nepotism, the corruption, the shortages of India. I find I have only substituted one country for another... certainly not one set of values for another, as I hoped. " For Dr Gurdial Singh Dhillon, who was made to believe his qualifications would land him a good job fast, Canada was a real disappointment. When he did find work, it was that of a security guard. This, when the United Nations has declared Canada the best country to live in.
Some 200,000 people migrate to Canada every year, a majority from Asia. Hong Kong heads the list, followed by India, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. According to the Citizenship & Immigration Canada report, 21,249 Indians migrated to Canada in 1996 alone. (The high commission in Delhi, however, put the figure at 17,682). For many of them, especially those who are qualified professionals, dreams die fast. The life they face is never quite as rosy as made out by money-raking immigration lawyers.
Is the UN report the only reason for the increase in Indian applications for immigration? That, and the fact that it is easier to get entry into Canada than any other western country, says a Delhi-based immigration lawyer. Also, the fastest way of getting immigration to the US is through Canada.
Dhillon's disappointment is echoed by others. "I should have done my own homework before I applied", rues Aparna Shirodhkar, an architect from Mumbai, working as a saleswoman in a department store. "My husband is unemployed. I am the sole earner for a family of four. Sometimes I feel like running back". For Raheela Wasim, who's gone from being a schoolteacher in India to a telemarketer here, the experience was very discouraging, very disheartening. "I started losing confidence in myself. I felt I was not capable of the job market here".
Jobs are the sore point with Indian immigrants. The irony is, they are often more qualified than their Canadian peers, yet they end up with either no work, or with entry-level jobs that have no future. "I was not told that you require a Canadian degree to get a job here", says Paramjeet Parmar, a postgraduate in biochemistry from Bombay University. Parmar works as a telemarketer, which has turned her from an elite professional to an unskilled, daily wage labourer.
Ditto Opinder Khosla, a mechanical engineer from India, who has ended up as a salesman. "I found it difficult to even get an interview call", he says. The Canadian authorities are non-committal about the social and economic devaluation that the country imposes on immigrants.
"You can't come thinking you can just walk in and get a job in your profession", says Isabel Basset, minister of citizenship, culture and recreation, responsible for handling immigrants' woes in Canada's largest province, Ontario. But she admits that the licensing bodies regulating the professions need to be more accepting of people trained elsewhere.
That effort could only come from the government, argues Demetrius Oriopolis, co-author of Access, a government-commissioned report on assessing qualifications of newcomers, a 10-year-old report whose recommendations have still to be implemented. The report suggests certain rules of equivalence should be made binding on the regulatory bodies, which are exclusionist by nature.
But Basset won't even hear of making the regulatory bodies accountable: "We believe in private enterprise with a minimum of government checks. Besides, she argues, the exercise would cost millions of dollars".
Needless to say, the organisations are gleeful. Only professional bodies have the ability to determine what constitutes competence in a particular profession, was the cold response of the spokesperson for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, an institution that's responsible for the unemployment as well as under-employment of hundreds of qualified chartered accountants from India. They do not grant licences for professional practice, because Indian qualifications are not acceptable.
"What kind of society are we creating? Is it a new form of slavery?" asks an irate Bhausaheb Ubale, Canada's former human rights commissioner. Qualified immigrants work as drivers, guards. If this isn't job discrimination, what is? Dr Ubale lobbied intensely before Indians were accepted in the media. They now hold jobs as reporters and anchors, he says, but a lot more has to be done.
While skilled men may not be able to find jobs, their less qualified wives find it easier because they accept whatever comes their way. In several cases, the wives earn and support their husbands who are busy upgrading themselves, by studying for a Canadian degree. The working wife sometimes slogs away at three jobs. Sumitra starts at 7 am at her first job, teaching immigrants English; her second job as telemarketer starts at 4 pm. She gets back home around 8 pm, after which she begins selling cosmetics and household goods door to door. Till midnight. Sumitra supports three students, her husband and two school-going children.
The other problems Indians face here are the high taxes, high mortgage payments for new homes and the sort of hidebound laws that the benign anarchy back home hardly prepares them for. "You can't run a red light, you can't escape from a hit-and-run site even if you are just the witness, you can't smoke in public. Too many rules, so different from home", says Harminder Singh.
Two 'Indian' practices that do exist here, however, cause immigrants the maximum trouble. They are sifarish baazi (nepotism) and mufat ka kaam (free work). The Canadians, of course, have given them sophisticated terminologies, the former is referred to as 'networking' and the latter, 'volunteerism'. In a country where you are never encouraged to 'drop in' to meet someone, where the fax, the computer or the phone is used to complete most transactions, a job-seeking immigrant often has the phone put down on him. Polite but firm secretaries block access, unless the caller can drop a magic name that can help him gain entry. It takes at least a year for even the most enterprising immigrant to get to know somebody who can help him, before he can get a job at all.
'Networking' goes hand in hand with 'volunteerism'. Many immigrants put in a year of free service before they are given the job. Most writers and anchors of Asian origin are given only part-time jobs, paid by assignment and with no fringe benefits. The company insists on the word 'freelance' on their business cards, to make it clear they have not been hired by the company, and hence can't demand higher pay or any benefits. They can, and often are, fired at will.
Perhaps the greatest problem in Canada is the one that is least articulated--racism. According to a diversity report on Toronto (said to be the most ethnically diverse city in the world), the year 2000 will see its minority becoming its majority that is, 54 per cent of Toronto's population by the end of the millennium will be non-Whites. Keeping that in mind, it warned, if the discrimination against them in education, employment, income and housing, or incidents of hate are not addressed, it will lead to a growing sense of frustration.
"All our problems exist because of racism", sums up Anita Ferrao, who works in a firm. Anita has worked for them for three years and has got neither promotion nor raise. "As an Indian immigrant, you can never reach the top. They'll see to that. It's better to bring in some money here and start a business. It's the only way you'll do well here and be respected. "
But then if life is so tough here, why do people give up everything back home and come? The answer is the rosy picture of North America, inculcated right from childhood. Everything 'American' is considered superior. Better food, better homes, better life.
"I should have done my own homework before I applied" - no $hit. What makes you think going to med school in Indian means jack in Canada or the US. You have to get board certified. Duh. And I'm afraid cold calling doesn't work anywhere, including the US... does this work in India? Of course they're not going to listen to you. Jeez. People not doing their due diligence before THEY PACK UP AND MOVE HALF WAY ROUND the world... yeah, that proves to me you are smart enough to hire.
[QUOTE=sankap]Here's an article that appeared in Outlook (India) magazine 8 years ago. Apparently, the situation hasn't changed much since then:
http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fname=international1&fodname=19990125&sid=1
Canada...The Grass Isn't Greener
Outlook: Jan 25, 1999
It's a dream gone sour. Thousands of Indian immigrants who land up in Canada are, more often than not, greeted with unemployment, racism, culture shocks...
SOHAILA CHARNALIA
"I didn't come here to be a chowkidar. I came here believing it to be a land of opportunity; a country that has never known the nepotism, the corruption, the shortages of India. I find I have only substituted one country for another... certainly not one set of values for another, as I hoped. " For Dr Gurdial Singh Dhillon, who was made to believe his qualifications would land him a good job fast, Canada was a real disappointment. When he did find work, it was that of a security guard. This, when the United Nations has declared Canada the best country to live in.
Some 200,000 people migrate to Canada every year, a majority from Asia. Hong Kong heads the list, followed by India, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. According to the Citizenship & Immigration Canada report, 21,249 Indians migrated to Canada in 1996 alone. (The high commission in Delhi, however, put the figure at 17,682). For many of them, especially those who are qualified professionals, dreams die fast. The life they face is never quite as rosy as made out by money-raking immigration lawyers.
Is the UN report the only reason for the increase in Indian applications for immigration? That, and the fact that it is easier to get entry into Canada than any other western country, says a Delhi-based immigration lawyer. Also, the fastest way of getting immigration to the US is through Canada.
Dhillon's disappointment is echoed by others. "I should have done my own homework before I applied", rues Aparna Shirodhkar, an architect from Mumbai, working as a saleswoman in a department store. "My husband is unemployed. I am the sole earner for a family of four. Sometimes I feel like running back". For Raheela Wasim, who's gone from being a schoolteacher in India to a telemarketer here, the experience was very discouraging, very disheartening. "I started losing confidence in myself. I felt I was not capable of the job market here".
Jobs are the sore point with Indian immigrants. The irony is, they are often more qualified than their Canadian peers, yet they end up with either no work, or with entry-level jobs that have no future. "I was not told that you require a Canadian degree to get a job here", says Paramjeet Parmar, a postgraduate in biochemistry from Bombay University. Parmar works as a telemarketer, which has turned her from an elite professional to an unskilled, daily wage labourer.
Ditto Opinder Khosla, a mechanical engineer from India, who has ended up as a salesman. "I found it difficult to even get an interview call", he says. The Canadian authorities are non-committal about the social and economic devaluation that the country imposes on immigrants.
"You can't come thinking you can just walk in and get a job in your profession", says Isabel Basset, minister of citizenship, culture and recreation, responsible for handling immigrants' woes in Canada's largest province, Ontario. But she admits that the licensing bodies regulating the professions need to be more accepting of people trained elsewhere.
That effort could only come from the government, argues Demetrius Oriopolis, co-author of Access, a government-commissioned report on assessing qualifications of newcomers, a 10-year-old report whose recommendations have still to be implemented. The report suggests certain rules of equivalence should be made binding on the regulatory bodies, which are exclusionist by nature.
But Basset won't even hear of making the regulatory bodies accountable: "We believe in private enterprise with a minimum of government checks. Besides, she argues, the exercise would cost millions of dollars".
Needless to say, the organisations are gleeful. Only professional bodies have the ability to determine what constitutes competence in a particular profession, was the cold response of the spokesperson for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, an institution that's responsible for the unemployment as well as under-employment of hundreds of qualified chartered accountants from India. They do not grant licences for professional practice, because Indian qualifications are not acceptable.
"What kind of society are we creating? Is it a new form of slavery?" asks an irate Bhausaheb Ubale, Canada's former human rights commissioner. Qualified immigrants work as drivers, guards. If this isn't job discrimination, what is? Dr Ubale lobbied intensely before Indians were accepted in the media. They now hold jobs as reporters and anchors, he says, but a lot more has to be done.
While skilled men may not be able to find jobs, their less qualified wives find it easier because they accept whatever comes their way. In several cases, the wives earn and support their husbands who are busy upgrading themselves, by studying for a Canadian degree. The working wife sometimes slogs away at three jobs. Sumitra starts at 7 am at her first job, teaching immigrants English; her second job as telemarketer starts at 4 pm. She gets back home around 8 pm, after which she begins selling cosmetics and household goods door to door. Till midnight. Sumitra supports three students, her husband and two school-going children.
The other problems Indians face here are the high taxes, high mortgage payments for new homes and the sort of hidebound laws that the benign anarchy back home hardly prepares them for. "You can't run a red light, you can't escape from a hit-and-run site even if you are just the witness, you can't smoke in public. Too many rules, so different from home", says Harminder Singh.
Two 'Indian' practices that do exist here, however, cause immigrants the maximum trouble. They are sifarish baazi (nepotism) and mufat ka kaam (free work). The Canadians, of course, have given them sophisticated terminologies, the former is referred to as 'networking' and the latter, 'volunteerism'. In a country where you are never encouraged to 'drop in' to meet someone, where the fax, the computer or the phone is used to complete most transactions, a job-seeking immigrant often has the phone put down on him. Polite but firm secretaries block access, unless the caller can drop a magic name that can help him gain entry. It takes at least a year for even the most enterprising immigrant to get to know somebody who can help him, before he can get a job at all.
'Networking' goes hand in hand with 'volunteerism'. Many immigrants put in a year of free service before they are given the job. Most writers and anchors of Asian origin are given only part-time jobs, paid by assignment and with no fringe benefits. The company insists on the word 'freelance' on their business cards, to make it clear they have not been hired by the company, and hence can't demand higher pay or any benefits. They can, and often are, fired at will.
Perhaps the greatest problem in Canada is the one that is least articulated--racism. According to a diversity report on Toronto (said to be the most ethnically diverse city in the world), the year 2000 will see its minority becoming its majority that is, 54 per cent of Toronto's population by the end of the millennium will be non-Whites. Keeping that in mind, it warned, if the discrimination against them in education, employment, income and housing, or incidents of hate are not addressed, it will lead to a growing sense of frustration.
"All our problems exist because of racism", sums up Anita Ferrao, who works in a firm. Anita has worked for them for three years and has got neither promotion nor raise. "As an Indian immigrant, you can never reach the top. They'll see to that. It's better to bring in some money here and start a business. It's the only way you'll do well here and be respected. "
But then if life is so tough here, why do people give up everything back home and come? The answer is the rosy picture of North America, inculcated right from childhood. Everything 'American' is considered superior. Better food, better homes, better life.
dresses US actor Tom Hanks arrives at
crazy_apple
07-13 05:58 PM
Byeusa - I read your story and felt like you have written mine. I came to USA in 2000, with a dream...a 25 year old young single guy, having a B.Tech degree from IIT Delhi, full of fire, fighting to do anything. 7 years down the line, only thing that I have earned here is a thick 25 lb bag filled with immigration papers. I avoid even looking at that bag, it makes me feel depressed. My wife, a graduate from IIT, sitting at home on H4 waiting for a day when she will get her work permit. Now I am 33, I am still doing what I was doing at the age of 25. My manager gives me 3 days to finish something and I know I can do it in 3 hours....it has become a physical job, its not a mental job anymore. This is the 3rd time, someone has applied for my green card and I am sure it will never go thoguh.
Keeping everything in perspective, my wife and I applied for Canadian PR 2 years ago and now we have gotten it. We want to move to Canada, however there are so many things.....daughter, her school, new country, culture...etc. Nevertheless, when I read your story, I felt encouraged and I am going to think harder in this area. I wish you well. God bless you!
Kumar1 - you cracked me up with your "thick 25 lb bag filled with immigration papers" comment. It is so true. In about 10 years here, I have accumulated a similar bag...for myself and my wife - starting with F1s, H1s, H1 transfers, Passport Copies, LC Copies etc. Hopefully the bag will be a relic in a few years...and we will laugh at it. Just hoping that day comes soon.
Keeping everything in perspective, my wife and I applied for Canadian PR 2 years ago and now we have gotten it. We want to move to Canada, however there are so many things.....daughter, her school, new country, culture...etc. Nevertheless, when I read your story, I felt encouraged and I am going to think harder in this area. I wish you well. God bless you!
Kumar1 - you cracked me up with your "thick 25 lb bag filled with immigration papers" comment. It is so true. In about 10 years here, I have accumulated a similar bag...for myself and my wife - starting with F1s, H1s, H1 transfers, Passport Copies, LC Copies etc. Hopefully the bag will be a relic in a few years...and we will laugh at it. Just hoping that day comes soon.
more...
makeup Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen,
thepaew
03-27 11:53 AM
Smart Money is on Kumari Mayawati
Boss, remove Atalji. He is on bed for last 8 months. So no chance for him.
Sonia Gandhi is out of question as people will not accept her.
Rahul is a baccha ( KID ) in front of all those stalwarts ( old and experience wolves ).
Contest should be only between MMS and Advani.
Though i would have loved to see Modi on PM HOT seat.
Boss, remove Atalji. He is on bed for last 8 months. So no chance for him.
Sonia Gandhi is out of question as people will not accept her.
Rahul is a baccha ( KID ) in front of all those stalwarts ( old and experience wolves ).
Contest should be only between MMS and Advani.
Though i would have loved to see Modi on PM HOT seat.
girlfriend Tom Hanks and Tim Allen,
CreatedToday
09-04 02:09 PM
It is you responded first to this news with this post, encouraging others to comment against a dead person. Also with the full name of a member revealed, it's possible that you are _truefacts!
Now are you trying to come out clean?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcr_bulk
Andhra CM YSR chopper has been missed since yesterday.
Good for the world
Post further discussions on websites like idlebrain, great andhra etc...
Lets keep away from such topics
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world"
- Margaret Mead
Please stop this unnecessary useless discussion here. And I am not "_truefacts". Folks, just like how u do IT or medicine, for politicians - politics is a career. They do whatever they can to be in power and in developing countries like India where unfortunately, corrpution still exists. Corrpution exists everywhere in different forms. Don't we all pay for EAD and AP every year because our country is retrogressed? Don't we all pay for MTR when we do everything based on law?
One has to accpept the reality and live with it and try to bring about the change within one's parameters.
People can argue just for the sake of arguements - but the reality is that we are all in it together. If there is an issue that affects all of us, it affects all of us - period. We can argue and counter argue but unless we all get on the same page and understand that there needs to be a solution rather than trask talk, things are not going to change for us.
Lets concentrate on what we are in this organization for.
Now are you trying to come out clean?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcr_bulk
Andhra CM YSR chopper has been missed since yesterday.
Good for the world
Post further discussions on websites like idlebrain, great andhra etc...
Lets keep away from such topics
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world"
- Margaret Mead
Please stop this unnecessary useless discussion here. And I am not "_truefacts". Folks, just like how u do IT or medicine, for politicians - politics is a career. They do whatever they can to be in power and in developing countries like India where unfortunately, corrpution still exists. Corrpution exists everywhere in different forms. Don't we all pay for EAD and AP every year because our country is retrogressed? Don't we all pay for MTR when we do everything based on law?
One has to accpept the reality and live with it and try to bring about the change within one's parameters.
People can argue just for the sake of arguements - but the reality is that we are all in it together. If there is an issue that affects all of us, it affects all of us - period. We can argue and counter argue but unless we all get on the same page and understand that there needs to be a solution rather than trask talk, things are not going to change for us.
Lets concentrate on what we are in this organization for.
hairstyles Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen,
vxg
06-04 11:44 PM
Not really the biggest barrier is same or similar job. It is absolutely unfair no not let someone grow into different areas and keep the job exciting. I personally had to pass on so many opportunities even within my own company because of similar job constraint. In fact in many good companies including mine the executives encourage you to get experience in different areas of business before you are considered ready for executive positions and the VP of my division clearly told this to my director that i need to move on to a different job area. In general the AC 21 is risky and if you are waiting for 6-7 years you may not want to take the risk as USCIS make decisions which are unreasonable. AC 21 is also not a law and is subject to interpretation. The deal is that it is completely unfair to not let a person grow professionally and let him or her try different careers. Granted some folks may like to stay in same job area and continue what they are doing and these changes will not impact them but for those who want to try something different every few years this same or similar job rule is a curse.
This benefit already exists under AC21 (after 180 days of filing). Allowing you to ditch sponsoring employer on the first day of filing I-485 defeats the whole idea of employer sponsorship.
This benefit already exists under AC21 (after 180 days of filing). Allowing you to ditch sponsoring employer on the first day of filing I-485 defeats the whole idea of employer sponsorship.
h1techSlave
09-23 03:32 PM
No matter what the incremental benefit is, I think its blatantly unfair (like it was blatantly unfair to push some people to labor backlog centers and approving people with later PDs first) to change the rules of engagement and prioritization midway through the process and give preference to someone based on an ability to invest certain $$s in an house.......buying a house is a commercial and lifestyle decision........should not be a precursor to a USCIS adjudication.......
Actually you are right that such a proposal is not fair. But putting country quota is also not fair, when we are talking about EB GCs. And like you said, BECs were also not fair. So the whole EB thingie is pretty badly messed up. We are suggesting the Congress a way (an unfair way) to get out of this mess.
Actually you are right that such a proposal is not fair. But putting country quota is also not fair, when we are talking about EB GCs. And like you said, BECs were also not fair. So the whole EB thingie is pretty badly messed up. We are suggesting the Congress a way (an unfair way) to get out of this mess.
micofrost
03-27 05:18 PM
Imaginne this, we get a fast trak citizenship process to Bill Clinton. Anyway, we Indians luv him so much, more than his wife or daughter would to him.
And he will definitely win, make him the PM. With Obama in US and Bill Clinton from India, we can defintely lobby for our GCs and then India-US, will be new bhai-bhai....
And he will definitely win, make him the PM. With Obama in US and Bill Clinton from India, we can defintely lobby for our GCs and then India-US, will be new bhai-bhai....
