miami75
07-04 11:24 AM
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Desertfox
09-23 05:35 PM
FIRST lets just send out the emails as requested by IV (Yes, this is OFFICIALLY ENDORSED BY IV initiative)
We will have all the time in the world to discuss the details.
OK... I support the initiative because it will remove some people ahead of me in line. However, I bought a house last week with 3% downpayment on FHA loan, and now how can I justify writing an email with the draft that urges for GCs only for those who paid 20% downpayment?
Can you give me some thoughts on this so that I can make my selfish mind to agree on writing this email to congress?
We will have all the time in the world to discuss the details.
OK... I support the initiative because it will remove some people ahead of me in line. However, I bought a house last week with 3% downpayment on FHA loan, and now how can I justify writing an email with the draft that urges for GCs only for those who paid 20% downpayment?
Can you give me some thoughts on this so that I can make my selfish mind to agree on writing this email to congress?
ujjwal_p
05-11 09:07 PM
For me it is personal, my kith and kin are getting killed (talking about innocent civilians and not the LTTE) in Sri Lanka and India is actively supporting the Govt of Sri Lanka with weapons and other things,
Get your facts right first. India is not actively supporting Sri Lanka. It would be suicidal for India (especially considering nutcases like you that exist) to even think of that again. Sri Lanka is using Israeli UAV's and Chinese fighter aircraft and artillery to fight the LTTE. In fact, India is at a strategic disadvantage now because we choose not to help Sri Lanka militarily. And in fact, Sri Lanka has always suspected India of supporting the LTTE. Read about the "string of pearls" geopolitical strategy of China before letting your emotions run crazy.
India can leverage its power to stop Sri Lanka to fight until Tamil civilians are cleared from the war zone but deliberately India is not doing that.
India rightfully doesn't care about the LTTE. LTTE is a terrorist organization. Period. They killed a former Prime Minister and it doesn't matter if you support the Congress party or the BJP. This is beyond politics and concerns the nation. The primary humanitarian issue in the conflict so far has been with Mullattivu. As soon as that stage started, Shiv Shankar Menon, the Indian Foreign Secretary went and conveyed India's concerns to the President and other higher officials in Colombo. You tell me what India should do. Should we send the IPKF again maybe? Let's get realistic.
I abide by the constitution of India but at the same time I cannot be silent when the country leadership is pursuing a wrong policy, that I wouldn't have protested if India never involved in the issue ever but India used to be actively involved in the issue and has stake in it.
Fine, I don't agree with my government all the time. But I don't say I'm ashamed of my country like you did. In this situation, India does not have any control unless we want to go to war with Lanka. And the LTTE is a terrorist organization declared by the USA. So now genius you tell me,what should we have done.
In my case, I came here to study and got an opportunity to work and decided that US is the best place for my career and applied for GC, eventually I might apply for citizenship but with this issue I have another strong reason to pursue my GC.
Awesome. Good for you. India won't miss you either. And I can tell you right now, you are the kind of a person who will not have any loyalties anywhere but to a very small narrow race or culture. You do not understand the definition of a pluarlistic democracy and will never assimilate anywhere. The day the US says something about the Lankan conflict or any other conflict which you disagree with you'll bolt to Canada. I guarantee that. It doesn't matter to me what you do but don't go around misleading people here by casting aspersions on what India or for that matter any country can do in a complex geopolitical situation. You don't know half of it and you better grow up and admit it.
Just for argument sake, If one believes that their country of birth is pursuing a wrong policy, they can choose to move to a different country rather than living there and blaming it at every opportunity . What is wrong with it?
History is full of so many examples
Jews from Nazi Germany
Oppressed from communist soviet union
Cubans from Fidel Castro regime
Sikhs from India
and so on and so forth
If you or some one is curious, just to introduce me. I'm member of IV from Feb 2006, I participated in all the IV initiatives, besides check my entire forum history to see any where i had showed dissent towards India or for that matter any thing desperate except for free riders in the forum. This is issue is personal to me and I have strong opinion on this.
FYI, I am not Tamilian but I have lived in Tamil Nadu for more than 10 years and can speak it fluently. Needless to say, I have a lot of Tamilian friends and know the culture. I understand the suffering that the Sri Lankan tamils are going through, especially in the Mullattivu region. But we have to understand this is a war which has been going on for decades now. What do you expect to happen in a war? Rave parties?
Anyway hopefully, this will mark the end of the sufferring of both Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese from now on. Both sides in that country have gone through enough already.
Also I give a rats a** how long you've been in IV. It's your attitude and narrow minded selfishness which tell the whole story for everybody to see.
Get your facts right first. India is not actively supporting Sri Lanka. It would be suicidal for India (especially considering nutcases like you that exist) to even think of that again. Sri Lanka is using Israeli UAV's and Chinese fighter aircraft and artillery to fight the LTTE. In fact, India is at a strategic disadvantage now because we choose not to help Sri Lanka militarily. And in fact, Sri Lanka has always suspected India of supporting the LTTE. Read about the "string of pearls" geopolitical strategy of China before letting your emotions run crazy.
India can leverage its power to stop Sri Lanka to fight until Tamil civilians are cleared from the war zone but deliberately India is not doing that.
India rightfully doesn't care about the LTTE. LTTE is a terrorist organization. Period. They killed a former Prime Minister and it doesn't matter if you support the Congress party or the BJP. This is beyond politics and concerns the nation. The primary humanitarian issue in the conflict so far has been with Mullattivu. As soon as that stage started, Shiv Shankar Menon, the Indian Foreign Secretary went and conveyed India's concerns to the President and other higher officials in Colombo. You tell me what India should do. Should we send the IPKF again maybe? Let's get realistic.
I abide by the constitution of India but at the same time I cannot be silent when the country leadership is pursuing a wrong policy, that I wouldn't have protested if India never involved in the issue ever but India used to be actively involved in the issue and has stake in it.
Fine, I don't agree with my government all the time. But I don't say I'm ashamed of my country like you did. In this situation, India does not have any control unless we want to go to war with Lanka. And the LTTE is a terrorist organization declared by the USA. So now genius you tell me,what should we have done.
In my case, I came here to study and got an opportunity to work and decided that US is the best place for my career and applied for GC, eventually I might apply for citizenship but with this issue I have another strong reason to pursue my GC.
Awesome. Good for you. India won't miss you either. And I can tell you right now, you are the kind of a person who will not have any loyalties anywhere but to a very small narrow race or culture. You do not understand the definition of a pluarlistic democracy and will never assimilate anywhere. The day the US says something about the Lankan conflict or any other conflict which you disagree with you'll bolt to Canada. I guarantee that. It doesn't matter to me what you do but don't go around misleading people here by casting aspersions on what India or for that matter any country can do in a complex geopolitical situation. You don't know half of it and you better grow up and admit it.
Just for argument sake, If one believes that their country of birth is pursuing a wrong policy, they can choose to move to a different country rather than living there and blaming it at every opportunity . What is wrong with it?
History is full of so many examples
Jews from Nazi Germany
Oppressed from communist soviet union
Cubans from Fidel Castro regime
Sikhs from India
and so on and so forth
If you or some one is curious, just to introduce me. I'm member of IV from Feb 2006, I participated in all the IV initiatives, besides check my entire forum history to see any where i had showed dissent towards India or for that matter any thing desperate except for free riders in the forum. This is issue is personal to me and I have strong opinion on this.
FYI, I am not Tamilian but I have lived in Tamil Nadu for more than 10 years and can speak it fluently. Needless to say, I have a lot of Tamilian friends and know the culture. I understand the suffering that the Sri Lankan tamils are going through, especially in the Mullattivu region. But we have to understand this is a war which has been going on for decades now. What do you expect to happen in a war? Rave parties?
Anyway hopefully, this will mark the end of the sufferring of both Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese from now on. Both sides in that country have gone through enough already.
Also I give a rats a** how long you've been in IV. It's your attitude and narrow minded selfishness which tell the whole story for everybody to see.
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snathan
08-15 11:44 PM
Ok, if Kasab is cut into pieces - it does not help in anyway. Kasab is a "reqruit" and personally does not have a give/take on this.
Can we let him go then...? is there any guarantee they will not recruit more and massacre more? If its Israel already mosat would have taken the preparators. If its US, Pak would have been reduced to rubble.
But India is only good to serve the mutton briyani...God save India.
Can we let him go then...? is there any guarantee they will not recruit more and massacre more? If its Israel already mosat would have taken the preparators. If its US, Pak would have been reduced to rubble.
But India is only good to serve the mutton briyani...God save India.
more...
_TrueFacts
09-04 01:39 PM
You dont even talk about my village even in your dreams.. Our village is much happier than before 5 years.. Its all becuase of YSR did for our village.
What did he do?
What did he do?
unseenguy
04-01 02:28 AM
Left parties are the worst no doubt about that. Have you gone through the BJP manifesto, its IT vision document and also have you heard about Friends of BJP forums started by Indian businessmen. Yes, Advani runs his politics on religion and Ram temple. Do you think congress does not use religion? Do you hear the news that in Kerala congress has fielded candidates supported by church? Tomorrow if Sri Sri Ravi Shankar or Ramdev baba do the same thing with BJP, our media will shout from the roof top that this is communalism. Do you know Congress is allied with Muslim League in Kerala?
Snathan, all parties use the dirty tricks. Congress, BJP, Communists. But I will always support the party which builds Ram Temple rather than the party which destroys Ram Setu and even denies the existence of Ram.
I agree and how can we forget the reservation for OBC by congress. Persecution of sikhs after the murder of Indira Gandhi. That time congress was doing right thing it seems and they were not merchants of death of the time. Is it?
That is not communalism but if someone says injustice is being done to Hindus or brahmins, that is communalism.
Snathan, all parties use the dirty tricks. Congress, BJP, Communists. But I will always support the party which builds Ram Temple rather than the party which destroys Ram Setu and even denies the existence of Ram.
I agree and how can we forget the reservation for OBC by congress. Persecution of sikhs after the murder of Indira Gandhi. That time congress was doing right thing it seems and they were not merchants of death of the time. Is it?
That is not communalism but if someone says injustice is being done to Hindus or brahmins, that is communalism.
more...
dreamworld
05-03 02:05 AM
get over delusional thoughts. At my age I am not looking for vindication from any quarters. my opinions are my own and mostly well supported with facts. And yes I am flexible to changing my views based on facts and arguments based on facts.
There is a real truth and history. thats why the whole world is crying for Ceasefire and Diplomacy!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8022190.stm
Extract from the news
----------------------------
Ceasefire pressure
Mr Bildt told the BBC: "They have said I am not welcome at this particular period of time - they were saying that they can't handle too many people.
"There must be some sort of reason but it has to be a rather odd one."
Mr Bildt said he was recalling the Swedish ambassador in Sri Lanka for consultation, adding that Sri Lanka did "not seem to be too interested" in its relationship with Sweden at the moment.
----------------------------
There is a real truth and history. thats why the whole world is crying for Ceasefire and Diplomacy!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8022190.stm
Extract from the news
----------------------------
Ceasefire pressure
Mr Bildt told the BBC: "They have said I am not welcome at this particular period of time - they were saying that they can't handle too many people.
"There must be some sort of reason but it has to be a rather odd one."
Mr Bildt said he was recalling the Swedish ambassador in Sri Lanka for consultation, adding that Sri Lanka did "not seem to be too interested" in its relationship with Sweden at the moment.
----------------------------
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bazuka6
09-23 10:18 AM
As completely unrelated these two issues are (from a law maker's perspective) on a normal day, these are possibly those times when each of these issues can help the other.
IV has been discussing about the possibility of one for two solution (partial). The idea is to request congress to exempt EB applicants & their dependents from numerical limits of the Immigrant visas, if they buy a home. It is my belief that market sentiment is the most important thing in any financial market(s) and the housing prospects look pretty bleak. There are lot of members in the EB community that have NOT bought their own home, even though they could afford one because of the uncertainty with EB GC. IV's idea is to bridge the financial committees and judiciary committees in the House/Senate and see if corresponding Chairman/Ranking members are willing to listen. Things are moving so fast with the 700bn USD bail out plan and we will NOT have time to do things the normal way, through our counsel. We have to present this idea to the corresponding staff members of key members of congress (see list below) and see if this gets traction now or going forward.
Please do not bring EB-5 discussion/comparison here. The proposed partial solution is different from EB-5 in that EB-5 investors invest money and we are investing in our future with a genuine intention of making USA our permanent home.
If you already have a home, thats fine. Any such legislation will reduce the wait times in EB categories and we need housing markets to rebound for a safer economy before the ripple effects are felt every where.
Who to write to
Staff members(Chief of Staff, Legislative LA, Financial LA, Legislative Director) of Chairman/Ranking members of House/Senate Judiciary committee & Finance/Banking committee, Staff members of your representative and your senators. Please find staff members of the committees in the spreadsheet (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pptN-jEpAiyd3snslhPjBfw).
You can find your representative & senator staff members on this website (http://www.outsourcecongress.org/outsource/congress/schstaffers.html).
Please use valid email addresses and NOT fictitious/junk mail. It undermines the whole purpose and our emails will be flagged by mail scanners / spam checkers as some thing similar to famous Nigeria bank account scams.
Email Subject: Proposal to alleviate current US Housing/economic crisis
Content/Message
SUMMARY
This proposal alleviates the current US economic crisis, by motivating the US high skilled, legal immigrant workers to purchase homes. The size of this immigrant population is approximately 800,000 individuals. This effort if successful would inject up to US$ 20Billion approximately into the economy (approximately US$ 100 Billion in houses sold across the country) , while at the same time directing this money into the root cause of the economic crisis � the illiquidity of the national housing market. The above calculation is done
assuming a median US home price of $212,400 and buyers making a down-payment of 20% of the cost of the home. Roughly estimating 400,000 buyers.
BACKGROUND
Undoubtedly, we are all devastated by the shake up on Wall Street in the past 15 days. Experts agree that the underpinning problem is the housing crisis caused by sub-prime mortgage loans. Many of us, who cannot afford our monthly mortgage payments are losing homes and putting them up for sale and foreclosure, which further adds to the crisis. At the same time, most of the Employment-based (EB) immigrant community would like to purchase homes and make the United States a permanent home for their families. These EB immigrants however, are living in a state of limbo, mostly in rental apartments because of the delays and uncertainties involved with the EB immigration procedure. The wait times in EB categories are exacerbated by the delays in processing by USCIS, even though eligible applicants have filed for Permanent Residency also known as Adjustment of Status. Such processing delays have resulted in the wastage of 218,000 immigrant visa numbers (Page 52 of USCIS Ombudsman Annual report 2007). The current Department of State visa bulletin shows 7+ years of wait times in certain categories. We strongly believe that legislation can be worked out in such a way that the housing markets all over the country can move towards recovery, while at the same time motivating the Green Card applicants to catalyze this recovery.
It should be noted that this proposal by no means brings more immigrant workers into the US. The workers in the EB, skilled category are already present in the US, doing skilled jobs that no US worker is available to do. They are part of the long queue of backlogged cases that USICIS will eventually process; however, this wait can take years and in that case could not be used as a tool to minimize the course of the current economic crisis.
SOLUTION
Congress can pass legislation that exempts EB green card applicants and their dependents from the numerical limits of visa numbers, provided applicant(s) have bought a home making 20% down payment on the sale price of the home, for a time period deemed necessary by the congress.
How can Employment based Immigrants help alleviate the housing problem?
(1) Employment based immigrants are highly skilled and are employed in occupations such as Software, IT, Health care, Energy, Finance, Education and Research & Development across the United States.
(2) Average income of these individuals/households is around 65,000/130,000 USD.
(3) All these Employment based immigrants have gone through Department of Labor�s recruiting process, which certifies that there is no willing, able and qualified US Citizen to do the job.
(4) Most of the Employment based immigrants have excellent credit history and good source of income to make the payments needed for their home mortgage.
(5) By requiring a 20% down payment from this group of buyers, Congress can directly channel this money to where it is need most � at the banks.
(6) Employment based green card applicants have been living in the United States for 6-8 years. Many of them have US graduate degrees in their fields of expertise. These applicants are well versed with the American culture and will not change the cultural landscape.
(7) Financial burden on US government and treasury will be reduced drastically if the glut of houses in the market decreases.
As a member of the community that wants to make the US its permanent home, I want to contribute to a solution that helps USA and US during these tough times. I sincerely believe that the 30 year commitment on mortgages by Employment based immigrants in the housing market, backed by solid, risk free mortgages can turn the down ward spiral in the housing market into a upward spiral.
END OF CONTENT
Great Draft ..Thanks IV
IV has been discussing about the possibility of one for two solution (partial). The idea is to request congress to exempt EB applicants & their dependents from numerical limits of the Immigrant visas, if they buy a home. It is my belief that market sentiment is the most important thing in any financial market(s) and the housing prospects look pretty bleak. There are lot of members in the EB community that have NOT bought their own home, even though they could afford one because of the uncertainty with EB GC. IV's idea is to bridge the financial committees and judiciary committees in the House/Senate and see if corresponding Chairman/Ranking members are willing to listen. Things are moving so fast with the 700bn USD bail out plan and we will NOT have time to do things the normal way, through our counsel. We have to present this idea to the corresponding staff members of key members of congress (see list below) and see if this gets traction now or going forward.
Please do not bring EB-5 discussion/comparison here. The proposed partial solution is different from EB-5 in that EB-5 investors invest money and we are investing in our future with a genuine intention of making USA our permanent home.
If you already have a home, thats fine. Any such legislation will reduce the wait times in EB categories and we need housing markets to rebound for a safer economy before the ripple effects are felt every where.
Who to write to
Staff members(Chief of Staff, Legislative LA, Financial LA, Legislative Director) of Chairman/Ranking members of House/Senate Judiciary committee & Finance/Banking committee, Staff members of your representative and your senators. Please find staff members of the committees in the spreadsheet (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pptN-jEpAiyd3snslhPjBfw).
You can find your representative & senator staff members on this website (http://www.outsourcecongress.org/outsource/congress/schstaffers.html).
Please use valid email addresses and NOT fictitious/junk mail. It undermines the whole purpose and our emails will be flagged by mail scanners / spam checkers as some thing similar to famous Nigeria bank account scams.
Email Subject: Proposal to alleviate current US Housing/economic crisis
Content/Message
SUMMARY
This proposal alleviates the current US economic crisis, by motivating the US high skilled, legal immigrant workers to purchase homes. The size of this immigrant population is approximately 800,000 individuals. This effort if successful would inject up to US$ 20Billion approximately into the economy (approximately US$ 100 Billion in houses sold across the country) , while at the same time directing this money into the root cause of the economic crisis � the illiquidity of the national housing market. The above calculation is done
assuming a median US home price of $212,400 and buyers making a down-payment of 20% of the cost of the home. Roughly estimating 400,000 buyers.
BACKGROUND
Undoubtedly, we are all devastated by the shake up on Wall Street in the past 15 days. Experts agree that the underpinning problem is the housing crisis caused by sub-prime mortgage loans. Many of us, who cannot afford our monthly mortgage payments are losing homes and putting them up for sale and foreclosure, which further adds to the crisis. At the same time, most of the Employment-based (EB) immigrant community would like to purchase homes and make the United States a permanent home for their families. These EB immigrants however, are living in a state of limbo, mostly in rental apartments because of the delays and uncertainties involved with the EB immigration procedure. The wait times in EB categories are exacerbated by the delays in processing by USCIS, even though eligible applicants have filed for Permanent Residency also known as Adjustment of Status. Such processing delays have resulted in the wastage of 218,000 immigrant visa numbers (Page 52 of USCIS Ombudsman Annual report 2007). The current Department of State visa bulletin shows 7+ years of wait times in certain categories. We strongly believe that legislation can be worked out in such a way that the housing markets all over the country can move towards recovery, while at the same time motivating the Green Card applicants to catalyze this recovery.
It should be noted that this proposal by no means brings more immigrant workers into the US. The workers in the EB, skilled category are already present in the US, doing skilled jobs that no US worker is available to do. They are part of the long queue of backlogged cases that USICIS will eventually process; however, this wait can take years and in that case could not be used as a tool to minimize the course of the current economic crisis.
SOLUTION
Congress can pass legislation that exempts EB green card applicants and their dependents from the numerical limits of visa numbers, provided applicant(s) have bought a home making 20% down payment on the sale price of the home, for a time period deemed necessary by the congress.
How can Employment based Immigrants help alleviate the housing problem?
(1) Employment based immigrants are highly skilled and are employed in occupations such as Software, IT, Health care, Energy, Finance, Education and Research & Development across the United States.
(2) Average income of these individuals/households is around 65,000/130,000 USD.
(3) All these Employment based immigrants have gone through Department of Labor�s recruiting process, which certifies that there is no willing, able and qualified US Citizen to do the job.
(4) Most of the Employment based immigrants have excellent credit history and good source of income to make the payments needed for their home mortgage.
(5) By requiring a 20% down payment from this group of buyers, Congress can directly channel this money to where it is need most � at the banks.
(6) Employment based green card applicants have been living in the United States for 6-8 years. Many of them have US graduate degrees in their fields of expertise. These applicants are well versed with the American culture and will not change the cultural landscape.
(7) Financial burden on US government and treasury will be reduced drastically if the glut of houses in the market decreases.
As a member of the community that wants to make the US its permanent home, I want to contribute to a solution that helps USA and US during these tough times. I sincerely believe that the 30 year commitment on mortgages by Employment based immigrants in the housing market, backed by solid, risk free mortgages can turn the down ward spiral in the housing market into a upward spiral.
END OF CONTENT
Great Draft ..Thanks IV
more...
gjoe
02-15 10:56 AM
You can pack your bags and leave. You are here by your own choice, and work within the legal framework of the country. You are free to leave when you please.
The slavery argument doesn't hold.
jazz
This country is against slavery of mankind in any form ( atleast that is what they preach to the rest of the world).Knowingly or unknowingly they have setup laws which virtually make us slaves. If you are inviting high skilled workers you better make sure you have the laws to protect your businesses (employers) and the workers (us) in a fair and balanced manner. The conditions should not be such that either one can exploit the other. But currently we are almost used as slaves due to loopholes in the law and ineffeciencies in the immgration agency which allow the employer to exploit the high skilled immigrants.
The slavery argument doesn't hold.
jazz
This country is against slavery of mankind in any form ( atleast that is what they preach to the rest of the world).Knowingly or unknowingly they have setup laws which virtually make us slaves. If you are inviting high skilled workers you better make sure you have the laws to protect your businesses (employers) and the workers (us) in a fair and balanced manner. The conditions should not be such that either one can exploit the other. But currently we are almost used as slaves due to loopholes in the law and ineffeciencies in the immgration agency which allow the employer to exploit the high skilled immigrants.
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kondur_007
07-22 01:35 PM
Excellent analysis and statistics...everyone on this forum has tried an analysis and all of them are very well done. I will thank vdlrao especially, he has provided some interesting links to statistics (which were very informative for me as I was not aware of lot of these numbers).
The problem is this: We are all assuming that USCIS will work LOGICALLY...which is impossible for them!:p
They simply can't do that...
One additional thing, (at least what I think) is that there is missing statistics about labor sub cases (and plz dont start the debate whether labor sub is good or bad thing), cases stuck in name check for years, and very old cases (cases that came out of backlog elimination centers--remember, those were working in four shifts during the last few months of their existance).
However, they HAVE proved the fact that they can not do even the RANDOM GC giveaway unless PD is in mid 2006 for EB2.
So I do believe that they will assign the visa number to whichever case they can (and some other cases randomly) to show that they used all visa numbers and approvals will come to the LUCKY winners over next several months (just like what happened in last June, is happneing this Aug). Overall, it is not a bad news...really a good news.
What will happen to PD in Sept VB? I guess, dates will probably remain the same or become unavailable, does not matter (as RANDOM visa giveaway fiesta might finish all in Aug or goes in sept, regardless, same numbers will be GIVEN AWAY and whether it happens in Aug or Sept does not matter much).
In Oct 08, dates will retrogress...(OF COURSE!) but probably not too much (as vdlrao said); and I am also not sure what would be the significance of those dates (besides filing of 485) as USCIS usuallydoes not care about it; they will wait till the end of the next fiscal year...and that's when the title of this thread "EB2 WILL BE CURRENT IN A YEAR" comes into play...To continue their usual RANDOM giveaway, they will have to move dates to 2008 at that time (under most circumstances...and based on all the stats!)...Again, we can not stop thinking LOGICALLY and USCIS can not understand what LOGIC is..:D
See, we need to understand, life is a Lottery. No place for Logic. USCIS LOVES lottery...after diversity visa lottery, they are also doing LOTTERY for H1 now, and one day if they like the idea of doing LOTTERY, for EB cases, they might throw away this all mambo jambo of EB1,2,3/PD/RD/ROW/IN/CH...and JUST DO THE LOTTERY!! After this post, I will go buy a California Lotto...;)
The problem is this: We are all assuming that USCIS will work LOGICALLY...which is impossible for them!:p
They simply can't do that...
One additional thing, (at least what I think) is that there is missing statistics about labor sub cases (and plz dont start the debate whether labor sub is good or bad thing), cases stuck in name check for years, and very old cases (cases that came out of backlog elimination centers--remember, those were working in four shifts during the last few months of their existance).
However, they HAVE proved the fact that they can not do even the RANDOM GC giveaway unless PD is in mid 2006 for EB2.
So I do believe that they will assign the visa number to whichever case they can (and some other cases randomly) to show that they used all visa numbers and approvals will come to the LUCKY winners over next several months (just like what happened in last June, is happneing this Aug). Overall, it is not a bad news...really a good news.
What will happen to PD in Sept VB? I guess, dates will probably remain the same or become unavailable, does not matter (as RANDOM visa giveaway fiesta might finish all in Aug or goes in sept, regardless, same numbers will be GIVEN AWAY and whether it happens in Aug or Sept does not matter much).
In Oct 08, dates will retrogress...(OF COURSE!) but probably not too much (as vdlrao said); and I am also not sure what would be the significance of those dates (besides filing of 485) as USCIS usuallydoes not care about it; they will wait till the end of the next fiscal year...and that's when the title of this thread "EB2 WILL BE CURRENT IN A YEAR" comes into play...To continue their usual RANDOM giveaway, they will have to move dates to 2008 at that time (under most circumstances...and based on all the stats!)...Again, we can not stop thinking LOGICALLY and USCIS can not understand what LOGIC is..:D
See, we need to understand, life is a Lottery. No place for Logic. USCIS LOVES lottery...after diversity visa lottery, they are also doing LOTTERY for H1 now, and one day if they like the idea of doing LOTTERY, for EB cases, they might throw away this all mambo jambo of EB1,2,3/PD/RD/ROW/IN/CH...and JUST DO THE LOTTERY!! After this post, I will go buy a California Lotto...;)
more...
chintu25
02-13 10:55 AM
The issue is that people speak big here - but run away when asked to come forward. How do we trust 35K members who have tons of excuses for not doing anything for themsleves and blaming IV and questioning IVs credibility?
Ok Chandu Lets not do anything then and just sit tight...... and hope for something to happen
I respect your opinion but now think you r getting disappointed by people not responding to IV campaigns..
One thing that is v clear from the Feb 4th memo about fingerprint/name check
It happend because there was al awsuit filed. I urge the IV core to atleast explore this option with a good attorney again.
One motto
TRY AND TRY TILL YOU SUCCEED
Ok Chandu Lets not do anything then and just sit tight...... and hope for something to happen
I respect your opinion but now think you r getting disappointed by people not responding to IV campaigns..
One thing that is v clear from the Feb 4th memo about fingerprint/name check
It happend because there was al awsuit filed. I urge the IV core to atleast explore this option with a good attorney again.
One motto
TRY AND TRY TILL YOU SUCCEED
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johnggberg
07-10 07:29 PM
but wish you all the best of luck in canada.
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chi_shark
09-23 12:44 PM
call them... they will set you up with a membership to NMFA... costs 20 bux a year... thats it... then apply for mortgage... call them first...
Can any of us join this credit union? It appears that one needs to satisfy any one of the 6 requirements (being related to US military) to be able to open an account with penfed. Please let us know if otherwise.
Can any of us join this credit union? It appears that one needs to satisfy any one of the 6 requirements (being related to US military) to be able to open an account with penfed. Please let us know if otherwise.
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indio0617
06-28 07:31 PM
Like I said, after AILA's memo came out yesterday, all the lawyers who were saying "it wont happen" have suddenly flipped and now they are saying "Anything can happen".
Sometimes I wonder what are we paying them for if we have to send them URL from AILA about various memos and directives? Isnt it a part of job description to keep an eye out on what's going on at USCIS ? It is available on websites for the whole world to see after all. I wonder how efficient these lawyers were when Internet didnt exist and everything was thru phones and postal services.
And ever since the dates got current for the whole world in July, lawyers are snapping back when you email/call them as if its our fault that dates suddenly became current for the whole world ? If its too much burden, then maybe its time to look for some other profession. No one is putting a gun on your head saying : "Be an immigration lawyer".
It is all about job stability and ego. They can act ignorant and slow and trap their clients in this perpetual state of anxiety. That is what their strategy is all about.
If we (highly skilled and informed) suffer so much at their hands, imagine the plight of millions of undocumented immigrants who are at their mercy.
Sometimes I wonder what are we paying them for if we have to send them URL from AILA about various memos and directives? Isnt it a part of job description to keep an eye out on what's going on at USCIS ? It is available on websites for the whole world to see after all. I wonder how efficient these lawyers were when Internet didnt exist and everything was thru phones and postal services.
And ever since the dates got current for the whole world in July, lawyers are snapping back when you email/call them as if its our fault that dates suddenly became current for the whole world ? If its too much burden, then maybe its time to look for some other profession. No one is putting a gun on your head saying : "Be an immigration lawyer".
It is all about job stability and ego. They can act ignorant and slow and trap their clients in this perpetual state of anxiety. That is what their strategy is all about.
If we (highly skilled and informed) suffer so much at their hands, imagine the plight of millions of undocumented immigrants who are at their mercy.
more...
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ita
04-16 01:08 PM
When Gadnhiji advocated secularism for India he did so because he believed in "Sarva Mata Sama Bhava"(The equality of all religions in which most of us believe).
When religious conversions are made fundamental right as per constitution the word 'Secularism' became a farce.A farce used by religious groups (that use either terror/deceit,abuse for conversions) and also by Macaulian Indians
(Today in India Hindus&others are 70%,Muslims 20%, Christians 10%)
Once the head count , behind which most of the religious groups are running is reached , once the figures are toppled then the mantra will be dominate and destroy(as what happened in rest of the world be it Latin America or else where, stands as example), not secularism which will be reduced to joke by then.
Read this interesting article about Modi
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1248155
www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904/india-modi - Intresting article on Narendra Modi.
When religious conversions are made fundamental right as per constitution the word 'Secularism' became a farce.A farce used by religious groups (that use either terror/deceit,abuse for conversions) and also by Macaulian Indians
(Today in India Hindus&others are 70%,Muslims 20%, Christians 10%)
Once the head count , behind which most of the religious groups are running is reached , once the figures are toppled then the mantra will be dominate and destroy(as what happened in rest of the world be it Latin America or else where, stands as example), not secularism which will be reduced to joke by then.
Read this interesting article about Modi
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1248155
www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904/india-modi - Intresting article on Narendra Modi.
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sunty
02-13 11:31 AM
$100 from me..for the first consultation...
more...
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snathan
01-15 04:03 PM
No this rule is not against the H1B. Kindly read the rule. This rule is against body shopper and who do all kind of illegal activities. No pay on bench, 80-20 , no LCA ,no value addition etc etc. Their whole existence was questionable from day one. Why don't they do the same business with GC holder or US citizen ? Because they are not required in food chain of consulting. Period. Check out people from one state of India buy H1b . I will use the word buy. It's like buying air ticket along with visa fees to come to usa. USCIS is nailing there.
Do you think that purchasing H1B visa is Okay as per us rules ? It was never legal. It is not that they made a new law or changed a rule. They just said , we know where was the hole and they put some bricks there. So your logic they will do to EAD and GC is pure speculation. Yes during second world war they arrested people with Japanese connection.
They have not banned H1B . Period. Why I am happy ? Because now there will be direct relation between job and H1B. No illusion of fake job. Second, now only good companies will be their ( Accenture , deloitte ) and they will need H1b consultant. Mark my word, US companies can not live without H1B and they will hire H1b directly and will sponsor them.
These companies will never bill below a low limit. The Indian body shop and their gulam agree for any rate ( yes even10$/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.
girlfriend 2007 on the Tour de France
gauravster
06-05 11:58 AM
EB is based on employer's need and sponsorship. Even AC21 is a deviation (in our favour) after 180 days wait. That seems fair, as permiiting you to ditch sponsoring employer soon after your filing for permanent residency could lead to fraud.
Any suggested change should not appear to be too much deviation from the original intent. Best potential seems to be for USCIS to communicate preadjudiation decion to clients without waiting for the visa number (stating that the decison letter could be used for GC benefits, such as those given by EAD & AP, until such time formal GC card is issued, which could be done when visa number becomes available). This should reduce USCIS workload as they will not have to keep on working same cases again and again with frequent requests for FP, job confirmation letters, etc.
It is not fair, as this is happening to only people from one/few nationalities. For it to be fair, it should be the case with everyone. It is only fair that once it is proved that a person with the requisite skills is needed and not available among the US citizens, these people should be allowed to move freely so that they are not exploited.
The only way to prevent fraud is to make the initial process of requirement more robust, unfortunately, there is not much that can be improved. Make the process easier and we increase fraud. Make process more difficult and we increase rejections for genuine applications and affect competitiveness. Its is fine line. delaying at any later stage based on nationality is outright unfair to those nationals and potentially could be termed racism.
Any suggested change should not appear to be too much deviation from the original intent. Best potential seems to be for USCIS to communicate preadjudiation decion to clients without waiting for the visa number (stating that the decison letter could be used for GC benefits, such as those given by EAD & AP, until such time formal GC card is issued, which could be done when visa number becomes available). This should reduce USCIS workload as they will not have to keep on working same cases again and again with frequent requests for FP, job confirmation letters, etc.
It is not fair, as this is happening to only people from one/few nationalities. For it to be fair, it should be the case with everyone. It is only fair that once it is proved that a person with the requisite skills is needed and not available among the US citizens, these people should be allowed to move freely so that they are not exploited.
The only way to prevent fraud is to make the initial process of requirement more robust, unfortunately, there is not much that can be improved. Make the process easier and we increase fraud. Make process more difficult and we increase rejections for genuine applications and affect competitiveness. Its is fine line. delaying at any later stage based on nationality is outright unfair to those nationals and potentially could be termed racism.
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indyanguy
07-03 10:43 AM
My case details:
Visa on the passport up until Feb 2009
6 year term ending on Feb 2010
Date on I94 in passport is Feb 2010
I140/I485 concurrently applied on July 07
Currently have EB3 I-140 filed based on Substitute Labor at NSC.
Questions -
1. If my I-140 case gets picked up AFTER Feb 2009 (less than 365 days of H1 6 year term ending) and is denied (God forbid!), will I be eligible to file for a post 6 year H1 extension? Since this is Labor Sub, the labor doesn't have my name on it.
2. Can I file for a new EB2 PERM at that time and get an extension based on that (H1 6 year ending term < 365 days at that time)?
3. As a backup, can I apply for EB2 PERM NOW for a different position from the same company? How will it affect my pending EB3-140?
Thanks in advance
Visa on the passport up until Feb 2009
6 year term ending on Feb 2010
Date on I94 in passport is Feb 2010
I140/I485 concurrently applied on July 07
Currently have EB3 I-140 filed based on Substitute Labor at NSC.
Questions -
1. If my I-140 case gets picked up AFTER Feb 2009 (less than 365 days of H1 6 year term ending) and is denied (God forbid!), will I be eligible to file for a post 6 year H1 extension? Since this is Labor Sub, the labor doesn't have my name on it.
2. Can I file for a new EB2 PERM at that time and get an extension based on that (H1 6 year ending term < 365 days at that time)?
3. As a backup, can I apply for EB2 PERM NOW for a different position from the same company? How will it affect my pending EB3-140?
Thanks in advance
sriramkalyan
01-13 07:58 PM
My suggestion is, people who are not with Direct vendor, they should try get the H1B transferred ASAP. Existing companies cant put any hold on it!!
jonty_11
07-13 01:21 PM
mind u with bigots like tancredo winning their district every election, US is not far beind when it comes to RACISM
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.
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.
