file485
12-20 01:18 PM
guys..
my question in all this excitement..
2yrs on h1 + 5yrs on h4 is eligible for 4yrs of H1...??!!
please post...
my question in all this excitement..
2yrs on h1 + 5yrs on h4 is eligible for 4yrs of H1...??!!
please post...
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gcsngh
08-31 08:22 PM
Most of us Indians..sad to say are self centred...chicken hearted community...awakening has to come from inside...you can take the horse to the pond but cannot force it to drink it...:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
saggi13
02-17 10:17 PM
to be honest with you, i dont know what USCIS is doing...
i am hoping that they are processing the case, but i am in the same boat as any one else on this thread.
i am hoping that they are processing the case, but i am in the same boat as any one else on this thread.
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senthil1
02-11 11:18 AM
Eb2 will move gradually but it may move up to 2006 or 2007 as Eb1 spill over and Eb1 and Eb2 spillover from other countries will be transferred to Indian and Chinese Eb2. Again it depends on how many people are waiting in Eb2
sachung22,
Approximately what cut off dates your expect for EB2/3 by Aug'09?
sachung22,
Approximately what cut off dates your expect for EB2/3 by Aug'09?
more...
logiclife
01-09 12:14 PM
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTML
FAQs About COBRA Continuation Health Coverage
What is COBRA continuation health coverage?
Congress passed the landmark Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions in 1986. The law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to provide continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated.
What does COBRA do?
COBRA provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. This coverage, however, is only available when coverage is lost due to certain specific events. Group health coverage for COBRA participants is usually more expensive than health coverage for active employees, since usually the employer pays a part of the premium for active employees while COBRA participants generally pay the entire premium themselves. It is ordinarily less expensive, though, than individual health coverage.
Who is entitled to benefits under COBRA?
There are three elements to qualifying for COBRA benefits. COBRA establishes specific criteria for plans, qualified beneficiaries, and qualifying events:
Plan Coverage - Group health plans for employers with 20 or more employees on more than 50 percent of its typical business days in the previous calendar year are subject to COBRA. Both full and part-time employees are counted to determine whether a plan is subject to COBRA. Each part-time employee counts as a fraction of an employee, with the fraction equal to the number of hours that the part-time employee worked divided by the hours an employee must work to be considered full time.
Qualified Beneficiaries - A qualified beneficiary generally is an individual covered by a group health plan on the day before a qualifying event who is either an employee, the employee's spouse, or an employee's dependent child. In certain cases, a retired employee, the retired employee's spouse, and the retired employee's dependent children may be qualified beneficiaries. In addition, any child born to or placed for adoption with a covered employee during the period of COBRA coverage is considered a qualified beneficiary. Agents, independent contractors, and directors who participate in the group health plan may also be qualified beneficiaries.
Qualifying Events - Qualifying events are certain events that would cause an individual to lose health coverage. The type of qualifying event will determine who the qualified beneficiaries are and the amount of time that a plan must offer the health coverage to them under COBRA. A plan, at its discretion, may provide longer periods of continuation coverage.
Qualifying Events for Employees:
Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct
Reduction in the number of hours of employment
Qualifying Events for Spouses:
Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee's employment for any reason other than gross misconduct
Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee
Covered employee's becoming entitled to Medicare
Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee
Death of the covered employee
Qualifying Events for Dependent Children:
Loss of dependent child status under the plan rules
Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee's employment for any reason other than gross misconduct
Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee
Covered employee's becoming entitled to Medicare
Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee
Death of the covered employee
How does a person become eligible for COBRA continuation coverage?
To be eligible for COBRA coverage, you must have been enrolled in your employer's health plan when you worked and the health plan must continue to be in effect for active employees. COBRA continuation coverage is available upon the occurrence of a qualifying event that would, except for the COBRA continuation coverage, cause an individual to lose his or her health care coverage.
What group health plans are subject to COBRA?
The law generally covers health plans maintained by private-sector employers with 20 or more employees, employee organizations, or state or local governments.
What process must individuals follow to elect COBRA continuation coverage?
Employers must notify plan administrators of a qualifying event within 30 days after an employee's death, termination, reduced hours of employment or entitlement to Medicare.
A qualified beneficiary must notify the plan administrator of a qualifying event within 60 days after divorce or legal separation or a child's ceasing to be covered as a dependent under plan rules.
Plan participants and beneficiaries generally must be sent an election notice not later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred. The individual then has 60 days to decide whether to elect COBRA continuation coverage. The person has 45 days after electing coverage to pay the initial premium.
How long after a qualifying event do I have to elect COBRA coverage?
Qualified beneficiaries must be given an election period during which each qualified beneficiary may choose whether to elect COBRA coverage. Each qualified beneficiary may independently elect COBRA coverage. A covered employee or the covered employee's spouse may elect COBRA coverage on behalf of all other qualified beneficiaries. A parent or legal guardian may elect on behalf of a minor child. Qualified beneficiaries must be given at least 60 days for the election. This period is measured from the later of the coverage loss date or the date the COBRA election notice is provided by the employer or plan administrator. The election notice must be provided in person or by first class mail within 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred.
How do I file a COBRA claim for benefits?
Health plan rules must explain how to obtain benefits and must include written procedures for processing claims. Claims procedures must be described in the Summary Plan Description.
You should submit a claim for benefits in accordance with the plan's rules for filing claims. If the claim is denied, you must be given notice of the denial in writing generally within 90 days after the claim is filed. The notice should state the reasons for the denial, any additional information needed to support the claim, and procedures for appealing the denial.
You will have at least 60 days to appeal a denial and you must receive a decision on the appeal generally within 60 days after that.
Contact the plan administrator for more information on filing a claim for benefits. Complete plan rules are available from employers or benefits offices. There can be charges up to 25 cents a page for copies of plan rules.
Can individuals qualify for longer periods of COBRA continuation coverage?
Yes, disability can extend the 18 month period of continuation coverage for a qualifying event that is a termination of employment or reduction of hours. To qualify for additional months of COBRA continuation coverage, the qualified beneficiary must:
Have a ruling from the Social Security Administration that he or she became disabled within the first 60 days of COBRA continuation coverage
Send the plan a copy of the Social Security ruling letter within 60 days of receipt, but prior to expiration of the 18-month period of coverage
If these requirements are met, the entire family qualifies for an additional 11 months of COBRA continuation coverage. Plans can charge 150% of the premium cost for the extended period of coverage.
FAQs About COBRA Continuation Health Coverage
What is COBRA continuation health coverage?
Congress passed the landmark Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions in 1986. The law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to provide continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated.
What does COBRA do?
COBRA provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. This coverage, however, is only available when coverage is lost due to certain specific events. Group health coverage for COBRA participants is usually more expensive than health coverage for active employees, since usually the employer pays a part of the premium for active employees while COBRA participants generally pay the entire premium themselves. It is ordinarily less expensive, though, than individual health coverage.
Who is entitled to benefits under COBRA?
There are three elements to qualifying for COBRA benefits. COBRA establishes specific criteria for plans, qualified beneficiaries, and qualifying events:
Plan Coverage - Group health plans for employers with 20 or more employees on more than 50 percent of its typical business days in the previous calendar year are subject to COBRA. Both full and part-time employees are counted to determine whether a plan is subject to COBRA. Each part-time employee counts as a fraction of an employee, with the fraction equal to the number of hours that the part-time employee worked divided by the hours an employee must work to be considered full time.
Qualified Beneficiaries - A qualified beneficiary generally is an individual covered by a group health plan on the day before a qualifying event who is either an employee, the employee's spouse, or an employee's dependent child. In certain cases, a retired employee, the retired employee's spouse, and the retired employee's dependent children may be qualified beneficiaries. In addition, any child born to or placed for adoption with a covered employee during the period of COBRA coverage is considered a qualified beneficiary. Agents, independent contractors, and directors who participate in the group health plan may also be qualified beneficiaries.
Qualifying Events - Qualifying events are certain events that would cause an individual to lose health coverage. The type of qualifying event will determine who the qualified beneficiaries are and the amount of time that a plan must offer the health coverage to them under COBRA. A plan, at its discretion, may provide longer periods of continuation coverage.
Qualifying Events for Employees:
Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct
Reduction in the number of hours of employment
Qualifying Events for Spouses:
Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee's employment for any reason other than gross misconduct
Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee
Covered employee's becoming entitled to Medicare
Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee
Death of the covered employee
Qualifying Events for Dependent Children:
Loss of dependent child status under the plan rules
Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee's employment for any reason other than gross misconduct
Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee
Covered employee's becoming entitled to Medicare
Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee
Death of the covered employee
How does a person become eligible for COBRA continuation coverage?
To be eligible for COBRA coverage, you must have been enrolled in your employer's health plan when you worked and the health plan must continue to be in effect for active employees. COBRA continuation coverage is available upon the occurrence of a qualifying event that would, except for the COBRA continuation coverage, cause an individual to lose his or her health care coverage.
What group health plans are subject to COBRA?
The law generally covers health plans maintained by private-sector employers with 20 or more employees, employee organizations, or state or local governments.
What process must individuals follow to elect COBRA continuation coverage?
Employers must notify plan administrators of a qualifying event within 30 days after an employee's death, termination, reduced hours of employment or entitlement to Medicare.
A qualified beneficiary must notify the plan administrator of a qualifying event within 60 days after divorce or legal separation or a child's ceasing to be covered as a dependent under plan rules.
Plan participants and beneficiaries generally must be sent an election notice not later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred. The individual then has 60 days to decide whether to elect COBRA continuation coverage. The person has 45 days after electing coverage to pay the initial premium.
How long after a qualifying event do I have to elect COBRA coverage?
Qualified beneficiaries must be given an election period during which each qualified beneficiary may choose whether to elect COBRA coverage. Each qualified beneficiary may independently elect COBRA coverage. A covered employee or the covered employee's spouse may elect COBRA coverage on behalf of all other qualified beneficiaries. A parent or legal guardian may elect on behalf of a minor child. Qualified beneficiaries must be given at least 60 days for the election. This period is measured from the later of the coverage loss date or the date the COBRA election notice is provided by the employer or plan administrator. The election notice must be provided in person or by first class mail within 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred.
How do I file a COBRA claim for benefits?
Health plan rules must explain how to obtain benefits and must include written procedures for processing claims. Claims procedures must be described in the Summary Plan Description.
You should submit a claim for benefits in accordance with the plan's rules for filing claims. If the claim is denied, you must be given notice of the denial in writing generally within 90 days after the claim is filed. The notice should state the reasons for the denial, any additional information needed to support the claim, and procedures for appealing the denial.
You will have at least 60 days to appeal a denial and you must receive a decision on the appeal generally within 60 days after that.
Contact the plan administrator for more information on filing a claim for benefits. Complete plan rules are available from employers or benefits offices. There can be charges up to 25 cents a page for copies of plan rules.
Can individuals qualify for longer periods of COBRA continuation coverage?
Yes, disability can extend the 18 month period of continuation coverage for a qualifying event that is a termination of employment or reduction of hours. To qualify for additional months of COBRA continuation coverage, the qualified beneficiary must:
Have a ruling from the Social Security Administration that he or she became disabled within the first 60 days of COBRA continuation coverage
Send the plan a copy of the Social Security ruling letter within 60 days of receipt, but prior to expiration of the 18-month period of coverage
If these requirements are met, the entire family qualifies for an additional 11 months of COBRA continuation coverage. Plans can charge 150% of the premium cost for the extended period of coverage.
goel_ar
11-10 11:35 AM
I think I have joined IV in last 3 years or so...
Donated money once & have called congressmen & senators many times ...
Could someone please tell me -
What has been achieved by IV till date? I know we all meet elected reps, officials in washington dc ..... but I am interested in end result like not wasting visa numbers , implementing spillover & along these lines.
I have asked few friends to join IV but then if they ask me for IV accomplishments - i can't count any....
Donated money once & have called congressmen & senators many times ...
Could someone please tell me -
What has been achieved by IV till date? I know we all meet elected reps, officials in washington dc ..... but I am interested in end result like not wasting visa numbers , implementing spillover & along these lines.
I have asked few friends to join IV but then if they ask me for IV accomplishments - i can't count any....
more...
aau
08-22 01:58 PM
It would help if Masters is only counted from the Acredited Univs...
I am sure they will take care of that loophole... the fact is , even NJIT is an Accredited University. The Degree is not worth the paper it is printed on though.
In any case, as long as its not an Online degree..it should be permissible.
I am sure they will take care of that loophole... the fact is , even NJIT is an Accredited University. The Degree is not worth the paper it is printed on though.
In any case, as long as its not an Online degree..it should be permissible.
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leo2606
09-19 08:02 PM
Anna35,
You think right after the rally USCIS will distribute Green Cards at the union station ticket counter? How stupid you are talking, look at you.Ask yourself the following question.
1) How did I ask these stupid questions?
2) Am I contributing/contributed a penny for IV's efforts.
Ok, I've seen a lot of threads about go to the rally, actions items, I've reading a lot of guys saying dont ask for your receipt status, dont waste your time etc, etc.
Yes we did the rally we were great with all those signs, and appearing in the Indy TV but...
Question remains open:
1. When are they going to increase the GC quota?
2. When congress id going to do something?
I've the feeling that that's it we made our point but we are still with no GC, waiting receipts..............
You think right after the rally USCIS will distribute Green Cards at the union station ticket counter? How stupid you are talking, look at you.Ask yourself the following question.
1) How did I ask these stupid questions?
2) Am I contributing/contributed a penny for IV's efforts.
Ok, I've seen a lot of threads about go to the rally, actions items, I've reading a lot of guys saying dont ask for your receipt status, dont waste your time etc, etc.
Yes we did the rally we were great with all those signs, and appearing in the Indy TV but...
Question remains open:
1. When are they going to increase the GC quota?
2. When congress id going to do something?
I've the feeling that that's it we made our point but we are still with no GC, waiting receipts..............
more...
logiclife
12-13 04:12 PM
Keep this debate civil please.
We dont want to delete/moderate so please keep it clean and reasonably to the point.
Thanks.
We dont want to delete/moderate so please keep it clean and reasonably to the point.
Thanks.
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arrarrgee
07-06 05:05 PM
As if being a FT employee is a virtue :rolleyes: ...dude you gotta move ur crap somewher else
If I give you the name of the firm I work for ..you d be shitting in your pants and not a consultant but as a FT employee
If I give you the name of the firm I work for ..you d be shitting in your pants and not a consultant but as a FT employee
more...
Macaca
09-03 09:57 AM
Even Workers in U.S. Illegally Pay Tax Man, By Miriam Jordan | WALL STREET JOURNAL, April 4, 2007
From Confiscating Contributions (http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/CIR/socialsecurity_confcontrib_2007-05-01_iru.pdf) By JONATHAN BLAZER | Public Benefits Policy Attorney and JOSH BERNSTEIN | Director of Federal Policy, May 10, 2007
Peter Goss, Social Security’s Chief Actuary, has estimated that three quarters of undocumented immigrants pay payroll taxes. This generates $6 to $7 billion per year in Social Security tax revenue and $1.5 billion in Medicare taxes.
According to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, undocumented noncitizens paid almost $50 billion in federal taxes from 1996 to 2003. Recent reports from across the country indicate that during the 2007 tax season, record numbers of undocumented people filed tax returns.
As IRS Commissioner Mark Everson, a former immigration official, stated in testimony before Congress last year, “If someone is working without authorization in this country, he or she is not absolved of tax liability.” In a more recent speech to the National Press Club, Everson added, “We want your money whether you are here legally or not and whether you earned it legally or not.”
Tax returns rise for immigrants in U.S. Illegally (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/nyregion/16immig.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) By Nina Bernstein | New York Times, Aprol 2006 2006
Illegal Immigrants are bolstering Social Security with Billions (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/business/05immigration.html) By Educardo Porter | New York Times, April 5 2005
From Confiscating Contributions (http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/CIR/socialsecurity_confcontrib_2007-05-01_iru.pdf) By JONATHAN BLAZER | Public Benefits Policy Attorney and JOSH BERNSTEIN | Director of Federal Policy, May 10, 2007
Peter Goss, Social Security’s Chief Actuary, has estimated that three quarters of undocumented immigrants pay payroll taxes. This generates $6 to $7 billion per year in Social Security tax revenue and $1.5 billion in Medicare taxes.
According to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, undocumented noncitizens paid almost $50 billion in federal taxes from 1996 to 2003. Recent reports from across the country indicate that during the 2007 tax season, record numbers of undocumented people filed tax returns.
As IRS Commissioner Mark Everson, a former immigration official, stated in testimony before Congress last year, “If someone is working without authorization in this country, he or she is not absolved of tax liability.” In a more recent speech to the National Press Club, Everson added, “We want your money whether you are here legally or not and whether you earned it legally or not.”
Tax returns rise for immigrants in U.S. Illegally (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/nyregion/16immig.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) By Nina Bernstein | New York Times, Aprol 2006 2006
Illegal Immigrants are bolstering Social Security with Billions (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/business/05immigration.html) By Educardo Porter | New York Times, April 5 2005
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singhsa3
01-04 02:57 PM
Thats a very good suggestion. He should lobby to create a new categoy of Green Card for "MBBS".
MBBS : Mia (Husband), Biwi 1 (Wife 1), Biwi 2 (Wife 2) and Sons.
:D:D:D:D:D
First of all your freind is brave...
He can request IV to put another item in lobby agenda for brave category...
MBBS : Mia (Husband), Biwi 1 (Wife 1), Biwi 2 (Wife 2) and Sons.
:D:D:D:D:D
First of all your freind is brave...
He can request IV to put another item in lobby agenda for brave category...
more...
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rockstart
05-15 09:16 AM
I think they want to first help people with US degrees. Since that boosts education industry in US as people thinking of studying in UK Australia will now think of US more postively.
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cal97
08-06 07:00 PM
My infopass appointment was this afternoon. NC cleared. All the IO said was I should wait as there were many applications filed on 7/2/2007.
I mentioned once that 2006 cases are getting approved and with my PD being in 2004 when should I expect to get my 485 approved. All I heard back was WAIT :mad:.
Not sure how long though. Been seven years since I filed, first in 2001 and then again in 2004. Looks like a never ending wait.
Hoping for the best :)
I mentioned once that 2006 cases are getting approved and with my PD being in 2004 when should I expect to get my 485 approved. All I heard back was WAIT :mad:.
Not sure how long though. Been seven years since I filed, first in 2001 and then again in 2004. Looks like a never ending wait.
Hoping for the best :)
more...
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lazycis
01-26 09:07 PM
Nice story :) I had a clause in my first contract that I had to work for a company at least for 6 months or I will have to reimburse all H1B-related expenses. Well, I left the company and when the company's president called me, just told him to get lost. Never heard from him again. Looking back, I should've sued the company because it did not pay me full salary for the first month while I was on the "bench" (searching for a contract). Well, I am just too lazy :)
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OLDMONK
06-26 03:17 PM
My experience with Picture People was ok - fair, I guess those are fine pictures as per USCIS specifications, but nothing out of the ordinary. 14.99 for a set of 4 pictures. Set me back about $80 for 3 sets of 8 pictures.
But my own pictures came out better and are as per specifications. The question is whether to take a chance in case i missed anything or to go with Ok-Fair pictures from Picture People. decisions.. decisions... damn.. retrogression
and of course most portrait studios would guarantee acceptance else will give you a refund or take pictures again for free in case of an RFE.
But my own pictures came out better and are as per specifications. The question is whether to take a chance in case i missed anything or to go with Ok-Fair pictures from Picture People. decisions.. decisions... damn.. retrogression
and of course most portrait studios would guarantee acceptance else will give you a refund or take pictures again for free in case of an RFE.
more...
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priderock
07-27 04:10 PM
I am July 2 filer...
I mailed second set yesterday...
Then I thaught I mailed to Nebraska address then I mailed my third set to Texas center, dont want to take any chance whichever will be accecpted first.
I am smart...;)
Too bad you forgot to fax one :) Let me know if you want the number to fax :):) Some one said it is safer to fax :)
I mailed second set yesterday...
Then I thaught I mailed to Nebraska address then I mailed my third set to Texas center, dont want to take any chance whichever will be accecpted first.
I am smart...;)
Too bad you forgot to fax one :) Let me know if you want the number to fax :):) Some one said it is safer to fax :)
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Eternal_Hope
07-08 07:49 PM
I'm going to say this once more. As much as we try, we cannot bring the Indian community under one umbrella to act together. It's a pipe dream and not achievable. I've experienced every possible Indian specimen there is in the Bay Area. Indian community in US can NEVER be like the jewish or hispanic community. What we need is representation in the corridor of power (AKA Congress/ Senate), period. No number of phone calls from mere mortals like us will equate to one phone call from big-wigs such as Vinod Khosla or Indra Nooyi.
If you are wondering if I have done anything, here's my contribution.
I approached the CEO of my company to raise my concern. My CEO was graceful and said that the government relations team in my org was already working in Washington D.C to address retrogression issues. I was given an internal point of contact who briefed me on the effort. Call it their need or greed, the "white man" seems to be more helpful in this regard.
There is no "single best strategy" - Microsoft's Ex-Chairman has testified to the Congress many times and it has been well covered in the media.
Your efforts are very well appreciated. There needs to be multi efforts, IV's efforts being just one of them. There is no stopping people to take initiatives at the State Chapter levels. What we need is more motivated leaders like Pappu, Logic_Life, Aman, Paskal, NeedHelp!, ...................., and a lot of support from common people like us ............
If you are wondering if I have done anything, here's my contribution.
I approached the CEO of my company to raise my concern. My CEO was graceful and said that the government relations team in my org was already working in Washington D.C to address retrogression issues. I was given an internal point of contact who briefed me on the effort. Call it their need or greed, the "white man" seems to be more helpful in this regard.
There is no "single best strategy" - Microsoft's Ex-Chairman has testified to the Congress many times and it has been well covered in the media.
Your efforts are very well appreciated. There needs to be multi efforts, IV's efforts being just one of them. There is no stopping people to take initiatives at the State Chapter levels. What we need is more motivated leaders like Pappu, Logic_Life, Aman, Paskal, NeedHelp!, ...................., and a lot of support from common people like us ............
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rajbgp2002
04-02 01:48 AM
fax sent
Macaca
01-31 08:27 AM
Immigration Application Fees to Rise By 80 Percent (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/30/AR2007013001864.html).
The Bush administration will announce an increase today in immigration application fees of more than 80 percent, federal officials said yesterday.
The cost of applying for naturalization, for example, would rise from $330 to $595, and a required fingerprint check would go from $70 to $80.
The increases, which have been under consideration for months, would raise nearly $1 billion for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The troubled $2 billion-a-year agency has antiquated paper systems that have fed years-long delays for applicants and fears that terrorists might slip through the cracks.
Union, civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups called the changes discriminatory, warning that they will keep lower-income and less-educated people from becoming citizens.
"What they're saying is, people trying to become Americans are not a priority," said Cecilia Mu�oz, vice president of the National Council of La Raza, the Hispanic civil rights group.
Critics also said the changes would create an incentive for the agency to drag out processing, thereby extracting more fees, or to expedite cases for people who can afford premium services.
USCIS faces budget problems because of an increase in applications and because Congress funds it not with tax money but with user fees, which trail operational demands.
The money will allow USCIS to recoup its business costs, "provide future services, enhance national security and to modernize . . . a totally outdated business infrastructure," said an agency official who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the announcement.
Officials said the increases will not address costs that would result from an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, which the White House has proposed.
Fee increases will take effect no sooner than 120 days after they are published in the Federal Register tomorrow, including a 60-day public comment period.
The Bush administration will announce an increase today in immigration application fees of more than 80 percent, federal officials said yesterday.
The cost of applying for naturalization, for example, would rise from $330 to $595, and a required fingerprint check would go from $70 to $80.
The increases, which have been under consideration for months, would raise nearly $1 billion for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The troubled $2 billion-a-year agency has antiquated paper systems that have fed years-long delays for applicants and fears that terrorists might slip through the cracks.
Union, civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups called the changes discriminatory, warning that they will keep lower-income and less-educated people from becoming citizens.
"What they're saying is, people trying to become Americans are not a priority," said Cecilia Mu�oz, vice president of the National Council of La Raza, the Hispanic civil rights group.
Critics also said the changes would create an incentive for the agency to drag out processing, thereby extracting more fees, or to expedite cases for people who can afford premium services.
USCIS faces budget problems because of an increase in applications and because Congress funds it not with tax money but with user fees, which trail operational demands.
The money will allow USCIS to recoup its business costs, "provide future services, enhance national security and to modernize . . . a totally outdated business infrastructure," said an agency official who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the announcement.
Officials said the increases will not address costs that would result from an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, which the White House has proposed.
Fee increases will take effect no sooner than 120 days after they are published in the Federal Register tomorrow, including a 60-day public comment period.
pkv
08-31 07:00 PM
How was the response? I have contacted the following " The Hindu, Deccan chronicle and some telugu and kannada newspapers and TV news channels" so far no responses, I am planning to speak to my dad and his friends (they retired from the news media recently) to get some responses, but whats the point. The July 2nd fiasco was very well publicized in India, rural India too, even a small village or mandal office issuing birth certificates knew abt the visa bulletin and its reversal!!! and what do we have now...non committal friends who are not interested to come to the rally and some even make fun of it!!
Anyways lets keep trying...
Its useless... How many senators, their voters or other decision makers watch those kannada, telugu or even rediff???
Try to contact FOX, CNN, ABC etc.. that will be helpfull.
Anyways lets keep trying...
Its useless... How many senators, their voters or other decision makers watch those kannada, telugu or even rediff???
Try to contact FOX, CNN, ABC etc.. that will be helpfull.
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