waitnwatch
07-11 12:18 PM
.....
They should find an average amount of time a person spends on bench. Let's say the average time is 1 month out of year.
Then, they should recaliberate the salary to what would be worth 11 months of salary and set it up that way......
Here I'm playing devil's advocate. What if the salary now falls below the market rate determined by DOL? I am sure that some of these fly-by-night operators are also some of the poorer paymasters.
They should find an average amount of time a person spends on bench. Let's say the average time is 1 month out of year.
Then, they should recaliberate the salary to what would be worth 11 months of salary and set it up that way......
Here I'm playing devil's advocate. What if the salary now falls below the market rate determined by DOL? I am sure that some of these fly-by-night operators are also some of the poorer paymasters.
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rr_immaculate
08-04 11:58 PM
My first 3 years of H1B visa and I-94 expired on december,31,2009. My employer applied for my H1B renewal and got the approval notice (797A with I-94 part in the bottom valid from 1/1/2010 till end of 2012) expiring in end of 2012. I went to Canada for 4 days and got my 3 year visa extension stamped which is valid till end of 2012 for the same employer. They took off my old I-94 when I left to Canada and did not issue a new I-94 while entering the US. The officer just took a look at the 797 and said that I am good with the bottom part of the 797 itself and did not stamp any expiry date on the bottom part or did not issue a new I-94(white card).He just stamped the entry date and POE name on my passport. I checked with the CBP officer and she said that since the renewed visa and 797 is valid till end of 2012, I can use the bottom part of the 797 as the I-94 and it is valid till end of 2012. Is this correct?
I noticed that the bottom part of the 797 has the same number as my old I-94.
I believe that I should get a new I-94,but the officer was not ready to believe that and kept saying that the 797 bottom part is enough.
I noticed that the bottom part of the 797 has the same number as my old I-94.
I believe that I should get a new I-94,but the officer was not ready to believe that and kept saying that the 797 bottom part is enough.
myimmiv
02-25 02:48 PM
Well, I just wanted to throw this out there, since I did not get any definite answer from any forums.
When in need for I-485 issues, who is better to contact - Congressman or Senator.
I just want to know the pros and cons of each and maybe this analysis will help others down the line.
Points to note are:
1. There are more congressman in a particular state than senators. There are only 2 senators in a state.
2. Senators are more powerful than congressman (not sure that this power applies for talking to USCIS or not)
3. Senators and congressman have different terms in office. Hence is it better to contact someone who is going to stay longer, or someone who is up for election soon and hence may help.
4. For a particular USCIS case, can we contact both congressman and senator at the same time. Is this good.
Can members throw some light on this based on their prior experience and based on their knowledge.
Thanks in advance.
When in need for I-485 issues, who is better to contact - Congressman or Senator.
I just want to know the pros and cons of each and maybe this analysis will help others down the line.
Points to note are:
1. There are more congressman in a particular state than senators. There are only 2 senators in a state.
2. Senators are more powerful than congressman (not sure that this power applies for talking to USCIS or not)
3. Senators and congressman have different terms in office. Hence is it better to contact someone who is going to stay longer, or someone who is up for election soon and hence may help.
4. For a particular USCIS case, can we contact both congressman and senator at the same time. Is this good.
Can members throw some light on this based on their prior experience and based on their knowledge.
Thanks in advance.
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CRAZYMONK
09-25 11:29 AM
Hi,
I just got approved for H-1B this year and I have some questions. I'm from a small country where they do not easily let their citizens to become citizens of other counties. So unless it's for educational purpose (undergraduate/graduate), they will not renew my passport for me.
My passport expires at the end of this year, and I was wondering if it's possible to obtain the following with an expired passport:
a) H-1B extension
b) PERM
c) green card
If it's not possible to obtain any of them with an expired passport, I must enroll in a graduate school to renew my passport. (Before my passport expires) I really prefer not to do this.
I would really appreciate if you could reply with cases you've seen or experienced in the past.
Thanks in advance.
I don't think you would be able to get through any of the list with the expired passport. If you are applying for it before your passport expires, I think you should be good.
By the way which country you are from?
I just got approved for H-1B this year and I have some questions. I'm from a small country where they do not easily let their citizens to become citizens of other counties. So unless it's for educational purpose (undergraduate/graduate), they will not renew my passport for me.
My passport expires at the end of this year, and I was wondering if it's possible to obtain the following with an expired passport:
a) H-1B extension
b) PERM
c) green card
If it's not possible to obtain any of them with an expired passport, I must enroll in a graduate school to renew my passport. (Before my passport expires) I really prefer not to do this.
I would really appreciate if you could reply with cases you've seen or experienced in the past.
Thanks in advance.
I don't think you would be able to get through any of the list with the expired passport. If you are applying for it before your passport expires, I think you should be good.
By the way which country you are from?
more...
corleone
11-09 10:22 AM
So my AOS is which of the two: july 23rd (date courier received) or oct 17th (date checks encashed)?
There is a website called Google. Its amazing in that it is above nationality and responds to every "is which of the two"
There is a website called Google. Its amazing in that it is above nationality and responds to every "is which of the two"
raju123
12-26 11:37 AM
Good question. SKIL bill will not only help person of person from advance degree in the USA. It has lot of other provisions, which can substaintially reduce a deadly retrogression like, Depondents are not going to count in numeric cap, Master and higher degree from USA will not count in cap (Many master degree holders are in EB3), There are lot of provisions. You can study SKIL bill and realize how good it is.
Pappu - thanks for the quick reply.
The reason I asked - I got the impression that IV is for the "highly qualified" people. I know "highly qualified" is a subjective term. I did 3 yrs bachelors in commerce from India. I was not sure if I am "highly qualified" or not. Reading through a forum I came to know about the SKIL bill - which I don't think is for guys with my qualification.
Is IV only pursuing SKIL bill or are there any other bills that would benefits people like me? If there are, then where can I read about those provisions? I want to browse though them and want to see if it would help my case.
Thanks again for your help.
IB
Pappu - thanks for the quick reply.
The reason I asked - I got the impression that IV is for the "highly qualified" people. I know "highly qualified" is a subjective term. I did 3 yrs bachelors in commerce from India. I was not sure if I am "highly qualified" or not. Reading through a forum I came to know about the SKIL bill - which I don't think is for guys with my qualification.
Is IV only pursuing SKIL bill or are there any other bills that would benefits people like me? If there are, then where can I read about those provisions? I want to browse though them and want to see if it would help my case.
Thanks again for your help.
IB
more...
permfiling
10-27 01:27 PM
Congrats ! I guess the 3 green card is a magic number as mine was 10 yrs stay and 3 GC applications as well.
Did you receive the I-797 approval letter and at which service center was your case approved at.
Thanks
Hi All,
After 7 years of stay in the US and 3 green card applications later, I finally got the 485 approval e-mail.....aaahhha......I feel so relaxed now.
However I did not get any FP notice yet! Do you know if Biometrics is a requirement for issuing the physical green card and also any idea how long it takes to get the card from this point of time.
following is the current status in the online status of my 485:
Post Decision Activity
On October 26, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.
For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations.
Did you receive the I-797 approval letter and at which service center was your case approved at.
Thanks
Hi All,
After 7 years of stay in the US and 3 green card applications later, I finally got the 485 approval e-mail.....aaahhha......I feel so relaxed now.
However I did not get any FP notice yet! Do you know if Biometrics is a requirement for issuing the physical green card and also any idea how long it takes to get the card from this point of time.
following is the current status in the online status of my 485:
Post Decision Activity
On October 26, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.
For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations.
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Vsach
10-06 10:49 AM
Dear All.
I have a couple of queries and would appreciate your guidance in the matter.
-I have an approved H1B extension but my H1B visa in the passport has expired. Presently I do not want to use my EAD. When travelling outside the country can I re-enter the US using my Advance Parole or do I have to get my H1B visa stamped in the passport.
-Our son is 15 years old. He does not have a social number as we did not apply for EAD. His H4Visa on the passport has expired. Now when he travels outside the country, can he use his travel document. How does it work, or does he have to maintain his H4 status and get his visa stamped. Please advise.:)
Regards
I have a couple of queries and would appreciate your guidance in the matter.
-I have an approved H1B extension but my H1B visa in the passport has expired. Presently I do not want to use my EAD. When travelling outside the country can I re-enter the US using my Advance Parole or do I have to get my H1B visa stamped in the passport.
-Our son is 15 years old. He does not have a social number as we did not apply for EAD. His H4Visa on the passport has expired. Now when he travels outside the country, can he use his travel document. How does it work, or does he have to maintain his H4 status and get his visa stamped. Please advise.:)
Regards
more...
stillhowlong
01-18 10:36 AM
You can file 485 with either of the I140 as long as the position is open and the companies provide a letter stating the permanant nature of the job.
For interfiling, one can request the priority date porting in any of these:
- when you file the 2nd I140. You can send a copy of the first one and request to use that date.
- when you file the 485, you can request to use the earlier priority date.
- After you file 485, you can send a request to use the earlier priority date.
In all these, you need a copy of the I140 approval notice. If there is no way to get the copy, you can possibly try with a copy of the receipt or a copy of the approval status from online - check with a lawyer.
When you file the 485 or the 2nd I140, if the same A# is used, one may get the earliest priority date automatically as the previous poster has mentioned.
Note: This is not a legal advice. Please consult a lawyer.
Hi alvin, Thank you very much for detailed response. I am still confused as my question is if I file the new I140 from new employer and for some reason the date is not ported from current employer's I140 date, will I be able to file I485?, For your info, my I485 is not yet filed with uscis with current employer.
Thanks
SHL
For interfiling, one can request the priority date porting in any of these:
- when you file the 2nd I140. You can send a copy of the first one and request to use that date.
- when you file the 485, you can request to use the earlier priority date.
- After you file 485, you can send a request to use the earlier priority date.
In all these, you need a copy of the I140 approval notice. If there is no way to get the copy, you can possibly try with a copy of the receipt or a copy of the approval status from online - check with a lawyer.
When you file the 485 or the 2nd I140, if the same A# is used, one may get the earliest priority date automatically as the previous poster has mentioned.
Note: This is not a legal advice. Please consult a lawyer.
Hi alvin, Thank you very much for detailed response. I am still confused as my question is if I file the new I140 from new employer and for some reason the date is not ported from current employer's I140 date, will I be able to file I485?, For your info, my I485 is not yet filed with uscis with current employer.
Thanks
SHL
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gc_on_demand
06-11 09:17 AM
Folks
July bulletin is OUT and NO more significant movement. Donot hope for future bulletin . Please call Lawmakers ASAP. Unless we take action USCIS is not going to do anything. Situation can be worse once we head towards election season. Still we have 1-2 months to get things done or we will be waiting for years to get green card OR EAD ( For some folks ).
It is just 10-15 minutes need to spend to call. Let them know WHO WE ARE AND WHAT ARE OUR ISSUES .
I request all of you to call , if you have called then ask your friends and family members to call.
Now its time to act. If we dont take action CHC will not allow to move ahead our 3 bills.
CALL NOW .... and Spread this message to everyone.
July bulletin is OUT and NO more significant movement. Donot hope for future bulletin . Please call Lawmakers ASAP. Unless we take action USCIS is not going to do anything. Situation can be worse once we head towards election season. Still we have 1-2 months to get things done or we will be waiting for years to get green card OR EAD ( For some folks ).
It is just 10-15 minutes need to spend to call. Let them know WHO WE ARE AND WHAT ARE OUR ISSUES .
I request all of you to call , if you have called then ask your friends and family members to call.
Now its time to act. If we dont take action CHC will not allow to move ahead our 3 bills.
CALL NOW .... and Spread this message to everyone.
more...
royus77
05-30 06:40 PM
my advice to you is try to do it in person. i did it a few months ago in houston. i know a lot of people are not lucky enough to be close to a consulate. but when you apply in person, and you say that you will pick up your passport in person, then you take most of the problems away involving postal delivery and receipt of the passport.
so even if it may hurt to drive for a few hours, it may be well worth the drive. afterall passport with a visa stamp is probably the most important document you will ever have in your possession while you are on H1-B.
the way it works in houston is - you submit all the paperwork etc. during morning hours. they will tell you to come and pick up your passport after 3-4 weeks. you go there say a couple of days after they told you to come, pick up your passport...go home...effortless.:cool:
Washington DC is same day if you drop and collect in person ..last year i renewed the same
so even if it may hurt to drive for a few hours, it may be well worth the drive. afterall passport with a visa stamp is probably the most important document you will ever have in your possession while you are on H1-B.
the way it works in houston is - you submit all the paperwork etc. during morning hours. they will tell you to come and pick up your passport after 3-4 weeks. you go there say a couple of days after they told you to come, pick up your passport...go home...effortless.:cool:
Washington DC is same day if you drop and collect in person ..last year i renewed the same
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ravi_hyd
10-30 10:44 AM
.
more...
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eb3retro
04-13 10:39 AM
Hi,
First let me thank you all for providing and maintaining such a forum where one can get all the answers related with immigration. This is truly amazing.
I am a july 2007 filer. My priority date in October 2006. My I 140 was approved in January 2007. I was laid off by my original GC sponsoring company in April 2009. Fortunately, I was able to get a new job under same responsibility description, before my last day with the GC sponsoring employer. I had invoked my AC21 on April 10,2009 and had switched job.
I have a AP, valid through January 2011 and a EAD valid through August 2010.
Mu H1B and I 94 has been expired alost an year now. I am working and staying in the country with EAD now with an AOS status.
I need to travel to India to address some urgent family now. Do you think my travel on AP (especially after invoking Ac21) in risky. I will be travelling through JFK. Has anyone travelled through JFK on AP after invoking AC21?
Any information will be highly appreciated.
Folowinga are the documents, that I would be carrying:
a) I 140 approval notice.
b) I 485 receipt notice.
c) valid EAD
d) valid AP
e) AC21 protability letter from my immegration layer.
f) I 140 support letter from my new employer.
g) Offer letter from my new employer.
h) termination letter from my earlier employer.
i) Address proof
j)W2
Can anyone let me know their expirence if faced similar situation please.
do not worry..its going to be perfectly alright. i travelled thru jfk using my AP after using ac21 twice. infact i only gave my passport, along with new i94 filled up , with a copy of the AP at the port of entry to the officer. no questions asked. just remain calm and answer any questions asked politely. AP is for this exact purpose which helps you to exit and enter country during this excruciating time of 485 approval waiting. so, you are good to go as long as you have a valid AP, infact I travelled once using AP, when I didnt have a job here. all it matters when you reenter is if you have a valid AP/VISA to enter the country.
On a different note, please update your profile. people value that a lot here..
First let me thank you all for providing and maintaining such a forum where one can get all the answers related with immigration. This is truly amazing.
I am a july 2007 filer. My priority date in October 2006. My I 140 was approved in January 2007. I was laid off by my original GC sponsoring company in April 2009. Fortunately, I was able to get a new job under same responsibility description, before my last day with the GC sponsoring employer. I had invoked my AC21 on April 10,2009 and had switched job.
I have a AP, valid through January 2011 and a EAD valid through August 2010.
Mu H1B and I 94 has been expired alost an year now. I am working and staying in the country with EAD now with an AOS status.
I need to travel to India to address some urgent family now. Do you think my travel on AP (especially after invoking Ac21) in risky. I will be travelling through JFK. Has anyone travelled through JFK on AP after invoking AC21?
Any information will be highly appreciated.
Folowinga are the documents, that I would be carrying:
a) I 140 approval notice.
b) I 485 receipt notice.
c) valid EAD
d) valid AP
e) AC21 protability letter from my immegration layer.
f) I 140 support letter from my new employer.
g) Offer letter from my new employer.
h) termination letter from my earlier employer.
i) Address proof
j)W2
Can anyone let me know their expirence if faced similar situation please.
do not worry..its going to be perfectly alright. i travelled thru jfk using my AP after using ac21 twice. infact i only gave my passport, along with new i94 filled up , with a copy of the AP at the port of entry to the officer. no questions asked. just remain calm and answer any questions asked politely. AP is for this exact purpose which helps you to exit and enter country during this excruciating time of 485 approval waiting. so, you are good to go as long as you have a valid AP, infact I travelled once using AP, when I didnt have a job here. all it matters when you reenter is if you have a valid AP/VISA to enter the country.
On a different note, please update your profile. people value that a lot here..
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hnordberg
October 24th, 2005, 12:40 AM
A weekend based in the City? If the weather is good, Marin, Point Reyes, and urban shooting... If the weather is bad, the city museums, food, and entertainment...
Sounds great. I haven't been to Point Reyes in a while and maybe we can get some shots of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands at sunset.
I'll share my bag of glass ;)
Cool! You can borrow my new lenspen! ;)
I don't have as much glass as you do, but I'll bring my 5D, which I am still very excited about.
I am available most weekends. How about you Bob, Kevin, others? It would be great to meet you all.
Sounds great. I haven't been to Point Reyes in a while and maybe we can get some shots of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands at sunset.
I'll share my bag of glass ;)
Cool! You can borrow my new lenspen! ;)
I don't have as much glass as you do, but I'll bring my 5D, which I am still very excited about.
I am available most weekends. How about you Bob, Kevin, others? It would be great to meet you all.
more...
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Radhika
10-01 01:46 PM
I have similar question. My visa on the passport has expired in Dec 2005. But we have valid h1 extention approval. what I have to select for the question "Are you applying for same visa class that expired in the last 12 months?"
'yes' or 'No ' for this question.
If I select 'no' it is not showing any appointments dates :confused:
'yes' or 'No ' for this question.
If I select 'no' it is not showing any appointments dates :confused:
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GC_SUCK
09-26 07:20 PM
Here are details
PD: 04-08-02 - EB3-ROW
Concurrent Filing: 140(PP)/485/EAD/AP - 03-23-07
I-140: Approved on 03/30/07
FP:05/11/07
EAD:Card Received in mail on 06/21/07
AP:Notice Mailed on 06/21/07
485 LUD (Last Update):
03/31/07 - 05/11/07 - 05/14/07 - 09/10/07 - 09/11/07
I485:APPROVED - 09/18/07
I485:Approval Notice Mailed - 09/21/07
Card Received - 09/24/07
Hi GC_SUCK, Congrats, can you send your details of dates in all stages, will be informative for us, thanks.
PD: 04-08-02 - EB3-ROW
Concurrent Filing: 140(PP)/485/EAD/AP - 03-23-07
I-140: Approved on 03/30/07
FP:05/11/07
EAD:Card Received in mail on 06/21/07
AP:Notice Mailed on 06/21/07
485 LUD (Last Update):
03/31/07 - 05/11/07 - 05/14/07 - 09/10/07 - 09/11/07
I485:APPROVED - 09/18/07
I485:Approval Notice Mailed - 09/21/07
Card Received - 09/24/07
Hi GC_SUCK, Congrats, can you send your details of dates in all stages, will be informative for us, thanks.
more...
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chanduv23
11-26 02:00 PM
Folks - due to an unforeseen emergency Attorney Prashanthi Reddy was not able to make it on November 20th to IV chat.
The next IV Chat with Attorney Prashanthi Reddy will be on Thursday, December 4th at 9.30 PM EST.
If there is any change that I know of, I will post it on this thread
The next IV Chat with Attorney Prashanthi Reddy will be on Thursday, December 4th at 9.30 PM EST.
If there is any change that I know of, I will post it on this thread
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Sakthisagar
12-01 02:44 PM
Issues facing the 2010 lame-duck session of Congress - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/lameduck/index.html)
1. Tax cuts
The most pressing issue in the lame-duck Congress sounds, at first glance, like a typo.
The federal government spends more money than it takes in. The two parties both agree that this is bad. Here�s what they can�t agree on: How much less should the government take in, in the years to come?
The debate is about income tax cuts, passed under President George W. Bush, which are due to expire Dec. 31. If that happens, a single person earning $46,000 a year might see his or her taxes jump $400, according to the nonprofit Tax Policy Center. A married couple earning a total of $440,000, on the other hand, might see an increase of $20,000.
Most Democrats want to extend tax cuts covering up to the first $250,000 that a family earns in a year. Republican leaders want to keep all the tax cuts, including those on income above $250,000. In a recession, they say, it doesn�t make sense to cut anyone�s taxes.
Congress and the president could agree to a temporary truce, extending all the tax cuts for a few years only. Or, as some Democrats have suggested recently, they could agree to keep tax cuts on incomes less than $1 million.
2. The New START treaty
The point of this U.S.-Russia treaty, signed but not yet ratified, is to continue the slow nuclear stand-down that has followed the Cold War. The two nations would agree to cut deployed long-range nuclear weapons by up to 30 percent and to allow each other to inspect the remaining stockpiles.
The prevention of nuclear armageddon still enjoys wide support on Capitol Hill.
But this treaty does not.
New START must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. That was no problem for two past treaties: the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, signed in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush, and the �Moscow Treaty,� signed in 2003 by President George W. Bush.
But now, Sen. John Kyl (Ariz.), the chamber�s second-ranking Republican, has held up the treaty�s passage. Kyl has said he wants more guarantees that the government will properly maintain the nuclear weapons that remain. He also thinks that the lame-duck session is too short a time to consider the issue.
The White House is now trying to work around Kyl to win over nine other Republican. If it can�t, there will be more Republicans � and perhaps more support for denying Obama a foreign policy win � in January.
3. �Don�t ask, don�t tell�
This 17-year-old rule, which bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military, has been under attack all year. This fall, a federal judge ruled the ban unconstitutional and ordered it scrapped. A higher court reinstated the ban while it considers the matter on appeal.
And on Tuesday, a Pentagon report concluded that ending the ban would pose a low risk to military readiness. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said that the repeal of the rule �should be done.�
But �don�t ask, don�t tell� isn�t dead yet and could outlive the lame-duck session.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) could bring it up for a vote on the floor this month. But the ascendant GOP is in no mood to cooperate. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says he�s still worried about the effect on morale, and other Republican leaders say the whole issue is a distraction from their top priority � job creation.
4. The �Continuing resolution�
A continuing resolution (known in Hill jargon as a �CR�) is a bill that�s introduced when Congress can�t agree on a full budget for the federal government.
Instead, it passes a bill to temporarily �continue� funding federal agencies at their present rates.
Congress must pass a new continuing resolution before Friday. If it doesn�t, the government will shut down � as it did in 1995 during a budget showdown between President Bill Clinton and congressional Republicans.
The sticking point is Republican demands to shrink federal spending back to 2008 levels. But a shutdown still seems unlikely; while a lot of voters want smaller government, very few seem to want no government.
Signs from the Hill indicate legislators will beat Friday�s deadline and pass a resolution good for another few weeks, at least.
5. Unemployment benefits
Another looming deadline. On Tuesday, emergency unemployment insurance � he federal checks given to the jobless � expired. If nothing is done to extend the benefits, advocates say as many as 3 million people will see their checks cut off by the end of January.
Some Republicans have voiced concerns about the high cost of these benefits. In the middle of last month, the House failed to approve a plan to extend them, with all but 11 Democrats voting for it and all but 21 Republicans voting against it.
6. Childhood nutrition
On Wednesday, House Democratic leaders plan to call a vote that could be a measure of the muscle they�ve got left. At issue: a bill that would feed schoolchildren better food.
If they can�t win on that, it could be a long month.
The bill is intended to give more poor children access to subsidized meals at school. It also would improve the quality of those meals and give more federal money to school districts that comply with higher nutrition standards.
�Kids that have food insecurity learn at a slower rate than their peers,� House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters Tuesday. �Food insecurity� is Washington-speak for �hunger.�
The bill passed the Senate unanimously. But it will face some Republican opposition in the House from members who say it will impose more costs on struggling school systems.
7. The DREAM Act
This bill is aimed at illegal immigrants who came to this country as children. If they go to college or join the military as adults, it would give them a chance to obtain legal residency.
As attitudes toward illegal immigrants have hardened, support for the bill has collapsed among Republicans and many Democrats. To them, it looks like a kind of amnesty for lawbreakers.
On Tuesday, Reid could promise only a �test vote� on the issue: he would bring the issue to the Senate floor, and take his chances. The implicit message was that Reid might lose � but lose in a way that showed Hispanic voters he was trying.
1. Tax cuts
The most pressing issue in the lame-duck Congress sounds, at first glance, like a typo.
The federal government spends more money than it takes in. The two parties both agree that this is bad. Here�s what they can�t agree on: How much less should the government take in, in the years to come?
The debate is about income tax cuts, passed under President George W. Bush, which are due to expire Dec. 31. If that happens, a single person earning $46,000 a year might see his or her taxes jump $400, according to the nonprofit Tax Policy Center. A married couple earning a total of $440,000, on the other hand, might see an increase of $20,000.
Most Democrats want to extend tax cuts covering up to the first $250,000 that a family earns in a year. Republican leaders want to keep all the tax cuts, including those on income above $250,000. In a recession, they say, it doesn�t make sense to cut anyone�s taxes.
Congress and the president could agree to a temporary truce, extending all the tax cuts for a few years only. Or, as some Democrats have suggested recently, they could agree to keep tax cuts on incomes less than $1 million.
2. The New START treaty
The point of this U.S.-Russia treaty, signed but not yet ratified, is to continue the slow nuclear stand-down that has followed the Cold War. The two nations would agree to cut deployed long-range nuclear weapons by up to 30 percent and to allow each other to inspect the remaining stockpiles.
The prevention of nuclear armageddon still enjoys wide support on Capitol Hill.
But this treaty does not.
New START must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. That was no problem for two past treaties: the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, signed in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush, and the �Moscow Treaty,� signed in 2003 by President George W. Bush.
But now, Sen. John Kyl (Ariz.), the chamber�s second-ranking Republican, has held up the treaty�s passage. Kyl has said he wants more guarantees that the government will properly maintain the nuclear weapons that remain. He also thinks that the lame-duck session is too short a time to consider the issue.
The White House is now trying to work around Kyl to win over nine other Republican. If it can�t, there will be more Republicans � and perhaps more support for denying Obama a foreign policy win � in January.
3. �Don�t ask, don�t tell�
This 17-year-old rule, which bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military, has been under attack all year. This fall, a federal judge ruled the ban unconstitutional and ordered it scrapped. A higher court reinstated the ban while it considers the matter on appeal.
And on Tuesday, a Pentagon report concluded that ending the ban would pose a low risk to military readiness. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said that the repeal of the rule �should be done.�
But �don�t ask, don�t tell� isn�t dead yet and could outlive the lame-duck session.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) could bring it up for a vote on the floor this month. But the ascendant GOP is in no mood to cooperate. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says he�s still worried about the effect on morale, and other Republican leaders say the whole issue is a distraction from their top priority � job creation.
4. The �Continuing resolution�
A continuing resolution (known in Hill jargon as a �CR�) is a bill that�s introduced when Congress can�t agree on a full budget for the federal government.
Instead, it passes a bill to temporarily �continue� funding federal agencies at their present rates.
Congress must pass a new continuing resolution before Friday. If it doesn�t, the government will shut down � as it did in 1995 during a budget showdown between President Bill Clinton and congressional Republicans.
The sticking point is Republican demands to shrink federal spending back to 2008 levels. But a shutdown still seems unlikely; while a lot of voters want smaller government, very few seem to want no government.
Signs from the Hill indicate legislators will beat Friday�s deadline and pass a resolution good for another few weeks, at least.
5. Unemployment benefits
Another looming deadline. On Tuesday, emergency unemployment insurance � he federal checks given to the jobless � expired. If nothing is done to extend the benefits, advocates say as many as 3 million people will see their checks cut off by the end of January.
Some Republicans have voiced concerns about the high cost of these benefits. In the middle of last month, the House failed to approve a plan to extend them, with all but 11 Democrats voting for it and all but 21 Republicans voting against it.
6. Childhood nutrition
On Wednesday, House Democratic leaders plan to call a vote that could be a measure of the muscle they�ve got left. At issue: a bill that would feed schoolchildren better food.
If they can�t win on that, it could be a long month.
The bill is intended to give more poor children access to subsidized meals at school. It also would improve the quality of those meals and give more federal money to school districts that comply with higher nutrition standards.
�Kids that have food insecurity learn at a slower rate than their peers,� House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters Tuesday. �Food insecurity� is Washington-speak for �hunger.�
The bill passed the Senate unanimously. But it will face some Republican opposition in the House from members who say it will impose more costs on struggling school systems.
7. The DREAM Act
This bill is aimed at illegal immigrants who came to this country as children. If they go to college or join the military as adults, it would give them a chance to obtain legal residency.
As attitudes toward illegal immigrants have hardened, support for the bill has collapsed among Republicans and many Democrats. To them, it looks like a kind of amnesty for lawbreakers.
On Tuesday, Reid could promise only a �test vote� on the issue: he would bring the issue to the Senate floor, and take his chances. The implicit message was that Reid might lose � but lose in a way that showed Hispanic voters he was trying.
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arshiya
04-12 01:16 PM
Can anyone give me the combination of numbers to dial to speak to an IO for the texas centre?I know its been passed around before but i just cant seem to find it .Thanks a lot in advance..Also do you think its any use me calling rite now,my PD is EB2 India..aug 2003..Applied in june.Is it too soon to try ...just itching to call once:)Thanks again for any help.
va_il
02-13 08:57 PM
Thanks a lot for the information. Since I had sent my renewal application via courier, I never got any pick up slip. I have paid $15 for mailing service. What I am worried is that even if I drive 5 hours to pick up, if they haven't processed my application (its close to 4 weeks now since I have applied), I will run out of options. On the website they claim that they will process in 5 business days. I must have tried close to 5 different phone numbers multiples times for past week or so. I have also emailed and faxed my query multiple times. Same result - No response at all. I just don't get how work is done at the embassy.
I have no idea about all these complaints. I gave my passport for renewal on last thursday and i picked up new one on friday. Never heard of delays on this issue.
I have no idea about all these complaints. I gave my passport for renewal on last thursday and i picked up new one on friday. Never heard of delays on this issue.
Lasantha
04-11 02:04 PM
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Thank you Dude and Lasantha. ALso Lasantha - Congrationtions on your GC. I will tolerate the annoying message and grind it out.