hobbyaddict
December 1st, 2008, 04:24 PM
Be careful with your answer Owen... You already know what could happen with the thread... If everything goes as planned I'll be giving it a work out while shooting a gymnastics event this weekend. I can easly take thousands of shots during the event...
Last year I had to get up close and use a 50mm 1.8 lense with the d200 due to the poor lighting. I am hoping that I will be able to use the 70-200 2.8vr lense along with the d300. I have to stay a bit behind in the technology, so that I can afford new equipment ;) Who knows maybe I'll be able to pay for a good chunk of it with sales from the event ;)
I hope that it performs better in the high iso ranges as I have read.
I am excited... it's an addiction
-Ed
Last year I had to get up close and use a 50mm 1.8 lense with the d200 due to the poor lighting. I am hoping that I will be able to use the 70-200 2.8vr lense along with the d300. I have to stay a bit behind in the technology, so that I can afford new equipment ;) Who knows maybe I'll be able to pay for a good chunk of it with sales from the event ;)
I hope that it performs better in the high iso ranges as I have read.
I am excited... it's an addiction
-Ed
wallpaper poster BIBLE QUOTES
ksam75
01-08 03:19 PM
Hi Gurus,
I have 2 pending I485's at Nebraska. I got EAD and AP from the first set, but nothing from the second set except the receipt notice. I'm traveling to India on my first set AP. Will I run into any problems at the port of entry since I have 2 sets of I485's pending? Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thank you.
I have 2 pending I485's at Nebraska. I got EAD and AP from the first set, but nothing from the second set except the receipt notice. I'm traveling to India on my first set AP. Will I run into any problems at the port of entry since I have 2 sets of I485's pending? Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thank you.
saibaba
12-05 12:03 PM
It was given on LC copy. Also, some one last year posted a URL to DOL website where all the LC in each particular year where published as a part of public disclosure. I could actually found mine with my company name, date, salary and some guestmates. I will post the URL if I can find it back.
thank you
After carefully reviwing the approved 140 ,I found this DOL/ETA case number D-XXXXX-XXXXX (don know whether I can post this number here) in my approved 140 petition under "Additional Information the petitioner" column...but this particular column has info abt my employer who filed my GC and i'm not sure wther it is the same as my GC labor code...
is this the number u r referring to?
thank you
After carefully reviwing the approved 140 ,I found this DOL/ETA case number D-XXXXX-XXXXX (don know whether I can post this number here) in my approved 140 petition under "Additional Information the petitioner" column...but this particular column has info abt my employer who filed my GC and i'm not sure wther it is the same as my GC labor code...
is this the number u r referring to?
2011 short ible quotes that
vin13
03-06 02:45 PM
What are the document are required while travelling on AP?
Please let me know what kind of question they ask at POE?
All other kind of information will help me prepare in advance
Thanks
Please read the first couple of posts on this thread for your answer.
Please let me know what kind of question they ask at POE?
All other kind of information will help me prepare in advance
Thanks
Please read the first couple of posts on this thread for your answer.
more...
bsbawa10
08-30 06:58 PM
I am also in the same boat and would like to know what happened ?
AmericanAccent
09-06 10:29 PM
I am not sure how your T and R is ,American Accent has T/R in unique way
American accent uses toungue movements in a specific way (just like any languague has its own movements)
It depends from person to person ,and the teacher helped me personally as per my need
And yes Im still practising my Exercises
IMHO, Any one will not get the accent because of training. One will come closer to the accent only over time. How ever, it will never be perfect.
On the flip side, why would any Highly Skilled Immigrant working in American companies want to learn "accent" off of work. Their work place offers a lot than the website suggested.
Am I feeding a troll? I guess..
American accent uses toungue movements in a specific way (just like any languague has its own movements)
It depends from person to person ,and the teacher helped me personally as per my need
And yes Im still practising my Exercises
IMHO, Any one will not get the accent because of training. One will come closer to the accent only over time. How ever, it will never be perfect.
On the flip side, why would any Highly Skilled Immigrant working in American companies want to learn "accent" off of work. Their work place offers a lot than the website suggested.
Am I feeding a troll? I guess..
more...
Sai gc
05-12 09:44 AM
Hi Gurus please advice,
My 140 was approved in 2007 ,but today i got email from USCIS ,
Application Type: I140, IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER
Current Status: Case Transfered to Another Office for Processing
On May 12, 2009, we transferred this case I140 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER to our LINCOLN, NE location for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action. Please follow the instructions provided on the notice. We will notify you by mail when a decision is made. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to update your address. You can use our processing dates to estimate when your case may be processed by following the link below. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case by registering in the link below.
Any idea, what would be the possible reason for this? Please advice.
BTW I recently applied for EAD extension.
My 140 was approved in 2007 ,but today i got email from USCIS ,
Application Type: I140, IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER
Current Status: Case Transfered to Another Office for Processing
On May 12, 2009, we transferred this case I140 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER to our LINCOLN, NE location for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action. Please follow the instructions provided on the notice. We will notify you by mail when a decision is made. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to update your address. You can use our processing dates to estimate when your case may be processed by following the link below. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case by registering in the link below.
Any idea, what would be the possible reason for this? Please advice.
BTW I recently applied for EAD extension.
2010 Bible Quote for Atheists
bo12b
11-26 03:46 PM
Bumping this one more time. I am sure some of you have explored this possibility. Please respond.
bo12b
Hello all,
My 6 year H1B is ending on May 21, 2009. I am eligible to file for a 3 year extension since my 140 is approved and I485 has been filed in Aug 2007. However, my current job situation is pretty shaky and I could be laid off anytime. I have an EAD but would like to continue my H1 because my priority date is Jan 2007 (EB3 India)...i.e. a long GC wait. I have been told by my current employer's attorney that I can start the process of extension 6 months prior to current H1B expiring.
But given my job situation, I was thinking of looking for employment with another employer as soon as possible. Will the new employer be able to file for my H1 transfer AND H1 extension at the same time?
OR
Will they have to file for a transfer first (valid from date of switching to May 21, 2009), then wait for approval and then file for the 3 year extension??
I tried looking around for my question but could not find good thread for answer. Please let me know your views and/or point me to a good source for this information.
Thanks
Bo12b
bo12b
Hello all,
My 6 year H1B is ending on May 21, 2009. I am eligible to file for a 3 year extension since my 140 is approved and I485 has been filed in Aug 2007. However, my current job situation is pretty shaky and I could be laid off anytime. I have an EAD but would like to continue my H1 because my priority date is Jan 2007 (EB3 India)...i.e. a long GC wait. I have been told by my current employer's attorney that I can start the process of extension 6 months prior to current H1B expiring.
But given my job situation, I was thinking of looking for employment with another employer as soon as possible. Will the new employer be able to file for my H1 transfer AND H1 extension at the same time?
OR
Will they have to file for a transfer first (valid from date of switching to May 21, 2009), then wait for approval and then file for the 3 year extension??
I tried looking around for my question but could not find good thread for answer. Please let me know your views and/or point me to a good source for this information.
Thanks
Bo12b
more...
bipin
03-18 04:51 PM
LCA wage is $60K. For the current company it is Ok since I worked only for 8 months. But my concern is W2 with $50K in CA bay area will definitely raise a red flag when it comes to any further encounter with USICS (H1 extn/Labor/I-140/AOS/Consulate stamping). I will need to do a lot of explanation. I�m trying to avoid all that with a $60K W2.
What is the wage mentioned on LCA for the H1 ? Is it more then 50K?
What is the wage mentioned on LCA for the H1 ? Is it more then 50K?
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InTheMoment
09-23 12:53 PM
Yes... but it also means that your app is out of the storage area into the staging queue, which means an advancement !
USCIS needs to provide a legend/work-flow chart of what they put in their SR's and where that stands in the overall flow.
I got an SR response back saying that my application is "waiting to be assigned to an officer"...whatever that means...isnt every application so? I think SRs are just as useless as any other 'customer service' provided by USCIS...
USCIS needs to provide a legend/work-flow chart of what they put in their SR's and where that stands in the overall flow.
I got an SR response back saying that my application is "waiting to be assigned to an officer"...whatever that means...isnt every application so? I think SRs are just as useless as any other 'customer service' provided by USCIS...
more...
ramus
06-20 08:41 AM
Just call your local AAA office and they will tell you everything.. Mostly they take photo in main local office.
If you are plus member you get free 8 photos. I guess for regular member you will 6.
Can you detail how to get the photos taken from AAA?
Where do you need to go for the pics taken?
If you are plus member you get free 8 photos. I guess for regular member you will 6.
Can you detail how to get the photos taken from AAA?
Where do you need to go for the pics taken?
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vxb2004
07-27 10:20 AM
I am in the same position too. A couple of days back I talked to my lawyer and she told me its ok and that she has never heard of anyone's case being rejected or getting a RFE jus because they dint write their name in the native language.
One of friend's lawyer also said its not a big deal and if u r from India the USCIS wont bother abt it(dunno how true this is!)
All,
I sent out my application to USCIS last week and while talking to a friend I realized that I had not filled the Item
"If your native alphabet is in other than Roman letters, write your name in your native alphabet below:"
I neither filled it with my native alphabet nor filled it with a "N/A" Even my lawyer has not detected this.
Is this going to be an issue? What will the USCIS do about it? Since I still have time does it make sense to send a revised form? Is some one out there who have done this?
Please let me know
Thanks
-Sri
One of friend's lawyer also said its not a big deal and if u r from India the USCIS wont bother abt it(dunno how true this is!)
All,
I sent out my application to USCIS last week and while talking to a friend I realized that I had not filled the Item
"If your native alphabet is in other than Roman letters, write your name in your native alphabet below:"
I neither filled it with my native alphabet nor filled it with a "N/A" Even my lawyer has not detected this.
Is this going to be an issue? What will the USCIS do about it? Since I still have time does it make sense to send a revised form? Is some one out there who have done this?
Please let me know
Thanks
-Sri
more...
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gc28262
07-29 12:25 PM
Good One !
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vamsi_poondla
09-10 10:45 AM
All,
I think we are most close to H-1B process and thus we should be one who should propose changes to H-1B program to congress so that they can make program more fair and transparent to all. I suggest the following changes. I think IV core should take this up with senator/house representative.
H1-B improvements:
1) Instead of visa becoming available once every year (1 October), make visa � of the visa quota available every quarter and one can apply for visa in any given quarter on any day of the quarter or 10 days before the start of the quarter. Unused visas of preceding quarter are added to the next quarter.
2) Remove lottery system of awarding visa. In stead use the following method:
a. Until the first day of quarter, all applications for that quarter is accepted (first day of the quarter not included). Visa availability decision is made on first day of the quarter and then every first day of the week of that quarter. Let call these days �visa count day (VCD)�.
b. If number of application received between to consecutive �visa count day� or before the first VCD is less then number of available visas, all those applications are assigned available visas. Available visa count is reduced by number of applications with assigned visas.
c. No application is accepted if it was received on or after the VCD AND it was determine on that VCD that sufficient visas are not available for applications received between preceding VCD and the current VCD (or 10 days if VCD is the start of the quarter). Call this VCD �cut-off VCD� and immediate week (or 10 days if this is first VCD) preceding it �cut-off period (CP)�
d. The application received is CP is assigned available visa as follows:
i. Create the pool of all the employers who have applied in CP and still have H-1B application requiring new visa.
ii. Start with an employer playing highest salary to the H-1B applicant and assigned one visa to that application. Remove this employer for the pool. Move on to next highest paying employer in the pool and assigned one visa to that application.
iii. Continue doing point two (ii) until all visas are exhausted or there are no more employers in the pool. In later case, again create employer pool as stated in point one (i) and repeat the process.
3) Special clause for consulting position: If application for H-1B visa requires consulting work, following is required:
a. New LCA is required every year and when consultant changes the client.
b. New LCA must be based on the client�s job and experience requirement.
c. H-1B applicant must be paid based on LCA.
d. If H-1B applicant can establish significant fraud/H-1B exploitation, he/she (and any dependent) is awarded EAD immediately and he/she is eligible to apply for permanent residency without employer application. Employer is no longer eligible to apply for H-1B application and is fined $1million per fraud.
Some are good ideas. Did you think of the administrative overhead? What is the need for the special clause? It is too restrictive.
I think, in long run, increasing the cap, preventing the exploitation/ fraud, faster GC process are workable solutions. I sometimes hear that some companies bring L1B holders and place them as consultants ( a clear violation of L1 visa)..That is the area lawmakers should really drill more. L1 is clearly exploited, it is used like a virtual back door with no cap limits.
I think we are most close to H-1B process and thus we should be one who should propose changes to H-1B program to congress so that they can make program more fair and transparent to all. I suggest the following changes. I think IV core should take this up with senator/house representative.
H1-B improvements:
1) Instead of visa becoming available once every year (1 October), make visa � of the visa quota available every quarter and one can apply for visa in any given quarter on any day of the quarter or 10 days before the start of the quarter. Unused visas of preceding quarter are added to the next quarter.
2) Remove lottery system of awarding visa. In stead use the following method:
a. Until the first day of quarter, all applications for that quarter is accepted (first day of the quarter not included). Visa availability decision is made on first day of the quarter and then every first day of the week of that quarter. Let call these days �visa count day (VCD)�.
b. If number of application received between to consecutive �visa count day� or before the first VCD is less then number of available visas, all those applications are assigned available visas. Available visa count is reduced by number of applications with assigned visas.
c. No application is accepted if it was received on or after the VCD AND it was determine on that VCD that sufficient visas are not available for applications received between preceding VCD and the current VCD (or 10 days if VCD is the start of the quarter). Call this VCD �cut-off VCD� and immediate week (or 10 days if this is first VCD) preceding it �cut-off period (CP)�
d. The application received is CP is assigned available visa as follows:
i. Create the pool of all the employers who have applied in CP and still have H-1B application requiring new visa.
ii. Start with an employer playing highest salary to the H-1B applicant and assigned one visa to that application. Remove this employer for the pool. Move on to next highest paying employer in the pool and assigned one visa to that application.
iii. Continue doing point two (ii) until all visas are exhausted or there are no more employers in the pool. In later case, again create employer pool as stated in point one (i) and repeat the process.
3) Special clause for consulting position: If application for H-1B visa requires consulting work, following is required:
a. New LCA is required every year and when consultant changes the client.
b. New LCA must be based on the client�s job and experience requirement.
c. H-1B applicant must be paid based on LCA.
d. If H-1B applicant can establish significant fraud/H-1B exploitation, he/she (and any dependent) is awarded EAD immediately and he/she is eligible to apply for permanent residency without employer application. Employer is no longer eligible to apply for H-1B application and is fined $1million per fraud.
Some are good ideas. Did you think of the administrative overhead? What is the need for the special clause? It is too restrictive.
I think, in long run, increasing the cap, preventing the exploitation/ fraud, faster GC process are workable solutions. I sometimes hear that some companies bring L1B holders and place them as consultants ( a clear violation of L1 visa)..That is the area lawmakers should really drill more. L1 is clearly exploited, it is used like a virtual back door with no cap limits.
more...
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bskrishna
04-09 12:45 PM
you have had one heck of a journey.
Enjoy !
Enjoy !
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thomachan72
09-17 09:22 AM
For a person holding a 10-year multiple entry B1/B2 visa, how long can they stay for each visit. Is it determined at the port of entry by the officer? or is there a standard like 30 days or something per visit? I know parents visiting can stay for max of 6 months. Can they travel across to canada and then reenter for another 6 months? Just curious.
more...
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irrational
10-06 04:37 PM
I am thinking it might be because my employee is based in Virginia. But I have been working in Texas since 2003. So I have no clue what triggered this transfer.
-Bipin
-Bipin
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freddy22
04-25 02:46 PM
SURE I WILL GO BACK NO PROBLEM AND TAKE ALL THE MONEY I EARNED WHILE LIVING HERE.......OH BTW I am a AMERICAN CITIZEN...LOL !
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freedom1
02-28 11:38 AM
CSPAN does not have it on their schedule yet.
It was/is broadcast on: http://www.capitolhearings.org/index.htm
Hearing room Hart 216.
Freedom1
It was/is broadcast on: http://www.capitolhearings.org/index.htm
Hearing room Hart 216.
Freedom1
gcnirvana
04-20 11:29 AM
I am not sure about the voting schedule but the immigration bill will be debated in the Senate during the last two weeks of May.
I read this in USA Today:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has set aside the last two weeks of May for debate on an immigration bill; House Democrats hope to act before the August recess.
--------
I read this in USA Today:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has set aside the last two weeks of May for debate on an immigration bill; House Democrats hope to act before the August recess.
--------
pappu
02-02 02:54 PM
House Immigration Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Naturalization
On January 17, the House Immigration Subcommittee held its first oversight hearing of the year, and the subject was the naturalization processing backlogs. Due to a confluence of factors, including a very significant fee increase that went into effect on July 30, 2007, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received approximately double the number of naturalization applications in its Fiscal Year 2007 than it had during the previous year. USCIS is saying that, as of now, anyone who applied for naturalization after June 1, 2007, can expect to wait 16 to 18 months to have their application processed.
Remarks by Subcommittee Members
In her opening comment, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee, noted that one year ago, the Subcommittee had a hearing on the proposed fee increase, and was told by USCIS that it need the fee increase to increase efficiency. At the time, the processing time for citizenship applications was six months.
Representative Steve King (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee, played the role of immigration historian. In his opening statement (and in his questioning), he focused almost exclusively on the INS� Citizenship USA program of ten years ago�back in the day before computers were standard issue in the immigration agency. In that effort to deal with a naturalization backlog, some applicants were granted citizenship before criminal background checks were completed, and some who received citizenship were found later not to be eligible. (Since then, however, much more stringent processes have been put in place to screen applications for naturalization. And the agency now does have computers.)
USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez
Emilio Gonzalez, Director of USCIS, gave some background on the development of the backlog and summarized what USCIS was doing about it. During June, July, and August of last year, USCIS received three million immigration benefit applications of all kinds. Their first priority was issuing receipts for those applications. Next, they processed and sent work authorizations, which they are required to do within 90 days.
In the meantime, a large number of naturalization applications piled up. To deal with the extra workload, USCIS is hiring 1,500 new employees (in addition to the extra staff they planned to hire after the new fees went into effect). The agency is also re-hiring former (retired) employees. While waiting for the additional staff to be trained and deployed, the agency will be asking current staff to work overtime, using budgeted overtime early in the Fiscal Year.
Other steps are also being taken. Still, Mr. Gonzalez noted (in his written testimony) that it will take until the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2010 before the agency is back to a six-month processing time.
During the question and answer session, there was a fair amount of discussion about a portion of the backlog that preceded the surge in applications and was caused by a delay in the background checks conducted by the FBI. Some individuals have been in limbo for well over a year waiting for clearance from the FBI, and Mr. Gonzalez noted that last year more than 5,000 lawsuits were filed against the agency�80% on the FBI name check delays. The FBI, he said, has a paper-based system that is only beginning to be addressed. For now, it takes people to handle the files. The FBI has brought on some additional contract personnel and full-time employees to work on this problem.
Rep. Lofgren said that she would ask the FBI to come before the Subcommittee to explain its perspective on the name check delays. [Subsequently, we were told that the full Judiciary Committee will have a hearing with the FBI on a range of issues, including the name check issue.]
Non-Government Witnesses
Also testifying at the hearing were Arturo Vargas, Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and Fred Tsao, Policy Director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Mr. Vargas said that his organization kept USCIS apprised of its efforts to get immigrants to become citizens and the agency should have taken that information, plus experience with past fee increases, into account to take steps to be better prepared for the surge in applications. NALEO is recommending that the agency focus sufficiently on reducing the backlog so that all immigrants who applied for naturalization in Fiscal Year 2007 (which ended September 30, 2007) are sworn in as citizens by July 4, 2008. Otherwise, many immigrants who applied for citizenship last summer will not be able to vote in the elections this November.
Mr. Tsao echoed the point about USCIS having ample information that a surge in applications was coming. He recommended that USCIS (and the FBI) report regularly to the Subcommittee regarding progress being made on reducing the backlog.
In concluding the hearing, Rep. Lofgren suggested that she might also conduct a hearing on the agency�s information technology.
Additional Information
In a subsequent meeting with community-based organizations, Michael Aytes, Associate Director for Domestic Operations of USCIS, gave some additional specifics on the status of the naturalization backlogs. He noted that the total number of new employees being hired will be approximately 3,000�between the additional staff they are hiring to deal with the backlog and the extra staff being paid for by the fee increases. Regarding the FBI name check issue, he noted that, during the House hearing, every member of the Subcommittee�Republican and Democrat�inquired about the name check issue, and that this issue is now being dealt with at high levels both in the Justice Department (in which the FBI is located) and in DHS. He indicated that decisions have been made on the hiring of many of the new adjudicators that are being brought on board, but training and placement are still weeks away, at least.
He also said that the agency is starting Saturday and evening interviews, and applicants should be encouraged to make every effort to show up for their interviews.
On January 17, the House Immigration Subcommittee held its first oversight hearing of the year, and the subject was the naturalization processing backlogs. Due to a confluence of factors, including a very significant fee increase that went into effect on July 30, 2007, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received approximately double the number of naturalization applications in its Fiscal Year 2007 than it had during the previous year. USCIS is saying that, as of now, anyone who applied for naturalization after June 1, 2007, can expect to wait 16 to 18 months to have their application processed.
Remarks by Subcommittee Members
In her opening comment, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee, noted that one year ago, the Subcommittee had a hearing on the proposed fee increase, and was told by USCIS that it need the fee increase to increase efficiency. At the time, the processing time for citizenship applications was six months.
Representative Steve King (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee, played the role of immigration historian. In his opening statement (and in his questioning), he focused almost exclusively on the INS� Citizenship USA program of ten years ago�back in the day before computers were standard issue in the immigration agency. In that effort to deal with a naturalization backlog, some applicants were granted citizenship before criminal background checks were completed, and some who received citizenship were found later not to be eligible. (Since then, however, much more stringent processes have been put in place to screen applications for naturalization. And the agency now does have computers.)
USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez
Emilio Gonzalez, Director of USCIS, gave some background on the development of the backlog and summarized what USCIS was doing about it. During June, July, and August of last year, USCIS received three million immigration benefit applications of all kinds. Their first priority was issuing receipts for those applications. Next, they processed and sent work authorizations, which they are required to do within 90 days.
In the meantime, a large number of naturalization applications piled up. To deal with the extra workload, USCIS is hiring 1,500 new employees (in addition to the extra staff they planned to hire after the new fees went into effect). The agency is also re-hiring former (retired) employees. While waiting for the additional staff to be trained and deployed, the agency will be asking current staff to work overtime, using budgeted overtime early in the Fiscal Year.
Other steps are also being taken. Still, Mr. Gonzalez noted (in his written testimony) that it will take until the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2010 before the agency is back to a six-month processing time.
During the question and answer session, there was a fair amount of discussion about a portion of the backlog that preceded the surge in applications and was caused by a delay in the background checks conducted by the FBI. Some individuals have been in limbo for well over a year waiting for clearance from the FBI, and Mr. Gonzalez noted that last year more than 5,000 lawsuits were filed against the agency�80% on the FBI name check delays. The FBI, he said, has a paper-based system that is only beginning to be addressed. For now, it takes people to handle the files. The FBI has brought on some additional contract personnel and full-time employees to work on this problem.
Rep. Lofgren said that she would ask the FBI to come before the Subcommittee to explain its perspective on the name check delays. [Subsequently, we were told that the full Judiciary Committee will have a hearing with the FBI on a range of issues, including the name check issue.]
Non-Government Witnesses
Also testifying at the hearing were Arturo Vargas, Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and Fred Tsao, Policy Director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Mr. Vargas said that his organization kept USCIS apprised of its efforts to get immigrants to become citizens and the agency should have taken that information, plus experience with past fee increases, into account to take steps to be better prepared for the surge in applications. NALEO is recommending that the agency focus sufficiently on reducing the backlog so that all immigrants who applied for naturalization in Fiscal Year 2007 (which ended September 30, 2007) are sworn in as citizens by July 4, 2008. Otherwise, many immigrants who applied for citizenship last summer will not be able to vote in the elections this November.
Mr. Tsao echoed the point about USCIS having ample information that a surge in applications was coming. He recommended that USCIS (and the FBI) report regularly to the Subcommittee regarding progress being made on reducing the backlog.
In concluding the hearing, Rep. Lofgren suggested that she might also conduct a hearing on the agency�s information technology.
Additional Information
In a subsequent meeting with community-based organizations, Michael Aytes, Associate Director for Domestic Operations of USCIS, gave some additional specifics on the status of the naturalization backlogs. He noted that the total number of new employees being hired will be approximately 3,000�between the additional staff they are hiring to deal with the backlog and the extra staff being paid for by the fee increases. Regarding the FBI name check issue, he noted that, during the House hearing, every member of the Subcommittee�Republican and Democrat�inquired about the name check issue, and that this issue is now being dealt with at high levels both in the Justice Department (in which the FBI is located) and in DHS. He indicated that decisions have been made on the hiring of many of the new adjudicators that are being brought on board, but training and placement are still weeks away, at least.
He also said that the agency is starting Saturday and evening interviews, and applicants should be encouraged to make every effort to show up for their interviews.
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