Mentol Blog's

How does it matter ? Getting the application delivered is important.

HHi Mods, I am new to the forum so in case I asked this in the wrong section then do pardon me.

I am currently working on L1 visa and had applied for H1 visa for fiscal 2010. I did file the visa via a consultant based in ease coast. Now, i got an email 8 days back from CRIS that there was a RFE against my application.
And finally, earlier today I got another email from my consultant that my visa was denied.

My consultant says that he never received any RFE request from USCIS and all he got was a random rejection PDF from them (he in-fact says that I wasn't the only one ... he got 5 more denials today without getting the RFE)

My question to you folks is :
- Can he be lying and trying to cover-up the fact that he never bothered to respond back (even though the RFE came 2 months back)
- Can this actually happen (that RFE doesn't get delivered at all) ??
- He says he has asked the attorney to appeal further. Would that help. Also, how would I know if this guy has actually appealed or just gave another false assurance.
- Also what are my chances getting a H1B via the appeal route ?

Thanks in advance

Hi Friends, After the initial denial notice my consultant confirmed that he'll appeal for my H1B case. Whilst he was not disclosing much on the documents front (appeal notice and dates). on 21st aug he told me that he is working with the attorney on the appeal and that, it was going to take a while.
Now yesterday I got this email from CRIS
================================================== ===
The last processing action taken on your case
Receipt Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Application Type: I129 , PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER

Current Status: Case reopened or reconsidered based on USCIS determination, and the case is now pending.

We reopened this I129 PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER on August 24, 2009, and are now reviewing our earlier decision. We also mailed you a notice describing the next steps in the process. Please follow any instructions on this notice. Our review should be completed within 30 days. We will notify you by mail when we make a decision or if we need something from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.
*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at USCIS Home Page (http://www.uscis.gov) under Case Status and Processing Dates.
*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message
Sincerely,
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
================================================== ===
My consultant/attorney haven't appealed back and it's highly unlikely that USCIS did recognize some apparent mistake of theirs and decided to reopen. SO, does this mean that my consultant has withdrawn the H1B petition ..? I suspect that he's trying to save his ass by doing so (to avoid USCIS furore)

Your comments are appreciated..!

Thats true but the thread starter indicated he had non-traffic citation. I don't know what it is...but it will be good to know examples of non-traffic citations.

I am assuming DUI, other misdemeanors or felonies.

Totally agree.
Another night my wife was worried. I told her that I am still young :). When the worst happens, I can still work in a Chinese restaurant, and put the food on the table for the kids.

Sounds good to me. QJ?? Anyone else?

call or check with them...you can ask to be on the phone also..so that you can get any questions answered..

I am sure a lot of cases will happen this way...especially people who have no LUD nothing from past 9 months...

Goodluck!

I am also interested in this topic. My wife is working curently using OPT. But, she is waiting for EAD also. So, once 485 EAD comes, she will be in similar situation.
Lawyer has suggested using 485 EAD once it comes.
Anyway, for travelling, AP has to be used. Once you travel on AP and come back, you cannot continue working using OPT. You have to use 485 EAD. So, it is better to switch to 485 EAD to avoid confusion.
I am planning to keep her on OPT till Dec 31. It will make our tax filing easier next year. From January, she can switch to 485 EAD and pay social security tax.
Let me know if you can some concrete info on this.

Is it possible that we get cuaght by IRS audit since I wonder how safe it is to NOT pay social security tax after you have filed 485? I was reading the other thread about IRS audit and am a bit worried.

Hello everyone,

Today 17th August, 2007 my I-485 packet was about to reach at Texas Service Center and unfortunately when I track my packet it shows �Notice Left� on USPS site, they mention they will try to deliver on Next business day. When I called at USPS , one lady picked up phone and she told it was PO Box no so we cant deliver. It is available to them to pick up but the man from USCIS might pick it up on early monday morning. Now I am worried does that mean my mailing date is Aug 17th or Aug 20th.

SO now USCIS will accept my application or not ?? Please advise ? Any body has same situation ?


Notice Left, August 17, 2007, 11:38 am, MESQUITE, TX 75185
Arrival at Unit, August 17, 2007, 11:01 am, MESQUITE, TX 75149
Acceptance, August 16, 2007, 10:09 pm, ATLANTA, GA 30320


According to Murthy: http://www.mURTHY.COM
The package should reach today. Not on monday even if the post mark is 16th.

FYI
My 9th year H1-b extension was applied on March 13, and I got the email today from USCIS that the approval notice has been sent. This is a CA ( WAC) case.

Wht do u mean..partially?

Hi, my H1-B expired on Feb 6th, 2009, I have EAD based on I-140 approval and 485 pending (EB3 ROW). Can I apply for extension of my H1-B or do I have to switch to EAD since H1-B expired?

please see my response
Here's a brief background:

1. Have EB3 from this company as a Software Engineer 15-1031
2. Have a MS + 3 years PRIOR to joining this company
3. Plan NOT to use experience gained from the current company for EB2

Can someone please help me with which approach will have the highest probability of success with PERM?

1. What title should I use? Since I already have a Software Engineer as EB3, should I be using an Software Analyst title? Which one has better chances of success?
Title really does not matter, it's the Job Requirement, Desc, Salary and how well your profile match with the Job requirement. My EB 3 was filled as Software Engineer Level 1 in 2006. My EB2 labor was filled (different company) as Software Engineer (Level III). Labor was approved in 4 weeks back in Nov 2010

2. What experience should I use? Should it be MS + 1 OR MS + 2 OR MS + 2 with alternative BS + 5? My understanding is that once we add BS+5 as alternate, the wage will be pretty high. I make 90k in IL.
I think best option is to ask your company attorney. I am not sure if you can make s decision what you want to use. The company and the lawyer will decide what is best for them to prove for a Job during I-140. most probably I have seen Lawyers prefer to go with MS + 1 yr experience. Mine was BS+5 yrs exp I live in NOVA and prevailing wages were 76 K. I make much more than that ;)

3. Since I am not using experience from current employer, is it okay if the job description is almost the same as the job description for EB3? (I need to provide experience letters from my previous company and there shouldn't be a discrepency with the ones I have submitted for EB3)
You can not use this experience anyway ;) Job description can be similar but more like a senior guy's work. i.e. Consult with customers, PM and team members on project status, proposals and technical issues (i.e. software system design and
maintenance), Effectively guide the team, collaborate with other team members and
provide quality software solutions to accommodate business needs.


I hope this helps
Any help is really really appreciated.

Thanks for the response.
I think Sergey Brin, one of the founders of google immigrated to US as a kid, i.e. not on EB quota or H1/L1.
I am looking for those who are either -
- currently on or were once on H1/L1/AOS pending.
- immigrated to the US using Employment Based immigration.
Any and all responses appreciated. Thanks!

In one of my friend's case they approved H1 for 6 months, because he had contract only for 6 months. He just completed 3 years and this is his first extension request. :eek: Who the hell in this world writes contract for more than 6 months even if they have requirements for next 2 years.

Another case I heard was immigration officer at POE granted only 1 year I-94 even though he had 2 years left in his visa. It seems IO spoke to candidates manager and advised him to hire someone locally and get him trained within a year.

Are we in real United States of America? So much of hate around.

Which service center was your friend from? California Service Center is said to be the most restrictive one and they have been giving out H1B only for the duration of contracts. This doesn't make any sense as who in this consulting world and in this economy can give a commitment for a full 3 years of H1B extension. Vermont is supposed to be more liberal as compared to California, but we can never tell.

My company filed for a 7 yr extension of H1B and I received an RFE. RFE has become the norm for H1B for 90% of cases for all consulting companies. My lawyer was smart to predict in advance that I should expect an RFE.

On POE, many of my friends have been harrassed recently. They have been racially profiled and questioned. Better to have all your documentation with you. You might want to condider visiting the immigration office to explain to them that the date on i94 seems to be a mistake as the visa is for 2 full years. They did the same mistake on mine with the year, but I point out right there and he corrected it.

Good luck

I wish both of them good luck to get visa stamp. it will be tough taking into consideration there is indian invasion in US. there are a lot of indians here in US on legal status,but a considerable precentage of indians coming here on visitor visa and stay illegally after I94 expired and trying to convert "visitor" visa to something else.

The reason why EB2 India is moving so fast is because people with 2001 PDs are stuck in BECs. Once they come to apply for I-140/I-485, EB2 India PD will retrogress to 2001 again. So the progress you are watching is an illusion.

That's a good point. It will be terrible to see the dates retrogress again. There's no end to this.

Donsi

Hi

What is Unit? can I consider it as CREDIT?

if it is credit, then I believe it will take approximately 11k to complete MS in computer science

Thanks

In case his I-140 was approved then there are no problems for this scenario right?

yes if I-140 is approved it makes a world of difference:
- keeps his GC process alive even if he changes employers since he is past the 180 day mark of 485 filing.
- he gets a 3 year H1 extension/transfer if his PD is not current.
thats the reason I advise him to hang on until the I-140 comes through; esp since he has a 2004 PD and its an utter waste of four-five years if that goes.
Even if employer is not treating you well, hang in there and smile; your turn to get even-steven will come soon enough.

Guru's let me know your thoughts on this..

1. H4 visa holder can study in US but cant work like F1 visa holder
2. F1 visa holder can study and work (only for limited hours) in US but cant apply for I-485 as dependent i.e. Green Card as F1 visa is not a dual-intent visa.
3. After filing I-485 as dependent, if anyone converts from H4 to F1 visa they will lose I-485 i.e. will get rejected.
4. If H4 visa holder uses EAD then they are no longer in H4 visa (unless they re-enter US using H4 in port of entry). So EAD allows dependents to study and work if they use it. But staying in H4 visa is safer till you get GC compared to using EAD.

Also the tuition fees waiver conditions changes based on each program (course) you are applying and also depends on each state/universities where you enroll.

good luck....

fearonlygod

Do it now , don't wait till last min.

Consulting companies can't just take your money.

You have to complain about them and also please provide us company name and website so other person don't join them .