Immi reform this year --Confirmed?

[shivarajan]

I can see an update in shusterman (http://www.shusterman.com/) stating that .. "Green light for legislative reform and d same in cards of Dems this year?"

:)

[chinna_sss]

don't expect too much. earn the money save in your bank a/c. be ready for anything.

[Better_Days]

While wiser heads than me have advised me to not take what different lawyers post on their web sites seriously, with more and more lawyers reporting the same thing on their websites, is it not more likely than not that immigration reform will happen this year?

With love for all and malice towards none,
-Better_Days

[Jaime]

Well, one thing is for sure, WE NEED TO BE OPTIMISTIC!!!! I myself feel very optimistic about something happening this year!

[ilikekilo]

Well, one thing is for sure, WE NEED TO BE OPTIMISTIC!!!! I myself feel very optimistic about something happening this year!


Agree about the optimism BUT there are so many if's and buts'... DId we ever imagine that the July 07 fiasco would ever ever happen and IV took the opportunity to do the best for all of us folks? NO, b ut it happened..so it would be interesting at the least..

[zen]

don't expect too much. earn the money save in your bank a/c. be ready for anything.
I agree ..actually immi reform will be late for many ..IV campaign may not come at all ..and in end the retro may get solved on its own as well settled immigrants start going back to their countries

[hebbar77]

also make sure you spread money in accounts in many banks, preferably FDIC insured!

[485Mbe4001]

:) sorry couldnt resist...the FDIC limit is 250k per bank untill dec 2010. if you have to 'worry' about spreading money in 'many' banks then a GC should be the least of your worries. With that kind of liquid cash you dont have to worry about this recession.

also make sure you spread money in accounts in many banks, preferably FDIC insured!

[hebbar77]

FDIC insured does not mean that you get the money immediately if the bank sinks. So even you got 10-20 grand.. spreading gets you money to live on till FDIC pays(if it still has cash):)

[rvr_jcop]

FDIC insured does not mean that you get the money immediately if the bank sinks. So even you got 10-20 grand.. spreading gets you money to live on till FDIC pays(if it still has cash):)

As of now, IMHO, the T-Bills are the safest, even safer than the FDIC. Ateleast they print the money if they have NONE. But with such a low risk, the intrest rate is almost zero if not negative.

[snathan]

FDIC insured does not mean that you get the money immediately if the bank sinks. So even you got 10-20 grand.. spreading gets you money to live on till FDIC pays(if it still has cash):)

Normally if its FDIC insured account, you dont have to worry about this. The FDIC is normaly takes over the bank on Fridays and work over the weekend. The following monday is business as usal for the customer. Dont worry too much and do some more research on this if you want.

[zen]

those hoping for immigration reform or for those who thought that Obama would fix broken immi system ..be prepared ... this is what is happening behind the scenes ..for better or worse.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123810912615352681.html
I guess the slogan "Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst" comes to mind
-----------
By S. MITRA KALITA

As more Americans lose their jobs, the U.S. government is actively discouraging the recruitment of foreign workers, from dude ranchers and fruit pickers to lifeguards and computer programmers.

At least three avenues of legal immigration have seen roadblocks erected. In the most visible and controversial move, companies receiving federal bailout money now face extra hurdles before they can hire highly skilled guest workers on an H-1B visa. On Friday, the Labor Department will close a public-comment period for a proposal to suspend an agricultural guest-worker program, known as the H-2A.
[U.S. Deters Hiring Foreigners as Jobless Ranks Swell] David Harp/Chesapeake Photos

At J.M. Clayton Seafood in Cambridge, Md., workers, mostly immigrants, pick crab meat from the shell of Chesapeake blue crabs.

The State Department is asking some sponsors of the J-1 visa -- seasonal employers such as hotels, golf resorts and summer camps -- to reduce dependence on foreign labor. "Basically, because of the economic downturn, it will be difficult to place these people in jobs," said State Department spokesman Andy Lainey, confirming that a letter from the agency asked sponsors to make cuts "voluntarily."

With the unemployment rate at 8.1% and approaching double digits, the U.S. finds its longstanding quandary over immigration growing even more difficult. On one hand, fewer Americans have jobs and competition for available work is intensifying. On the other, the Obama administration says it wants to resist moves toward protectionism -- at least in the trade of goods and services -- and will push that view at next week's London summit with the leaders of the Group of 20 nations.

Immigration advocates say it is hypocritical not to apply the same approach to the flow of people.

"You don't abandon regulations because you have one bad year," said Jeanne M. Malitz, an immigration lawyer in San Diego who represents many growers who are trying to plan their harvests but are uncertain of their labor source. They have relied on the H-2A program, which allows guest agriculture workers to stay as long as 10 months. A spokeswoman for the Labor Department said a decision on whether the program will be suspended for nine months will be made in "a couple of months."

[rorypirrie]

Well hopefully the best does happen and the current administration makes a change. As said earlier, could be too late for some but it needs to happen.

[cdeneo]

After reading all the articles on this topic out there - it scares me that they are only talking about illegals. This is in tune with the comprehensive immigration reform effort of 2007 - the one that was out to do more damage to the legal community waiting in line than good.

I still feel we need to do a rally and more to make ourselves heard... We can only *hope* that legal immigrants in line get a fair deal though coupled with illegals - if and when this happens...

As always we hang by a thin rope of hope - nothing new :(

[shivarajan]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immigration27-2009mar27,0,4007105.story


Brief:
The end part read like .... ???? End of Cycle?:confused:


The new proposal, as laid out by several participants in the behind-the-scenes negotiations, would also create an independent commission that would assess labor and industry data to decide how many foreign workers should be allowed into the country. The system, designed by Ray Marshall, a Labor secretary under President Carter, would replace a maze of special temporary worker visas that are granted each year to high-tech specialists, agriculture workers and other foreigners brought into the U.S. by foreign and domestic firms.

[24fps]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immigration27-2009mar27,0,4007105.story


Brief:
The end part read like .... ???? End of Cycle?:confused:


The new proposal, as laid out by several participants in the behind-the-scenes negotiations, would also create an independent commission that would assess labor and industry data to decide how many foreign workers should be allowed into the country. The system, designed by Ray Marshall, a Labor secretary under President Carter, would replace a maze of special temporary worker visas that are granted each year to high-tech specialists, agriculture workers and other foreigners brought into the U.S. by foreign and domestic firms.

This country is going to screw itself over with these short sighted policies, hopefully they're enough smart people to counter-balance some of these myopic politicians and make them realize their folly.

[zen]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123810912615352681.html
guys ..are you listening ,.. (and IV too).
read the article ..it is almost as if they want to block aliens in whatever way that they can (and in all fields) ..i.e. even if it is harmful to businesses, they want they to hire locals first.
This is new government's change for immigrants ..democrats in some way are always like this (though I supported Obama) ..protectionism and against business.

[suriajay12]

Well, one thing is for sure, WE NEED TO BE OPTIMISTIC!!!! I myself feel very optimistic about something happening this year!

We must be positive and show wherever we can how we can contribute.
If we appear negative and try to show as job suckers always asking for visas or others, then its not good. Show how you can contribute and make a difference.

[shivarajan]

Immigration reform tough during crisis (http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE52T7SE20090330):confused:

[zen]

The above sounds correct ..but then as people lose their jobs and are forced to leave ..you need to ask the question ,,..do I fight and try to get a gc or do you leave just like that with a question haunting you ..that you should have done something ??
my feeling is that USCIS has become extremely strict ..they will refuse as many GC's , 140's, H1 extensions as they can ..(at the same time they will be greedy and try to accept as many applications as they can to collect the fees).
also the trick is to show that immigration reform in small measures (like recapture) will actually help ..as immigrants who get GC's start spending their savings in buying new homes, cars, furniture etc

[Devils_Advocate]

Immigration reform tough during crisis (http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE52T7SE20090330):confused:

I think Biden made White Houses stance very clear, no CIR this year, 2010 its out anyways. 2011? election year? who knows, i think the Obama Govt have missed out on CIR for their term.

[indianabacklog]

The DREAM act has been reintroduced and excluded the kids of those who are here legally. These people are part of this community and would very much appreciate EVERYONE's help. Please get in touch with your senators and tell them to amend the act to include the aged out children.

If you do this there is a very real opportunity to highlight how long the process takes, so much so that children become adults before their parents get green cards.

In the absence of anything else it might be our only opportunity to get something real done for the legal immigrant community.

For a couple of minutes think of others who are and have been waiting with you all and do the right thing.

Contact your senator now.

[sri1309]

The DREAM act has been reintroduced and excluded the kids of those who are here legally. These people are part of this community and would very much appreciate EVERYONE's help. Please get in touch with your senators and tell them to amend the act to include the aged out children.

If you do this there is a very real opportunity to highlight how long the process takes, so much so that children become adults before their parents get green cards.

In the absence of anything else it might be our only opportunity to get something real done for the legal immigrant community.

For a couple of minutes think of others who are and have been waiting with you all and do the right thing.

Contact your senator now.

Why cant we do this one as a campaign item?.

[indianabacklog]

Why cant we do this one as a campaign item?.


That is a very good question and one that has been asked a number of times in as many years and always gets ignored.

As I said in my earlier post in the absence of any sign of any other immigration bills we could not only help the families that get stuck in this mess it could also illustrate how long the legal immigration process takes.

Although this does not effect everyone by any means it could be a great opportunity for EB immigrants.

I just hope enough people read these postings and actually think about the potential knock on effect.