What is IV's strategy going forward?

[looivy]

Now with a completely altered political situation, what is IV core team's strategy going forward?

CIR is definitely out of consideration. I am hoping it is not another 2 years of hopeless wait. What should we focus our energy on?

Please advise.

[bigboy007]

Originally Posted by looivy

Now with a completely altered political situation, what is IV core team's strategy going forward?

CIR is definitely out of consideration. I am hoping it is not another 2 years of hopeless wait. What should we focus our energy on?

Please advise.

Strategy ( which has been ) is to each member go and visit local law makers (independent of outcome) every month and put forward our problems... StarSun Can help you on getting material... Till we come out of shadow and raise voice nothing is going to happen... IV is our face which tries to do lobbying in DC but with all us in our home counties not doing much what good will it do...?

[bigboy007]

Double Post Deleting...

[India_USA]

From what I hear, if the problems have not changed, the solutions has not changed either. Our choices are
a. Legislative changes -> meeting with lawmakers representing IV consistently is crucial
b. Administrative changes -> active participation of members in the 2 campaigns -
i. Prefiling 485 (to get EADs)
ii. AC21 Same and Similar for career mobility

[bigboy007]

legislative changes are only way out.. rest of all doesnt help much even though they are nice to have... If one is stuck in GC process for 12+ years whatz the point in admin fixes? they only bring relief in short term...

[gc??]

Can the state chapters co-ordinate lawmaker meetings? Or at least assign groups.

[eastindia]

Originally Posted by gc??

Can the state chapters co-ordinate lawmaker meetings? Or at least assign groups.

If you think state chapter is not doing meetings for you, you can do meetings for state chapter. I do not think there is any stopping of anyone who wants to take initiative in state chapters.

[softwareguy]

See below, response my wife got, Senators know our plight and still do not do anything.
Sorry to say, but we do not represent direct money or vote opportunity. Are we a lost cause....

Dear Mrs. xxxx:
Thank you for getting in touch with me. It's good to hear from you.

I appreciate your thoughts on the EB3 employment based category and its backlog. As a United States Senator, I am committed to meeting the day to day needs of Marylanders and the long-term needs of our nation. One of my guiding principles here in the Senate is that Marylanders have a right to know, to be heard, and to be represented. Information from people like you is essential if I am to be not only the Senator from Maryland, but also the Senator for Maryland.

If I can be of assistance in the future, or if there is any other federal issue on which you would like to comment, please feel free to let me know.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

[gc_peshwa]

softwareguy
That looks like a standard (dare I say automated) reply. Its good that you are voicing your concerns to your lawmakers. Dont think your voice is not noticed. Most likely the lawmakers immigration specialist has made a note.
In coming days it will be immensely beneficial to all of us. Keep up the good work.

[forever_waiting]

1) Strategy will probably be focus on piecemeal but if some CIR-like legislation comes up, then we push for it (not surprising since some of the Democratic Senators like menendez or guitterez might still push for it..who knows).

2) From our standpoint, what we need to do doesnt change. its clear that meeting lawmaker offices and estabilishing a rapport with them is the key. talk about the key IV provisions (part of advocacy pack..contact starsun for material) so they are aware of our plight. Then when pro-EB bill comes up, push the lawmaker to support it. during lawmaker meetings we should request them to commit to sponsor an EB bill. this is better than trying to call or meet lawmaker at the minute when bill is almost up for debate or vote. we have try to help them take or change their stance much before that stage.
3) Do not get discouraged by standard email responses..no one at the lawmaker office is waiting to specifically respond to our email (which is among hundreds they get everyday). initial email is only stepping stone to a follow-up meeting which is important.
4) If local state chapter is not active..take up the initiative and start messages on the yahoogroup/googlegroup most state chapters have (start one if you do not find one created)
5) Through the state chapter, create 5-10 groups of 2 people each and distribute the various congressional districts among these groups to meet with lawmaker offices. Schedule an appointment and contact starsun or other senior members for meeting materials. Do this as frequently as possible and share feedback with IV team. These meetings can focus on overall IV/EB agenda and when bill comes up, it can be a bill-specific meeting.

My 2 cents.

Originally Posted by looivy

Now with a completely altered political situation, what is IV core team's strategy going forward?

CIR is definitely out of consideration. I am hoping it is not another 2 years of hopeless wait. What should we focus our energy on?

Please advise.

[senram]

I really doubt anything will happen in immigration whether legal or illegal for 2 years. History shows immigration policy was restrictive when unemployment is high. It is not for discouraging any attempts but real situation now. Even business is not that much aggressive. During Lame Duck Session I saw IV was only one lobbying to attach Visa Recapture.

But as usual CIR may be introduced including Eb reform in Feb. Lawyers site will get attention by their big analysis. IV Forum members will discuss again who is left out in the bill. Finally it will sit on Judiciary commitee and expire in December.

But there is a belief that EB reform has strong support in congress. But if that is the case why any piecemeal bill is not coming out of Judiciary commitee for the past few years? Only reason told was everything waiting for CIR. The setback of Dream Bill shows that even Piecemeal Bill is also very difficult. Probably Still IV might have expressed optimistic view in Donor Forum about 2011. But for 2011 and 2012 " Hope for best and Prepare for worst'

Probably it you take effort it may be helpful for future immigration aspirants. But most IV members may get GC before Eb reform happens.

Originally Posted by forever_waiting

1) Strategy will probably be focus on piecemeal but if some CIR-like legislation comes up, then we push for it (not surprising since some of the Democratic Senators like menendez or guitterez might still push for it..who knows).

2) From our standpoint, what we need to do doesnt change. its clear that meeting lawmaker offices and estabilishing a rapport with them is the key. talk about the key IV provisions (part of advocacy pack..contact starsun for material) so they are aware of our plight. Then when pro-EB bill comes up, push the lawmaker to support it. during lawmaker meetings we should request them to commit to sponsor an EB bill. this is better than trying to call or meet lawmaker at the minute when bill is almost up for debate or vote. we have try to help them take or change their stance much before that stage.
3) Do not get discouraged by standard email responses..no one at the lawmaker office is waiting to specifically respond to our email (which is among hundreds they get everyday). initial email is only stepping stone to a follow-up meeting which is important.
4) If local state chapter is not active..take up the initiative and start messages on the yahoogroup/googlegroup most state chapters have (start one if you do not find one created)
5) Through the state chapter, create 5-10 groups of 2 people each and distribute the various congressional districts among these groups to meet with lawmaker offices. Schedule an appointment and contact starsun or other senior members for meeting materials. Do this as frequently as possible and share feedback with IV team. These meetings can focus on overall IV/EB agenda and when bill comes up, it can be a bill-specific meeting.

My 2 cents.

[willigetgc?]

Originally Posted by softwareguy

See below, response my wife got, Senators know our plight and still do not do anything.
Sorry to say, but we do not represent direct money or vote opportunity. Are we a lost cause....

Dear Mrs. xxxx:
Thank you for getting in touch with me. It's good to hear from you.

I appreciate your thoughts on the EB3 employment based category and its backlog. As a United States Senator, I am committed to meeting the day to day needs of Marylanders and the long-term needs of our nation. One of my guiding principles here in the Senate is that Marylanders have a right to know, to be heard, and to be represented. Information from people like you is essential if I am to be not only the Senator from Maryland, but also the Senator for Maryland.

If I can be of assistance in the future, or if there is any other federal issue on which you would like to comment, please feel free to let me know.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

Software guy, if you and/or your wife meet with the Senators office, please take the letter you sent and this response you got. The sad part that the Senator/office is not understanding is that we need her assistance NOW and not sometime in the future. The federal issues that you (and many others in MD and rest of US) are concerned about is immigration and fixing it. Keep them honest to their word.

[willigetgc?]

Originally Posted by senram

I really doubt anything will happen in immigration whether legal or illegal for 2 years. History shows immigration policy was restrictive when unemployment is high. It is not for discouraging any attempts but real situation now. Even business is not that much aggressive. During Lame Duck Session I saw IV was only one lobbying to attach Visa Recapture.

But as usual CIR may be introduced including Eb reform in Feb. Lawyers site will get attention by their big analysis. IV Forum members will discuss again who is left out in the bill. Finally it will sit on Judiciary commitee and expire in December.

But there is a belief that EB reform has strong support in congress. But if that is the case why any piecemeal bill is not coming out of Judiciary commitee for the past few years? Only reason told was everything waiting for CIR. The setback of Dream Bill shows that even Piecemeal Bill is also very difficult. Probably Still IV might have expressed optimistic view in Donor Forum about 2011. But for 2011 and 2012 " Hope for best and Prepare for worst'

Probably it you take effort it may be helpful for future immigration aspirants. But most IV members may get GC before Eb reform happens.

I agree with forever_waiting.

Senram, the bad economy is definitely a big hurdle to overcome. But your option of "hoping for best and prepare for worst" is not an action item. It is a passive act with no beneficial outcome. Hoping for the best is when you have put the efforts and leave the results to fate. Not putting the efforts at all (because we may be held hostage to cir, or the possibilities of peicemeal is slim) - is preparing for the worst!

Think about it, without the ground work, we cannot hope for a last minute miracle.