All Problems faced by Non-Immigrant Visa Holders

[RNGC]

Hello all,

I am starting this thread exclusively to know and understand all kinds of problems faced by our legal non-immigrant visa community, does not matter if it is minor or major, just put your experience here. Unless we tell and discuss about our problems, how we can expect a solution? So, let’s list all our issues here, rank them and forward it our law makers. I am very hopeful that they will help.

I am a firm believer of the proverb "Crying baby gets milk!"


I feel that we are here to compensate the shortage of highly skilled people and we do not deserve unnecessary hurdles/problems/pains that adversely affect our normal lives! We have other things to worry about! For example if our kids don't poop!

Here is one I have faced personally and I feel it is absolutely unnecessary! ( or may be it can be changed )

1. Travel issues....when you have applied for H1 extension, sometimes it takes 6 months, you cannot travel during this period, and you have to wait till it is approved. Have paid $1000 twice for premium processing! How this can be fixed ?

[hpandey]

I would say another problem is getting the H1 stamped. Ever since they got rid of getting the H1 stamped within US we have to go out of the country to get it stamped and you never know how much time it is going to take. Now due to PIMS delays some people are getting stuck for more than a month and no one can afford such long holidays .

On top of that if you are going out of the country then there are airline tickets and stamping fee etc etc which also comes in 1000's of dollars.

[Maverick_2008]

Getting a driver's license is also problematic in some states.

Maverick_2008

Originally Posted by RNGC

Hello all,

I am starting this thread exclusively to know and understand all kinds of problems faced by our legal non-immigrant visa community, does not matter if it is minor or major, just put your experience here. Unless we tell and discuss about our problems, how we can expect a solution? So, let’s list all our issues here, rank them and forward it our law makers. I am very hopeful that they will help.

I am a firm believer of the proverb "Crying baby gets milk!"


I feel that we are here to compensate the shortage of highly skilled people and we do not deserve unnecessary hurdles/problems/pains that adversely affect our normal lives! We have other things to worry about! For example if our kids don't poop!

Here is one I have faced personally and I feel it is absolutely unnecessary! ( or may be it can be changed )

1. Travel issues....when you have applied for H1 extension, sometimes it takes 6 months, you cannot travel during this period, and you have to wait till it is approved. Have paid $1000 twice for premium processing! How this can be fixed ?

[w3313]

Here are the some of the issues
1)Some credit unions will not open an account for your if you are not a citizen/green card holder
2)Same problem with Home loans some banks will not extend loans (I have personally faced these two issues)
3) With the realid act some stats are not giving driving license to non-immigrants that may have fixed but you still need to extend every year even if the state gives a license
4)You cannot get an homestead exemption(tax credit) if you buy a house
5)The latest tax stimulus package will not give tax credit to ITIN holders and with out immigrant status (or EAD) you cannot get an SSN.

As you all know we pay the taxes all kinds of taxes , help economy with our purchase power I can go on with the kind of positive things we bring to this country but for some reason we don't have any rights. I completely agree with the OP the crying baby gets the milk or cranky wheel gets the oil first. Every one if you don't fight for it we are not going get any thing. Remember the congress has write a letter to USCIS saying that the fee for N400 is increased but the service is not any better , why can't the same logic applied to green card applicants the fee is increased but we don't get any congress support isn't that something. Any way's that's my 2 cents....

Good luck to every one...

[sandy_77]

I think, getting my visa re-stamped has become the most inhuman experience. I received my visa renewal I-797 in January 2008 and since I was visiting India in Feb 2008, I decided to get the remaining period (2 years) of my H1B visa stamped. I was not expecting any trouble since I had received my 2nd visa stamp just last year in March 2007. I thought it was impossible for the visa officer's to not have my information since I have been through the drill two times before. Unfortunately, on the Feb 11th, when I went to get my passport stamped, the Visa Officer started giving out blue handouts (this one is not even listed on the New Delhi embassy website) one after the other and sure enough to me too. She wanted to know what I did (Quality Engineer in a biotech company) and even while I was explaining she started chit chatting and laughing with her superior (I assume). Then she wanted to know about my experience of over 4 years in just three words. I was completely shocked. How could I sum up my experience in 3 words. I gave her my answer but was bluntly told to take the blue handout and send the questionnaire and resume as listed to a given email ID. I did that the next day, having no idea what I was getting into. It has been over 2 and a half months now and till date I have no idea what exactly is my fault and what is happening with my visa. The visa officer kept my and my wife's passports and I-797 form and around march 11th asked for my i-129 and other documents which I promptly gave at the embassy. Every time i have called the embassy or the DOS, I get the same response that the application is pending security check and no more details can be given. They refuse to understand that I have a life and home there and i have to pay my bills. I have lived in US for 8 years now and have also completed my master's there. Every month I have to call the utility companies, insurance company, post office and phone company to know what my bills are and have to pay them. Every two months I have to spend close to Rs 1800 to fedex checks to my friends so that they can pay my rent. I have had to cancel my flight tickets and suffered losses there. I have not even filed my tax returns for the year. My life is thrown completely out of gear and i have no idea how i will pay my rent and bills if my company decides to put me on unpaid leave or just terminates my employment. The consulates refuse to issue even a visitor visa so that we can go to US and dispose off our properties. How inhuman and arrogant can the get? How could we possibly become criminals overnight? How can they expect our employer's to retain us after such long delays (so guys have been stuck for 8 or more months)? Aren't they forcing unemployment unjustly on us without any reason if they cannot find anything wrong with our background later? What national security secrets act is preventing the phone visa specialists from disclosing exactly where we are in the process and what is stopping the progress? There are so many questions that need answers and all of us feel helpless as we continue to witness DOS destroy our credibility, careers, our credit history...almost everything that we have worked so hard to earn. How can they expect to build bridges with the world when they are hurting unjustly so many people (29 pages worth of numbers at delhi website and some 59 pages worth of numbers at the chennai website and God knows how many on other consulates worldwide. I have heard people spending some $5000 every month in Canada. This is horrible and some community organizations and law firms must talk to the DOS/Whitehouse about this issue. National Security is must but there must be better way than playing with the future of so many innocent people (99% most likely of which will have acceptable backgrounds).

[RNGC]

Want to keep this alive....

After reading the sad post at

http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...ad.php?t=18763 (Immigrant's life in 'wonderland' turns tragic..)

I feel stronger to unite and help ourselves to overcome "unnecessary" restrictions on Legal Immigrants....

Lets keep this thread alive...want to know what difficulties people go thru being here in US and see how they can be avoided..

[pbojja]

Sandy ,Simply Insane man , write a letter to white house and try to get some attention.This is completely ridiculous and definetley we need to do some thing .. I dont know what is left in this country , And they care more about illegal immigrants ..stupid tv news and news readers , hope one day they realise about legal immigration when we all are eligible to vote in this country

[RNGC]

Sandy_77

Oh man...very sad for you.....this should not be happenning

Where are you ? If in India, go to CNN-IBN, NDTV or some news channel and get your story out....You are not doing any crime, you are just telling your side of the story.... I just sent a PM to pappu(admin) to see how IV can help people stuck in India

[gconmymind]

Originally Posted by sandy_77

This is horrible and some community organizations and law firms must talk to the DOS/Whitehouse about this issue. National Security is must but there must be better way than playing with the future of so many innocent people (99% most likely of which will have acceptable backgrounds).

You must have already done some of this - try to contact your local Congressman, Attorney, Employer and try to find more info. This is completely unacceptable. After the PIMS introduction, I am hearing a lot of horror stories. It never used to be so bad earlier.

How can the consulate keep passports for so long? Basically, they are even barring you from taking any journey anywhere abroad. Why?

National security and background checks are a must but with someone who has been in US for 5+ years (or for that matter even once) should already have been verified.

I am assuming you do not have AP or do not want to use it...otherwise you can ask for your passports, abandon the visa application and enter US using AP. Talk to your attorney if you try this..

[EndlessWait]

we all suffer, waiting for the administration/immigration policies to be humane to us..but honestly they've only gotten worse every year. the only good thing was the july bulletin but that also was becoz of the pressure from the big companies who'd already paid big bucks for immigration/attorney fees.

honestly here or back home no one really cares...we will get old, die tryin' perhaps but its true "might is right" and that is how the US embassy treats us.

[pappu]

Originally Posted by sandy_77

I think, getting my visa re-stamped has become the most inhuman experience. I received my visa renewal I-797 in January 2008 and since I was visiting India in Feb 2008, I decided to get the remaining period (2 years) of my H1B visa stamped. I was not expecting any trouble since I had received my 2nd visa stamp just last year in March 2007. I thought it was impossible for the visa officer's to not have my information since I have been through the drill two times before. Unfortunately, on the Feb 11th, when I went to get my passport stamped, the Visa Officer started giving out blue handouts (this one is not even listed on the New Delhi embassy website) one after the other and sure enough to me too. She wanted to know what I did (Quality Engineer in a biotech company) and even while I was explaining she started chit chatting and laughing with her superior (I assume). Then she wanted to know about my experience of over 4 years in just three words. I was completely shocked. How could I sum up my experience in 3 words. I gave her my answer but was bluntly told to take the blue handout and send the questionnaire and resume as listed to a given email ID. I did that the next day, having no idea what I was getting into. It has been over 2 and a half months now and till date I have no idea what exactly is my fault and what is happening with my visa. The visa officer kept my and my wife's passports and I-797 form and around march 11th asked for my i-129 and other documents which I promptly gave at the embassy. Every time i have called the embassy or the DOS, I get the same response that the application is pending security check and no more details can be given. They refuse to understand that I have a life and home there and i have to pay my bills. I have lived in US for 8 years now and have also completed my master's there. Every month I have to call the utility companies, insurance company, post office and phone company to know what my bills are and have to pay them. Every two months I have to spend close to Rs 1800 to fedex checks to my friends so that they can pay my rent. I have had to cancel my flight tickets and suffered losses there. I have not even filed my tax returns for the year. My life is thrown completely out of gear and i have no idea how i will pay my rent and bills if my company decides to put me on unpaid leave or just terminates my employment. The consulates refuse to issue even a visitor visa so that we can go to US and dispose off our properties. How inhuman and arrogant can the get? How could we possibly become criminals overnight? How can they expect our employer's to retain us after such long delays (so guys have been stuck for 8 or more months)? Aren't they forcing unemployment unjustly on us without any reason if they cannot find anything wrong with our background later? What national security secrets act is preventing the phone visa specialists from disclosing exactly where we are in the process and what is stopping the progress? There are so many questions that need answers and all of us feel helpless as we continue to witness DOS destroy our credibility, careers, our credit history...almost everything that we have worked so hard to earn. How can they expect to build bridges with the world when they are hurting unjustly so many people (29 pages worth of numbers at delhi website and some 59 pages worth of numbers at the chennai website and God knows how many on other consulates worldwide. I have heard people spending some $5000 every month in Canada. This is horrible and some community organizations and law firms must talk to the DOS/Whitehouse about this issue. National Security is must but there must be better way than playing with the future of so many innocent people (99% most likely of which will have acceptable backgrounds).

Pls contact IV.

[illusions]

dang....sandy_77... is this for real ? hearing your story i don't even wanna take a chance. Contact IV i'm sure they can help you. This totally doesn't make sense. I wish you luck... sooon! Please keep us posted on what's going on.

[sandy_77]

Dear Administrator (Pappu)...How should I contact you. I had previously emailed at info@immigrationvoice.org (on 4/20/2008) but did not get a reply.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Believe me I have tried everything possible to try and expedite this security check process. I contacted the news channels and news papers (ones you guys mentioned and more) but no one even dared to reply. I firmly believe that most of the media in India is extremely sympathetic to US and they do not want to disturb the status quo. Otherwise what can explain this complete lack of any news coverage given the number of people who are suffering. Please also read the security clearance tracker at http://murthyforum.atinfopop.com/4/O...12&m=772108581
Given the number of people who have read these forums and documented their situation, you would assume that there must be at least one news item covering this situation. There is none whatsoever. Everyone on H1B is now afraid to go out of US and most of those people who wanted to or needed to get their passports stamped are thinking again. This essentially means nobody on H1B visa should think of visiting their families and friends outside US if they already do not have a visa stamp with sufficient time. Initially I thought mostly guys with muslim names are getting stuck but now it is confirmed that if your name is Amit Kumar forget about stamping as you will have to wait for 3 to at least 8 months. I have a hindu name and so do lot of others who are stuck. The situation I think became worse since January 2008 when most visa officers were asked to apply not only PIMS checks but also TAL checks strictly. So if your are a chemical engineer, biotechnologist (unfortunately I am engineer working for a biotech company) and any other job that a Master's level student (mostly with none IT degrees, but not necessarily so) can take in US, you will have to go through TAL check since every type of advanced skills job is listed in this TAL list. How dumb can the US government departments be by issuing such a list without adequate training of the visa officers to understand what represents a threat versus what represents some advanced skills work being done in US which will allow such work to remain in US.
I am extremely worried because I don't know what will happen to this backlog when newly issued 85000 H1b professionals will go for stamping.
Guys this situation needs urgent attention since DOS has started seeing every body with an H1B as a threat to the nation and this notion has to be dispelled. I am not saying that they should not apply TAL checks, but these should be applied to only those who are working on some really sensitive technology and to determine this DOS should have a technologist to review the resume of such a person rather than an Visa Officer. DOS doesn't even respond to my emails. My last hope is the US senator from my area that my company has contacted to help. But given the experience of others at the murthy forum, even this does not shake the mighty all knowing DOS.

[John_doe]

I completely agree with what sandy_77. I am going through a similar fate, although i have been in the US for a little less than 5 years.

I have a MAsters degree from US and been working there for the last 2 years on an approved H1B work permit. So I came to India to get my visa stamp for H1B as my earlier visa (F1) was expired. Life was apparently going smooth till I came to India in december 2007, primarily to get married and also get the visa stamp. But everything has been going downhill since then. I was not issued the visa, and no specific reason was given for this. A pink form 221G was given with instructions to wait and watch! AS if this is some kind of comedy/drama... I have lost my car in the US, forced to sell it at throw away price, will be loosing my apartment this month end and all my personal belongings will be put on an "yard sale" pretty soon. I have been able to hold on to my job, although without pay for all these months, but after 5 months, I am on the verge of being fired.

I have called both the Chennai US consulate and the Department of State office in Washington DC many times. Neither of them have an inkling of when this process is going to end. They decline to give me any information about my visa processing status other than that it is "pending" and they NEVER tell me how long it is going to take.
I just wish and pray that they had the least consideration for a perfectly legitimate, legal, hardworking, *tax-paying* non-immigrant worker in USA whose 3 years of hard work at an American Grad-School and 2 years of burgeoning career is at stake due to no perceivable fault on his side. The complete hostility being displayed is simply beyond my comprehension. I just want to know if there is a name-check or security clearance or lack of more documental evidence due to which I am being put through this completely unwarranted state of limbo. I just cannot go on waiting forever for something.

Originally Posted by sandy_77

I think, getting my visa re-stamped has become the most inhuman experience. I received my visa renewal I-797 in January 2008 and since I was visiting India in Feb 2008, I decided to get the remaining period (2 years) of my H1B visa stamped. I was not expecting any trouble since I had received my 2nd visa stamp just last year in March 2007. I thought it was impossible for the visa officer's to not have my information since I have been through the drill two times before. Unfortunately, on the Feb 11th, when I went to get my passport stamped, the Visa Officer started giving out blue handouts (this one is not even listed on the New Delhi embassy website) one after the other and sure enough to me too. She wanted to know what I did (Quality Engineer in a biotech company) and even while I was explaining she started chit chatting and laughing with her superior (I assume). Then she wanted to know about my experience of over 4 years in just three words. I was completely shocked. How could I sum up my experience in 3 words. I gave her my answer but was bluntly told to take the blue handout and send the questionnaire and resume as listed to a given email ID. I did that the next day, having no idea what I was getting into. It has been over 2 and a half months now and till date I have no idea what exactly is my fault and what is happening with my visa. The visa officer kept my and my wife's passports and I-797 form and around march 11th asked for my i-129 and other documents which I promptly gave at the embassy. Every time i have called the embassy or the DOS, I get the same response that the application is pending security check and no more details can be given. They refuse to understand that I have a life and home there and i have to pay my bills. I have lived in US for 8 years now and have also completed my master's there. Every month I have to call the utility companies, insurance company, post office and phone company to know what my bills are and have to pay them. Every two months I have to spend close to Rs 1800 to fedex checks to my friends so that they can pay my rent. I have had to cancel my flight tickets and suffered losses there. I have not even filed my tax returns for the year. My life is thrown completely out of gear and i have no idea how i will pay my rent and bills if my company decides to put me on unpaid leave or just terminates my employment. The consulates refuse to issue even a visitor visa so that we can go to US and dispose off our properties. How inhuman and arrogant can the get? How could we possibly become criminals overnight? How can they expect our employer's to retain us after such long delays (so guys have been stuck for 8 or more months)? Aren't they forcing unemployment unjustly on us without any reason if they cannot find anything wrong with our background later? What national security secrets act is preventing the phone visa specialists from disclosing exactly where we are in the process and what is stopping the progress? There are so many questions that need answers and all of us feel helpless as we continue to witness DOS destroy our credibility, careers, our credit history...almost everything that we have worked so hard to earn. How can they expect to build bridges with the world when they are hurting unjustly so many people (29 pages worth of numbers at delhi website and some 59 pages worth of numbers at the chennai website and God knows how many on other consulates worldwide. I have heard people spending some $5000 every month in Canada. This is horrible and some community organizations and law firms must talk to the DOS/Whitehouse about this issue. National Security is must but there must be better way than playing with the future of so many innocent people (99% most likely of which will have acceptable backgrounds).

[kshitijnt]

Here are details of my interview:

VO: what do you do?
I: Software engineer.
VO: How many employees in your company?
I: 20-25
VO: I see your english is not good. How will you be able to do your job?
I: You are the first person to tell me in last 4 years that I cant do my job due to poor english.
[At this point I was ticked off]
VO: How long did you work for last employer?
I: 18 months
VO: How many employees in previous company?
I: 150
VO: How many Indians?
I: I dont know. Ask the employer.
VO: Is this company owned by Indians?
I: I dont ask my boss his citizenship status.
VO: Have you worked with them before?
I: Yes, I am here just to revalidate my visa.
VO: Why you are working for a small company?
I: My preference.
VO: How much salary do you earn?
I: XYZ USD per annum.
VO: Thank you very much sir, your visa is approved.

Didnt bother to thank her, just turned my back and walked away. Visa came by mail.