WashingtonWatch.com - S. 9, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007

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76% For, 24% Against

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Visitor Comments

Bob Shelley

So, after all the marches, complaints, studies and the fact that most voters are opposed to open borders and a free ride for criminals... those who knowingly break the law... the Senate will once again allow 10 million law breakers into the US. It is the job of the Congress to protect our borders but all they have done is block any legislation that would do so and award criminals with US citizenship. We are going to be very sorry when the Islamic Fundimentalist Warriors walk across the border and start blowing the US to pieces. Of course congress will point fingers but never admit they caused it by their own incompetence and inability to keep the promise they made to protect the US Consitution. Republicans and Democrats are basically the same now-a-days. Can't trust any of them.

Dena Jimenez

I am just one person but I don't remember opposing immigration reform. So don't speak for me. In fact I pushed for Democrats hoping to get immigration reform. Oh! Don't let name fool you my family is from Creek Indians.

Raj Patel

From the beginning, the foreign-born high skilled immigrants have made significant contributions to virtually every aspect of American society. They helped build an economy that is the envy of the world. They have come to America seeking opportunity, and have left their mark by building businesses, making advances in science, medicine and technology, and enhancing American culture and quality of life. These contributions drive economic growth and job creation, and help keep America competitive.
Thousands of high skilled immigrants are struck in deadly backlog of employment based green card as a result United States is endangering the long-term economic future. More than 350,000 high skilled legal immigrants who are paying taxes, law abiding, highly contributing to economy are struck at final stage of immigration.The 110th Congress must pass CIR 2007 with EB provisions.

prasad

i am not aware of the exact text, and i am not sure how much vote politics is being played (11 million votes, wow!). And on top of that 11 million new customers for the attorneys, who must have spent millions to lobby for a bill to support illegal immigrants.
I hope one more amnesty is not on the cards, and i hope some one is thinking of a long term solutions.
But i am a skeptic with no hope in politicians.

Guna Sekhar

The legal immigration system in the US is in shambles and there is a screaming need to get it fixed. Any more delays and we would see American companies creating more and more jobs in countries where skilled labor is easily available, instead of choosing the United States. Either we let skilled workers to come here legally and contribute to the economy or we compel corporations to export these jobs out. The choice is clear- SUPPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT - and let American jobs stay in America !

Jay Adler

The problem with this bill is that it mixes two things: illegan aliens (and their "amnesty") and legal aliens.

The legal immigration system is a MESS in the US right now. Raj Patel (a couple of comments up) hits the nail right on the head. But, in a way, Bob Shelley does too. They are both right - and that is because they are both tackling different provisions of the bill that should not even be on the same bill to begin with.

Anonymous

I will take any action on immigration, positive or negative. Anything! After so much discussion on immigration, any more discussion is almost equivalent to not wanting to do anything.

Anonymous

It's time to fix the legal immigration. Canada, Australia and European countries are doing much better job of attracting legal brains. Where would you like the new Microsoft or Cisco created, that'll create tens of thousands of jobs? US or elsewhere?

John P

I am in favor of a temporary guest program for illegals but not in favor of legal immigration.
We can subsidize our work using cheap labor but legal immigration adds competition and takes off jobs that Americans do want.
If corporations want to export jobs they will do so anyways.

Let's stop issuing more H-1b's and Green cards to legal immigrants.

rr123

Skilled workers to come here legally and contribute to the economy. The choice is clear- SUPPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT

KJ

America has to keep its doors open for best of the brightest to stay ahead and competitive with other countries. People who came here legally, paying taxes and contributing great to the economy should be given a fair chance to become permanent residents by passing CIR.

george

We do not need another 20+ million illegals destroying our society

pmat

It doesn't make sense to bring people on temporary work and student visas, train them for 10-12 years and then send them back. This would in fact make the competition stronger and increase outsourcing. A good system should be in place to keep the brightest here. Most of the high-skilled jobs can't rely on temporary worker visas alone, because building domain knowledge takes years. You can't easily replace a worker having 12 years of experience in a field with one who has only 3 years exp...

Nowadays immigration has become synonymous with illegal immigration. I believe that efforts should be put on for fixing the legal immigration system first before talking about illegal immigration. Hiring a doctor, university professor or high-skilled worker on a permanent visa is taking 8-10 years in several cases, thus hampering competitiveness.

arup

I support skilled immigrants because they contribute to American competitiveness by adding to the process of scientific discovery, technology development, and innovation, which in turn leads to greater productivity growth. Greater productivity growth improves the standard of living for the U.S. population as a whole. Skilled immigrants not only contribute to the innovation process themselves, they also help train our own future innovators, thus ensuring the competitiveness of future generations.

P Smith

I do not support allowing legal immigrants come here and take American jobs. I cannot want somebody take my job in the name of increasing competitiveness.
Most of the educated workers work for large US corporations either in the US or outside the US. In either case they serve the US economy.
We need skilled workers to work from their own countries and let us work from here.

Pkul

USA needs more and more skilled and highly educated population. I firmly beleive that Employment Based Green Card reform suggested in this bill are in best interest of USA.

Andy

Highly skilled immigrants:- Who are they?
- very well qualified
- very hard working
- Law abiding citizens
- Tax paying citizens
- Contributing to US economy to grow and competitive
- growing along with US economy
- setting up successful ventures in US, thus creating more jobs
- who invests and thus helping US economy to grow
- who are very successfull in their field

When they are doing so much good to this economy, why are they getting punished? Why can't the US do something that will make them happy, secured and thus make them concentrate on their work to increase their productivity even further? Won't this make US economy to grow even faster?

Vin

What is common in these people? Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, Andrew Carnegie, Ramani Ayer (Chairman and CEO of Hartford, a $18 billion company), Alain Belda (Chairman and CEO of Alcoa, a $21.5 billion company), Sergey Brin (Co-founder of Google), Andy Grove (Founder and Chairman of Intel), E. Neville Isdell (Chairman and CEO of Coca Cola), Vinod Khosala (co-founder of Sun Microsystems, a $11.4 billions company), Henry Mckinnell (Chairman and CEO of Pfizer), Pierre Omidyar (Founder and Chairman of e-bay)
One common factor among these great personalities is that they all are foreign born skilled immigrants who set new socio-economical mile stone of the United States and made the great nation most competitive in the world. We need skilled immigrants

lfgc

make rules reasonable to follow...let the nation benefit from legal immigration as needed.

Girish

Allowing legal immigration will help delay your social security going bankrupt, economy going down and taxes going up which is good for the country.

GC waiter

Legal immigrants waiting for last 5 to 6 years to get green card. Bad part is we don't even know when we will get it 1 yr, 2 yr or 5 yr. This has made our life like hell. Almost 90% of intelligent immigrant spending their precious time in just checking if there any news will come and they will get some relief. This is affecting our personal as well as professional life. Life is just standstill and not able to make any decision due uncertainity of when and whether we will get the graan card.

Please feel our painfull life and help us by passing law to speedup pending EB3 and EB2 GC cases (since 2001) by some way.

Paul Harris

Geez,
It is a no brainer..separate legal and illegal immigration. overhaul H1 visa program, too many loopholes, take care those who are here legally for more than 5 years.

Prem

In corporations, a good management is one which lets their workers do what they do best; work! They make their environment and everything else so that their workers are as productive as they can be.

The US government can also be considered as corporate management for America. If they make the highly skilled immigrants life easier, they will be more productive and it can only be to America's benefit.

MARINETTE

For ten years I am legal here paying lawyer fees and immigration fees and I am still stuck with EB3 priority date, at the same time I saw illegals with Green Card (marriage-245) etc.. and me thanks still in the limbo....

happy Singh

I am almost 7 year in this country
this country gave me lots of opt. but i am stuck with EB3 i am unable to file I-485 lets hope +ve for this bill please push this bill
lets pray to God together.

apple

I think we need to get away from the surreal world and start accepting realities in this country.

*20M illegals in our house and we are discussing whether it is good or bad for the past several years.
How long will you have a unknown guest in the house without acting about it....Either we welcome the guest or we don't but waiting is not an option.

*3/4th of the US accepting marijuana as legal.

*We know nothing about Iran and Iraq and our enemies know everything about us.

We need to start tackling issues very quickly even if we do not have a unanimous vote on each of the issues.

Pablo Camacho

I'm in total support of this bill, first of all if we get a bill that would give illegal immigrants a chance to work legally in the United States, and that would secure the borders,(mexico and canada)then this would make it a lot easier for homeland security to focus on real threats, and stop worrying about ordinary people. Another thing that this bill would do is that if, for what I heard, give a chance to those people that have clean record and therefore only good moral people would qualify and not criminals. As that law passed by the house of representatives wanted to make out of every immigrant.

Raj

I am in Total support of this biull, Particularly related to the Green card numbers. We are making a joke of the Employment based Immigration System where people wait for visa numbers for years after getting the Labor clearance and company clearanace ( I 140). Once labor is cleared and I 140 is cleared the need is establisehed and the employment base is cleared. But still people have to wait for 10 years. It is a mockery. I wish the CIR S 9 gets clreaed by both the Senate and the House and also cleared by the President expeditiously

ReuniteFamilies

And what about Family-based immigration? Adult children of U.S. citizens are waiting more than 6 years now until the visa is available. The priority date for that category has not moved for 1.5 years. Give these people a fair chance to fair chance to become permanent residents and be with their families by passing CIR.

Legal_Immigrant

Been in US for 8 years. Went to school here and have been working after graduating. This is an amazing country. The legal visa system is in crisis. I have been here so long and have paid hundred of thousands of dollars in payroll taxes. This is unfair. If this system isn't reformed the impact will be visible in 5 to ten years when China and India overtake US economy if we are still in limbo we will have no option but to go back and compete with US.

Just Felt

Hey

Whenever a best of best talent comes to this country, we should just give fair and equal oppurtunity to extract for our beneficial. We should (mean our talents) always ready to compete globally in this globalization. Never worry about taking away our jobs etc. Best of best in the world should always get a chance to contribute their talents in our Ace American economy.

- Just felt.

Sam

Immigration reform for skilled worker is long due. Businesses are suffering to attract & retain talented people due to hurdles faced with limited immigrant visas.

Marlon

CIR is essentially the same old and failed idea of amnesty. Amnesty encourages more illegal behavior because it rewards those who came here illegally.

If the US wants to fix the immigration system, simply enforces existing laws and at the same, if necessary, carefully allow more family related immigrants to enter the country on permanent visas. As illegal aliens gradually leave the country, legal people could take over vacant positions.

Obviously those writing in favor of CIR in this forum are the direct beneficiaries of it, or simply employers or other people profiting from illegal aliens cheap labor.

I said it all. No, note from the post above that I am not a racist. Yes, I am pro legal immigration and pro America.

Reply to Pablo Camacho

Pablo, do you think anyone with a 1/2 brain would step forward and let people find that they are criminals in the US? People can just print and present faked documents. Amnesty is wrong. That is rewarding people who came here illegally.

No to CIR. We need to enforce our laws first.
"Another thing that this bill would do is that if, for what I heard, give a chance to those people that have clean record and therefore only good moral people would qualify and not criminals"

Raul

I have been in the US for eleven years now - I hold a Master's and a Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University. Graduated at the top of my class (GPA: 3.97). I also hold a Bachelor's from Fordhae Employment-based m University in Mathematics. I have 9 years of work experience in the Pharmaceutical industry, and have been paying taxes and legal fees for the past 11 years. BUT I might have to go back to my home country (and take my US experience and education with me) because there are no visa numbers for me. Does this make sense? Why would the US want to train people, give them education and experience, then have them move and make other countries richer? Makes no sense. LEGAL IMMIGRATION is what needs to be reformed NOW.

annonymus

Allowing employment based greencard will definitely turn around exonomy as meny like me will be able to work at better job to utilize full potential, Buy houses, possibly after a while start new business.
This is definitely going to boost economy.

Suren

Investement: We are not able to investe in this country, unless it gives us Green Card. This is the major reason, Back our home country Real Estate prices reaching NY prices..Think..if we feel secure with green card, all money will be invested here.

Ken

I am an optimist but when it comes to immigration reform in the US, I am a pessimist. I see no real reforms in sight unless politicians can close their differences and act on what is important in the US. It is ridiculous to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants yet the millions of legal immigrants awaiting adjudication remains uncertain. I am here for almost 7 years on L1; despite strong support from my company (a $5+ billion global company) sponsoring my GC application, UCIS officers deny my I140 - not once but twice!. This goes to show how competent UCIS officers are! Immigration reform needs to happen fast and the other thing that needed a fix is - better training for UCIS officers!

Charles

Let's understand the vicious circle and reach to the root of cause.
Why people are coming here illegally facing lot of hardship? They don't have good job at home country and they are easily getting job by USA employer. Why US employers are taking so much of risk and hiring undocumented alien? They are not getting any US citizen worker for that job (I don't think lower wage is the argument compared to risk associated with hiring illegals).It is duty of government to provide enough legal workforce in order to run industry and economy. Congress is offering 140K green card and 65K H1B and few H1C. Actually demand is 10 time more. Congress must increase the reasonable quota for legal immigrants

Reply to Raul

Although you are qualified, if you go back you can have a better standard of living with the same money. Also when you work here, you take the job from an American. Would you want that to happen to you in your country. I don't think so. If you go back to your country you will most likely work for an US company and contribute to the US economy.

Deepak

This is a very simple politics what US Govt is playing with all the immigrants who are living he US with abiding law, helping US economy boost and so many other things! I came to this country about 9 years back and still waiting for Green Card..just because of the law which would not allow USCIS people to approve the green card and Visa numbers are not available/exhausted!
Please support the CIR 2007 bill with EB provisions

immigration_blackhole

anyone heard of
http://immigrationvoice.org

Immigrationvoice is the way to go if we want to solve this problem. we can write comments here whole day but no lawmaker wiill read it. So it is useless. Real work is lobbying if we want to change the system. So please join this effort.
http://immigrationvoice.org

Anuj

I think there should be a clear decision on whether or not USA needs skilled immigrants. The current policies are putting people lives on hold for years. Some of them decide to go back and some of them stay here. If I know that I wont get Green Card for X years I can make a decision. It is perfectly fine with me to go back but staying in USA is my preference.

Anshul Singh

The lawmakers of this country have proved themselves to be bunch of fools. They are trying to fix immigration problem by accepting illegal immigrants and neglecting legal immigrants. They are ready to give amnesty to illegal immigrants but have no will to address the broken legal immigration system.

How can they expect potential immigrants to come legally when illegals are clearly preffered breed.

Reply to "Reply to Raul"

Yes. I did not like when this Be fair and think about it.happened in my country. At that time America was shouting globalization at the top of its lungs, when it pressurised India to sign GATT. Many people lost jobs, many businesses closed.

Now that things have turned around, so has the US opinion.

reply to immigration_blackhole

Every one is writing comment on proposed S 9 bill. This comments may attract the attention of media and message could go to lawmakers. At least US citizens will know the problem of skilled immigrants.

D Paul

I agree with immigration_blackhole. Support http://immigrationvoice.org.
I am on EB3. In USA lobbying is the way to ask for any reform.
Legal immigrants must proceed to strengthening lobbying for themselves. There are half a million legal immigrants waiting for their green card. Policy makers had done in the past and will continue to do in the future only the things that helps them to get votes.

calvin

S.9 is pure vote politics.
US politicians are just self serving.
They do not care for ordinary individuals. Slavery is still going on in USA. Abuses are all pervasive. We can see slavery from High Tech companies ( H1, L1) to Janitorial ( Illegals)
Present System of immigration is continuation of Aparthied.
USA is no Free World.
S.9 will not happen ..

Reply to Raul

I cannot approve of your staying in this country as an American will loose his job. I do not want to get into the history of what happened and life may not be fair but as of today, I cannot support legal immigration being increased. It is okay to allow illegals since they will take jobs that americans do not want

Mike

Stop the illegals. Deport them...

Help Legal aliens because they play by the rules, have proper documentation, work hard and pay taxes and contribute to social security for our elderly. In the age of terrorism we need to track who comes in and goes out of the country. Legal immigration is the only option.

Simplicity

It is simple .. pass some sensible law. Do not make legal immigrants wait all eternity just for the Green Card. If the coutry needs Highly Skilled Professionals. Make the necessary call and provide them with what it takes to get moving with their life on the other hand if this Country decides it does not need any more skilled professionals they so be it, pass a law and all the highly skilled professional will move on with their life. Remember these people are not called Highly skilled for no reason, they can find jobs almost any where they choose to. They choose to be in the US because it is a great country.

http://immigrationvoice.org

http://immigrationvoice.org

is our only hope otherwise nobody cares for us. If we keep on posting messages here and 'hope' that reporters will come here and 'will read' messages and 'write articles' about us and then these articles 'will be' read by lawmakers and they 'will ' change the lawas for us...

my dear friends we are mistaken.

Nothing will happen if we don't do it ourselves. I encourage everyone to come and visit

http://immigrationvoice.org

and see what immigrationvoice is doing. In order to fix the system you need an organized effort.

thanks for reading
http://immigrationvoice.org

Sriram

I clearly support Mike. Well said.
USA is country of Laws. People who break the immigration laws have to be deported.
S.9 should be amended. Drop legalizing illegals and improve processes for legal immigration similar to Australia , Canada.

DallasBlue

Have been in this country for 6 years now. Acquired masters degrees, applied and still waiting for the greencard for 4 years now.

Want to be free from the shackles of visa renewals to work on research.

NoEndInSight

I am in total agreement with people opposing illegal immigration. However, I also realize that it is not practical to round up and throw out 11 million people. Since I do not have an alternative, I will let the people that be do what they think is best.

But I do support this bill one 100% and more for its trying to fix the legal immigration issue. Legal immigrants are paying social security, state and federal taxes and contributing to the economy since ages. Without legal immigrants, the US economy would not be nearly where it is today.

Please don't forget that America is a nation of immigrants!

Long Live America!

Pro Legal Immigration

I competely support legal immigration. No to illegal immigration!

Rich

I totally support legals and am against illegals. That the most logical thing to say. However, there is more to it than just that. Corporate and political interests control reform and legislation.
Legal immigrants badly need reform to give them any hope of becoming Perm residents. I support CIR for legals. However due to their low numbers 500K - 1 million , they get little or no news. Illegals are 12 million in number and may be accounting for the same amount of dollars in terms of the economy as the legals (who are 1/10 of them) but get more news due to hispanic vote attached to them.
Legals have only the corporations to back them - but not fully. They only want to hire Legals not expedite their Green Cards....Thats the plight of the legal immigrant in the US...no wonder you are seeing people from US going overseas for surgeries and technology...its just the start. If US Govt cannot retain the best and the brightest right here...it will have long term repurcussions.

Joe

Progress is the key! The decision to deny or approve one's application (based on valid reasons) is acceptable as well as understandable!. What is wrong about this whole process is its inefficiency, status-quo and lack of progress! Make a decision and let people move on with their lives!

Lalitha

Please support the CIR 2007 bill with legal and Employment Based provisions especially in EB3 category (Skilled Workers).

nivas

Please support the S. 9, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 for legal and Employment Based provisions especially in EB3 category (Skilled Workers).

BSR

Please end the EB3 / EB2 retrogression and help keep jobs in the US

westcoast_whirl

My complete support for the CIR 2007. Legal immigration woes need to be addressed immediately.

Deepa

High skilled immigrants(engineers,doctors,scientists,Ph.D's need to know answer from Senate/House whether they are required or not.
If not,-fine.Perfectly acceptably.Just let these people know so that they can go on with their livse in their respective countries.
Fix H1-B visa systems so that cooks,gardeners,supervisors don't abuse this "highly skilled" visa program
http://www.immigrationvoice.org

webmaster

@http://immigrationvoice.org

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matt

I have been in this country *legally* for 8 years now and am still waiting for a GC. It may take just another 6 years to get one. Contrary to what Lou Dobbs claims on CNN, we legal immigrants have been paying taxes and Social Security with no signs of getting any of it back. I have slowly begun to realize that all my skills and education is a big waste, my identity these days is that of a HiTech slave. Stuck to my current job and position for however long my green card is gonna take. I was one of the best in my schools and considered most likely to succeed, until I made the mistake of getting into the GC queue few years ago. The legal immigration system in this country has made us skilled educated people feel frustrated, helpless and worse, feel like slaves.

Please try and read the sad stories of legal immigrants @http://immigrationvoice.org .

GCVictim

Yet another family waiting for GC for better life. Stayed with same employer since 2002 and longing for better life after GC. Please support the S. 9, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 for legal and Employment Based provisions especially in EB3 category.

Harry Getzoff

Congratulations and you're welcome to all that got a top notch U.S. education. I'm very proud of you.. Really, I am! Now, you can't get the green card. Go back to live in your homeland. I'm sure they will appreciate the positive impact you will have on YOUR community. And the ones that are praying to God to be citizens.. Keep wishing really really hard.. It's the same thing. Isn't it?

Raul - Reply to the replies

The main premise of employment-based immigration is that it is granted to those people who fill positions for which there are not enough Americans qualified to fill. In my case, my company was struggling STRUGGLING to fill my position but nobody was sufficiently qualified. The were trying to hire for MONTHS. So, whose job am I stealing? THE POINT IS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH QUALIFIED AMERICANS FOR CERTAIN HIGH-TECH JOBS. And that is the truth, whether you like it or not.
AND to somebody that suggested that I would go back to my country and work for an American company in order to benefit America without leaving here... YOU ARE FUNNY. My point is not to benefit America, it is that I DO. My point is to benefit MYSELF. Just like yours and everybody else's...

Harry Getzoff

Rounding up 11 million people and moving them south would be a huge task. Just imagine how many American jobs that would create. Is it so wrong to stay in your homeland and make a positive difference with your higher education? Don't be ashamed of where you came from.. Stay there and be proud!

bsr

Ted Williams

I work in a multinational company and I see a lot of foreign skilled workers in my company. Most of them have advanced degrees and work really hard. They are here legally, pay taxes and have great respect for America. We need to welcome them and make them part of our great nation by allowing them to stay here permanently.

John Wyburn

Let's not forget the foundations of this great country are laid by immigrants and also we are a nation of laws. Legal immigration should always be welcommed by us.

Use and Throw?

For all those who are vehemently opposing permanent residency for H1B workers...
Did you know that H1B is dual-intent visa, and they have every right to seek permanent residency in this country?
Are you suggesting H1B workers, that just come here, work hard, raise your family, live american dream, but just go back to your own country when they ask for their rights?
What about our kids who grew up like other americans, how would you explain these kids that they have to forget about his own country (US) and move to a foreign land (for this poor kid)?

Raul - Reply to the replies

For those all talking about legalise illegal immigrants and send back all legal immigrants who are contributing the american economy Please check this out first
http://memp.pratt.duke.edu/downloads/americas_new_immigrant_entrepreneu...

College Professor

Very few Americans study Engineering and Science compared to other majors. At the graduate level the proportion of Americans Engineering is less than 50%. Most students in graduate programs are foreigners from China, India and other places. Due to a broken and outdated immigration system which lays emphasis on family immigration rather than on skills immigration like the Australian and British immigration programs most foreign graduates go back to their country and compete with the US. It is the most stupid system. Here we are talking about legalization of illegals (over 30% of whom have not finished school). When these people retire from lawn mowing and fruit picking they will continue be a drain on the welfare system. The politicians are attracted to the permanent and loyal vote bank. So even though Bill Gates has visited the Hill twice to implore congress to have bills like the SKIL bill passed politicians are focussed on the CIR. Legal immigration should be looked at first.

Ben

I work for a network management company where a lot of workers seem to come from foreign countries, most of them have masters or a PhD, work hard, are sincere and are friendly. Surprisingly many are NFL fans ;-) I support the legals.

Vipul

America has prospered on account of very liberal laws which attracted best of the brains from all over the world. Just when it needs all the resources it can in the face of resurgent countries becoming ever and more competitive,it will be doomed if the Skilled Immigrants stop coming in now or those who are here are forced to go back to their home countries.
It will be none too soon if America makes a clear distinction between Legal and Illegal immigrants, and fixes its immigration system.

Stanley

Please pass the SKIL bill or a Comprehensive Immigration Bill. This will only help the American Citizens, since a good Immigration system will protect the borders. Right now this department is in an imbroglio.

To Harry Getzoff

It would benefit this country if all persons who can not compete Go back to live in the homeland of their ancestors.

John

Harry,
Think about broader perspective. If following persons would have gone back to their home country and founded company outside the USA, Do you think our nation was leader in world?
Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, Andrew Carnegie, Ramani Ayer (Chairman and CEO of Hartford, a $18 billion company), Alain Belda (Chairman and CEO of Alcoa, a $21.5 billion company), Sergey Brin (Co-founder of Google), Andy Grove (Founder and Chairman of Intel), E. Neville Isdell (Chairman and CEO of Coca Cola), Vinod Khosala (co-founder of Sun Microsystems, a $11.4 billions company), Henry Mckinnell (Chairman and CEO of Pfizer), Pierre Omidyar (Founder and Chairman of e-bay).

Do you think, Russian, Europeans, Japanese are not intelligent, hardworking and resourceful? Why our nation is leader? Simply because we invited brightest people from the world and worked on mutual interest

Immigrant

I have been here for more than 10 years. I am still waiting for my Green Card. Why do Politicians have so much apathy? Support www.immigrationvoice.org.

To Harry Getzoff (part 1)

Congratulations and you're welcome because you inherited a citizenship from ancestors who may not have gotten it employment based. I'm very proud of you ... Really, I am! Now you can't force us out, Go back to live in your ancestors homeland. I'm sure they will appreciate the positive impact you will have on YOUR ancestors community.

And the ones that are wishing for us to leave ... Keep wishing really really hard ... It's the same thing. Isn't it?

To Harry Getzoff (part 2)

Is it so wrong to stay in the your ancestors homeland and make a positive difference with your ATTITUDE? Don't be ashamed of where your ancestors came from .. Stay there and be proud!

To Harry Getzoff (part 3)

Rounding up &%$#@ people who can not compete and moving them by air would be a huge task. Just imagine how many American jobs that would create.

Would_Be_Immigrant

America is the best place on earth.
Those who came ealier and their descendants have done hard work and made USA the strongest nation on earth. Let people welcome more of the skilled immigrants and make USA stronger.

anonymous

I am a LEGAL law abiding immigrant working here in America, paying my taxes, social security etc. I am going to wait till next year to see if the issues in the legal immigration is fixed, if not I am going back to my home country. Along with me, my job will also move back. Thats not my choice, thats my organisation's choice. So, dont blame me. Atleast when i am here, i contribute to the economy and country , but when i go back everything is gone as far as my job is concerned. I ain't begging anyone, i got skills, and I can survive - i am a fighter.

picket

Please support the S. 9, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 for legal and Employment Based provisions especially in EB3 category (Skilled Workers).

Tony

I am almost 7 years in this country and have paid hundred of thousands of dollars in payroll taxes, and now stuck with the EB priority date.

I want to say there are many good things going on in the world. Many people take the technology advancement and good life for granted, but behind the scene, there are many people who are doing the real hard work, and we are part of them.

The reason I came here is I thought this country can turn my talent into fortune and create opportunities for many people. My college roommate in China created the Linux Virtual Server in his PhD thesis and still leads the LVS project. The government covers their 100% medical + 100% housing + 80%-100% pension. But if he did that in the States, he would be very rich and can achieve more goals.

The current immigration system is neither pro- nor anti-immigration. It is just a limbo system. Everything getting in is just stuck there. Some of my friends have gone back China because they don’t want to wait.

Raj Patel

"After four/five years USA will have bad results on economy and technological competitiveness, if they will not fix broken skilled immigration system. After four years, it would be too late to repair the damages."
This the conclusion of one article of Garry Backer, a Nobel laureate

To Harry Getzoff & P Smith

A TINY part of CIR has benefits for skilled employment based legal immigrants. These benefits are for immigrants in the last stage of their green card process. This last stage involves name checking, finger printing,... and is CRAWLING at present.

It is ludicrous to ask someone (in the last GC stage) to go home when contrary message is presented at
1. Time of student (F1) visa, And
2. Time of work (H1B) visa, And
3. Every stage of GC process.

It is worst then ludicrous (whatever it is) to (STILL) expect help for someone who can not compete at school and work.

On the other hand, it is hard to respect IMMIGRANTS who can not stand up against thuggish rants.

To All Harry GetzoffS (part 1)

A tiny part of CIR is for skilled employment based legal immigrants. A part is for American employers: it increases the number of H1B visas. Another part is for immigrants in the last stage of their GC process: it increaes the number of GC's so that immigrants don't have to wait for 6+ years on work (H1B) and 2+ years on student (F1).

CIR does not have any provision for STOPPING
1. H1B's,
2. GC's, AND
3. immigrants in the last stage of GC; it will just take a long time.

To STOP H1B's and GC's, I urge all Americans (who are not naturalized citizens AND whose parents are not naturalized citizens) to pass legislation that STOPS ANY immigrant from entering the country on F1 and work (H1, L1, ...) visas. The four important Americans who deal with these issues are
1. Nancy Pelosi (Madam speaker),
2. Zoe Lofgren (Chair, House subcommittee on Immigration),
3. Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader),
4. Ted Kennedy (Chair, Senate House subcommittee on Immigration).

To All Harry GetzoffS (part 2)

Please make sure to involve
1. chairs, Deans, Provosts and Presidents of all schools,
2. State deptt officials (who expedite F1 visas), AND
3. employers,
who present a completely differnt music to international students and employees at every step.

Such legislation will provide the perfect cushion at school and Work for you to live happily thereafter.

Skilled Immigrant

I agree, either America should totally discontinue all visa like F1, H1, and all Green cards (and see the results!!) or address the problem of backlog faced by skilled immigrants.
This is too much !! You can not keep on holding lives of talented skilled immigrants. We are not uninvited guest like illegal immigrants!

Paul N

Please also ban all foreign players from NHL, MLB, NBA. No more Yao Ming, Hideki Matsuzuka, Mariano Rivera. No more Canadians in NHL please. All Russian and European skaters please leave USA because we have folks like Harry Getzoff and John P who are unable to dance on ice because of you guys grabbing our skating jobs. Congress please wake up, we have so many competent skaters, pitchers, sluggers, slam dunkers right here on this board who can easily compete with foreign players.

Shah

Can't agree more with Skilled Immigrant. I've been legally waiting for permanent residency for over 9 years. Could not go back to my home country since my child was on life support and was not allowed to fly. I'll give this broken immigration system till the end of this year - else I'll go back to my country leaving my 6 figure social security contribution behind for burger flippers.

Sam

People like us who have been here legally and are paying taxes for years, should be given our GCs much before illegal and non-tax paying immigrants.

prashant sharma

I am also in the same boat of leagal immigrants struggling for my green card for more than 4 Years.

Anonymous

It is unfortunate that politics and immigration that so tightly coupled. Politicians want to do (or atleast pretend to do) something about *undocumented workers* because they account for 11 million votes. Politicians don't care about *documented immigrants* because they are too few. The plight of documented immigrants waiting to get green-cards is pathetic. No, I am NOT here to advocate an increase in H1-B or Green Card numbers. I am just asking the Congress to either tell the waiting *documented workers* that they WILL NEVER get their green card or that they will in the next few years.

I don't have a clear solution to the problem of H1-B, GC, documented workers. I just want to highlight the fact that being in limbo is worse than living a normal life as an undocumented worker.

Paul N

Sports Teams, Project Teams, Sales Teams, etc. and communities, states, countries all comprise of PEOPLE. If they have the best people they succeed else they fail. USA needs to retain the best talent as it has ALWAYS done in the past. It's a NO BRAINER. We should try our best to retain all skilled legal immigrants. Not sure why it's so hard for some folks to understand.

DS Khabra

I support this bill.

kumar

I have been in this country for 8 years, my wife is a homemaker for last 6 years and got frustrated waiting for GC to come so that she can go for work, but till today there is no help from the government to make the gc process move forward. please help legal immigrants.

Indepndent

I have been in this country for last * years legally paying my taxes and being a law abiding citizen.

But no Green Card in sight.

To Ben

I am from India. I was a HUGE Bulls (MJ + Scottie + PJ) fan. Never missed a MJ game on TV; I have been to some MJ games when he was in DC. Some of my international student friends were also HUGE Bulls Fans. As one of my office mate (in grad school) put it : I am lucky to be born in a generation to watch MJ.

Most of my international student friends were MJ haters (mostly Knickerbrockers and Cavs fans, I was near Cleveland). We had heated arguments on a regular basis. Bulls/Knicks was a religon for me and most of my friends. Off course some Indians laughed at us.

I have most books on MJ, read all articles on MJ and watch all shows in which he appears. His Airness was GOD in person. Don't enjoy NBA (or any other sport) without MJ.

I still watch some lakers games for Zen Master PJ and TNT games for Steve Kerr. Ever heard anymone watching a game for coaching staff or commentator.

Murthy

You know how much USA is losing not providing relief to legal immigrants? Most of the brilliant people of H4. They can not work here even though they are highly skilled and can be critical in improving the economy. Learn from other countries, before vanishing. Wake up America.

Facts & Media

It is hard to know ALL FACTS about employment based (EB) green card (GC) problem and ALL RESTRICTIONS impossed by EB GC problem on affected persons.

A rare article covers H1B visa problem. A very rare article covers EB GC problem. Illegal immigration is news reporting
http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8746356

Lou Dobbs, CNN, attacks illegal immigration. He attacks H1B
visas whenever he gets a chance. Once a guest did not follow the script and started talking about legal immigration. Lou tried to interrupt him. However, the guest said that legal immigration system is broken.

Lou Dobbs rant for a presidential pardon for Ex-Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos is an example of his news reporting. The following article by a CNN reporter contradicts the validity of presidential pardon ranted by Lou Dobbs.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/12/navarrette/index.html

Do not believe Lou Dobbs if you want to know the FACTS.

EB GC and S.9

H1B visa program has problems. However, IEEE-USA, one of the most respected EE/CS professional organization, has proposed increasing H1B visas AFTER fixing it. They have also proposed that student visa holders should get GC as soon as they take a job. They support GC for persons in the current mess.

However, the current problems with EB GC are not related to the H1B visa problems. Thus, it makes absolutely no sense to link (and hence delay) EB GC Bill with
1. screwed up H1B visa program (that may not have a quick solution), AND
2. illegal immigration (that may not have a solution), AND
3. border security (that may not have a solution).

rkk

I just speak for LEGAL immigrants.

I can wait for couple of years for Green Card. But not a decade, which seems to be best case scenario with the current back logs. Sorry, we need to fix the immigration system.

kkk

AC21 is it really reflecting true state of Competency? EBx filers whose I140 is approved cannot move to a different firm unless they could file for I485? AC21 needs amendments to allow people whose 140 is approved to reflect actual state of immigration mess now.

EB GC Facts.

Only 7% of total GCs available per year are for a country. China & India have a large # of international students. These students take up science, engineering and IT jobs. There is significant amount of wait time for applicants from these countries.

USCIS was unable (due to manpower shortage) to use annual visa numbers for almost 3 to 4 years. These unused GCs cannot be carried forward to following years. It is a significant reason for delay in EB GCs.

GC applicant restrictions.

Some restrictions on GC applicant.

1. An applicant cannot change company without having to start the GC process all over again. In most cases, this results in the applicant being subject to low wages and other harassment.

2. An applicant cannot be promoted or transferred into a different position or office until his GC is approved (which is 6-12 yrs now). Doing this requires the employer to file another petition based on the new position and the applicant to lose his place in the queue. Applicants are vulnerable to the whims and fancies of employer as they know that the applicant cannot move around.

3. Travel outside US, in certain stages of GC application, is a problem as one can be denied permission to re-enter: applicant has “intent to immigrate.” This prevents applicants to travel both on business and personal reasons.

Restrictions on spouse.

Some restrictions on GC applicant's spouse.

1. In many states, obtaining Driver Licenses for spouses on dependent (H4) visas is difficult, as DMV's do not consider H4 as a valid visa. Another reason given by many DMV’s, is absence of a Social Security Number (SSN). According to SSA, H4 visa holders do not get a SSN and it is difficult to explain this to DMV.

2. Some states do not consider H1 and H4 visa holders as in-state residents for tuition benefits even though they have paid state taxes for 2+ yrs and would have ordinarily satisfied the State’s residency requirements.

LinguistCitizen

I could not help but notice a lack of basic English writing skills amomg many posts on this forum. Sorry, but it is true.

We cannot afford to reward illegal immigrants because that will simply encourage such behavior and add to the backlog which legal immigrants face. We are in dire need of health care professionals. Many IT job are outsourced to countries like China and India, and that is not because we do not have enough qualified individuals to do those jobs.

Medical care however, is not something that can be outsourced. We should encourage medical professionals to come to work in the U.S. The long backlogs in family based immigration will help ensure that we do not bleed other countries dry of their health care professionals, because they would have to consider their families before migrating.

LinguistCitizen

As I mentioned in the prior post, many IT jobs are outsourced, as Lou Dobbs pointed out on his show. Many H1B visa holders are in peril because of this, because they would have to leave the country if their jobs are sent back to their home countries. Then they would have to go and work there...

Citizen Techie

The H-1B program thrives in darkness and obscurity.
H-1B increases are usually hidden in other bills such as Omnibus spending packages because the program can't be rationally defended before the American public. Most Americans would not be in favor of a program which:

*Imports workers to do jobs for which there are ample qualified American candidates.

* Is used by companies to replace American workers even when they scream about a "tech worker shortage" and a lack of American students in science and engineering.

* Facilitates outsourcing.

* Is not balanced by a program which opens up foreign job markets to Americans.

* Is blatant corporate welfare. (because it uses tax dollars to supply companies with labor).

H1B program.

In a report, dated January 23, 2007, released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the CRS reported to Congress on the use of the H-1B training fees. The report states, “Between FY 2000 and 2004, the NSF provided $187.2 million in H-1B user fees to colleges and universities in an effort to increase the supply of individuals with skills in computer science, engineering, and math. Some 40,000 students were awarded scholarships over the period (p. CRS-8). The DOL awarded over $328 million in Technical Skills Training Grants from its share of H-1B training fee monies during the same time period (CRS-9)." The report also comments on the improving conditions in the IT labor market, stating, “[a]lmost 2.5 million persons worked in IT jobs as computer systems analysts, computer engineers, computer scientists and computer programmers in 2000 — more than twice the number in 1989, the prior peak in the business cycle.”

H1B program reference.

http://www.bibdaily.com/pdfs/CRS%20H1B%20fees%20Jan%202007.pdf

Lou LIAR Dobbs.

All H1B visa holders have to pay taxes. However, Lou Dobbs says they don't pay taxes. The following is a link to google search page. I could not find the actual reference in his book.
http://www.google.com/search?

hl=en&rls=PCTA%2CPCTA%3A2006-15%2CPCTA%3Aen&q=lou+dobbs+h1b+taxes

Jay

Please if any senators, congressmen, or law makers look through this by any chance, you know that lots of 245(i) cases (illegal cases) have been using green card quotas from the same pool of skilled works, that why all visa were used up and green card retrogression began.

By law, many skill workers are allowed to apply for green card and they follow every step of the rules. Now they are stuck in this broken system and cannot do anything but wait and pray. It’s been long overdue and agonizing wait for them and I believe you realize that.

Please understand this and show mercy to AT LEAST INCREASE GREEN CARD QUOTAS JUST ENOUGH TO FIX THE SYSTEM FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATIONS. So please act now and don’t postpone any further. They don’t do anything wrong but good for the country. Please at least treat them right and fix the legal immigration system as your first priority and please do it now. After all it’s human right issue as well.

HELP SKILLED IMMIGRANTs

They are Qualified
Engineers, Doctors, Nurses ( These are all the area where US employers cannot find employees.
- pay taxes. Usually earn more than what resident / citizen earns.
- because of retrogation, Qualified Dependents unable to work and are aging out. (They are legally in the country but can't work because there spouse's waiting for more than 5 years immigration.
- Green Card delays hurts employers as well. Employee movement is restrictive. Companies are Outsourcing because they cannot find qualified employees to fill vacancies.
- If CIR is passed Skilled Laborer will start buying properties. This will help the current Housing & Real Estate Slump.

laura

I am sick and tired of people complaining of illegal immigrants taking jobs from americans....Prove your point by taking the job of picking the citrus crops that are rottening because of the fear the "ICE" raids have caused on these humble workers. Then and only then will you have the right to claim these workers steal the jobs you argue to want.

IEEE-USA's F Visa.

The following is IEEE-USA's proposal for student (F) visa (from
http://www.todaysengineer.org/2006/May/immigration.asp)

F visas enable foreign students to study at American colleges and universities. The new F-4 visa will be available to students who receive a Masters or Ph.D. from an American college or university in science, engineering, math, technology or related fields. The F visa allows these students to become permanent residents with green cards, once they find a job.

S.9 should
1. include IEEE-USA's F4 visa, AND

2. apply it retroactively to all applicants currently in the last stage of their GC (without waiting for S.9).

S.9 additions.

S.9 should include provision for

1. efficient processing (< 6 months) of last GC stage for applicants waiting to apply for last GC stage. Some steps (name checking, finger printing, ...) take 2+ years.

2. NOT mixing legal GC applications and illegal GC applications. Illegals will get their GCs. Lawmakers will do any gymnastics for them. Media values them MUCH more then US educated engineers.

3. reducing naturalization waiting time (= 5 years) for applicants waiting to apply for last GC stage.

Green Card Hope

I have come to this country to pursue my Master 10 years ago. I have been living in this country, paying taxes, low abiding.

The backloged in skill immigration process made our life like hell, we are not getting promotions, we can not change the job, all our other important decision in life depends on permanent residancy.

I think congress must act to correct this skilled immigration process for people like me still waiting for their green card.

US can not afford to loose high skilled immigrant, who trained here, got education here and go somewhere else.

Please do something about the legal immigration problem in the bill. People coming to this country LEGALLY should be catered to first.

Potential Graduates:-

Message for all Potential candidates aspiring education in the US:- You are assuming substantial risk, if you decide to start your life in the US. Be prepared for an endless wait. If, you end up losing your status and decide to head back home guess what?!!...you lose thousands of dollars in social security monies you have paid, so we Americans can live our dreams.

Pierce

The gov must once and for all communicate the americans that America NEEDS these immigrants, and that's the part you all are missing, it incentives the economy. The U.S, is capable to control immigration in a heart beat, but they won't.

Frustrated

My brother in law is married with an American for 4 years, he is from south america, educated and positive influence for our country, and yet they want to kick em out! Stop deportation to American husbands; wifes!

ABS

People who filed for Green card in EB3 category have been waiting for a minimum of 6-7 years for processing! This is inhuman, I cannot believe this is happening in the land of America and no official is doing anything to resolve this problem. The green card system in the employment-category is completely broken, it's almost a joke!

vsa

When I graduated in Top 5% of my class 15 years ago - a friend asked me what do you want to do? And I said "Go to america of course, the land of opportunities, efficiency and immigrants" so I got enrolled in a Top 10 university in US - After graduation, I got several job offers in US - so I am now working in one of the finest companies in America - but my life has become extremely difficult. Why? Because I am stuck in this Green Card EB retrogression mess. I have always believed in the American way of doing things, but this is questioning all fundamentals and grounds. I used to believe America was efficient and productive in taking actions and solving problems - but now I am beginning to doubt that - Law makers and politicians please do not try to solve all the immigration problems in one go! I understand there are too many issues - but do the right things for skilled EB category - they should really not be suffering to this degree - Take action

David Sims

Legal and illegal immigration. Two totally different issues. They shouldn't even be on the same bill together.

skilled Immigrant

House introduced Immigration bill (STRIVE act 2007) on March 22, 2007. Senate bill is at halt due to politics and still not introduced. I think they should start same house bill as a starting point. Delay is going to harm everyone, specially skilled immigrants. Senator Kennedy should introduce bill immediatelly.

Legal Victim

I have done MS from Ivy school, have couple of patents and I am slogging in this country for 8 years.Green card is last hope my lawyers have given me. Only thing USA wants is youth time of legal immigrants who can be rotated every 6 years.I think this is worst than slavery. We are literate slaves. In old days blacks made roads here but atleast were not shipped back. We are sucked of our youth only to be recycled every 6 years. If people following laws are victimized so much which foolish illegal immigrant would even think of legal path? America has slavery in 21st century. Conditions of legal immigrants are more inhumane than of illegal immigrants. What Americans want are slaves people who can write software for them, people who can give them patents, people who can be janitors but not ask for even humane treatment in return. If any sensible lawmaker is reading this can they tell what bad have legal immigrants done to them? Not paid taxes? No paid medicare?

Potential Student from India/China

Do not take the foolish step of coming to USA for graduate studies. We did this mistake 10 years back and still getting fried in immigration bakery. If you come here, be prepared to be slave for 6 years and then thrown out. And for 6 years, you are here be ready to live as motivated as donkey because you would have no incentive for innovation. Only come here to work on ERP so you make tonnes of $$ and do not waste them here, save them and take them when you are kicked out of here.

Charles Ehler

Am I the only one that can see NOTHING beyond the bill summary. That makes review worthless.
Until I can review the complete text I am against this bill.

samu

there are illegal workers in H4 visa too.
while others are legally waiting for GC or work permit. these H4 visa holders take more advantage and work for $10/hr(without paying taxes).

immigration need to pay attention towards H4 visa workers. they need to be deported right away.

Danny

US immigration law keeps spouses of legal permanent residents out of US for at least 5 years. No any other country has such cruel laws to separate husband and wife for such a long time. I am wife of US legal immigrant, I have to wait out of US for 5 years until the visa number becomes available. I am deprived of basic human rights. It is totally a disaster in my life.

Tenz

Please please end EB2/EB3 retrogression. Would passing of the STRIVE act make it beneficial to be illegal and here for 5 years, versus, legal and waiting around (retrogression - Indian EB3) stuck with the same employer for 5 years.

Patiently Waiting for GC

Please, please, please end EB2/EB3 retrogression for everyone. I'm stuck in the pipeline, and doing my time (5 years now) - I can handle the wait, but it's too hard on my spouse - I enjoy paying my way, giving tax money to the US government. Why the punishment of retrogression.

No Mas Emigre

Any legislation, proposed by any elected official which will grant defacto amnesty to a single illegal immigrant is an act of treason. It constitutes a willful betrayal of their oath of Office, and actions which are contrary to the best interests of the legitimate Citizens of this Nation whom they are elected to represent.
Specifically, they swear to protect & defend against ALL enemies either foreign or domestic.
And it goes without saying that anyone who enters this Country illegally, seeking personal enrichment at the expense of it's rightful Citizens is an invading enemy to the Republic.
No amount of appeal to the hardship, or benefits related to these enemies within will ameliorate the criminal nature, inherent in their very presence.

Strict enforcement of our borders, and expeditious deportation is neither unjust, nor untenable.
It has in fact been the NORM for all Civilizations for eons.

Enough of the sophistry and duplicity. Enforce, deport, and maintain... NOW!

SFA

Americans need people to do their dirty jobs, and not wise, educated, people who will make them look stupid. Double standards Huh!! Do you think you are a higher breed?

If immigrants need to go back to their homelands... there won't be a single person here other than native Americans. The true people of this land.

H4 violation

H4 violators need to deported. I agree with samu. florida and new york where H4 visa holders work without work permit for low wages.

INS have to pay attention towards H4 violators

Anonymous

I have a Assosicate Degree in Computer Engg. I have a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science. I am about to finish my MBA. My Bachelor and MBA are from USA Universities. I have 12 years of IT industry experience with few of top companies in the world. Here are my problems. After been in this great country America for over 7 years, I am still on H1. My first stage of GC hasn't been cleared yet after been pending for 4.5 years. I cann't travel safely out of American due to VISA/Stamping issues. I cann't make some of big decisions because my status here is still not safe. I cann't change jobs of accept promotions due ot my current status. At my present jobs, I am one of the lead engineer and train other folks on some of high tech technologies.

I just wish America does something for legal people like me.

-Anonymous

zaza

Immigration should be based only on employer needs after they are able to find a citizen to fill the job at legal wages.
Setting immigration on congress needs should stop.
Once here based on the need of employers they should be able to work towards citizenship after 5 years. Only those that can prove that they were able to make a living here without government assistance (SSI, foodstamps, unemployment, etc). If they were not paying taxes because they were an immigrant, back taxes should be paid in order for it to count towards the 5 years. Any time they received public assistance should not count.
illegal activitiy, including DUI, driving without a license, speeding/wreckless driving , not paying child support, id fraud, not registering for military, should be deportable
should be allowed to become citizens.

The ability to speak English should be part of the requirement for immigrating as a worker even

BS

Wooh.. Reading through the comments both for and against...

I just have a word " HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATION" thats what is happening to H1-B, F1 and H4 visa holders in USA.

No right to work ( H4) despite being highly qualified

2. No right to change employers ( h1-B)

3. No right to choose the profession one want ( like engg to Mgmt ) h1-B

The nation who attacks other's on the pretest to Human right protection is getting the Best Brains and treating them Inhuman.

Can any soul in USA deny that they are not an Immigrant? If not you/ your parents/grand parents etcetc.. came to this nation, Gave this nation the best they could and you are here bcoz of them. Birth is by chance , so don't act as custodians of USA. Use the logic and make the life of legal immigrants better by

1. Immigration law reforms
2. No GC retrogression
3. Allow h4 to work

Better person at personal front gives in the best at career.

Ken W

Speaking as one whose ancestors were here before our government was formed:

What nerve for these uninvited to complain about US policy. If you're so talented, hard working, creative, tax paying, etc. you are surly of more use to the fine cultures in Mumbai or Mexico City or Dublin or wherver you were born. Take your bonus child(ren) and your marvelous talents and leave us Americans alone. We'll do fine without you; we always have.

Reply to Ken W

Who said people on H1-B are Uninvited?US companies does not have the skills in USA and they get skilled,Talented people through INTERVIEWS and sponsor them to USA. If " so called American" have the talent,why is that NASA, Other reseARCH institutions are filled with Foregin nationals??? Why is that USA still need Germans,Chinese, Indians,Mexican. Imagine a day in your life,without the chinese goods,Indian IT system working behind all the automated credit card counters to the software you use for getting the GAS, and Mexican's who do all "labour intensive work". buddy, .. Great great " Bonus" of immigrant grandparents KEN..U won't be get through a single day.

Reply to Ken - part 2

History is proof, any nation which has closed it doors have landed in DUST.Looks like u are too Xenophobic, Insecure. If you have the real skill, why are u afraid of competition by other national.. Fight on and give everyone a fair ground too.. Not, tying then behind the h1B and h4 laws..which are INHUMAN..U too are a "Bonus" that US govt got when they formed Govt.. Be a human being and think of doing good and treating everyone equal and don't have " Superiroty "complex.
I don't mean to hurt you.It is just that u have hurt the feelings of millions of people who are giving their time, skills and tax to make USA the best nation.But, why do you have such a bad Attitute towards people who are just like youLive and LET LIVE

go to the link

http://www.contactomagazine.com/biznews/educatedimmigrants0107.htm

To sustain our economic and global competitiveness, America needs to focus on its many strengths. One of these is our ability to attract and assimilate the world's best and brightest,"
. A subsequent study published in 2006 analyzed the experiences of companies engaged in outsourcing and found that the key factors in outsourcing were cost and proximity to markets -- not a skills shortage in the United States.

Ken.. Hope u got the difference b/w legal and illegal immigrants..I too condemn Illegal immigrants... so buddy, chill..

Live and Let live

Meghna

Please support CIR

To Ken W

Yes, America will be fine if you kick out one particular individual skilled foreigner. However, if you make this into a policy, US will be in BIG trouble. All sorts of IT services will get worse, NASA will slow down, no more excellent foreign professors teaching American students, goodbye to half of Google, no more accurate laser guidance for submarine missiles, American cars will get worse/break down more often, and so and on.

American At Heart & Land Of Opportunity

"America a land of opportunity" land where you can make it to the top if you have the right mind and good intentions. This is an opportunity for us to open our hearts and minds and see how we can make more friends. People have this misconception that America will stop functioning if all the foreigners are sent back to their home countries. Or that Americans cant do this or they cant do that. WE ARE CAPABLE AND WILLING TO DO EVERYTHING. But we will continue to move forward full force. People who want to live in our country should ask humbly and politely and not think that it is their right but it is a great privilage to live and be a part of our society, promise to us and themselves that they will give their new homeland only their best because it is a privilage to be a part of this country. Any criminal activity "Strike one and they are out of the country" No second chances for them.
May God continue to bless our nation ....Amen

Chris Gray

What's the problem here?

This bill does nothing other than state that everyone should do something to reform the current situation. It doesn't suggest how to reform it. It doesn't enact any new law. It does nothing, so why is everyone for it? Shouldn't you be more concerned with our politicians actually passing something that matters, instead of passing something that just suggests they should do something?

Diptam Chatterjee

I'm in this country for almost 7+ years working for Fortune 500 corporations in IT sector. I'm really sick of this EB3 and EB2 retrogression - it’s like a bad dream which cuts off Productivity from you. Being in this country for 7 years I still can't plan for my future...

I don’t know much about illegal immigrants who cross borders via. Mexico etc... But I see some peoples who came in this country with some VISA and by AIRLINES and they wears good looking clothes , have some Degree and they somehow managed to get GREEN CARD in 1 year by paying CASH thru the process of manipulating/stealing someone else's Priority Date- Would you call that Legal immigration ?? They have also given a name to that racket - "labor Substitution".

Let’s stop all this. Either says a straight Yes / No to all qualified legal immigrants quickly and professionally.

MerrillB

***>>>S. 1348 is the new bill being debated

MerrillB

Type "S. 1348" in the search box in the left column, go there, and vote!

Jon Renner

America sold out again!
I'm begining to understand the French people's feelings just before the revolution.
Might be getting close here, now.

jgo

I agree that the immigration system in the USA is a wreck. Because Kennedy and Simpson and Mazzoli, and now Specter, Flake, Gutierrez, Lieberman, Hagel, Pelosi, Lofgren and Bush are trying to make it even worse.

Stop the immigration perversion bills.

Tom

Please support immigration reform that brings in educated people to this country . We need LEGAL permanent residents .engineers, doctors, scientist..support EB immigation reform to reduce the waiting periods for employment based Green cards.
-Tom

EB3

American law makers need to decide the severity of the crime of staying in America beyond the visa permit date or entering the country without a visa (illegal immigration). Justice delayed is justice denied. There has been a delay of 15-20 years relative to the execution of immigration laws. The immigration program of the U.S. has not worked due to a lack of enforcement. The current immigration rules are out dated, unreasonable and unenforceable. The new bill defines an approach that changes the severity of the crime, in other words the change to the law is essentially substituting punishments. Are the people against the substitution of the punishment from deportation to fines? Which part of the bill are people really against? Is it that immigration laws have not been enforced historically and now they want all law breakers to pay at once? Or is it because there is an insecurity regarding the "browning" of America and possibly changing the texture of the country in the years to come?

PJ

While you are sitting there and wondering what to do with these bills, please remember that you are playing with people's lives. I am an EB-3 applicant just waiting for you to reach my priority date for the last 2 years. Does this make any sense to you?

You have basically put my life on hold. I am not able to change jobs, so I am taking a financial hit and I am not able to be with my loved one's because the law does not allow changing geographic locations. For everything so great about this country, I have been highly disappointed with the immigration process.

It's high time you make this process efficient and STOP PLAYING WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES.

Wisconite

I am so disgusted with the ever creasing intrusion of SPANISH I could just SCREAM. The label on many food products not to mentions push 1 for Spanish, etc. Is this suppose to be the us Americans to learn spanish or for the Hispanics to learn English?

If the Hispanics want to learn English, why are business spending a HUGE amount of money communicating with them in spanish?

Maybe if Hispanics had to pay ALL the expenses of raising a child, they would not be so quick to procreate. I sure as h...l do not want to support there family.

Kill The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 and take no survivors. Our government were suppose to be protecting us from illegal immigrants of any nationality. Especially those on our souther boarder.

Kosu

Unbelievable views! Somebody mentioned "basic english skills" BUT I see passion, emotion and heartfelt plea's in these comments. Anyway Iam a benificiery of this bill if there is any such provision in regards to EB2/EB3. Unlike many here I am relatively new to GC Q. I have an option to go for EB1 which probably get me to GC holy grail faster but I dont care, ps't its pathetic to scramble for GC. Hmm I have a PhD in semi-conductors with 3 patents and probably another 10 actual workable ideas which can make money to the company I work. If I dont get a GC they way I see it, the problem is not mine. I will go and work for the nice new chip-fabrication plants in singapore or in europe. Guys take it easy, you are "the people" any country wants if not US it will be europe or Asia which will welcome you open hearts.

Outraged

If this passes, God Bless (what used to be) America!!! As a 20 year Naval veteran of this country I will feel betrayed by our so called leaders. It's time for a good third party candidate! One that has nothing to gain but the respect of the people that vote him in!

Mark

First, they are Illegal Aliens.
Second, if they wish to be in this country then learn the language. I am tired of going into a store and seeing bilingual signs everywhere. If this bill were to go through, I would like to see an attachment making American English the primary language in this country and doing away with the excessive cost our government spends on a yearly basis for bilingual forms. If you want to immigrate to this country, learn the language!

EB3

Kosu: Completely agree. I have 3 degrees in engg, science & tech. I have been in the GC queue for 4 years already. I have been in US with valid visas for several years prior.
I am at a point of giving up waiting, packing bags and going else where. I have no family unity here, no freedom to work (change jobs), no freedom to live with my family, restriction galore on other fronts.
Yet, I am in the highest income tax bracket. I have been paying for SS, Medicare etc but I get no benefits!

Natasha Pirogov

The new immigration reform bill is very unfair for the people who have been following the law and staying legal in the USA. After all, the people who followed the law and stayed legal are receiving no benefits at all from the law. For example people with H1-B visa or any other type of working visas should get benefited from the reform bill in first place. Let's be fair to the people who followed the laws!!!!!!

Shaht

I did my master's from a very reputed US school 2 years back. Looking at current mess in EB visa process, I have decided not to file my GC till things become clear. Unless some concrete steps are taken to reduce EB backlog as well as some provisions are made for students with Advanced degree holders, there will not be any option for people like me but to go back or migrate to other country which offer better and quicker options to settle down.

lone economist

This is giving BIG business another club to beat american's wages and labor down further.Not to mention "gang members" who promise to be "good boys" and drug dealers poisoning our youth get a free pass. Instant citizenship nice prize!This only proves that the Whitehouse and CONGRESS IS BOUGHT AND PAID by special interest.Even a professor can get angry.

John

Nothing personal, but all you people threatening to go back to your own country ..... please go. Now. We don't want you here.

Anonymous

I feel sorry for Americans because H1 visas really displace Americans for low wage H1 workers. I am pursuing an MBA in a top business school. All day I read cases about how money-hungry the corporate world is. "This hunger" does not know any color, race or brotherhood. A corporation only knows how to make its shareholders richer. On the other hand, America is all about giant corporations. Canada is a resourceful country but one of the prime reasons for America's success is that America is blessed with great entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and many more.

Dawn - Lost Programming job to H1B

I lost my programming job to an H1B visa holder. Then the company outsourced the entire department to India, him too. There needs to be something that encourages high-skilled workers from other countries but does not hold them hostage to American companies. They know they have you as a hostage so they can treat you like crap. As usual, the only one who wins is the Corporations.

Casey Murphy

i like bush.

Bills Daddy

Bill: look at the numbers. Congress is there to represent us!
If we overwhelmingly want it, congress should do it.
you could always move.

Jacklyn Adames

Its amazing how many people have lefyt comments saying things like, "I don't want immigrants taking my job, leave my country and make money in your country." America is what is it becuase of immigrants, legal or illegal. ACCEPT IT!

Linda Miller

Messed up! I voted against but I am in favor of this bill. Please change one vote to be in vavor of this bill S9.
Thanks!

Chris

The difference is legal and illegal.... If you are here illegally YOU are breaking a federal law! THere is nothing wrong with the current laws... they are just not practiced like they should be .... too many liberals will be the demise of this country... think about it, If 9-11 happened in China, there would be three hot holes in the middle east and we could all skate on glass. Do it the right way, my mother did... she waited 8 years to be legalized the right way... Stop thinking of yourself and think of the future of the integrity of the nation! Tolerance makes me puke! An American goes to another country, we respect the laws and tradition.... an illegal comes here and does not give a ..... Get in to this country the right way!

Bud

1 in 8 Americans are immigrants. 1/2 are illegals! An average of 4,380 Americans are killed by illegals each year. More then killed in Iraq since the beginning. Illegals are taking good paying jobs from Americans. They are driving down wages for many others. They are raping our social programs. Illegals are hurting our education system, bringing in drugs to our kids, committing crimes, and more. We need to close our borders (recently Iraqis and Afghans were caught crossing), build a good fence, hire more agents, and enforce laws. Ike Eisenhower had it right. He started in the west and hunted illegals down and deported all of them. If the government doesn't, maybe we can get our own guns and meet at the border and do it ourselves. And while we are at it, just meet in Washington and boot the whole lot out. Did not the Second Amendment give us the right to protect ourselves when government was not protecting us?

Jhazline Lachey

Nowadays immigration has become synonymous with illegal immigration. I believe that efforts should be put on for fixing the legal immigration system first before talking about illegal immigration.
____________________
ruEL

New York Immigration Lawyer Marina Shepelsky, located in Brooklyn, assists clients from the New York metro area and across the United States in all immigration and naturalization matters http://www.e-us-visa.com

H1BWORKER

US Immigration System is broken...and no one is going to fix this problem..USCIS is worst agency on earth..they are not smart and they are lazy people..who do not want to work..May be BOMBAY has better Municipal Corporation system compare to imiigration system of USA!! They should stop wasting our time and life too...

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