learning01
02-23 03:06 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202446_pf.html
Scientist's Visa Denial Sparks Outrage in India
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 23, 2006; A01
A decision two weeks ago by a U.S. consulate in India to refuse a visa to a prominent Indian scientist has triggered heated protests in that country and set off a major diplomatic flap on the eve of President Bush's first visit to India.
The incident has also caused embarrassment at the highest reaches of the American scientific establishment, which has worked to get the State Department to issue a visa to Goverdhan Mehta, who said the U.S. consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai told him that his expertise in chemistry was deemed a threat.
In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.
"It is very strange logic," said Mehta, reached at his home in Bangalore early this morning India time. "Someone is insulted and hurt and you ask him to come back a second round."
The consulate told Mehta "you have been denied a visa" and invited him to submit additional information, according to an official at the National Academy of Sciences who saw a copy of the document. Mehta said in a written account obtained by The Washington Post that he was humiliated, accused of "hiding things" and being dishonest, and told that his work is dangerous because of its potential applications in chemical warfare.
Mehta denied that his work has anything to do with weapons. He said that he would provide his passport if a visa were issued, but that he would do nothing further to obtain the document: "If they don't want to give me a visa, so be it."
The scientist told Indian newspapers that his dealing with the U.S. consulate was "the most degrading experience of my life." Mehta is president of the International Council for Science, a Paris-based organization comprising the national scientific academies of a number of countries. The council advocates that scientists should have free access to one another.
Visa rejections or delays for foreign academics after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have led to widespread complaints by U.S universities and scientific organizations, but the new incident comes when things are improving, said Wendy White, director of the Board of International Scientific Organizations. The board was set up by the National Academy of Sciences and has helped about 3,000 scientists affected by the new policies.
"This leaves a terrible impression of the United States," said White, who has seen a copy of the consulate's form letter to Mehta. In an interview yesterday, she added that top scientists had worked with senior State Department officials to reverse the decision before Bush's visit next week. "We want people to know the U.S. is an open and welcoming country."
Mehta's case has especially angered Indians because he was a director of the Indian Institute of Science and is a science adviser to India's prime minister. He has visited the United States "dozens of times," he said, and the University of Florida in Gainesville had invited him to lecture at an international conference.
State Department spokesman Justin Higgins denied yesterday that the United States had rejected Mehta's visa and said the consulate had merely followed standard procedure in dealing with applicants with certain kinds of scientific expertise.
In his written account, the scientist said that after traveling 200 miles, waiting three hours with his wife for an interview and being accused of deception, he was outraged when his accounts of his research were questioned and he was told he needed to fill out a detailed questionnaire.
"I indicated that I have no desire to subject myself to any further humiliation and asked that our passports be returned forthwith," he wrote. The consular official, Mehta added, "stamped the passports to indicate visa refusal and returned them."
Higgins declined to address why the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi had taken the unusual step of saying it "regrets" that Mehta was "upset by the visa interview process."
In its statement, the embassy said: "At the United States mission in India, and to varying degrees at every U.S. mission worldwide, certain cases involving high technology issues are among those that require review before consular officers in the field are authorized to issue a visa."
White said that issuing a visa would solve the immediate problem, but that it would be more difficult to undo the damage caused by the dispute. Mehta is a high-profile example of the hurdles imposed by the new visa procedures. They require all applicants to appear in person for interviews that are done in only a few locations in large countries such as India, White said.
"If you tell an American, 'If you want a visa to go to India, you have to go to Dallas, Chicago, L.A. or New York, and while you are there, you are going to be fingerprinted, photographed and asked about everything you have done in your research for the last 40 years,' we would find this procedure untenable as Americans," she said.
Mehta said in his written account that he had been invited by the University of Florida, where he has previously been a distinguished visiting professor. White said she expected the International Council for Science, also known as the ICSU, to issue a statement today about the case involving its president.
White and William Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that young American consular officers in foreign countries have been under tremendous pressure since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Making the wrong decision would be career-ending, so they play it safe, not really understanding the macroscopic implications of their decision," Wulf said. "Denying a visa to the president of ICSU is probably as dumb as you can get. This is not the way we can make friends."
�*2006*The Washington Post Company
Scientist's Visa Denial Sparks Outrage in India
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 23, 2006; A01
A decision two weeks ago by a U.S. consulate in India to refuse a visa to a prominent Indian scientist has triggered heated protests in that country and set off a major diplomatic flap on the eve of President Bush's first visit to India.
The incident has also caused embarrassment at the highest reaches of the American scientific establishment, which has worked to get the State Department to issue a visa to Goverdhan Mehta, who said the U.S. consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai told him that his expertise in chemistry was deemed a threat.
In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.
"It is very strange logic," said Mehta, reached at his home in Bangalore early this morning India time. "Someone is insulted and hurt and you ask him to come back a second round."
The consulate told Mehta "you have been denied a visa" and invited him to submit additional information, according to an official at the National Academy of Sciences who saw a copy of the document. Mehta said in a written account obtained by The Washington Post that he was humiliated, accused of "hiding things" and being dishonest, and told that his work is dangerous because of its potential applications in chemical warfare.
Mehta denied that his work has anything to do with weapons. He said that he would provide his passport if a visa were issued, but that he would do nothing further to obtain the document: "If they don't want to give me a visa, so be it."
The scientist told Indian newspapers that his dealing with the U.S. consulate was "the most degrading experience of my life." Mehta is president of the International Council for Science, a Paris-based organization comprising the national scientific academies of a number of countries. The council advocates that scientists should have free access to one another.
Visa rejections or delays for foreign academics after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have led to widespread complaints by U.S universities and scientific organizations, but the new incident comes when things are improving, said Wendy White, director of the Board of International Scientific Organizations. The board was set up by the National Academy of Sciences and has helped about 3,000 scientists affected by the new policies.
"This leaves a terrible impression of the United States," said White, who has seen a copy of the consulate's form letter to Mehta. In an interview yesterday, she added that top scientists had worked with senior State Department officials to reverse the decision before Bush's visit next week. "We want people to know the U.S. is an open and welcoming country."
Mehta's case has especially angered Indians because he was a director of the Indian Institute of Science and is a science adviser to India's prime minister. He has visited the United States "dozens of times," he said, and the University of Florida in Gainesville had invited him to lecture at an international conference.
State Department spokesman Justin Higgins denied yesterday that the United States had rejected Mehta's visa and said the consulate had merely followed standard procedure in dealing with applicants with certain kinds of scientific expertise.
In his written account, the scientist said that after traveling 200 miles, waiting three hours with his wife for an interview and being accused of deception, he was outraged when his accounts of his research were questioned and he was told he needed to fill out a detailed questionnaire.
"I indicated that I have no desire to subject myself to any further humiliation and asked that our passports be returned forthwith," he wrote. The consular official, Mehta added, "stamped the passports to indicate visa refusal and returned them."
Higgins declined to address why the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi had taken the unusual step of saying it "regrets" that Mehta was "upset by the visa interview process."
In its statement, the embassy said: "At the United States mission in India, and to varying degrees at every U.S. mission worldwide, certain cases involving high technology issues are among those that require review before consular officers in the field are authorized to issue a visa."
White said that issuing a visa would solve the immediate problem, but that it would be more difficult to undo the damage caused by the dispute. Mehta is a high-profile example of the hurdles imposed by the new visa procedures. They require all applicants to appear in person for interviews that are done in only a few locations in large countries such as India, White said.
"If you tell an American, 'If you want a visa to go to India, you have to go to Dallas, Chicago, L.A. or New York, and while you are there, you are going to be fingerprinted, photographed and asked about everything you have done in your research for the last 40 years,' we would find this procedure untenable as Americans," she said.
Mehta said in his written account that he had been invited by the University of Florida, where he has previously been a distinguished visiting professor. White said she expected the International Council for Science, also known as the ICSU, to issue a statement today about the case involving its president.
White and William Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that young American consular officers in foreign countries have been under tremendous pressure since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Making the wrong decision would be career-ending, so they play it safe, not really understanding the macroscopic implications of their decision," Wulf said. "Denying a visa to the president of ICSU is probably as dumb as you can get. This is not the way we can make friends."
�*2006*The Washington Post Company
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bbenhill
10-07 09:32 PM
Hi, thank u all for the reply .. I will go ahead and go for my vac ..
i guess I am worrying too much ... :-)
i guess I am worrying too much ... :-)
sweet_jungle
10-23 01:34 PM
So is it conditional GC??
Employment based GC is based on intent to work for sponsoring employer or similar profession. For most of us, who are retrogressed, we would have worked with sponsoring employer already for 4 to 5 years. the main issue here is whether sufficient intent existed at the time of filing 140 and 485. after having been in 485 filed status for long, it is natural for intent to change.
so, i do not see why full time MBA with 485 pending is an issue. the laws are quite unclear, for sure.
Employment based GC is based on intent to work for sponsoring employer or similar profession. For most of us, who are retrogressed, we would have worked with sponsoring employer already for 4 to 5 years. the main issue here is whether sufficient intent existed at the time of filing 140 and 485. after having been in 485 filed status for long, it is natural for intent to change.
so, i do not see why full time MBA with 485 pending is an issue. the laws are quite unclear, for sure.
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kumhyd2
05-19 02:12 PM
I 140 : approved last month
I 485 : July 07 filer passed 180 days
GC Process : Substition Labor / Future employment
The future employer is threatening to withdraw the I 140 if I dont comply with his financial terms.
I heard that if I 140 is approved and 485 is pending for 180 days, even if the employer withdraws I140 , there isn't much we need to worry. Is this true. currently on h1 which is expiring next month 6th. To convert to EAD do I need to do anything specific and send an update to USCIS?
I 485 : July 07 filer passed 180 days
GC Process : Substition Labor / Future employment
The future employer is threatening to withdraw the I 140 if I dont comply with his financial terms.
I heard that if I 140 is approved and 485 is pending for 180 days, even if the employer withdraws I140 , there isn't much we need to worry. Is this true. currently on h1 which is expiring next month 6th. To convert to EAD do I need to do anything specific and send an update to USCIS?
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santb1975
11-21 02:30 PM
With an EAD in hand and with the Market there could be a bigger and better opportunity. Keep up the high spirits
But I have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks to IV, he has his EAD and can have one less thing to worry about in his new job search.
But I have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks to IV, he has his EAD and can have one less thing to worry about in his new job search.
gconmymind
03-31 05:39 PM
I do not think it is a normal scenario. A lot of my friends work for in the software industry. There are generally no delays in getting a paystub if salary is deposited regularly.
Please ask your employer to be more prompt at providing pay stubs as you need those for everything that requires income proof.
Please ask your employer to be more prompt at providing pay stubs as you need those for everything that requires income proof.
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addsf345
11-25 01:27 PM
My 485 got denied Oct14th as my previous employer withdrawn approved 140. I changed employer after 1year of 485 pending. I (Lawyer) filed MTR on NOV 6th. Got mtr granted yesterday.PM me if you need more details
Congratulations that finally everything is again on track. Sorry to hear the trouble you had without any fault of your own. Did you used AC21 by H1 transfer or just used EAD?
Congratulations that finally everything is again on track. Sorry to hear the trouble you had without any fault of your own. Did you used AC21 by H1 transfer or just used EAD?
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pd052009
04-28 04:08 PM
Please explain why not?
I think if 5000 people from EB3 India with PD in 2007 moved to EB2, then that means 5000 people are reduced from the EB3 India queue?
The fact is those 5000 people are not in the begining of the line. So you don't see date movement for EB3.
I think if 5000 people from EB3 India with PD in 2007 moved to EB2, then that means 5000 people are reduced from the EB3 India queue?
The fact is those 5000 people are not in the begining of the line. So you don't see date movement for EB3.
more...
snathan
03-24 11:46 AM
Even I am in the current situation. Please call me 6166342617 so we can discuss or email
[email]anand622@yahoo.com I have spoken to a couple lawyers so we can exchange options
Why dont you share your attoney's input here...It will be very useful for others in the same situatuion.
[email]anand622@yahoo.com I have spoken to a couple lawyers so we can exchange options
Why dont you share your attoney's input here...It will be very useful for others in the same situatuion.
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chris
02-13 03:20 PM
Congrats..
Please can you tell us your story when you applied and what steps you took, any LUD's or RFEs.
OR email came from without any updates.
I got the following message from USCIS:
*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***
The last processing action taken on your case
Receipt Number: SRCXXXXX
Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS
Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.
On February 9, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.
I received this message on Feb 10. But I haven't recieved any CPO or any other email yet. Is this normal? Is my case finally approved?
Please can you tell us your story when you applied and what steps you took, any LUD's or RFEs.
OR email came from without any updates.
I got the following message from USCIS:
*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***
The last processing action taken on your case
Receipt Number: SRCXXXXX
Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS
Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.
On February 9, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.
I received this message on Feb 10. But I haven't recieved any CPO or any other email yet. Is this normal? Is my case finally approved?
more...
bestofall
03-24 10:41 AM
Rights and Responsibilities of H-1B Holders
http://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov/h1b.html
Don�t Get Stuck on the Bench � Your Rights as an H-1B Worker
The skilled temporary worker visa, also known as the H-1B visa, allows foreign nationals with advanced skills to hold jobs in the United States. The top H-1B issuing posts in the world are Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai, and Hyderabad will probably join these three soon. While the vast majority of H-1B employers and employees are responsible users of the program, there are some that engage in fraudulent and unfair practices. Please review your rights and responsibilities as an H-1B worker, and make sure you protect yourself and your family from financial or legal difficulties.
You have the following rights as an H-1B worker:
You must be paid at least the prevailing wage, as listed on your Labor Condition Application (LCA) form. This, in turn, must be the same rate your employer pays other workers with similar experience and qualifications, without regard to nationality.
You must not be �benched,� or have a reduced or suspended wage for non-productive time caused by the employer, or by the lack of a license or permit.
You must receive the same fringe benefits on the same basis as offered to American employees.
Your employer may not require you to pay, either directly or indirectly, any part of the petition filing fee, administrative fees, attorney fees or any other costs related to the petition.
You must not be required to pay a financial penalty for leaving the employer before a date set in the employment contract.
You should receive the same working conditions (such as hours, shifts, vacations, etc.) on the same basis and criteria as provided to similarly employed U.S. workers.
Your employer must keep records of the hours you work and the wages you are paid. You should keep your own records as well.
Your employer may not intimidate, threaten, discharge or otherwise discriminate against any employee, former employee or job applicant for disclosing possible H-1B violations or for cooperating in a compliance investigation.
You have the following responsibilities as an H-1B worker:
You must provide truthful and correct qualification documents, such as degrees and experience letters, to immigration authorities throughout the visa process.
You should be alert for any possible violations of your rights, as well as violations against colleagues or contacts in the U.S., and avoid those employers.
If you leave your employer, regardless of who terminated the relationship, you should leave the United States unless you have filed for H-1B status with a new employer.
You may not enter the United States more than 10 days prior to the petition validity date.
You must follow U.S. laws and regulations while in the United States.
Your spouse and other H-4 dependents may not work while in the United States.
If you wish to report H-1B abuse, please contact the U.S. Department of Labor at 1-866-4US-WAGE or http://www.wagehour.dol.gov/. You can also contact Consulate General Hyderabad at HydNIV@state.gov.
http://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov/h1b.html
Don�t Get Stuck on the Bench � Your Rights as an H-1B Worker
The skilled temporary worker visa, also known as the H-1B visa, allows foreign nationals with advanced skills to hold jobs in the United States. The top H-1B issuing posts in the world are Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai, and Hyderabad will probably join these three soon. While the vast majority of H-1B employers and employees are responsible users of the program, there are some that engage in fraudulent and unfair practices. Please review your rights and responsibilities as an H-1B worker, and make sure you protect yourself and your family from financial or legal difficulties.
You have the following rights as an H-1B worker:
You must be paid at least the prevailing wage, as listed on your Labor Condition Application (LCA) form. This, in turn, must be the same rate your employer pays other workers with similar experience and qualifications, without regard to nationality.
You must not be �benched,� or have a reduced or suspended wage for non-productive time caused by the employer, or by the lack of a license or permit.
You must receive the same fringe benefits on the same basis as offered to American employees.
Your employer may not require you to pay, either directly or indirectly, any part of the petition filing fee, administrative fees, attorney fees or any other costs related to the petition.
You must not be required to pay a financial penalty for leaving the employer before a date set in the employment contract.
You should receive the same working conditions (such as hours, shifts, vacations, etc.) on the same basis and criteria as provided to similarly employed U.S. workers.
Your employer must keep records of the hours you work and the wages you are paid. You should keep your own records as well.
Your employer may not intimidate, threaten, discharge or otherwise discriminate against any employee, former employee or job applicant for disclosing possible H-1B violations or for cooperating in a compliance investigation.
You have the following responsibilities as an H-1B worker:
You must provide truthful and correct qualification documents, such as degrees and experience letters, to immigration authorities throughout the visa process.
You should be alert for any possible violations of your rights, as well as violations against colleagues or contacts in the U.S., and avoid those employers.
If you leave your employer, regardless of who terminated the relationship, you should leave the United States unless you have filed for H-1B status with a new employer.
You may not enter the United States more than 10 days prior to the petition validity date.
You must follow U.S. laws and regulations while in the United States.
Your spouse and other H-4 dependents may not work while in the United States.
If you wish to report H-1B abuse, please contact the U.S. Department of Labor at 1-866-4US-WAGE or http://www.wagehour.dol.gov/. You can also contact Consulate General Hyderabad at HydNIV@state.gov.
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LookingForGC
01-25 06:35 PM
Oh man, i was really interested to see the post after looking the title, but :)
Take your time...
Take your time...
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gc_in_30_yrs
02-28 03:22 PM
the other option you have is to go back to your home country and invoke counsellar processing. In that case, you dont have to give up your green card and career, if you do not want to continue in the same category specified in your H1B, but, your studies will be impacted.
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nc14
10-25 11:33 AM
Please give your fair share folks (volunteer for time or your contribution). If nothing else become a monthly contributor so that IV can pursue our objectives with one less thing to worry about. Every individual matters, get yourself counted by not just posting but contributing for your only chance to get out of this mess.
more...
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eb3retro
04-21 11:54 AM
done..did my small contribution.
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sweet_jungle
10-23 11:52 PM
[QUOTE=gcobsessed;298830]My understanding from my lawyer is that a person's intent while filing GC should be that he will work in that position "indefinitely". So, if intent changes before the application is approved, then one might argue that the application itself should be withdrawn or is invalid.
if employer has not withdrawn 140 and EVL was sent with initial 485 application packet, USCIS generally does not send any job related RFE. Assuming employee has worked for sponsoring employer for quite sometime and waited long enough after 485 was filed, I do not see how intent can be questioned. After this, it is natural for intent to change.
if employer has not withdrawn 140 and EVL was sent with initial 485 application packet, USCIS generally does not send any job related RFE. Assuming employee has worked for sponsoring employer for quite sometime and waited long enough after 485 was filed, I do not see how intent can be questioned. After this, it is natural for intent to change.
more...
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arc
05-19 07:09 PM
for immigration diploma + 3 yrs experience is Bachelors equivallent that is True for H1B or EB3
for further studies diploma is under grad, you will qualify to continue further studies for Bachelors
for further studies diploma is under grad, you will qualify to continue further studies for Bachelors
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smaram1
08-12 04:19 PM
Source:
http://www..com/discussion-forums/i485-1/172162219/
Posted by willcrack (74) 1 hour 51 minutes ago
OK...now guys, strictly speaking the memo does not say anything about "conditional" GC...in legal speak. Just that they could revoke it if the person is considered inadmissable after the Name Check results come back. "Conditional GC" per se has the support of the actual statute only for Married to citizen, EB5 investment GC's etc.
And now for those who feel that USCIS is not approving cases whose NC's are pending, I know 2 of my friends and I whose NC's were pending when the file was with the officer (and approved in a week) and in my case NC was pending even at 6:30pm eastern (when I called the second level IIO at the NCSC) the day before I got the CPO e-mail (next day at 9am).
I have also seen several cases where people have called/went to Infopass after they got the GC to find out whether the NC was cleared....and it was pending !
so this should throw away all apprehensions about the 180+ rule not being implemented out of the window...
http://www..com/discussion-forums/i485-1/172162219/
Posted by willcrack (74) 1 hour 51 minutes ago
OK...now guys, strictly speaking the memo does not say anything about "conditional" GC...in legal speak. Just that they could revoke it if the person is considered inadmissable after the Name Check results come back. "Conditional GC" per se has the support of the actual statute only for Married to citizen, EB5 investment GC's etc.
And now for those who feel that USCIS is not approving cases whose NC's are pending, I know 2 of my friends and I whose NC's were pending when the file was with the officer (and approved in a week) and in my case NC was pending even at 6:30pm eastern (when I called the second level IIO at the NCSC) the day before I got the CPO e-mail (next day at 9am).
I have also seen several cases where people have called/went to Infopass after they got the GC to find out whether the NC was cleared....and it was pending !
so this should throw away all apprehensions about the 180+ rule not being implemented out of the window...
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validIV
03-20 05:25 PM
This pretty much guarantees H-1 for small businesses. With the already reduced number of H-1 applications, you are a shoe-in for H-1 if you apply this year from a small company.
Lollerskater
09-25 12:45 PM
I'm EB3-ROW and at the last stage of I-485 processing. Just waiting for the bulletin to tell me I'm current. Two weeks ago, I found out my lawyer has been blacklisted. Just like Fragomen. Apparently my lawyer performed "too many miracles."
Now I wish to change lawyers to avoid risk of RFEs, denial, etc. Should I do it? What is involved in the switch of lawyers? Just a simple G28? Any risks involved?
Would appreciate any opinions on this matter. Thank you.
Now I wish to change lawyers to avoid risk of RFEs, denial, etc. Should I do it? What is involved in the switch of lawyers? Just a simple G28? Any risks involved?
Would appreciate any opinions on this matter. Thank you.
GC_ki_daud
03-13 03:18 PM
Also if I leave this employer and work with another employer on AC21, Will the USCIS still question me if they do a full inquiry on the company (FYI it is a staffing/consulting company)