softwareguy
07-08 03:50 PM
Do you really believe there are 700K "unique" cases pending.
I think elimination of Labor Substitution would take out atleast half of 700 K pending labors..
Making the total new cases definitely managable - "damn again I m thinking logically." :rolleyes:
I think elimination of Labor Substitution would take out atleast half of 700 K pending labors..
Making the total new cases definitely managable - "damn again I m thinking logically." :rolleyes:
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GC_Fever
09-14 06:17 PM
Just for everyone's info, I received all my receipt notices(485,EAD,AP) today including for my wife and son. Applications were received at NSC on July 3rd and finally transferred to TSC because my I-140 was approved from there in Nov 2006. I saw a LUD on approved I-140 on 8/5/07. My checks were not cashed until 8/31 when my attorney last checked. My guess is that these were cashed around 1st week of sept.
One important thing I want to mention that my attorney hadn't filled in my A# from I-140 into I-485. He entered it as "None" and I was worried of any negative effect, but USCIS correctly figured it out and mentioned this no. on all my receipt notices.
However, they mixed up the nos. for my son and wife's receipts. My wife's 485 receipt has my son's A#. My attorney went ahead and contacted USCIS right away.
I hope everyone get receipts soon.
One important thing I want to mention that my attorney hadn't filled in my A# from I-140 into I-485. He entered it as "None" and I was worried of any negative effect, but USCIS correctly figured it out and mentioned this no. on all my receipt notices.
However, they mixed up the nos. for my son and wife's receipts. My wife's 485 receipt has my son's A#. My attorney went ahead and contacted USCIS right away.
I hope everyone get receipts soon.
tonyHK12
02-11 10:05 AM
...by donating $100! Now, its your turn...
GO IV!!
thanks mantagon!
I donated for the first time yesterday. I intend to help out as I can. Could someone please let me know how the access to Donor forum works? Thanks!
This is a manual approval. please send details provided o the previous page:
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/forum85-action-items-for-everyone/1904554-action-item-advocacy-day-contributions-4.html#post2343160
Cheers! yes ivcoordinator is generally very busy
GO IV!!
thanks mantagon!
I donated for the first time yesterday. I intend to help out as I can. Could someone please let me know how the access to Donor forum works? Thanks!
This is a manual approval. please send details provided o the previous page:
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/forum85-action-items-for-everyone/1904554-action-item-advocacy-day-contributions-4.html#post2343160
Cheers! yes ivcoordinator is generally very busy
2011 Grauer Opel Kadett C Limo
titu1972
08-14 08:46 AM
All my checks encashed yesterday. Though my present residence is in TX and I-140 approved by NSC in 2006, still my case didn't transfered to TSC. I'm July 02 filer.
more...
danielp78
06-15 09:06 AM
My lawyer sent the applications on June 1st and we have the receipts already. They cashed the checks by June 6th.
vadapav
12-02 03:46 PM
Friends,
Please give your opinion on my plan.
Current Status:EB3 PD 08/2004, I140 Approved, Got EAD, Good relations with current employer
I have no realistic hopes by getting GC by end of next year.
New employment: Have an offer to start a new job around middle of next year by which 180 days will be complete. New job is very different than current one. Here is my plan:
1. Don't file AC21, hope that I won't receive RFE since my PD wont be current for a long time.
2. Change address, but give friend's address in the same city as mentioned on application
3. Convince current employer to respond to RFE (in case any) positively
4. May be have an arrangement with current employer to work part time when I start new job. So that way, I'll remain on previous employer's payroll and he can respond to RFE
Does this sound far fetched?
thnx
Please give your opinion on my plan.
Current Status:EB3 PD 08/2004, I140 Approved, Got EAD, Good relations with current employer
I have no realistic hopes by getting GC by end of next year.
New employment: Have an offer to start a new job around middle of next year by which 180 days will be complete. New job is very different than current one. Here is my plan:
1. Don't file AC21, hope that I won't receive RFE since my PD wont be current for a long time.
2. Change address, but give friend's address in the same city as mentioned on application
3. Convince current employer to respond to RFE (in case any) positively
4. May be have an arrangement with current employer to work part time when I start new job. So that way, I'll remain on previous employer's payroll and he can respond to RFE
Does this sound far fetched?
thnx
more...
kanyewest
02-12 11:13 AM
Couple of questions here -
1. Did you report for work? Also, did you indicate to your employer that you are ready to start working?
2. Did your employer terminate your employment by giving you written notice of employment termination? If not, in that case, your employer is obligated to pay you until
a. your employment is terminated
AND
b. USCIS is notified of such termination. (Section 214.2 (h)#11) of 8-CFR)
Don't mean to hijack this thread, but interesting issues raised by desi3933 and would like to get his comments on this from him:
I am in a similar situation...I have been on H1B since Oct�07 and prior to that I was on a valid F1 status. Not been on a client project since mid-Sep'08, have not been paid from past 5 months.
My employer is not helping with either COS to H4 or port H1B to another employer, by not providing REAL paystubs for the past 5 months. I have been actively working with my employer to find new work and I have all evidence of this in emails. I cannot report to work, as the office is too small for more than two people to comfortably work under normal working conditions.
When I ask employer for back wages, I get threatened that they will issue a backdated termination letter to Sept 2008 (employee not terminated yet), though I have been actively working with them to find new work? I am also being asked to submit a fake personal leave letter for the past 5 months.
How do I know if my H1B has been revoked? I know there are many issues and questions raised here...
Greatly appreciate your time in responding to this...
1. Did you report for work? Also, did you indicate to your employer that you are ready to start working?
2. Did your employer terminate your employment by giving you written notice of employment termination? If not, in that case, your employer is obligated to pay you until
a. your employment is terminated
AND
b. USCIS is notified of such termination. (Section 214.2 (h)#11) of 8-CFR)
Don't mean to hijack this thread, but interesting issues raised by desi3933 and would like to get his comments on this from him:
I am in a similar situation...I have been on H1B since Oct�07 and prior to that I was on a valid F1 status. Not been on a client project since mid-Sep'08, have not been paid from past 5 months.
My employer is not helping with either COS to H4 or port H1B to another employer, by not providing REAL paystubs for the past 5 months. I have been actively working with my employer to find new work and I have all evidence of this in emails. I cannot report to work, as the office is too small for more than two people to comfortably work under normal working conditions.
When I ask employer for back wages, I get threatened that they will issue a backdated termination letter to Sept 2008 (employee not terminated yet), though I have been actively working with them to find new work? I am also being asked to submit a fake personal leave letter for the past 5 months.
How do I know if my H1B has been revoked? I know there are many issues and questions raised here...
Greatly appreciate your time in responding to this...
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amitjoey
11-19 11:19 AM
We need to do three things to ensure that we succeed in this effort
1) Be serious about this action item, not only should we be sending out this email, but also encouraging all others- Including your colleagues, friends, family- GC Holders, Citizens to send this email to their lawmakers. Numbers matter.
2) We should follow up and make appointments Next week (It is a short week) or on Monday 29th November. When we go to this appointment, just focus on the message of this action alert. Do not be tempted to talk about any other issue, Do not take a lot of time and do not present any personal issue. Just talk about this one issue.
3) Please consider getting on a recurring contribution for IV. We need the funds. There are a lot of things that can be achieved if we had a big budget.
1) Be serious about this action item, not only should we be sending out this email, but also encouraging all others- Including your colleagues, friends, family- GC Holders, Citizens to send this email to their lawmakers. Numbers matter.
2) We should follow up and make appointments Next week (It is a short week) or on Monday 29th November. When we go to this appointment, just focus on the message of this action alert. Do not be tempted to talk about any other issue, Do not take a lot of time and do not present any personal issue. Just talk about this one issue.
3) Please consider getting on a recurring contribution for IV. We need the funds. There are a lot of things that can be achieved if we had a big budget.
more...
delhiguy
07-07 08:44 AM
What about the applications received before release of bulletin?
When DOS doesnt have a Immigrant Visa available , its just not available.
DOS made it effective 2nd ,
"Effective Monday July 2, 2007 there will be no further authorizations in response to requests for Employment-based preference cases. All numbers available to these categories under the FY-2007 annual numerical limitation have been made available. "
USCIS by law cant accept any applications effective 2nd.
People whoes H1B applications were accepted on first day and then were rejected , Can they have done something?
Sir , we are screwed, thats doesnt mean a law is broken
We need the legislature intervention to make the limit higher.
When DOS doesnt have a Immigrant Visa available , its just not available.
DOS made it effective 2nd ,
"Effective Monday July 2, 2007 there will be no further authorizations in response to requests for Employment-based preference cases. All numbers available to these categories under the FY-2007 annual numerical limitation have been made available. "
USCIS by law cant accept any applications effective 2nd.
People whoes H1B applications were accepted on first day and then were rejected , Can they have done something?
Sir , we are screwed, thats doesnt mean a law is broken
We need the legislature intervention to make the limit higher.
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punjabi
02-02 03:04 PM
Well guys...
I agree that India is a land of pollution - polluted air and polluted minds (corruption, jealousy, materialistic attitude), it is still a very native part of our life. No matter where we live on this planet, whatever hapens in India, we do get affected by it.
I just visited India after 7 years. As far as India goes, I love:
-- My parents living there, perhaps they will never come to USA to stay with me permanently, and
-- The school kids I see on road in their school uniform, waiting for their school vans or walking as a group, making jokes and laughing out of their breath.
I always wonder that they do not know what hardhsip lies ahead of them, when they grow up after finishing their school - competition to get college admission, studies, competitive jobs, corruption, ever rising cost of living, etc. etc.
Most of my old friends in India have gone too busy in making money and 'rising on the top". It is as if they are in some kind of a race in panic, so they don't get left behind everybody else and what not.
What does "rising on the top" mean anyway? Whom are you collecting money for?
I recently bought the latest Samsung 3D LED TV to have a better movie experience. And I noticed that I enjoyed movies on small 22" inch TV more than I enjoy on a big LED TV - provided the movie is good and I have a good company.
So my friend (who is leaving for India)...
You can find happiness and joy in little things in life, irrespective of where you are staying. These commodities are not exclusively sold in India or anywhere else.
If you have made a decision to move to India, be proud of it and do it! Just set a good example in india and don't get involved in the dirty corrupted cycles there.
Good Luck!!
I agree that India is a land of pollution - polluted air and polluted minds (corruption, jealousy, materialistic attitude), it is still a very native part of our life. No matter where we live on this planet, whatever hapens in India, we do get affected by it.
I just visited India after 7 years. As far as India goes, I love:
-- My parents living there, perhaps they will never come to USA to stay with me permanently, and
-- The school kids I see on road in their school uniform, waiting for their school vans or walking as a group, making jokes and laughing out of their breath.
I always wonder that they do not know what hardhsip lies ahead of them, when they grow up after finishing their school - competition to get college admission, studies, competitive jobs, corruption, ever rising cost of living, etc. etc.
Most of my old friends in India have gone too busy in making money and 'rising on the top". It is as if they are in some kind of a race in panic, so they don't get left behind everybody else and what not.
What does "rising on the top" mean anyway? Whom are you collecting money for?
I recently bought the latest Samsung 3D LED TV to have a better movie experience. And I noticed that I enjoyed movies on small 22" inch TV more than I enjoy on a big LED TV - provided the movie is good and I have a good company.
So my friend (who is leaving for India)...
You can find happiness and joy in little things in life, irrespective of where you are staying. These commodities are not exclusively sold in India or anywhere else.
If you have made a decision to move to India, be proud of it and do it! Just set a good example in india and don't get involved in the dirty corrupted cycles there.
Good Luck!!
more...
watzgc
08-25 07:34 PM
Guys,
I just got my H1B Extension approved (8th year extension).
Original H1B was valid until Sept 2008. Changed companies after 180 days(of I485 application) and applied for H1 transfer and extension for 3 years via new company. Finally got it approved after 3 months for 3 years(until May 2011).
-Googlegc
GooglgeGC, which is ur processing center?
I just got my H1B Extension approved (8th year extension).
Original H1B was valid until Sept 2008. Changed companies after 180 days(of I485 application) and applied for H1 transfer and extension for 3 years via new company. Finally got it approved after 3 months for 3 years(until May 2011).
-Googlegc
GooglgeGC, which is ur processing center?
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TheOmbudsman
10-26 11:40 AM
Hi Pineapple,
That is my favorite fruit !
Very simple.
1. We should focus our resources and lobbying efforts to tone down immigration bills on our behalf. Spending our money to go there and put one more soul to say to Sen. Specter "vote for this bill" does not cut it.
2. We should use our lobbying resources and connections to contact decision makers from NumberUSA, FAIRUS.org and other major organizations and communicate our plans. We should clearly adopt a position against any bill which supports amnesty and offer a sensible, reasonable and fair quantitative increase in Employment Visa numbers. An example of reasonable proposals would be temporary increase of visa numbers, elimination of visa lottery and reallocation of visa numbes to EB, visa number recapture.
Thanks for asking.
The Ombdusman
TheOmbudsman, what Exactly is the point you are trying to make? You have been moaning about pretty much everything under the sun, but I cannot see a coherent strategy being proposed as an alternative.
That is my favorite fruit !
Very simple.
1. We should focus our resources and lobbying efforts to tone down immigration bills on our behalf. Spending our money to go there and put one more soul to say to Sen. Specter "vote for this bill" does not cut it.
2. We should use our lobbying resources and connections to contact decision makers from NumberUSA, FAIRUS.org and other major organizations and communicate our plans. We should clearly adopt a position against any bill which supports amnesty and offer a sensible, reasonable and fair quantitative increase in Employment Visa numbers. An example of reasonable proposals would be temporary increase of visa numbers, elimination of visa lottery and reallocation of visa numbes to EB, visa number recapture.
Thanks for asking.
The Ombdusman
TheOmbudsman, what Exactly is the point you are trying to make? You have been moaning about pretty much everything under the sun, but I cannot see a coherent strategy being proposed as an alternative.
more...
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GCEB2
09-03 01:33 PM
I did try to talk to customer care but it was of no help.
They tell me to wait for 30 days and sometime 60-90days.
They say you will become actual permanent resident when you get the card The card is important.
You now USCIS don’t know when they will change their minds.
To better be on safe side to get it stamped on my passport. I took info pass on 09-11-08 it will be almost 30 days,
let’s wait and see
approved on 8-12-08
NoWelcome notice Or Card
They tell me to wait for 30 days and sometime 60-90days.
They say you will become actual permanent resident when you get the card The card is important.
You now USCIS don’t know when they will change their minds.
To better be on safe side to get it stamped on my passport. I took info pass on 09-11-08 it will be almost 30 days,
let’s wait and see
approved on 8-12-08
NoWelcome notice Or Card
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learning01
06-05 03:35 PM
Is Lin for Lincoln, NB or something like that? Is one I-140 and the other I-485?
Did some investigation into the LIN/WAC number series that was issued starting from June 1...here are the details.
WAC071795xxxx - June 1
WAC071805xxxx - June 2
WAC071815xxxx - June 4
......
LIN071735xxxx - June 1
LIN071745xxxx - June 4
......
Did some investigation into the LIN/WAC number series that was issued starting from June 1...here are the details.
WAC071795xxxx - June 1
WAC071805xxxx - June 2
WAC071815xxxx - June 4
......
LIN071735xxxx - June 1
LIN071745xxxx - June 4
......
more...
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amits
07-20 06:40 AM
I'm in ... $100 from my side.
We're lucky that IV leadership is so devoted to 'our' cause. There would be very few individuals in this world, who can even think of selling their house for benefit of a group. Hats off to Aman!!! You're a hero, sir!!!
Now here is our leader selling his personal house for a collective good, and here we are.... a group of 21000 and not more than 2000 (optimistic figure) are contributors... A big shame!!
Those who got benefited by selfless efforts of Aman, and core team, but still did not contribute ... do you have any explanation for 'yourself'?
It's not about $10, 20, 50, 100 .... A person is ready to sell his house for your cause and you can't even make a small contribution in your own cause.
Those who are not contributing, and some who still have doubts, just read numerous media reports of praise of IV and how IV was instrumental in the outcome of July 2nd visa mess. And then..
Just stand up in front of a mirror and ask yourself - is your inaction justified? Is it your pocket that does not allow you to contribute or it's just moral poverty that doesn't let you do it? Is it justified to just 'wait and watch' how others fight for you, and when it comes to reaping the fruits.. you'll run to be first in line.
Is it not the time that you come out, listen to your antar-atma (inner soul) and contribute something for your own fight....?
_______________________________________________
Contributed $550, includes $50 recurring from july 2007.
Pledging $100 for this thread.
We're lucky that IV leadership is so devoted to 'our' cause. There would be very few individuals in this world, who can even think of selling their house for benefit of a group. Hats off to Aman!!! You're a hero, sir!!!
Now here is our leader selling his personal house for a collective good, and here we are.... a group of 21000 and not more than 2000 (optimistic figure) are contributors... A big shame!!
Those who got benefited by selfless efforts of Aman, and core team, but still did not contribute ... do you have any explanation for 'yourself'?
It's not about $10, 20, 50, 100 .... A person is ready to sell his house for your cause and you can't even make a small contribution in your own cause.
Those who are not contributing, and some who still have doubts, just read numerous media reports of praise of IV and how IV was instrumental in the outcome of July 2nd visa mess. And then..
Just stand up in front of a mirror and ask yourself - is your inaction justified? Is it your pocket that does not allow you to contribute or it's just moral poverty that doesn't let you do it? Is it justified to just 'wait and watch' how others fight for you, and when it comes to reaping the fruits.. you'll run to be first in line.
Is it not the time that you come out, listen to your antar-atma (inner soul) and contribute something for your own fight....?
_______________________________________________
Contributed $550, includes $50 recurring from july 2007.
Pledging $100 for this thread.
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hariswaminathan
09-09 07:08 PM
Like my title says - Could it be a mistake on their part for EB3 I ? Was it meant to be 15th April 2002 ?
In March of This year it was 15th Oct 2001. Then it goes to U for untli Oct and now its 15th April 2001 (gone back 6 months !!!!) This seems odd for a new fiscal year with new Visa Quota however small EB3I may be - are there still that many 2000-2001 applications pre-adjudicated in the system waiting for a visa that they had to roll it back ?
In March of This year it was 15th Oct 2001. Then it goes to U for untli Oct and now its 15th April 2001 (gone back 6 months !!!!) This seems odd for a new fiscal year with new Visa Quota however small EB3I may be - are there still that many 2000-2001 applications pre-adjudicated in the system waiting for a visa that they had to roll it back ?
more...
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kdprasad
08-13 07:58 PM
My wife got her receipt notice today
RD: July 2nd, ND: Aug 6th.
Did the checks get cashed?? I rcvd the receipt notice for both my wife and myself but the checks are not cashed for my wife (I cannot check on my checks that are provided by the company)
RD: July 2nd, ND: Aug 6th.
Did the checks get cashed?? I rcvd the receipt notice for both my wife and myself but the checks are not cashed for my wife (I cannot check on my checks that are provided by the company)
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bindas74
11-30 07:09 PM
Mehul,
You will survive.
You will survive.
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eb3_nepa
12-11 10:42 AM
Provided you bypass those apps that consulting companies line up at the start of the year. This is what Microsoft/Intel etc are trying to counter. They are not getting enough of the H1Bs themselves.
That is exactly my point. I mean even if the H1B quota DOES increase, is it more harm or good?
The new H1Bs will go at the back of the line, but atleast a lot of the people here like spouses on h4 might get a fighting chance to get new H1s? Somehow I dont see how an increase in the H1 quota can negatively affect us EB folk. Now dont get me wrong that is NOT all I want and nothing would please me more if the EB quota was increased as well. All I am saying is, let us not totally oppose the H1B increases just because most of us on here already have one. Half of the spouses on here can start working the minute the H1B quota is increased. Moreover stuedents already here can start working and dont have to be at the mercy of the H1b quota to graduate etc.
That is exactly my point. I mean even if the H1B quota DOES increase, is it more harm or good?
The new H1Bs will go at the back of the line, but atleast a lot of the people here like spouses on h4 might get a fighting chance to get new H1s? Somehow I dont see how an increase in the H1 quota can negatively affect us EB folk. Now dont get me wrong that is NOT all I want and nothing would please me more if the EB quota was increased as well. All I am saying is, let us not totally oppose the H1B increases just because most of us on here already have one. Half of the spouses on here can start working the minute the H1B quota is increased. Moreover stuedents already here can start working and dont have to be at the mercy of the H1b quota to graduate etc.
Greatdesi
08-23 12:04 PM
Hi Asethura,
Did the status ever change to 'card production ordered'?
Hi All, we got our physical cards yesterday my USPS.
PD: Feb 16th, 2006, NSC, EB2-I, RD: Aug 6th 2007
Got Welcome notice by USPS o Aug 16th (approved on August 10th), online status changed to PDA on August 19th, got physical cards yesterday.
Did the status ever change to 'card production ordered'?
Hi All, we got our physical cards yesterday my USPS.
PD: Feb 16th, 2006, NSC, EB2-I, RD: Aug 6th 2007
Got Welcome notice by USPS o Aug 16th (approved on August 10th), online status changed to PDA on August 19th, got physical cards yesterday.
xbeartai
05-23 01:52 PM
Link:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists
/thomaslfriedman/index.html?inline=nyt-per
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: May 23, 2007
First I had to laugh. Then I had to cry.
I took part in commencement this year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
one of America's great science and engineering schools, so I had a front-row
seat as the first grads to receive their diplomas came on stage, all of
them Ph.D. students. One by one the announcer read their names and each was
handed their doctorate - in biotechnology, computing, physics and
engineering - by the school's president, Shirley Ann Jackson.
The reason I had to laugh was because it seemed like every one of the newly
minted Ph.D.'s at Rensselaer was foreign born. For a moment, as the foreign
names kept coming - "Hong Lu, Xu Xie, Tao Yuan, Fu Tang" - I thought that
the entire class of doctoral students in physics were going to be Chinese,
until "Paul Shane Morrow" saved the day. It was such a caricature of what
President Jackson herself calls "the quiet crisis" in high-end science
education in this country that you could only laugh.
Don't get me wrong. I'm proud that our country continues to build
universities and a culture of learning that attract the world's best minds.
My complaint - why I also wanted to cry - was that there wasn't someone from
the Immigration and Naturalization Service standing next to President
Jackson stapling green cards to the diplomas of each of these foreign-born
Ph.D.'s. I want them all to stay, become Americans and do their research and
innovation here. If we can't educate enough of our own kids to compete at
this level, we'd better make sure we can import someone else's, otherwise we
will not maintain our standard of living.
It is pure idiocy that Congress will not open our borders - as wide as
possible - to attract and keep the world's first-round intellectual draft
choices in an age when everyone increasingly has the same innovation tools
and the key differentiator is human talent. I'm serious. I think any foreign
student who gets a Ph.D. in our country - in any subject - should be
offered citizenship. I want them. The idea
that we actually make it difficult for them to stay is crazy.
Compete America, a coalition of technology companies, is pleading with
Congress to boost both the number of H-1B visas available to companies
that want to bring in skilled foreign workers and the number of employment-
based green cards given to high-tech foreign workers who want to stay here.
Give them all they want! Not only do our companies need them now, because we
're not training enough engineers, but they will, over time, start many more
companies and create many more good jobs than they would possibly displace.
Silicon Valley is living proof of that - and where innovation happens
matters. It's still where the best jobs will be located.
Folks, we can't keep being stupid about these things. You can't have a world
where foreign-born students dominate your science graduate schools,
research labs, journal publications and can now more easily than ever go
back to their home countries to start companies - without it eventually
impacting our standard of living - especially when we're also slipping
behind in high-speed Internet penetration per capita. America has fallen
from fourth in the world in 2001 to 15th today.
My hat is off to Andrew Rasiej and Micah Sifry, co-founders of the Personal
Democracy Forum. They are trying to make this an issue in the presidential
campaign by creating a movement to demand that candidates focus on our
digital deficits and divides. (See: http://www.techpresident.com <http://www.techpresident.com>.) Mr. Rasiej, who unsuccessfully ran for public advocate of New York City in 2005 on a platform calling for low-cost wireless access everywhere, notes that "only half of America has broadband access to the Internet." We need to go from "No Child Left Behind," he says, to "Every Child
Connected."
Here's the sad truth: 9/11, and the failing Iraq war, have sucked up almost
all the oxygen in this country - oxygen needed to discuss seriously
education, health care, climate change and competitiveness, notes Garrett
Graff, an editor at Washingtonian Magazine and author of the upcoming book "
The First Campaign," which deals with this theme. So right now, it's mostly
governors talking about these issues, noted Mr. Graff, but there is only so
much they can do without Washington being focused and leading.
Which is why we've got to bring our occupation of Iraq to an end in the
quickest, least bad way possible - otherwise we are going to lose Iraq and
America. It's coming down to that choice.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists
/thomaslfriedman/index.html?inline=nyt-per
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: May 23, 2007
First I had to laugh. Then I had to cry.
I took part in commencement this year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
one of America's great science and engineering schools, so I had a front-row
seat as the first grads to receive their diplomas came on stage, all of
them Ph.D. students. One by one the announcer read their names and each was
handed their doctorate - in biotechnology, computing, physics and
engineering - by the school's president, Shirley Ann Jackson.
The reason I had to laugh was because it seemed like every one of the newly
minted Ph.D.'s at Rensselaer was foreign born. For a moment, as the foreign
names kept coming - "Hong Lu, Xu Xie, Tao Yuan, Fu Tang" - I thought that
the entire class of doctoral students in physics were going to be Chinese,
until "Paul Shane Morrow" saved the day. It was such a caricature of what
President Jackson herself calls "the quiet crisis" in high-end science
education in this country that you could only laugh.
Don't get me wrong. I'm proud that our country continues to build
universities and a culture of learning that attract the world's best minds.
My complaint - why I also wanted to cry - was that there wasn't someone from
the Immigration and Naturalization Service standing next to President
Jackson stapling green cards to the diplomas of each of these foreign-born
Ph.D.'s. I want them all to stay, become Americans and do their research and
innovation here. If we can't educate enough of our own kids to compete at
this level, we'd better make sure we can import someone else's, otherwise we
will not maintain our standard of living.
It is pure idiocy that Congress will not open our borders - as wide as
possible - to attract and keep the world's first-round intellectual draft
choices in an age when everyone increasingly has the same innovation tools
and the key differentiator is human talent. I'm serious. I think any foreign
student who gets a Ph.D. in our country - in any subject - should be
offered citizenship. I want them. The idea
that we actually make it difficult for them to stay is crazy.
Compete America, a coalition of technology companies, is pleading with
Congress to boost both the number of H-1B visas available to companies
that want to bring in skilled foreign workers and the number of employment-
based green cards given to high-tech foreign workers who want to stay here.
Give them all they want! Not only do our companies need them now, because we
're not training enough engineers, but they will, over time, start many more
companies and create many more good jobs than they would possibly displace.
Silicon Valley is living proof of that - and where innovation happens
matters. It's still where the best jobs will be located.
Folks, we can't keep being stupid about these things. You can't have a world
where foreign-born students dominate your science graduate schools,
research labs, journal publications and can now more easily than ever go
back to their home countries to start companies - without it eventually
impacting our standard of living - especially when we're also slipping
behind in high-speed Internet penetration per capita. America has fallen
from fourth in the world in 2001 to 15th today.
My hat is off to Andrew Rasiej and Micah Sifry, co-founders of the Personal
Democracy Forum. They are trying to make this an issue in the presidential
campaign by creating a movement to demand that candidates focus on our
digital deficits and divides. (See: http://www.techpresident.com <http://www.techpresident.com>.) Mr. Rasiej, who unsuccessfully ran for public advocate of New York City in 2005 on a platform calling for low-cost wireless access everywhere, notes that "only half of America has broadband access to the Internet." We need to go from "No Child Left Behind," he says, to "Every Child
Connected."
Here's the sad truth: 9/11, and the failing Iraq war, have sucked up almost
all the oxygen in this country - oxygen needed to discuss seriously
education, health care, climate change and competitiveness, notes Garrett
Graff, an editor at Washingtonian Magazine and author of the upcoming book "
The First Campaign," which deals with this theme. So right now, it's mostly
governors talking about these issues, noted Mr. Graff, but there is only so
much they can do without Washington being focused and leading.
Which is why we've got to bring our occupation of Iraq to an end in the
quickest, least bad way possible - otherwise we are going to lose Iraq and
America. It's coming down to that choice.
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