ksach
02-12 02:56 AM
it means freedom and a respect for my education, my skills and my hard work.
read my story below.
-------------------------------------------------------
America, the land of opportunity and freedom.
These days when I hear America being any of the above, I usually
sneer. 6 long years have thought me not to accept everything I hear.
Back home, I had respect. I had a good education and a great job. I
got an education from the best schools and the best colleges. I worked
for a big multi-national with a big fat salary and lots of
opportunities to travel to countries on work. I was a success. But I
wanted to be more. I wanted to be global. I wanted to work in a
different country for sometime. I loved seeing different cultures,
seeing different places; I wanted to see the world. Thats when the
offer for a job in the US came. I took it up because I could see the
US of A, the land of the free, the land of opportunity, the land of
the Cisco's and Microsofts and more importantly, the land of dreams. I
thought a couple of years working away from home would do me no harm.
Boy, was I wrong!!!!
The first few years in my new country of residence were difficult. I
worked for a startup with its crazy hours and insane schedules. Far
from seeing new places, I was busy at work. But I did not complain. I
liked the work and the company's passion to create something new. No
longer was I working on the junk companies outsource to third world
companies. I was working on the actual product, creating something
that was not done before, something I could be proud off. I was busy
at work, but it was not difficult to notice something, the Americans
worked hard, the people with green card worked harder, but the people
on H1-B worked hardest. I guess, the people on H1B had the most to
lose. But I did not give a hoot. I had a product to deliver. I never
had the time to think about my green card. I still wanted to go back
to my country, maybe not right now, but I wanted to. Right now, my
work was my priority and I would concentrate on that.
Slowly the years went by, and unknowningly I started seeing the
American Dream. I got a new car and expensive clothes, I started going
out with my friends, visited new places, and more importantly I
stopped feeling homesick. The apartment I shared with my friends was
my new home. So when my company asked me if they could do my green
card, I readily agreed.
I should have seen the signs. There were many of them; but I chose to
ignore. I should have know that people are exploited when I heard a
top executive at my company say once that he expects everyone to work
long hours and weekends because we had no options. The job market
outside was bad and none of us could find jobs. I should have known
that my cultural background mattered when the girl at the Albertson's
counter did not even look up to me, but was very friendly with all the
Americans ahead of me, or when an office colleauge introduced his girl
friend to all americans but ignored the Indians. I chose to ignore all
this, because I thought it does not affect me. As long as I did my
work or followed the rule of the land, nothing else mattered. I was
wrong again.
Two things changed in 2005. My company went down and I got married. I
was on H1B and had to find a job soon. I was already at the end of my
H1B tenure so not many companies were interested. That is when I
realized the disadvantage of being on an H1B. It did not matter that
my resume was impressive. My H1B status was more important than my
skill set. It it did not matter that I had already spent a lot years
in this country and my green card had been filed. It was hard finding
a job that would sponsor my H1B and my green card again. I did manage
to find one. But I was not lucky on my home front. My wife could not
work because she was on a dependent visa. She had given up a career in
India to be with me, but reality hit soon when she started getting
bored. She kept herself busy with books, TV and cooking. And life went
on, hoping that we would get our green card soon and we would be free
again. Free to find a job of my liking for me, and free to do any job
for my wife.
Its Feb 2007 now and there's still no sign of the green card. I
stopped hoping for one. I dont care for one. All I care for now is my
wife to be able to work in something she likes within any legal
boundaries.
Its been a long time since I legally came to this country. I was young
and succesful then. And now as I cross another anniversary of my
landing in the US, I reflect upon what I have gained. I have gained a
big bank balance, a good car, a good lifestyle. What have I lost -
plenty. I have lost my career, my freedom, my health, my marriage and
my family. I have been stuck in the same job for many many years while
all my friends have climbed up the corporate ladder back home in
India. Its not easy working on an H1B. My marriage has suffered
because my wife is unhappy that she cannot work, she's close to a
breakdown, my health has suffered because of all the thinking, and my
parents have sufferred because I have not been able to take care of
them. I never have cried so much at my helplessness as I have cried in
the last one year.
One thing I have realized about the US is that it is no different than
any country. Like any other country, the exploitable are always
exploited. (The big companies are not willing to fight for the welfare
of their employees. They fight to get more people into the country to
exploit.) Like any other country, the only thing that gets politicians
excited is money and votes. (Why do we need so money to lobby the
politicians? Isn't freedom and justice reasons good enough?) Like any
other country, it discriminates between the have and the have nots. It
is a country that has no respect for people. (Ask anyone who goes for
a visa stamping in the US embassy in India. I have seen old people and
ladies with small kids spend hours in the hot Chennai Sun to enter the
embassy for an appointment, just to be spoken rudely by the Visa
office. There was not even a shelter outside to block the sun. I have
never seen people turn into US haters so soon). It is a country that
wants our brains, but is not willing to show a heart.
Some people may argue that I have the freedom to quit my job and go
back to my country. But that is not freedom enough. I want the freedom
to choose when I want to go back. Its not easy to pack 8 years of your
life in a jiffy. Its not easy to pack 8 years of your life into 2
suitcases. Neither is it easy to restart your life in a different
place, even if its your own. It reminds me of an Indian saying -
"dhobi ka kutta - na ghar ka, na ghat ka". It means, a washerman's dog
belongs neither to the house nor the river banks. Thats me in a
nutshell, a "dhobi ka kutta."; a washerman's dog!!!
ps: I love this country as much as I love my own. But I wish this country loved me back as well.
read my story below.
-------------------------------------------------------
America, the land of opportunity and freedom.
These days when I hear America being any of the above, I usually
sneer. 6 long years have thought me not to accept everything I hear.
Back home, I had respect. I had a good education and a great job. I
got an education from the best schools and the best colleges. I worked
for a big multi-national with a big fat salary and lots of
opportunities to travel to countries on work. I was a success. But I
wanted to be more. I wanted to be global. I wanted to work in a
different country for sometime. I loved seeing different cultures,
seeing different places; I wanted to see the world. Thats when the
offer for a job in the US came. I took it up because I could see the
US of A, the land of the free, the land of opportunity, the land of
the Cisco's and Microsofts and more importantly, the land of dreams. I
thought a couple of years working away from home would do me no harm.
Boy, was I wrong!!!!
The first few years in my new country of residence were difficult. I
worked for a startup with its crazy hours and insane schedules. Far
from seeing new places, I was busy at work. But I did not complain. I
liked the work and the company's passion to create something new. No
longer was I working on the junk companies outsource to third world
companies. I was working on the actual product, creating something
that was not done before, something I could be proud off. I was busy
at work, but it was not difficult to notice something, the Americans
worked hard, the people with green card worked harder, but the people
on H1-B worked hardest. I guess, the people on H1B had the most to
lose. But I did not give a hoot. I had a product to deliver. I never
had the time to think about my green card. I still wanted to go back
to my country, maybe not right now, but I wanted to. Right now, my
work was my priority and I would concentrate on that.
Slowly the years went by, and unknowningly I started seeing the
American Dream. I got a new car and expensive clothes, I started going
out with my friends, visited new places, and more importantly I
stopped feeling homesick. The apartment I shared with my friends was
my new home. So when my company asked me if they could do my green
card, I readily agreed.
I should have seen the signs. There were many of them; but I chose to
ignore. I should have know that people are exploited when I heard a
top executive at my company say once that he expects everyone to work
long hours and weekends because we had no options. The job market
outside was bad and none of us could find jobs. I should have known
that my cultural background mattered when the girl at the Albertson's
counter did not even look up to me, but was very friendly with all the
Americans ahead of me, or when an office colleauge introduced his girl
friend to all americans but ignored the Indians. I chose to ignore all
this, because I thought it does not affect me. As long as I did my
work or followed the rule of the land, nothing else mattered. I was
wrong again.
Two things changed in 2005. My company went down and I got married. I
was on H1B and had to find a job soon. I was already at the end of my
H1B tenure so not many companies were interested. That is when I
realized the disadvantage of being on an H1B. It did not matter that
my resume was impressive. My H1B status was more important than my
skill set. It it did not matter that I had already spent a lot years
in this country and my green card had been filed. It was hard finding
a job that would sponsor my H1B and my green card again. I did manage
to find one. But I was not lucky on my home front. My wife could not
work because she was on a dependent visa. She had given up a career in
India to be with me, but reality hit soon when she started getting
bored. She kept herself busy with books, TV and cooking. And life went
on, hoping that we would get our green card soon and we would be free
again. Free to find a job of my liking for me, and free to do any job
for my wife.
Its Feb 2007 now and there's still no sign of the green card. I
stopped hoping for one. I dont care for one. All I care for now is my
wife to be able to work in something she likes within any legal
boundaries.
Its been a long time since I legally came to this country. I was young
and succesful then. And now as I cross another anniversary of my
landing in the US, I reflect upon what I have gained. I have gained a
big bank balance, a good car, a good lifestyle. What have I lost -
plenty. I have lost my career, my freedom, my health, my marriage and
my family. I have been stuck in the same job for many many years while
all my friends have climbed up the corporate ladder back home in
India. Its not easy working on an H1B. My marriage has suffered
because my wife is unhappy that she cannot work, she's close to a
breakdown, my health has suffered because of all the thinking, and my
parents have sufferred because I have not been able to take care of
them. I never have cried so much at my helplessness as I have cried in
the last one year.
One thing I have realized about the US is that it is no different than
any country. Like any other country, the exploitable are always
exploited. (The big companies are not willing to fight for the welfare
of their employees. They fight to get more people into the country to
exploit.) Like any other country, the only thing that gets politicians
excited is money and votes. (Why do we need so money to lobby the
politicians? Isn't freedom and justice reasons good enough?) Like any
other country, it discriminates between the have and the have nots. It
is a country that has no respect for people. (Ask anyone who goes for
a visa stamping in the US embassy in India. I have seen old people and
ladies with small kids spend hours in the hot Chennai Sun to enter the
embassy for an appointment, just to be spoken rudely by the Visa
office. There was not even a shelter outside to block the sun. I have
never seen people turn into US haters so soon). It is a country that
wants our brains, but is not willing to show a heart.
Some people may argue that I have the freedom to quit my job and go
back to my country. But that is not freedom enough. I want the freedom
to choose when I want to go back. Its not easy to pack 8 years of your
life in a jiffy. Its not easy to pack 8 years of your life into 2
suitcases. Neither is it easy to restart your life in a different
place, even if its your own. It reminds me of an Indian saying -
"dhobi ka kutta - na ghar ka, na ghat ka". It means, a washerman's dog
belongs neither to the house nor the river banks. Thats me in a
nutshell, a "dhobi ka kutta."; a washerman's dog!!!
ps: I love this country as much as I love my own. But I wish this country loved me back as well.
wallpaper Good Morning, America! they
addsf345
12-02 07:54 PM
There is a different thread also going on, but sharing it here for anyone who have not noticed it yet. RG updated his website with below information.
Good news concerning AOS denials based on I-140 revocations
(http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25832)
Good news concerning AOS denials based on I-140 revocations
(http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25832)
485Mbe4001
07-20 06:35 PM
dont forget the fact that EAD and AP are issued for 12 months, you have to renew each year. It is recommended that you apply for EAD/AP renewal at least 180-90 days in advance to prevent periods where your current EAD has expired while you wait for the renewed one...welcome to the new nightmare, someone did say something about the grass been green on the other side..now that we are on the other side we wait for 485 to be current while we renew EAD/AP each year, fingerprint every 15 months and aviod the namecheck black hole...maybe this is what they(uscis) wanted after all...a steady income stream...good luck :)
July filers SCREAMED for the right to simultaneously file after the government realized they had to reneg on their bulletin precisely because they could NOT cope with these numbers. AILA screamed that it had to do it or they would sue.
Well it's done. Happy now?
......
Perhaps with a little luck, they will again introduce interim EADs from local SA offices. Keep your fingers crossed.
July filers SCREAMED for the right to simultaneously file after the government realized they had to reneg on their bulletin precisely because they could NOT cope with these numbers. AILA screamed that it had to do it or they would sue.
Well it's done. Happy now?
......
Perhaps with a little luck, they will again introduce interim EADs from local SA offices. Keep your fingers crossed.
2011 Local weatherman makes payroll list in national magazine
skd
04-14 12:58 AM
Had anybody have to send Driving License for filing extention of h1b?
more...
santb1975
06-17 03:14 PM
Wandmaker and Green.Tech - Thankyou for your leadership towards this funding drive
ramus
09-10 10:11 AM
Thanks...
pappu is giving update after each couple hours.. Thanks for contribution.
Guys,
here is my humble contribution of 100.
keep up the great work.
A suggestion, lets keep a tally where we are for contribution goal,
this will encourage everyone to contribute more and round off any shortfalls
in overall contribution.
Thanks
On a side note,
This is my understanding, even if there are some harsh things said
on the forum, but in all everyone appreciates the great work being done
by this group.
pappu is giving update after each couple hours.. Thanks for contribution.
Guys,
here is my humble contribution of 100.
keep up the great work.
A suggestion, lets keep a tally where we are for contribution goal,
this will encourage everyone to contribute more and round off any shortfalls
in overall contribution.
Thanks
On a side note,
This is my understanding, even if there are some harsh things said
on the forum, but in all everyone appreciates the great work being done
by this group.
more...
Green.Tech
06-05 10:55 PM
Amount: $50.00 USD
Transaction ID: *1701P
Please come forward and contribute guys!
Transaction ID: *1701P
Please come forward and contribute guys!
2010 -Weatherman
Jimi_Hendrix
11-08 07:06 PM
Sorry for posting everything onto the forum. I had to do this after several attempts to post the zipped file did not work out.
Anyways I just wanted to post this list so that we have an idea about who are the newly elected Reps in CA. This will help us if we decide to meet some of them in future.
Anyways I just wanted to post this list so that we have an idea about who are the newly elected Reps in CA. This will help us if we decide to meet some of them in future.
more...
chakdepatte
01-07 09:43 AM
Approach ur credit uniion. they will eventually sell ur loan to BAC or the big banks.
my friends were on H1. I was on EAD but all I had to provide was my credit score, 6 months paychecks, company history and indicate that my green card is in process. lender was happy that green card is in process. she got terribly confused when I mentioned LC, 140 and EAD. Be careful with words you use becuase the lender or anyone at walmart or honda are not that educated about the pains of GC process and not that they are bad and dont want ur business.
I am also not surprised on reading this thread because our local citizen friends (bankers et al) get pi$$ed off to learn that I dont have a green card and we own homes becuase we are perfect candidates to walk off in a foreclosure with nothing to worry.
on a serious note - if on H1 and no EAD. think twice before buying a house. Job Markets are becoming unfriendly for H1 holders.
God be with you.
-Oye Chakdepatte
my friends were on H1. I was on EAD but all I had to provide was my credit score, 6 months paychecks, company history and indicate that my green card is in process. lender was happy that green card is in process. she got terribly confused when I mentioned LC, 140 and EAD. Be careful with words you use becuase the lender or anyone at walmart or honda are not that educated about the pains of GC process and not that they are bad and dont want ur business.
I am also not surprised on reading this thread because our local citizen friends (bankers et al) get pi$$ed off to learn that I dont have a green card and we own homes becuase we are perfect candidates to walk off in a foreclosure with nothing to worry.
on a serious note - if on H1 and no EAD. think twice before buying a house. Job Markets are becoming unfriendly for H1 holders.
God be with you.
-Oye Chakdepatte
hair on Good Morning America
pd_recapturing
11-24 05:21 PM
I left my GC sponser employer 3 months ago and joined new employer on EAD. I spoke to the new company's attorney to file H1B after 2 months of joining. She said that since I have completed 6 years of my H1B so it does not matter if I am on H1B or on EAD as none of them will provide safety net if something goes wrong on 485. Suddenly, after 15 days, I got an email from my Lawyers's office saying that my new company has given permission to them to apply a H1B extn for me and asked me to send the required docs. I am not sure what prompted them to apply my H1B as I had already given up H1B thing and was happy with EAD. I dont know, it might be something to do with charging fee from my new employer or something. Bottomline is no one knows about it and may be even USCIS might not have this scenario in their rule book.
One more thing, in one of the conversations with my new attorney, she mentioned that I can still work on EAD if 485 gets denied because of AC21 reason and MTR has been sent. She said, unless, 485 is denied because of some criminal reason, u can continue working during the MTR period. so another twist??
One more thing, in one of the conversations with my new attorney, she mentioned that I can still work on EAD if 485 gets denied because of AC21 reason and MTR has been sent. She said, unless, 485 is denied because of some criminal reason, u can continue working during the MTR period. so another twist??
more...
LostInGCProcess
12-12 03:26 AM
i sent all documents to loan officer at wells fargo for refinance. I sent I-140, EAD copy for immigration documents. just got email from loan office that he received my file back from underwriter and ask for greencard copy front and back as underwriter said EAD is not acceptable (Employer can not sponsor borrower).
could anybody please tell me what to do now?
thank you:(
Bank Of America denied my car loan. They want only US citizens or GC holders. I have EAD and apparently its not good at all for anything. I can't even get my drivers license. The DMV is waiting for a response from DHS, until then I have to find other means to go to work.
The other day at walmart, I paid my groceries, as usual with the credit card, so the walmart person wanted to see my ID. I showed her my EAD, she said she cannot accept that...she wants to see my Drivers License..I said it is expired and the only legal document with a photo ID is my EAD which is issued by the federal Gov...she was not convinces but said, "aahhh!!! thats okay, I trust you." and let me go...till the end she was not convinced in her mind.
could anybody please tell me what to do now?
thank you:(
Bank Of America denied my car loan. They want only US citizens or GC holders. I have EAD and apparently its not good at all for anything. I can't even get my drivers license. The DMV is waiting for a response from DHS, until then I have to find other means to go to work.
The other day at walmart, I paid my groceries, as usual with the credit card, so the walmart person wanted to see my ID. I showed her my EAD, she said she cannot accept that...she wants to see my Drivers License..I said it is expired and the only legal document with a photo ID is my EAD which is issued by the federal Gov...she was not convinces but said, "aahhh!!! thats okay, I trust you." and let me go...till the end she was not convinced in her mind.
hot The Weather Man
bhatt
09-10 12:19 PM
One thing for sure USCIS do likes April fools day a lot as this the date they usually pick when the retrogress. This proves that a fool named DOS in love with April fools day.:)
USCIS and DOS love to pick APRIL FOOLS DAY as cut off date especially for India :) is it coincident or !:eek:
Are they telling that we have FOOLED you, immigrants again and again.
USCIS and DOS love to pick APRIL FOOLS DAY as cut off date especially for India :) is it coincident or !:eek:
Are they telling that we have FOOLED you, immigrants again and again.
more...
house Weatherman Sam Champion Forced
apt29
06-11 01:06 PM
If you do not mind, have you donated to IV?
It is not a big deal dude...if not for this immigration system, we could be making even more..think about $80-$100/hr if you are an independent contractor. This a minimum for a decent contract with vendor directly.
And if you have ~100-200K for investments, with some experience and any luck..you could be making another 100K out of it from trading and active investing in other areas. That comes to ~250-300K minimum. There are no bounds when life is free and in this great country. Unfortunately, things have turned discriminative and our potentials are being restricted(atleast for non-EAD guys) and you have to be prepared for getting outright kicked out of this country.
It is not a big deal dude...if not for this immigration system, we could be making even more..think about $80-$100/hr if you are an independent contractor. This a minimum for a decent contract with vendor directly.
And if you have ~100-200K for investments, with some experience and any luck..you could be making another 100K out of it from trading and active investing in other areas. That comes to ~250-300K minimum. There are no bounds when life is free and in this great country. Unfortunately, things have turned discriminative and our potentials are being restricted(atleast for non-EAD guys) and you have to be prepared for getting outright kicked out of this country.
tattoo the Good Morning America
Imigrait
01-29 07:33 PM
Applied for AP - Aug.16 with NSC
The funny thing is,that as with EAD card,in a day after I subscribed for e-mail update with USCIS they send me e-mail that my AP and family members have been mailed.
LUD on AP Jan 23. AP on hand Jan.28.
Hi NeoKlaus,
Do you know what your Notice Date was?
Thanks.
The funny thing is,that as with EAD card,in a day after I subscribed for e-mail update with USCIS they send me e-mail that my AP and family members have been mailed.
LUD on AP Jan 23. AP on hand Jan.28.
Hi NeoKlaus,
Do you know what your Notice Date was?
Thanks.
more...
pictures Hans Zimmer - The Weather Man
priti8888
07-24 11:42 AM
But how cud they accept and process the application if his date was not current in june ??
Correct, They would accept only if his dates were current in June
Correct, They would accept only if his dates were current in June
dresses Weatherman#39;s last attempt at
ramus
07-18 02:19 PM
Lets keep working on this thread... We had 5000 new members joined IV.. Now we know what IV can do and is capable of doing.
Now IV has delivered and its our time to deliver.
Lets keep this thread alive...
Everybody do 2 important things.
1) Make recurring contributiong.
2) Ask other to do it now.
Thank you all.
Now IV has delivered and its our time to deliver.
Lets keep this thread alive...
Everybody do 2 important things.
1) Make recurring contributiong.
2) Ask other to do it now.
Thank you all.
more...
makeup Good Morning America.
Green.Tech
06-22 10:57 AM
Bump.
girlfriend ABOVE: Wacky Weatherman, Phil
ebizash
07-14 04:01 PM
Sig done too
hairstyles Paul Gardner is a Weatherman,
cheg
07-23 08:24 PM
Celebrate!!!
Congrats! What are you doing in this forum arguing over dates?? Go out and enjoy your Permanent Residency with Champagne!!!:D :D :D Good luck:)
Congrats! What are you doing in this forum arguing over dates?? Go out and enjoy your Permanent Residency with Champagne!!!:D :D :D Good luck:)
chanduv23
07-18 04:03 PM
Strong funding means strong lobbying for our causes. Please help for this cause.
Contribute for a good cause.
Contribute for a good cause.
yabadaba
01-02 11:48 AM
looks like some other orgs are referencing my oped for general information purposes
http://www.americas.org/item_30295
"This article was originally published by the sources above and is copyrighted by the sources above. We offer it here as an educational tool to increase understanding of global economics and social justice issues. We believe this is 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. AMERICAS.ORG is a nonprofit Web site with the goal of educating and informing."
http://www.americas.org/item_30295
"This article was originally published by the sources above and is copyrighted by the sources above. We offer it here as an educational tool to increase understanding of global economics and social justice issues. We believe this is 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. AMERICAS.ORG is a nonprofit Web site with the goal of educating and informing."
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