Think H1B. Think Alberta???

Looks like you are new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Immigration, business and economics work in weird ways. Point in case, Alberta (in Canada for the geographically challenged) is trying to woo H1B holders, while the US immigration policy makers are doing their best to cut down [...]

Immigration Update: Premium processing for some I140s, desis held in scam

Premium processing for some I140s
Potential good news for those who’re labor certified but approaching the end of their 6 year quota for H1B visas. Starting today (June 16th 2008), USCIS has announced plans for premium processing for I140 (permanent work permit). [USCIS]
The I140 will be processed within 15 days for a fee of $1000.
Desis [...]

Catwalkers share H1B quota

Trivia question: What does a nerdy pot bellied software engineer from India have in common with a lithe nubile hottie from Eastern Europe who walks the ramps of NYC?
A: Both are here on a H1B visa. [Information Week]
Apparently it’s not just software engineers who’re “stealing American jobs”. Shame on you, oh 5 foot 11 busty [...]

OPT extension challenged in court

The recent USCIS decision to extend OPTs from 12 months to 29 months is being challenged in court by the anti-H1B lobby. [ComputerWorld]

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H1B rejected? H3 maybe?

At their wits end, faced with the fiasco that is the H1B visa quota and the subsequent random lottery, employers and immigration attorneys are trying to come up with creative alternatives. One of these includes the H3 visa, which has a separate quota and will allow the applicant enter the US as a trainee instead [...]

H1B applicants to be selected ….. randomly??

Remember the great H1b gold rush from last year? The number of applicants exceeded the allocated quota in less than 48 hours after the USCIS started taking applications. [Über Desi story from 2007]
This year is no different. [NYT]
USCIS had the proverbial application window open for 5 days and received nearly twice the number of applications [...]

17 Month OPT extension for F1 students (Update: Current Information is vague)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the ridiculously short OPT timeline for students on a F1 visa from 12 months to 29 months. [link] [Press Release] (Sai -> Karthik via email)
“This rule will enable businesses to attract and retain highly skilled foreign workers, giving U.S. companies a competitive advantage in the world economy,” said [...]

Immigrants: First generation or not

I often refer to myself and my fellow FOBs* as “first generation” invariably leading to emails and passing remarks from friends and acquaintances questioning the validity of the term “first generation“. The other side of the aisle invariably argues that first generation refers to the first generation of children of immigrants. This is my opinion [...]

Southie film industry involved in visa scam

Several film industry personnel in South India are on the US blacklist after a visa scam was unearthed. The scam was simple and effective, people were paying movie industry contacts money so they could pretend to work on a movie in the US, entered the US on a temporary visa and stayed on illegally. To [...]

My big fat fingerprinting

There was plenty of windex, fo shizzle.
It all started with an innocuous looking envelope in the mail from USCIS. In the envelope was a place and a time and a not so veiled threat to “be there or else …”. There comes a time in every immigrant’s life in the US and A, when they’re [...]

Idiots in Michigan says no to non-immigrants

Stuck with a piece of paper, my worst night mare right now is getting pulled over and being asked for my drivers license. The piece of paper is my temporary drivers license and I have two of those.
Every person hates the DMV, the long lines, the incoherent procedures and the underpaid over worked staff [...]

Desis in Kenya feel the effects of violence

People of Indian origin living in Kenya, mostly Gujaratis, are feeling the effects of the ethnic violence sweeping the nation after last week’s election results were announced, but are largely safe. [link]

People of Indian origin hard hit by riots in Kenyaimg: via CNN-IBN

The violence in Kenya seems to read like it was right out of [...]

The Bald and the Desi-ful

If you’ve been following the Malaysian Macaca Mutiny (1,2,3,4) with any degree of interest, you’ve got to love the way these protesters are making the Malaysian government look bad.

Mottai* Malaysian Macacasimg: via TOI Online

The Malaysian government and law enforcement has employed tear gas and water cannons, slapped their leaders with murder charges which magically [...]

Malaysia accuses agitating Indians with LTTE links

This tactic is a tried and tested technique and has worked well in certain Western nations.
1. Arrest individuals of ethnic minorities
2. Nations or groups related to #1 protest
3. To prevent a foreign relations disaster, pick out a world renowned terrorist group
4. Accuse #1 of having links with #3
5. #2 backs off.
Malaysia has now played that [...]

Malaysia asks India to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

Malaysia has asked India to not meddle with it’s internal affairs in response to the Indian government expressing worry over the latest happenings. The Malaysian Foreign Minister said they would deal with the citizen “according to our own laws”. The killer is that Malaysia has denied the claims, saying Indian’s in Malaysia were better off [...]

‘What bloody democracy you are talking about?’ said the uncle.

We have more news on the Malaysian desi protest.

Here is an Aljazeera news clip. [Via SM]

On a side note, I am upset that Al Jazeera has been denied broadcasting rights in the US. They seem to be on par with other Major TV channels at least when it comes to quality.

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Malaysian Macaca Mutiny

More developments in the ongoing saga of ethnic minority [ÜD post] Indians versus the Malaysian authorities. Peaceful demonstrators are herded into a temple compound and bombarded with teargas and water cannons [link via]. The irony of it all - people of Indian origin living abroad protest peacefully when they gather in mobs (gandhigiri), while mobs [...]

Indian-Malaysians protest discrimination

Malaysians of Indian origin protested outside the British High Commission seeking reparations from the UK for sending Indians to Malaysia as indentured laborers a century ago. The protest also highlighted the discrimination the ethnic Indians - mainly Hindus - face from the Malay Muslim majority government. In recorded history, state-sponsored oppression of minorities, particularly religious [...]

Blair’s BMW busted?

The BMW 7 series car for Mr. Blair was modified with reinforced doors and bulletproof glass.
The UK is one of the few countries that has a very high level of security 24/7 and the same goes for its ex-top man, Tony Blair. But apparently a lapse by the Metropolitan polices Counter-Terrorism command, saw 4 [...]

Illegal immigrant deported after leaving church

Elvira Arellano, an illegal immigrant, who had taken sanctuary in a church for over an year was finally arrested and deported.
Elvira Arellano, before being arrestedimg: via MSNBC.com
This story, brings to light so many contradictions in the current U.S. immigration and judicial system.
Elvira Arellano, illegally entered and worked in the country, hence she was in violation [...]

Tragedy behind the glitz and glamor in Dubai.

Construction work in progress at Dubai.
Image from Paul Keller.
The west might look at Dubai as an escape from the mundane, much like Las Vegas. On a recent trip to Germany I was amazed at the amount of advertising on TV and print for vacations and destinations in the tiny Gulf nation.
As an Indian, [...]

Forget the system, where is the compassion?

For debatable reasons the US Visa policy has had a lot of changes. With recent rumors about H1-B visas being misused, more stringent is the only way this scale will tip.
Finances, degree certificates and proving that you will return to your mother/father land are acceptable requests, but in return we expect a little bit of [...]

Flower Power: Techie legal immigrants win a reprieve

Remember when immigrants on a high-tech visa, including a large number of Indians protested against the USCIS by bombarding them with flowers? Well, that seems to have paid off.
Flowers, not brickbatsimg: via TouchdownUSA.org
Before we proceed, please bear with me as I pull a Daunte Culpepper and quote Gandhi again, this time in elation .
“First they [...]

Protesting with flowers

H1B and other legal skilled workers have a fight on their hands for their future in the United States.
Flowers, not brickbatsimg: via TouchdownUSA.org
Faced with a bleak future after the USCIS stopped taking applications for pemanent residency to legal skilled workers in the US, the immigrants are fighting back by sending flowers to the USCIS - [...]

Anatomy of a H1B fraud

via Rediff.
Note: Agent is a H1B pimp and Us denotes the Rediff staff.
Agent: We will get you a fake employer. He’ll file for your H-1B. He will have a proper company and will be a US citizen.
Us: So what happens once we get there?
Agent: The fake employer who files for your H-1B will give you [...]