GCdreamer2006
Registered Users (C)
I searched USCIS.gov but I couldn't find an e-mail I could use for feedback/reuqests. Please let me know if you have e-mails I could use to send the following suggestion to help relief problems caused by this tragic backlog. I am not sure if Yates is still in charge.
Let's face it, this backlog will stay with us for a long time. Perhaps the US Congress *may* increase Visa numbers, but no miracles are expected.
In my view, one of the key frustrations and main drawbacks of this long greencard process is the career stagnation condition. Honestly, one can get your entire career ruined if there is no possibility to change jobs and move up in the career ladder after 4 years. Now imagine if you don't grow for 7-10 years due to this backlog. I am not sure if my staying in the US could be justified under such circumstance. This is serious especially in IT. The existing AC21 portability has a serious restriction that allow you only to change to same or similar jobs. This adds a level of uncertainty in this process and many are not willing to take the chance. Moreover, after 4 or 7 years working in the same occupation, naturally many have the ambition to move up and take positions such as a program manager, product manager, director, etc. The AC21 portability would be useless in this case. You also need to ask the new employer to provide letter to USCIS which states the offer is "permanent". The language in such AC21 letter intimidates many new employers, especially the ones without a legal department to interpret such letter. If such letter is not required from the part of the new employer, all you could say to new potential employer is "I AM AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE US". From there you could use your EAD and have a transparent job transition. When you mentioned such need for AC21 letter, it is when you end up explaining that you need such AC21 letter in order to accept the position with new employer, you need to explain you are temporarily here waiting for I-485, etc. In reality, many (if not most) employers walk away from offering you the job.
My request to USCIS is that in order to help alleviate this backlog problem, please change requirements on AC21 to "If I-140 has been filed and I-485 > 180 days, YOU CAN CHANGE JOBS. Period."
Then EMPLOYEE/BENEFIACIARY should send copy of paystubs of new job to USCIS to demonstrate he/she is employed. That is it.
Let's face it, this backlog will stay with us for a long time. Perhaps the US Congress *may* increase Visa numbers, but no miracles are expected.
In my view, one of the key frustrations and main drawbacks of this long greencard process is the career stagnation condition. Honestly, one can get your entire career ruined if there is no possibility to change jobs and move up in the career ladder after 4 years. Now imagine if you don't grow for 7-10 years due to this backlog. I am not sure if my staying in the US could be justified under such circumstance. This is serious especially in IT. The existing AC21 portability has a serious restriction that allow you only to change to same or similar jobs. This adds a level of uncertainty in this process and many are not willing to take the chance. Moreover, after 4 or 7 years working in the same occupation, naturally many have the ambition to move up and take positions such as a program manager, product manager, director, etc. The AC21 portability would be useless in this case. You also need to ask the new employer to provide letter to USCIS which states the offer is "permanent". The language in such AC21 letter intimidates many new employers, especially the ones without a legal department to interpret such letter. If such letter is not required from the part of the new employer, all you could say to new potential employer is "I AM AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE US". From there you could use your EAD and have a transparent job transition. When you mentioned such need for AC21 letter, it is when you end up explaining that you need such AC21 letter in order to accept the position with new employer, you need to explain you are temporarily here waiting for I-485, etc. In reality, many (if not most) employers walk away from offering you the job.
My request to USCIS is that in order to help alleviate this backlog problem, please change requirements on AC21 to "If I-140 has been filed and I-485 > 180 days, YOU CAN CHANGE JOBS. Period."
Then EMPLOYEE/BENEFIACIARY should send copy of paystubs of new job to USCIS to demonstrate he/she is employed. That is it.