Hello guys,
In the spirit of what Mr Rajiv suggested, let us post some PERSONAL experiences here. Here is my "details".
MOST IMPORTANT: How delays affect my life.
I work for a major Defense contractor, currently using EAD. Before that I was H-1B. My work is related to satellite communications. This kind of expertise is useful to Homeland and National security. Off course I am not given any "classified" information, so to prove it might be next to impossible. The delays affect my life both personally and in the work place in the following ways:
1: Workplace: I have a different color badge, indicating my status as a "foreign" person. I am only allowed to enter through designated entrances and exits and have access only to my office and a lab. I am only allowed to stay in the building from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, otherwise I need to be escorted or find myself in violation and big trouble. Due to all the physical restrictions, I cannot visit the in-house cafeteria, unless escorted by a US citizen.
I am not connected to the company's network, intranet, etc. They arranged my own network! I cannot look, touch or have any material other than the project I am working on. This is governed by a special license from the Department of State, on my name. It is an "Export Control" technical assistance license renewable. In this way, the company has permission and authorization for my employment beyond the EAD, but it cannot remedy any of these. When I suggested to the Legal department and the immigration lawyer (major firm) for a congressional intervention, they did not follow it on the basis of "having a lot troubles in the past". Note that the Expedite procedures from the BCIS are not so clear (only US government agency can request that) for a company to ask for it even on the basis of National Interest. My company can get any "security clearances" needed for any US employee from the Departments of Defense and yet they have difficulty in finding a way to expedite my case! Not to mention that I have gone through six years of H-1B, seven year extension (AC21), two I-140s (approved, one was amended) and a year on my I-485! Previously I had also F1, B1 visas.
This illustrates how the whole thing has an effect on my professional life, shows the discriminatory environment in the workplace (whether justified or not) and the bureaucracy of the different Government departments. There is not genuine recognition or promotion. There is not any fulfillment but fear of breaking some law along the way and the way is too long.
2: Personal. My wife cannot get her Driver license for a second year in a row. Speaking of stress, anxiety and all. My company also took about six months to decide whether I really had a "permanent" job before they sponsored my application. In the meantime they were looking for a US citizen to take my job. This multi-year process also delays any future US citizenship. The whole process from LC to the "green card" with the "dual intent" becomes inapplicable and obsolete. There is no sense of security as we have been treated like "guilty" of something until proven innocent. This is the opposite of what America is all about.
In the spirit of what Mr Rajiv suggested, let us post some PERSONAL experiences here. Here is my "details".
MOST IMPORTANT: How delays affect my life.
I work for a major Defense contractor, currently using EAD. Before that I was H-1B. My work is related to satellite communications. This kind of expertise is useful to Homeland and National security. Off course I am not given any "classified" information, so to prove it might be next to impossible. The delays affect my life both personally and in the work place in the following ways:
1: Workplace: I have a different color badge, indicating my status as a "foreign" person. I am only allowed to enter through designated entrances and exits and have access only to my office and a lab. I am only allowed to stay in the building from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, otherwise I need to be escorted or find myself in violation and big trouble. Due to all the physical restrictions, I cannot visit the in-house cafeteria, unless escorted by a US citizen.
I am not connected to the company's network, intranet, etc. They arranged my own network! I cannot look, touch or have any material other than the project I am working on. This is governed by a special license from the Department of State, on my name. It is an "Export Control" technical assistance license renewable. In this way, the company has permission and authorization for my employment beyond the EAD, but it cannot remedy any of these. When I suggested to the Legal department and the immigration lawyer (major firm) for a congressional intervention, they did not follow it on the basis of "having a lot troubles in the past". Note that the Expedite procedures from the BCIS are not so clear (only US government agency can request that) for a company to ask for it even on the basis of National Interest. My company can get any "security clearances" needed for any US employee from the Departments of Defense and yet they have difficulty in finding a way to expedite my case! Not to mention that I have gone through six years of H-1B, seven year extension (AC21), two I-140s (approved, one was amended) and a year on my I-485! Previously I had also F1, B1 visas.
This illustrates how the whole thing has an effect on my professional life, shows the discriminatory environment in the workplace (whether justified or not) and the bureaucracy of the different Government departments. There is not genuine recognition or promotion. There is not any fulfillment but fear of breaking some law along the way and the way is too long.
2: Personal. My wife cannot get her Driver license for a second year in a row. Speaking of stress, anxiety and all. My company also took about six months to decide whether I really had a "permanent" job before they sponsored my application. In the meantime they were looking for a US citizen to take my job. This multi-year process also delays any future US citizenship. The whole process from LC to the "green card" with the "dual intent" becomes inapplicable and obsolete. There is no sense of security as we have been treated like "guilty" of something until proven innocent. This is the opposite of what America is all about.
