mariner5555
10-06 08:23 AM
Don't stress out too much!!! Sleep calmly till dawn and believe me next morning will be more rewarding.
There is one thing which all of us can do and I belive it will be more effective than a rally(And certainly will cost less).
all we need to do is spread the problems we are facing whenever we buy high value goods like cars or homes. tell the dealer / broker / edu instituitions ..I would have closed the deal if I had a green card ..so the next time congress takes up this bill ..there would be more support for increased legal visas ...unfortunately many of us are selfish ,...we just run and buy houses as soon as we get EADs
There is one thing which all of us can do and I belive it will be more effective than a rally(And certainly will cost less).
all we need to do is spread the problems we are facing whenever we buy high value goods like cars or homes. tell the dealer / broker / edu instituitions ..I would have closed the deal if I had a green card ..so the next time congress takes up this bill ..there would be more support for increased legal visas ...unfortunately many of us are selfish ,...we just run and buy houses as soon as we get EADs
wallpaper Footballer Wives actress Laila
nixstor
01-12 11:22 AM
(1) I found a unique way to cope with the stress of our immigration nightmare.
through Day trading??
(2) It is not easy and it is not for the weak hearted but the rewards are wholesome and tremendous.
(3) Now lets Play !!!!!
Have you just tried to sell Day trading to IVians?? LMAO. I am sorry but I disagree that Day trading is an investment. Day trading is risky business and one needs plush amounts of cash as SIPC/SEC will not release the money on the same day. Don't even get me started on the margin accounts.
I agree with (2) and would also like to point out that the risks are also substantial. One can get addicted to day trading and I dont need to tell what addiction can do to any one. It needs time during work hours. ie 9 30 am and 4 30 pm. A lot of people did day trading during the dot com boom and recently with FRE & FNM. We know the results.
While you might have taken refuge in day trading for the stress immigration has caused, it can be a serious double whammy/nightmare if the calculations go wrong.
All said, if you feel that there is enough money to be made and normal Joe Bloggs can cope up with the pressure, please share your thoughts in detail.
through Day trading??
(2) It is not easy and it is not for the weak hearted but the rewards are wholesome and tremendous.
(3) Now lets Play !!!!!
Have you just tried to sell Day trading to IVians?? LMAO. I am sorry but I disagree that Day trading is an investment. Day trading is risky business and one needs plush amounts of cash as SIPC/SEC will not release the money on the same day. Don't even get me started on the margin accounts.
I agree with (2) and would also like to point out that the risks are also substantial. One can get addicted to day trading and I dont need to tell what addiction can do to any one. It needs time during work hours. ie 9 30 am and 4 30 pm. A lot of people did day trading during the dot com boom and recently with FRE & FNM. We know the results.
While you might have taken refuge in day trading for the stress immigration has caused, it can be a serious double whammy/nightmare if the calculations go wrong.
All said, if you feel that there is enough money to be made and normal Joe Bloggs can cope up with the pressure, please share your thoughts in detail.
gc28262
04-09 09:16 AM
H1Bs can't get EB1C. They need to be outside country in 1 out of 3 prceeding years. EB1C is intracompany transfer visa. Even if one is on H1B, they will be need to moved to L1A before they attempt this to my knowledge. Again we are not here to fix the world., we are here to fight for our cause and get going.. Lets be clear.. Most guys after getting their Citizenship, will also vote for republicans... So to me if we can somehow through, under, around get that visa recapture, we are all back to business my friend.. It is not a separate issue. It is the issue..
I agree. Many folks on this site in their desperate quest for GC are trying to find fault with everyone else in the community. Even if USCIS bans these EB1 guys from GC ( a wild dream. multinational managers are a genuine role in this global economy) it won't fetch many visa numbers as some EB2 guys here are hoping. If you want to get your GC fast, fight the system ( country cap/insufficient visa numbers) unified.
I agree. Many folks on this site in their desperate quest for GC are trying to find fault with everyone else in the community. Even if USCIS bans these EB1 guys from GC ( a wild dream. multinational managers are a genuine role in this global economy) it won't fetch many visa numbers as some EB2 guys here are hoping. If you want to get your GC fast, fight the system ( country cap/insufficient visa numbers) unified.
2011 footballers#39; wives.
vsrinir
09-28 09:15 AM
agree..unused Visa # capture.. is the only way...
Who will help us? How to proceed? When to Start?
No answers.
No one will help EB3.
God only will help.
Who will help us? How to proceed? When to Start?
No answers.
No one will help EB3.
God only will help.
more...
logiclife
02-01 09:04 PM
It was introduced by Kennedy to amend an unfriendly amendment from Jeff Sessions, but its only registered on Thomas. It has not passed and its not a part of the bill that passed the Senate today. It was not even debated.
This is what happened:
Kennedy submitted SA 180(about immigration) in response to amendment SA 143(text unavailable) introduced by Jeff Sessions. Its a parliamentary spat (tit for tat) and eventually both were left untouched. So it can be on thomas, but it has not passed.
Thanks for being alert, but please be careful about such things. Not everything that is on Thomas becomes law or is even debated.
This is what happened:
Kennedy submitted SA 180(about immigration) in response to amendment SA 143(text unavailable) introduced by Jeff Sessions. Its a parliamentary spat (tit for tat) and eventually both were left untouched. So it can be on thomas, but it has not passed.
Thanks for being alert, but please be careful about such things. Not everything that is on Thomas becomes law or is even debated.
masterji
02-16 06:34 PM
I think academic/non profit organizations do not have any quota limit. They can file the petition whenever they want. Please correct me if I am wrong.
more...
oliTwist
01-23 11:59 AM
These view points are different and relavant depending on the places we are living. What is right in rural Texas is not same with that in bay area.
If Slumdog and his ilk is happy with their quality of life! Let them be. Just as xycgc mentioned, dont ever default and leave the burden to the rest of the citizens.
My friend used to wax this quote
"There is no glory greater than the glory of illusion"
:)
In a way, we are all doomed, by owning or renting the house, with the impending tax increases because of carelessness of a few.
If Slumdog and his ilk is happy with their quality of life! Let them be. Just as xycgc mentioned, dont ever default and leave the burden to the rest of the citizens.
My friend used to wax this quote
"There is no glory greater than the glory of illusion"
:)
In a way, we are all doomed, by owning or renting the house, with the impending tax increases because of carelessness of a few.
2010 Footballers#39; Wives Chardonnay
GCwaitforever
06-12 10:18 AM
The worst injustice USCIS committed was setting up Backlog Elimination Centers and letting an incompetent contractor handle the cases slowly. Elaine Chao must be fired for incompetence and indifference just like Brown was fired for Katrina bungling.
more...
smuggymba
05-11 10:11 AM
What nonsense is this.
Isn't this supposed to be a public forum that people can join and share updates. There is no disclaimer that one needs to donate to participate in discussions on this forum.
If donations are mandatory - this would have been a paid only website and access to all should have been restricted. I bet the participation and visibility of a useful site like this would be detrimental in this case.
I said contribution, not donation. Money is not the only way to contribute.
last week I spent 4 dollars in sending letters abt EB1 fraud - I did not spend much money but contributed; that's what i'm looking for.
Isn't this supposed to be a public forum that people can join and share updates. There is no disclaimer that one needs to donate to participate in discussions on this forum.
If donations are mandatory - this would have been a paid only website and access to all should have been restricted. I bet the participation and visibility of a useful site like this would be detrimental in this case.
I said contribution, not donation. Money is not the only way to contribute.
last week I spent 4 dollars in sending letters abt EB1 fraud - I did not spend much money but contributed; that's what i'm looking for.
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buddyinsd
08-03 12:49 AM
Thanx. But I'm sure USCIS dozn't work based on ur gut feeling.
Do not get too excited. If we are still in current in the Sep 2010 bulletin, then some reason for hope.
As of now, I only expect < 5% people to get approved this month.
If we are still current for Sep 2010 bulletin, then expect around 35 % to get through.
If we still stay current until the end of the year, expect ~ 80 % to get through.
How did I get the numbers ? My gut feeling.
Do not get too excited. If we are still in current in the Sep 2010 bulletin, then some reason for hope.
As of now, I only expect < 5% people to get approved this month.
If we are still current for Sep 2010 bulletin, then expect around 35 % to get through.
If we still stay current until the end of the year, expect ~ 80 % to get through.
How did I get the numbers ? My gut feeling.
more...
boreal
01-20 10:34 PM
Total people that have signed up till now is : 154
We have a lot of ground to cover and only 154 members have shown commitment.
The whole retrogression is very depressing if you were to look at numbers and predictions based on the numbers. This is the reason we need to work harder and contribute our time and money for this effort. If we cannot do it this year, then we can easily forget getting a greencard for the next 2 years and more. There will be no immigration bill next year due to presidential election.
This is all the more reason for us to go all out and get the immigration bill passed this year itself. We need all members to help in this effort. We have a strong membership of around 8500 members we can count on for support. However it is sad that only 154 members have thus far contributed in the past 1 week despite all the effort to raise funds. IV is prepared to go all out and get the work done, the question is ARE YOU?
I think we are not reaching all the ppl that we can as of yet. If we can setup booths in front of Indian Community centers in various cities, post flyers at Indian grocery stores etc, we would be able to reach a much wider audience. I think we might be reaching the maximum number of ppl that would contribute who are browsing this web site. No amount of requests would get non-contributers to contribute. So, probably the efforts should be concentrated on getting newer members from outside...
We have a lot of ground to cover and only 154 members have shown commitment.
The whole retrogression is very depressing if you were to look at numbers and predictions based on the numbers. This is the reason we need to work harder and contribute our time and money for this effort. If we cannot do it this year, then we can easily forget getting a greencard for the next 2 years and more. There will be no immigration bill next year due to presidential election.
This is all the more reason for us to go all out and get the immigration bill passed this year itself. We need all members to help in this effort. We have a strong membership of around 8500 members we can count on for support. However it is sad that only 154 members have thus far contributed in the past 1 week despite all the effort to raise funds. IV is prepared to go all out and get the work done, the question is ARE YOU?
I think we are not reaching all the ppl that we can as of yet. If we can setup booths in front of Indian Community centers in various cities, post flyers at Indian grocery stores etc, we would be able to reach a much wider audience. I think we might be reaching the maximum number of ppl that would contribute who are browsing this web site. No amount of requests would get non-contributers to contribute. So, probably the efforts should be concentrated on getting newer members from outside...
hot The footballers#39; wives still
lambu2
09-04 10:17 AM
When I called USCIS by POJ method they said it is infront of an officer, Is it a satandard answer for every one?
more...
house Mark Hughes#39;s £5m #39;Footballers
yabadaba
10-12 11:22 AM
RandyK, Yabadaba, EkAuraaya,
Sorry guys I was busy in other forums all these days. Today somehow I visited this forum and found your comments.
Now coming to the point it is very hard for me to put stats from 1999 to till today as a "proof" here but I will try to summarized in terms of events. And generally I will keep my predictions tagged to INDIA only because I have not studied or analyzed other categories greatly.
1) Till 2000 second quarter Labor approval in old system was really fast.
People used to have approved labor in one and half months in states like
california. If you arrived in USA in year 2005 or your GC is filed in 2005 or
thereafter you would not understand why I am writing this but ask the
importance about this sentence to the people who filed GC between 2001
and 2005.RIR was kind of recent concept and zillions of oppertunists were
taking advantage of that and still system was not broken. Categories were
not mattered much like today as for both catgories avg GC time was 2 to 3 years from start to end.
2) Here comes famous year 2001 - USCIS came up with AC21 and
simultaneously RIR catgory was starting having problems as those zillions
in step 1 already started clogging "RIR" and most of them were under EB2
USCIS (Then INS) started denial or tightened screws on RIR filing. Lawyers
started to force non-rir and preferably EB3 only category. From this point
onward category started to be mattered much and that thing is still going
on today. An dyet I have not talked about the mess and pile AC21
created with tons of bogus filings. EB2 clogging already became visible due
to RIR based filings... Lawyers were forcing EB3 and non-RIR filing and
couple ing with bogus filing EB3 Queue instantly became monsterous
(Within 6 months, or by the end of 2001) . Another factor is H1b Visa limit
made 195000 from 65000
3) RIR clogging mentioned in step 2 could become controllable so new filing
again get diverted towards EB2 with the knowledge of huge piled up filing
in Eb3. By year 2002 mid USCIS start experiencing "Adminsitrative
problems" and "huge work load and insufficient staff" and hence slow
approvals for labor. Simultaneously economy bubble bursted. Many
legitimate files became garbage as people were laid off left and right. For
survival in USA those laid off people join the queues of consulting
companies and multiple filings started to become visible.
4) Year 2003 - EB2 faced little retrogression briefly for 4-5 months and
second trend of RIR denials and second trend of forcing EB3- NON RIR
filing. EB3 faced brief retrogression for 2 months. Year 2003 finished with 2
Huge lines. Eb2 and Eb3. EB2 was predominantly RIR filings.. Screaming
already started and it was about to become like July fiasco at the first
quarter of year 2004. Because logically RIR was supposed to be faster
processing and it was serving its own purpose. Somehow USCIS realized
that and in all categories Eb2 started to be processed faster and Eb3 is
blocked. (Hey USCIS had 140000 visas only per year even at that time).
So end effect at the end of year 2004 the infamous block of EB3 got
implemented successfully and EB2 was running like "milkha singh".
5) By the year 2005 first quarter many people had to still wait although they
observed that they are in EB3 trap as economy was still bad. These group
slowly started to jump the fence. By the end of this process of jumping the
fence to EB2 accelerated and lasted till Year 2006. PERM was introduced.
Backlog Centers were introduced. For the whole 2 years (2005, 2006 and
last quarter of 2004) EB3 was blocked and EB2 was given preference.
By the end of 2006 most stuck in EB2 since 2001 were released and got
their GC. Now EB3 could start flowing.
6) You already know 2007 events.
7) Bottomline now EB3 will move upwards till 2005 mid with first priority and EB
2 will also brought till 2005 mid but this will be done by moving Eb3 first as
it is already way behind.
8) Once both EB2 and EB3 reches 2005 mid bench mark Eb2 will again
become faster with comparision to EB3.
what you say makes no sense absolutely
Sorry guys I was busy in other forums all these days. Today somehow I visited this forum and found your comments.
Now coming to the point it is very hard for me to put stats from 1999 to till today as a "proof" here but I will try to summarized in terms of events. And generally I will keep my predictions tagged to INDIA only because I have not studied or analyzed other categories greatly.
1) Till 2000 second quarter Labor approval in old system was really fast.
People used to have approved labor in one and half months in states like
california. If you arrived in USA in year 2005 or your GC is filed in 2005 or
thereafter you would not understand why I am writing this but ask the
importance about this sentence to the people who filed GC between 2001
and 2005.RIR was kind of recent concept and zillions of oppertunists were
taking advantage of that and still system was not broken. Categories were
not mattered much like today as for both catgories avg GC time was 2 to 3 years from start to end.
2) Here comes famous year 2001 - USCIS came up with AC21 and
simultaneously RIR catgory was starting having problems as those zillions
in step 1 already started clogging "RIR" and most of them were under EB2
USCIS (Then INS) started denial or tightened screws on RIR filing. Lawyers
started to force non-rir and preferably EB3 only category. From this point
onward category started to be mattered much and that thing is still going
on today. An dyet I have not talked about the mess and pile AC21
created with tons of bogus filings. EB2 clogging already became visible due
to RIR based filings... Lawyers were forcing EB3 and non-RIR filing and
couple ing with bogus filing EB3 Queue instantly became monsterous
(Within 6 months, or by the end of 2001) . Another factor is H1b Visa limit
made 195000 from 65000
3) RIR clogging mentioned in step 2 could become controllable so new filing
again get diverted towards EB2 with the knowledge of huge piled up filing
in Eb3. By year 2002 mid USCIS start experiencing "Adminsitrative
problems" and "huge work load and insufficient staff" and hence slow
approvals for labor. Simultaneously economy bubble bursted. Many
legitimate files became garbage as people were laid off left and right. For
survival in USA those laid off people join the queues of consulting
companies and multiple filings started to become visible.
4) Year 2003 - EB2 faced little retrogression briefly for 4-5 months and
second trend of RIR denials and second trend of forcing EB3- NON RIR
filing. EB3 faced brief retrogression for 2 months. Year 2003 finished with 2
Huge lines. Eb2 and Eb3. EB2 was predominantly RIR filings.. Screaming
already started and it was about to become like July fiasco at the first
quarter of year 2004. Because logically RIR was supposed to be faster
processing and it was serving its own purpose. Somehow USCIS realized
that and in all categories Eb2 started to be processed faster and Eb3 is
blocked. (Hey USCIS had 140000 visas only per year even at that time).
So end effect at the end of year 2004 the infamous block of EB3 got
implemented successfully and EB2 was running like "milkha singh".
5) By the year 2005 first quarter many people had to still wait although they
observed that they are in EB3 trap as economy was still bad. These group
slowly started to jump the fence. By the end of this process of jumping the
fence to EB2 accelerated and lasted till Year 2006. PERM was introduced.
Backlog Centers were introduced. For the whole 2 years (2005, 2006 and
last quarter of 2004) EB3 was blocked and EB2 was given preference.
By the end of 2006 most stuck in EB2 since 2001 were released and got
their GC. Now EB3 could start flowing.
6) You already know 2007 events.
7) Bottomline now EB3 will move upwards till 2005 mid with first priority and EB
2 will also brought till 2005 mid but this will be done by moving Eb3 first as
it is already way behind.
8) Once both EB2 and EB3 reches 2005 mid bench mark Eb2 will again
become faster with comparision to EB3.
what you say makes no sense absolutely
tattoo Footballers wives are just as
immi2006
06-17 06:05 PM
The GOVT should state that those who apply for H1 should make it mandatory for the employees to be in US within 30 - 45 days of obtaining US Visas and be present in US on employment in continous increments of 1 year. And they need to show pay stubs continously.
- Then we can easily filter out WIPRO, Infosys, Consulting company from misusing. For example Wipro will apply 5000 H1s and then send people when they eventually get a project, out of 5000, may be 1000 may show up in 6 months. So In this case 4000 H1s can get invalid. Indian companies find it sending people overseas is expensive business and would enjoy offshoring projects. If the govt makes this rule, consulting companues will be forced to start paying H1 folks from Day 1, no bench period, plus "Candidates need to show up in person immdlty in US". We kill 2 birds with 1 stone. 1, dummy H1s will not be applied, 2, if they approve H1s then they have to send engineers immdlty for which they may not be really ready, since they only anticipate projects and may not need so many H1s right away !...
THis will be a sure shot solution.
- Then we can easily filter out WIPRO, Infosys, Consulting company from misusing. For example Wipro will apply 5000 H1s and then send people when they eventually get a project, out of 5000, may be 1000 may show up in 6 months. So In this case 4000 H1s can get invalid. Indian companies find it sending people overseas is expensive business and would enjoy offshoring projects. If the govt makes this rule, consulting companues will be forced to start paying H1 folks from Day 1, no bench period, plus "Candidates need to show up in person immdlty in US". We kill 2 birds with 1 stone. 1, dummy H1s will not be applied, 2, if they approve H1s then they have to send engineers immdlty for which they may not be really ready, since they only anticipate projects and may not need so many H1s right away !...
THis will be a sure shot solution.
more...
pictures dragging, quot;Footballers#39; Wivesquot;
GCard_Dream
06-29 12:20 PM
Where do you see that? In his alert today, he only mentioned about the need to get the medical done asap. I don't see any retraction there. Am I missing something here?
Immigration law has retracted the advisory about the possibility of USCIS stopping acceptance of I-485s
Immigration law has retracted the advisory about the possibility of USCIS stopping acceptance of I-485s
dresses four, quot;Footballers#39; Wivesquot;
transpass
08-03 09:22 AM
congrats transpass...
Thanks a bunch...
Thanks a bunch...
more...
makeup shared their first kiss on
amsgc
01-13 09:46 PM
I don't think you need to worry about that anymore.
We can create a small area within IV forums for people to share knowledge on various non immigration subjects. What do you think?
We can create a small area within IV forums for people to share knowledge on various non immigration subjects. What do you think?
girlfriend show of FOOTBALLERS WIVES,
indygc
05-04 08:55 AM
Congrats!! Which service center and when did you receive the email?
Finally, after a long wait for over 5 years, I am greened.
My PD is 14th June 2006
Finally, after a long wait for over 5 years, I am greened.
My PD is 14th June 2006
hairstyles three footballers#39; wives
Devils_Advocate
04-08 03:28 PM
Eb-3 R.I.P
StuckInTheMuck
07-30 09:51 AM
Same for me too!!! i got second e-mail today also. I got another e-mail on july 14th with same content. My EAD expires in 15 days and i am on EAD. I don't know What the hell is going on. I e-filed on May 8th.
Hope this does not push your place at the print queue all the way back.
Hope this does not push your place at the print queue all the way back.
rmdsouza
06-18 10:53 AM
Please check this article on Social Security...
According to the Tax Ofi
http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/apr/17us2.htm
Taxes, but No Social Security for Indian H1-B Visa Holders
Aseem Chhabra
A few years ago Ajay Sehgal (not his real name), a young Indian high tech worker based in Connecticut, received a letter from the Social Security Administration.
The letter stated that through the six years that Sehgal lived and worked in the United States -- first on an H-1B visa and later while his greencard application was pending -- he had contributed approximately $50,000 in social security taxes.
Since he was unsure of whether his greencard petition would be approved, Sehgal thought he could cash in the $50,000 and return to India. So he approached his local social security office.
"It is my money after all," Sehgal said recently. "If they will not allow me to live in this country, if I cannot retire in this country, then they should allow me to take my money and return to India. Right?"
Wrong, said the local social security office. He was told that foreign employees (including those on H-1B visas) who may have worked in the America for a few years could claim social security benefits upon retirement, but this depends on the country of their origin.
In fact, Sehgal later learned, as an Indian citizen on a temporary visa such as H-1B, he could not receive any social security retirement benefits -- even though he had legally paid his social security taxes.
"An Indian national on an H-1B visa is here for a period of six years," said Herb Loring, a social insurance program specialist with the SSA office in New York City. "And this person would get nothing. That is the law."
"But if this person came back and worked for four more years, under whatever status, and fulfilled the '40-quarters' exception rule, then this person could receive social security retirement benefits," Loring added. "Basically they cannot collect their money if they are an Indian national, unless they meet the exception."
The '40-quarter' exception rule, Loring explained, means that this person should have worked in the United States for at least 10 years. He added that this exception rule applies to citizens of over 30 countries who may have been employed in America for part of their career. The list of countries includes India, China, Afghanistan, Thailand, Kenya, Tunisia and Bangladesh, he said.
Loring added that workers from several Western European countries and Canada can claim social security benefits even if they worked in the United States for less than 10 years. The reason he said is the United States has treaties of reciprocity with these countries.
"The reciprocity rule in the treaties means that if a US citizen went to this other country and worked there for a few years under that country's retirement system, then the US citizen could also collect retirement benefits from that country," Loring said.
In addition, the United States also has 'totalization agreements' with some countries, such as the United Kingdom, under which US nationals can receive retirement benefits based on their combined work history at home and in the other country.
But America has not signed any such treaty with India, Loring said. He suggested that the reason could be that India does not have a national retirement system similar to the United States and many other Western nations.
"I cannot comment on the question of fairness or unfairness," Loring said. "This is law in the United States."
But for workers like Ajay Sehgal the laws reek of discrimination, especially since the largest contingent of H-1B visa workers in the United States are from India and China.
"I call this daylight robbery," Sehgal fumed. "This rule has to be changed."
"Giving us a greencard or not giving us a greencard is your right. I fully appreciate it. But why do you rob us of our social security? If you are a fair country, either give us the greencard or refund the social security."
According to the Tax Ofi
http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/apr/17us2.htm
Taxes, but No Social Security for Indian H1-B Visa Holders
Aseem Chhabra
A few years ago Ajay Sehgal (not his real name), a young Indian high tech worker based in Connecticut, received a letter from the Social Security Administration.
The letter stated that through the six years that Sehgal lived and worked in the United States -- first on an H-1B visa and later while his greencard application was pending -- he had contributed approximately $50,000 in social security taxes.
Since he was unsure of whether his greencard petition would be approved, Sehgal thought he could cash in the $50,000 and return to India. So he approached his local social security office.
"It is my money after all," Sehgal said recently. "If they will not allow me to live in this country, if I cannot retire in this country, then they should allow me to take my money and return to India. Right?"
Wrong, said the local social security office. He was told that foreign employees (including those on H-1B visas) who may have worked in the America for a few years could claim social security benefits upon retirement, but this depends on the country of their origin.
In fact, Sehgal later learned, as an Indian citizen on a temporary visa such as H-1B, he could not receive any social security retirement benefits -- even though he had legally paid his social security taxes.
"An Indian national on an H-1B visa is here for a period of six years," said Herb Loring, a social insurance program specialist with the SSA office in New York City. "And this person would get nothing. That is the law."
"But if this person came back and worked for four more years, under whatever status, and fulfilled the '40-quarters' exception rule, then this person could receive social security retirement benefits," Loring added. "Basically they cannot collect their money if they are an Indian national, unless they meet the exception."
The '40-quarter' exception rule, Loring explained, means that this person should have worked in the United States for at least 10 years. He added that this exception rule applies to citizens of over 30 countries who may have been employed in America for part of their career. The list of countries includes India, China, Afghanistan, Thailand, Kenya, Tunisia and Bangladesh, he said.
Loring added that workers from several Western European countries and Canada can claim social security benefits even if they worked in the United States for less than 10 years. The reason he said is the United States has treaties of reciprocity with these countries.
"The reciprocity rule in the treaties means that if a US citizen went to this other country and worked there for a few years under that country's retirement system, then the US citizen could also collect retirement benefits from that country," Loring said.
In addition, the United States also has 'totalization agreements' with some countries, such as the United Kingdom, under which US nationals can receive retirement benefits based on their combined work history at home and in the other country.
But America has not signed any such treaty with India, Loring said. He suggested that the reason could be that India does not have a national retirement system similar to the United States and many other Western nations.
"I cannot comment on the question of fairness or unfairness," Loring said. "This is law in the United States."
But for workers like Ajay Sehgal the laws reek of discrimination, especially since the largest contingent of H-1B visa workers in the United States are from India and China.
"I call this daylight robbery," Sehgal fumed. "This rule has to be changed."
"Giving us a greencard or not giving us a greencard is your right. I fully appreciate it. But why do you rob us of our social security? If you are a fair country, either give us the greencard or refund the social security."