Bridge Amendment added to Labor HHS! 10/23/07
We crossed an enormous hurdle tonight when the Senate formally passed and added our bridge amendment to the Labor HHS appropriations bill!
The amendment calls for 61,000 visas for Schedule A occupations and their immediate family members. Employers will need to pay a Training Fee of $1,500 for each nurse immigrant. Certain healthcare facilities can have the fee waived. There is also a provision that calls for nurses to attest that they don’t owe their native country any financial obligations. This is fantastic news and the huge step in the process.
The Senate also passed an increase to the H1 Training fee, which was offered by Sen. Grassley. New training fee= $3,500!
For the nurse amendment, we still have to survive the conference, the likely veto, and re-conference. The House and Senate will formally begin their Conference on Wednesday and Thursday. Senators have been informally conferencing for about a month.
We need everyone to send thank yous to the Senators that they have been working on — and remind them that it is critical that the Senators fight to make sure that the Nurse Amendment survives Conference. The biggest risk is probably that some Congressmen will not like the $3500 Grassley H1 tax. If that happens Grassley may fight to take out all immigration amendments — including our Nurse amendment.
Once we survive Conference, we’ll worry about the President’s veto threat….
UPDATE: The training fee is remaining $1,500, but there is a new H-1 fee of $3,500. There are now these fees for H-1 cases:
- $320 regular filing fee
- $500 security fee
- $1500 H-1 training fee
- $3500 supplemental fee
- $1000 premium processing fee (if necessary)
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100 Responses to this article
thank you!
I must tell you a big Thankyou
Which of the 2 Bridge Amendments passed – can you plz clarify 3442/3404
Still lot of hurdles! Let’s pray together more strongly!
“For the nurse amendment, we still have to survive the conference, the likely veto, and re-conference. The House and Senate will formally begin their Conference on Wednesday and Thursday. Senators have been informally conferencing for about a month.
We need everyone to send thank yous to the Senators that they have been working on — and remind them that it is critical that the Senators fight to make sure that the Nurse Amendment survives Conference. The biggest risk is probably that some Congressmen will not like the $3500 Grassley H1 tax. If that happens Grassley may fight to take out all immigration amendments — including our Nurse amendment.
Once we survive Conference, we’ll worry about the President’s veto threat….”
It is 3404. 3442 was not even considered. I greatly appreciate HLG for their efforts in making this happen. Hats off!
Thank you so much!
WE NEED TO PRAY STRONGLY THAT THE RETROGRESSION WILL BE OVER SOON! WE NEED TO HOL ON TO GOD’S PROMISES. HE WANTS THE BEST FOR US AND IN DUE TIME HE WILL GIVE US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS. KEEP ON PRAYING AND TRUSTING HIM!
hope this amendment survives all the hurdles. good luck to us guys! and thank you HLG!
It was 3404. Keep in mind that Sen. Durbin added a “second amendment” which probably isn’t up on any of the government reporting sites yet.
Trust me when I say that the Durbin language (1500 training fee; nurses attest that they don’t owe funds to their native country) is part of the amendment.
Let’s pray.
What should we do now? Only wait or we should send emails to these senators?
Could anyone give us their email addresses? So we might say thank you to them directly.
God bless us.
Thanks…God is great!!!
Thanks! God is great!
All praise and glory is due to God the greatest!
How can we classify whether we are part of Schedule A Group? Are those who are in Schedule A Group who are under pocket 3 and their documents are already completed and forwarded to the Consulate office for interview but did not get a visa because it is not yet available?
if everything went well, when will this be a law? and when will visas be available?
HLG,
1) DOES THIS AMENDMENT HELP NURSES ALREADY IN THE LINE ?
2) DO THE NURSES IN LINE HAVE TO PAY $1500 TOO?
3) CAN YOU PLS CLARIFY THE ATTESTATION PART?
THANKS.
Glory to the God..!! Thank you very much HLG…You are really doing well..!!
Pls, everybody say a big thank to God when ever you pray…and, again, keep on pray untill we see real thing..
Thank you, St Jude for hearing our prayer..
Rgds
to K:
this time is too early to talk about your questions.
Two doors need to pass through.
President has threaten veto this bill.
Dear HLG;
I have one question.
Will the training fee be applicable to cases wherein the nurse is already in the US and the visas are for the family derivatives? Isn’t it that family derivatives of Sched As are also under Sched A visa category?
Thank you HLG!
To mcryl,k,and bolog,
Excuse me please, but as reflash said, it is too early to talk about those questions and it might not make sense at this stage.
If the bill could be passed through, all of things are useless. We don’t have choices sometimes, unless to give up going to USA.
God bless everyone.
we all should pray together and contact senators to tell thanks and for further support in conference committee.Everything is possible for God
lets pray together that the nurse amendment survives the confeference.thanks for the senators
Dear HLG,
This is a great day with greatest news. Million thanks to HLG. We understand the hurdles and enormous efforts of HLG behind this amendment. Once again million thanks for HLG for making this possible.The following comments on this amendment from another immigration lobby group will help us to understand the things better.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14745&page=10
paskal
Super Moderator
The immigration environment is not good- and I’m obviously understating things. the Nurses have managed quite a feat- if it survives and it has taken them long years of lobbying from a very powerful hospitals lobby and likely significant political and financial capital to get this. At this point we can only wait and see if it survives. The unanimous consent tells us that a significant backroom deal was struck. There is a small window here though…immigration is now on the table. the Senate initiated it, and hopefully the house will be less hesitant to introduce some relief
logiclife
Administrator
The nurses lobby has achieved something of a miracle here. This amendment was a non-germane amendment. Meaning, a immigration amendment that got hitched with Labor HHS appropriations bill. It had to have unanimous consent. All it take to break the unanimous consent is one member’s dissent. Last year, when we were inches away from Sen. Cornyn getting a provision in December, he could not get unanimous consent because of our dear senator from Alabama. So I am guess that even he has been roped in by the nurses.
The Hospitals have proven their clout.
Thank God for the answered prayer and thank HLG.God is always faithful in His promise. Let’s us continue to pray and not faint.There are still giants ahead, but our God is bigger than these.
.
Dear HLG,
Since President Bush threatened to veto the bill, is it not a good idea to have the same amendment offered in other likely sucessfull bills in comming days.
Hope HLG can influence the Senators again to offer the same kind of legislation in the forthcomming bills and make sure that the retrogression ends at any cost.
.
Thank you so much!
Great Great Great HLG. Thanks for all your efforts. Hope and wish other hurdles also we will be able to get through.
HATS OFF TO HLG
Thanks HLG once again
To HLG,
You have all my gratitude. Thank you very much.
kudos to HLG for accomplishing something which seemed almost impossible.
To xl- thanks a lot for clearing my doubt.
does anybody know how many months were visas available after the 50000 visas were issued last time?
Dear HLG
Its your great effort, tones of hearty thanks go to you all.
Hope it will survive in the house conference and will be signed by Bush very soon ,then we will see ” C” in schedule “A” EB-3 NVC monthly visa buletine for December 2007and will remain the same (Mean “C”) at least till visa buletine of December 2008 AD.Last time(50,000) it remained current for about 16 months.
Note that the bill still has some key hurdles including making it out of a House-Senate conference committee and past a presidential veto. But passage on the Senate floor was considered the biggest obstacle.
It’s tough to predict how long 61,000 will last, but if the 50,000′s use is an indicator, we’ll be at this again in about 18 months or so.
From greg siskind
I am wondering why a pro-immigration president would veto this beautiful bill? I am optimistic this will pass as a law. but of course, let’s keep praying. Let’s hope its merits will make it pass all the hurdles and that politics will be set aside for the time being. Thanks for the efforts of everyone!
hai i am new to this blog. PLEASE FOR GODSAKE CAN YOU CLARIFY WITH REGARD TO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS. WHAT IS OUR SITUATION WITH REGARD TO SCHEDULE A AND GREENCARDS. ARE THEY GOING TO REMOVE US FROM THIS NEW BILL. THE REASON I AM ASKING IS EVERYONE HERE IS TALKING ABOUT NURSES ONLY. NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT US–ARE WE GONE IN THE DRAIN
To Trueindian,
The amendment is for Schedule A occupations and PTs are a part of it.
thank you abc,
we are based on student visas in US and we are still stuck with the Greencard retrogression as H1-B has become a lottery. moreover we are fully qualified and licensed in US AS PHYSICAL THERAPISTS.
If president veto this Bill, then then they need 2/3 majority to override presidents desicion. Will they get it? If not, to satisfy president, they will remove some attachments from HR3043. Will they consider to remove SA3404? Pls advice HLG..
Again, Thank you Jesus and St Jude..
BNI
thanks a lot for some good news
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
THANK YOU HLG!!!
WELL. GOD IS REALLY GOOD AS I KEEP ON TELLING TO EVERYONE..
GOD INDEED KNOWS WHAT OUR HEARTS DESIRE SO WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE HOPE AND ALWAYS THINK OF ALL THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS AND BLESSINGS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING EVERYDAY…
LET US CONTINUE PRAYING AND MORE POWER “H L G”
It must have been good news to all…
I was watching CNN last night with Lou Dobbs, the Dream Act was being scrutinized so much. Thanks GOD our bill is not a part of it.
Anyways, a BIG THANK YOU for all the effort, to the congressmen who work out on this, and to bloggers, who are continuously praying for the betterment of all the healthcare professionals that will soon benefitting Schedule A.
Sen. Durbin’s provision is not available yet. But here is how he talked about it yesterday.
“We need to devote resources to training and hiring new nursing faculty and expanding clinical space for nursing schools so they can accept more qualified students. These investments will exponentially increase the number of trained American nurses. The Schumer-Hutchison amendment’s approach to fixing our nursing shortage is to allow up to 61,000 foreign nurses to enter the country as green card holders. Importing these thousands of foreign nurses is only a band-aid solution to our projected nursing shortage of 1 million. But it is also a step that deflates any momentum towards finding real solutions for our domestic nursing crisis. We have done these nursing visa recaptures before. In fact, 2 years ago in 2005, the President signed into law a recapture of 50,000 nursing visas as part of that year’s Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. Did this 2005 visa recapture stop the nursing shortage? Of course not. It was a band-aid solution. But it did undermine momentum for efforts to undertake the real reform that we know we need. And so here we are again, 2 years later, with hospitals desperate for more nurses.
My second degree amendment is a reasonable compromise that will help both the hospitals in the short term and the domestic nursing supply in the long term. My amendment would require employers who successfully petition for a recaptured nursing green card to pay a $1,500 fee.
This fee would be used to fund a grant program that would provide grants to U.S. nursing schools for hiring nurse faculty, expanding training capacity, and recruiting more students. $1,500 is not a large fee–hospitals often spend many times that amount for the services of foreign nurse recruiting companies. However, under my amendment, hospitals that are in dire financial straits, like Health Professional Shortage Area facilities and Louisiana hospitals still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, would receive a waiver from paying this fee. Neither does my amendment also impose the fee on the dependents of any nurses who receive a recaptured green card.
Again, the Durbin 2nd degree amendment is a reasonable compromise that will help both the hospitals in the short term and the domestic nursing supply in the long term. It will allow for the additional nursing green cards to address immediate needs, but it will also take steps that will put the American nursing profession on a path to sustainability. My amendment also contains two measured steps to enhance global healthcare cooperation and to safeguard against a crippling brain drain of foreign healthcare workers from countries where they are critically needed. The first provision would allow a healthcare worker who is a legal permanent resident in the U.S. to temporarily provide healthcare services in a country that is underdeveloped or that has suffered a disaster or public health emergency–like the 2004 tsunami–without jeopardizing his or her immigration status in the U.S. The second provision would require a foreigner who is petitioning to work in the U.S. as a health care worker to attest that he or she has satisfied any outstanding commitment to his or her home country under which the foreigner received money for medical training in return for a commitment to work in that country for a period of years. The goal of this second provision is to ensure that foreign countries do not invest money in healthcare workers who then renege on commitments to work in their country without satisfying their commitment in some way, such as by a new voluntary agreement. There is a waiver available in case of coercion by the home country government. My amendment is strongly supported by the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nursing Colleges.
I urge my colleagues to support the domestic nursing profession and support global healthcare cooperation. I urge passage of my amendment. “
Sen. Durbin’proposals are ridiculous. I am a qualified physical therapist in india and i had to work for 2 years for free to get experience and i was not paid a penny. i had to work a part-time job –not relating to my profession and support myself and my parents. i then moved to BRITAIN hoping to get a job–when i am fully licensed here in BRITAIN–there are no jobs–4000 physical therapists are unemployed. i then move to US on a student visa to do MASTERS and eventually get a job. now he proposes that i have to prove that i am no way indebted to my country–india–its ridiculous. He also mentions that there is a severe shortage of nurses and the GREENCARDS in 2005 issued around 50000 did not solve the problem–oh yes–it wont because–to fill the vast 10 million shortage of nursing vacancies–it will take years –nearly 10-15 years if they want to generate it from american citizens–not all are interested to join nursing–it is lucrative for foreign people from poor countries not for citizens of highly developed country. They just to make it so complicated with ridiculous imaginable provisions that it is highly impossible to move into USA. Also he says the american nursing association and american association of nursing colleges support his view–oh definitely–they will support him because they want to keep a severe shortage of people so that they are high in demand
LORD, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME.. GET WHAT I WANT THIS TIME.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
bcsacacfa, i 2nd emotion ^^,
BELIEVE IN ALMIGHTY WHO CREATED US WITH OUT ANY DOUBTS,HE KNOWS WHAT WE WANT AND WILL PROVIDE IT AT THE RIGHT TIME.
THIS BILL IS NOTHING BIG MATTER IN THE EYES OF GOD BECAUSE HE IS THE RULER OF THE UNIVERSE
PREEJA
the Durbin’s (SA 3449) amendment to the schumer’s (SA 3404) amendment is as follow (status) :
“S.AMDT.3449
Amends: H.R.3043 , S.AMDT.3404
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (submitted 10/23/2007) (proposed 10/23/2007)
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
To increase the number of nursing faculty and students in the United States, to encourage global health care cooperation, and for other purposes.
TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S13267-13269
STATUS:
10/23/2007:
Amendment SA 3449 proposed by Senator Harkin for Senator Durbin to Amendment SA 3404.
10/23/2007:
Amendment SA 3449 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. “
the full text is here :
” SA 3449. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3404 proposed by Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. HUTCHISON) to the amendment SA 3325 proposed by Mr. HARKIN (for himself and Mr. SPECTER) to the bill H.R. 3043, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes; as follows:
On page 2 of the amendment, after line 11, insert the following:
Sec. 522. (a) Fee for Recapture of Unused Employment-Based Immigrant Visas.–Section 106(d) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-313; 8 U.S.C. 1153 note), as amended by section 521, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(5) FEE FOR RECAPTURE OF UNUSED EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANT VISAS.–
“(A) IN GENERAL.–The Secretary of Homeland Security shall impose a fee upon each petitioning employer who uses a visa recaptured from fiscal years 1996 and 1997 under this subsection to provide employment for an alien as a professional nurse, provided that–
“(i) such fee shall be in the amount of $1,500 for each such alien nurse (but not for dependents accompanying or following to join who are not professional nurses); and
“(ii) no fee shall be imposed for the use of such visas if the employer demonstrates to the Secretary that–
“(I) the employer is a health care facility that is located in a county or parish that received individual and public assistance pursuant to Major Disaster Declaration number 1603 or 1607; or
“(II) the employer is a health care facility that has been designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area facility by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as defined in section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e).
“(B) FEE COLLECTION.–A fee imposed by the Secretary of Homeland Security pursuant to this paragraph shall be collected by the Secretary as a condition of approval of an application for adjustment of status by the beneficiary of a petition or by the Secretary of State as a condition of issuance of a visa to such beneficiary.”.
(b) Capitation Grants to Increase the Number of Nursing Faculty and Students; Domestic Nursing Enhancement Account.–Part D of title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296p et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“SEC. 832. CAPITATION GRANTS.
“(a) In General.–For the purpose described in subsection (b), the Secretary, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award a grant each fiscal year in an amount determined in accordance with subsection (c) to each eligible school of nursing that submits an application in accordance with this section.
“(b) Purpose.–A funding agreement for a grant under this section is that the eligible school of nursing involved will expend the grant to increase the number of nursing faculty and students at the school, including by hiring new faculty, retaining current faculty, purchasing educational equipment and audiovisual laboratories, enhancing clinical laboratories, repairing and expanding infrastructure, or recruiting students.
“(c) Grant Computation.–
“(1) AMOUNT PER STUDENT.–Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of a grant to an eligible school of nursing under this section for a fiscal year shall be the total of the following:
“(A) $1,800 for each full-time or part-time student who is enrolled at the school in a graduate program in nursing that–
“(i) leads to a master’s degree, a doctoral degree, or an equivalent degree; and
“(ii) prepares individuals to serve as faculty through additional course work in education and ensuring competency in an advanced practice area.
“(B) $1,405 for each full-time or part-time student who–
“(i) is enrolled at the school in a program in nursing leading to a bachelor of science degree, a bachelor of nursing degree, a graduate degree in nursing if such program does not meet the requirements of subparagraph (A), or an equivalent degree; and
“(ii) has not more than 3 years of academic credits remaining in the program.
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“(C) $966 for each full-time or part-time student who is enrolled at the school in a program in nursing leading to an associate degree in nursing or an equivalent degree.
“(2) LIMITATION.–In calculating the amount of a grant to a school under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not make a payment with respect to a particular student–
“(A) for more than 2 fiscal years in the case of a student described in paragraph (1)(A) who is enrolled in a graduate program in nursing leading to a master’s degree or an equivalent degree;
“(B) for more than 4 fiscal years in the case of a student described in paragraph (1)(A) who is enrolled in a graduate program in nursing leading to a doctoral degree or an equivalent degree;
“(C) for more than 3 fiscal years in the case of a student described in paragraph (1)(B); or
“(D) for more than 2 fiscal years in the case of a student described in paragraph (1)(C).
“(d) Eligibility.–In this section, the term `eligible school of nursing’ means a school of nursing that–
“(1) is accredited by a nursing accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education;
“(2) has a passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses of not less than 80 percent for each of the 3 academic years preceding submission of the grant application; and
“(3) has a graduation rate (based on the number of students in a class who graduate relative to, for a baccalaureate program, the number of students who were enrolled in the class at the beginning of junior year or, for an associate degree program, the number of students who were enrolled in the class at the end of the first year) of not less than 80 percent for each of the 3 academic years preceding submission of the grant application.
“(e) Requirements.–The Secretary may award a grant under this section to an eligible school of nursing only if the school gives assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that, for each academic year for which the grant is awarded, the school will comply with the following:
“(1) The school will maintain a passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses of not less than 80 percent.
“(2) The school will maintain a graduation rate (as described in subsection (d)(3)) of not less than 80 percent.
“(3)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the first-year enrollment of full-time nursing students in the school will exceed such enrollment for the preceding academic year by 5 percent or 5 students, whichever is greater.
“(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the first academic year for which a school receives a grant under this section.
“(C) With respect to any academic year, the Secretary may waive application of subparagraph (A) if–
“(i) the physical facilities at the school involved limit the school from enrolling additional students; or
“(ii) the school has increased enrollment in the school (as described in subparagraph (A)) for each of the 2 preceding academic years.
“(4) Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this section, the school will formulate and implement a plan to accomplish at least 2 of the following:
“(A) Establishing or significantly expanding an accelerated baccalaureate degree nursing program designed to graduate new nurses in 12 to 18 months.
“(B) Establishing cooperative intradisciplinary education among schools of nursing with a view toward shared use of technological resources, including information technology.
“(C) Establishing cooperative interdisciplinary training between schools of nursing and schools of allied health, medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, public health, or veterinary medicine, including training for the use of the interdisciplinary team approach to the delivery of health services.
“(D) Integrating core competencies on evidence-based practice, quality improvements, and patient-centered care.
“(E) Increasing admissions, enrollment, and retention of qualified individuals who are financially disadvantaged.
“(F) Increasing enrollment of minority and diverse student populations.
“(G) Increasing enrollment of new graduate baccalaureate nursing students in graduate programs that educate nurse faculty members.
“(H) Developing post-baccalaureate residency programs to prepare nurses for practice in specialty areas where nursing shortages are most severe.
“(I) Increasing integration of geriatric content into the core curriculum.
“(J) Partnering with economically disadvantaged communities to provide nursing education.
“(K) Expanding the ability of nurse managed health centers to provide clinical education training sites to nursing students.
“(5) The school will submit an annual report to the Secretary that includes updated information on the school with respect to student enrollment, student retention, graduation rates, passage rates on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, the number of graduates employed as nursing faculty or nursing care providers within 12 months of graduation, and the number of students who are accepted into graduate programs for further nursing education.
“(6) The school will allow the Secretary to make on-site inspections, and will comply with the Secretary’s requests for information, to determine the extent to which the school is complying with the requirements of this section.
“(f) Reports to Congress.–The Secretary shall evaluate the results of grants under this section and submit to Congress–
“(1) not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, an interim report on such results; and
“(2) not later than September 30, 2010, a final report on such results.
“(g) Application.–An eligible school of nursing seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
“(h) Authorization of Appropriations.–In addition to the amounts in the Domestic Nursing Enhancement Account, established under section 833, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
“SEC. 833. DOMESTIC NURSING ENHANCEMENT ACCOUNT.
“(a) Establishment.–There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account which shall be known as the `Domestic Nursing Enhancement Account.’ Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be deposited as offsetting receipts into the account all fees collected under section 106(d)(5) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-313; 8 U.S.C. 1153 note). Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the depositing of other moneys into the account established under this section.
“(b) Use of Funds.–Amounts collected under section 106(d)(5) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000, and deposited into the account established under subsection (a) shall be used by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out section 832. Such amounts shall be available for obligation only to the extent, and in the amount, provided in advance in appropriations Acts. Such amounts are authorized to remain available until expended.”.
(c) Global Health Care Cooperation.–
(1) IN GENERAL.–Title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317 the following:
“SEC. 317A. TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF ALIENS PROVIDING HEALTH CARE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
“(a) In General.–Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall allow an eligible alien and the spouse or child of such alien to reside in a candidate country during the period that the eligible alien is working as a physician or other health care worker in a candidate country. During such period the eligible alien and such spouse or child shall be considered–
“(1) to be physically present and residing in the United States for purposes of naturalization under section 316(a); and
“(2) to meet the continuous residency requirements under section 316(b).
“(b) Definitions.–In this section:
“(1) CANDIDATE COUNTRY.–The term `candidate country’ means a country that the Secretary of State determines to be–
“(A) eligible for assistance from the International Development Association, in which the per capita income of the country is equal to or less than the historical ceiling of the International Development Association for the applicable fiscal year, as defined by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
“(B) classified as a lower middle income country in the then most recent edition of the World Development Report for Reconstruction and Development published by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and having an income greater than the historical ceiling for International Development Association eligibility for the applicable fiscal year; or
“(C) qualified to be a candidate country due to special circumstances, including natural disasters or public health emergencies.
“(2) ELIGIBLE ALIEN.–The term `eligible alien’ means an alien who–
“(A) has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence; and
“(B) is a physician or other healthcare worker.
“(c) Consultation.–The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with the Secretary of State in carrying out this section.
“(d) Publication.–The Secretary of State shall publish–
“(1) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, a list of candidate countries;
“(2) an updated version of the list required by paragraph (1) not less often than once each year; and
“(3) an amendment to the list required by paragraph (1) at the time any country qualifies as a candidate country due to special circumstances under subsection (b)(1)(C).”.
(2) RULEMAKING.–
(A) REQUIREMENT.–Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promulgate regulations to carry out the amendments made by this subsection.
(B) CONTENT.–The regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall–
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(i) permit an eligible alien (as defined in section 317A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by paragraph (1)) and the spouse or child of the eligible alien to reside in a foreign country to work as a physician or other healthcare worker as described in subsection (a) of such section 317A for not less than a 12-month period and not more than a 24-month period, and shall permit the Secretary to extend such period for an additional period not to exceed 12 months, if the Secretary determines that such country has a continuing need for such a physician or other healthcare worker;
(ii) provide for the issuance of documents by the Secretary to such eligible alien, and such spouse or child, if appropriate, to demonstrate that such eligible alien, and such spouse or child, if appropriate, is authorized to reside in such country under such section 317A; and
(iii) provide for an expedited process through which the Secretary shall review applications for such an eligible alien to reside in a foreign country pursuant to subsection (a) of such section 317A if the Secretary of State determines a country is a candidate country pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(C) of such section 317A.
(3) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.–
(A) DEFINITION.–Section 101(a)(13)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(13)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “except in the case of an eligible alien, or the spouse or child of such alien, who is authorized to be absent from the United States under section 317A,”.
(B) DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS.–Section 211(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1181(b)) is amended by inserting “, including an eligible alien authorized to reside in a foreign country under section 317A and the spouse or child of such eligible alien, if appropriate,” after “101(a)(27)(A),”.
(C) INELIGIBLE ALIENS.–Section 212(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(7)(A)(i)(I)) is amended by inserting “other than an eligible alien authorized to reside in a foreign country under section 317A and the spouse or child of such eligible alien, if appropriate,” after “Act,”.
(D) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.–The table of contents of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 317 the following:
“Sec..317A..Temporary absence of aliens providing health care in developing countries.”.
(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.–There are authorized to be appropriated to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection and the amendments made by this subsection.
(d) Attestation by Health Care Workers.–
(1) ATTESTATION REQUIREMENT.–Section 212(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(E) HEALTH CARE WORKERS WITH OTHER OBLIGATIONS.–
“(i) IN GENERAL.–An alien who seeks to enter the United States for the purpose of performing labor as a physician or other health care worker is inadmissible unless the alien submits to the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State, as appropriate, an attestation that the alien is not seeking to enter the United States for such purpose during any period in which the alien has an outstanding obligation to the government of the alien’s country of origin or the alien’s country of residence.
“(ii) OBLIGATION DEFINED.–In this subparagraph, the term `obligation’ means an obligation incurred as part of a valid, voluntary individual agreement in which the alien received financial assistance to defray the costs of education or training to qualify as a physician or other health care worker in consideration for a commitment to work as a physician or other health care worker in the alien’s country of origin or the alien’s country of residence.
“(iii) WAIVER.–The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive a finding of inadmissibility under clause (i) if the Secretary determines that–
“(I) the obligation was incurred by coercion or other improper means;
“(II) the alien and the government of the country to which the alien has an outstanding obligation have reached a valid, voluntary agreement, pursuant to which the alien’s obligation has been deemed satisfied, or the alien has shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the alien has been unable to reach such an agreement because of coercion or other improper means; or
“(III) the obligation should not be enforced due to other extraordinary circumstances, including undue hardship that would be suffered by the alien in the absence of a waiver.”.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.–
(A) EFFECTIVE DATE.–The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(B) APPLICATION BY THE SECRETARY.–Not later than the effective date described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall begin to carry out subparagraph (E) of section 212(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by paragraph (1), including the requirement for the attestation and the granting of a waiver described in clause (iii) of such subparagraph (E), regardless of whether regulations to implement such subparagraph have been promulgated.
“
I think it is not such a bad amendment as immigration is certainly not a long term solution for nurses and PTs shortage in the US.
However, as you know the wildfire devastating southern california will qualify most of it to waive that fee.
and to answer bcsacacfa who seems very angry about that amendment, it is not the PT or the nurse who has to pay it but the employer.
Now an other important point of the senate amendment 3404 is that part :
“4) PETITIONS.–The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a process for reviewing and acting upon petitions with respect to immigrants described in schedule A not later than 30 days after the date on which a completed petition has been filed.’”
this should save the $1.000 for premium service that, by the way, is no longer available to get the paperwork processed within 15 busyness days instead of the usual months it would normally take.
to HLG:
Why isn’t there a separate bill proposed to have a bridge until the immigration law will be put back on the table?
I think it would be very difficult to the senators, the congressmen and the president altogether to reject such a bill.
sorry, that was a very long post but the amendment to the SA 3404 was a VERY VERY long one
Thanks clement for the information.
Anyway, this is a big step to the dream. Let the president veto things alone, we just celebrate for a while.
To HLG and everybody
In immigration voice,immigrationvoice.org i could see some blogs against nurses even somebody ask for lawsuit against that amendment.I know they cannot do anything on this.I heard if amendment passed in good majority it can cross over president,s veto.Am i right?We all should keep on praying
the amendment is not really bad at all, except that it would be added as a hurdle, yet it forges 3404 to be a better amendment though, employers / foreign nurses, have to pay an additional $1,500 to fund nursing schools in the US. But still even though they fund those schools. There is a little chance that people in america would go into nursing, same with the faculty. You can’t force them to choose their profession, though you can bribe them with benefits. But still it’s for their people / society to decide.
A million thanks to my Lord.He is mighty.He is able.So dear everyone lets believe that the best is going to happen in the days to come.Have blind faith in God and wait to watch the miracles going to come soon.God bless all!
Hi HLG
Good luck for we all.
Guys!! don’t worry about the survial of this/our amendment in conference because very good/sympathetic republicans and potential democrats are in that conference commitee .
Don’t forget Hutchison,Gregg,durbin,Harkin and Reed are there in that conference comitee.
Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Harkin; Inouye; Kohl; Murray; Landrieu; Durbin; Reed; Lautenberg; Byrd; Specter; Cochran; Gregg; Craig; Hutchison; Stevens; Shelby; Domenici.
If all these nurses were in US then they would have been blessing to the injured during wild fire at CA. Does Bush govt. realise this? Our heartful prayers are with those injured. May God open the eyes of govt. and hope the lift the retrogression soon.
.R.3043
Title: Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Obey, David R. [WI-7] (introduced 7/13/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Related Bills: H.RES.547, S.1710
Latest Major Action: 10/23/2007 Resolving differences — Senate actions. Status: Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Harkin; Inouye; Kohl; Murray; Landrieu; Durbin; Reed; Lautenberg; Byrd; Specter; Cochran; Gregg; Craig; Hutchison; Stevens; Shelby; Domenici
Vote Date Issue Question Result Description
00394 24-Oct S. 2205 On the Cloture Motion Rejected Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2205; A bill to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes.
00393 24-Oct PN2 On the Nomination Confirmed Confirmation Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be U.S. Circuit Judge
00392 24-Oct PN2 On the Cloture Motion Agreed to Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be U.S. Circuit Judge
00391 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On Passage of the Bill Passed H.R. 3043 as Amended; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
00390 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Motion Rejected McConnell Motion to Commit H.R. 3043 to the Committee on Appropriations, with Instructions; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
00389 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3440 Agreed to Bingaman Amdt. No. 3440 as Modified; Of a perfecting nature.
00388 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3352 Agreed to Ensign Amdt. No. 3352; To prohibit the use of funds to process claims based on illegal work for purposes of receiving Social Security benefits.
00387 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3342 Agreed to Ensign Amdt. No. 3342; To prohibit the use of funds to administer Social Security benefit payments under a totalization agreement with Mexico.
00386 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3400 Agreed to Cardin Amdt. No. 3400; To provide support to Iraqis and Afghans who arrives in the United States under the Special Immigrant Visa program.
00385 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Motion to Table S.Amdt. 3387 Agreed to Motion To Table DeMint Amdt. 3387; To replace non-competitive earmarks for the AFL-CIO with competitive grants.
00384 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Motion to Table S.Amdt. 3358 Agreed to Motion To Table Coburn Amdt. No. 3358; To require Congress to provide health care for all children in the U.S. before funding special interest pork projects.
00383 23-Oct H.R. 3043 On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3437 Agreed to Enzi Amdt. No. 3437; To prohibit the use of funds to modify certain HIV/AIDS funding formulas
****Still no SA for nurses/PT’s/EB3
I BELIEVE THAT IF THE SENATORS WANT TO SURVIVE IN THEIR POLITICAL CAREER, THEY SHOULLLDDD!!!!
READ THIS
“” BLOG SITE!”"
S.AMDT.3404
Amends: H.R.3043 , S.AMDT.3325
Amendments to this amendment: S.AMDT.3449
Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (submitted 10/19/2007) (proposed 10/23/2007)
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
To increase the domestic supply of nurses and physical therapists, and for other purposes.
TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S13160
STATUS:
10/23/2007:
Amendment SA 3404 proposed by Senator Harkin for Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3325. (consideration: CR S13229-13230; text: CR S13229)
10/23/2007:
Amendment SA 3404 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
COSPONSORS(1):
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] – 10/19/2007
the next threat is the president’s veto….
Detroix,
you are mistaking, people are lining up to go to nursing school in the US. As a matter of fact, my girlfriend living in California wants to go into nursing school and there is a LOTTERY system to get into it because there are so many candidates and so few places.
I even know of one school that has a waiting list of 3 semesters before you can get into the lottery ( can you believe this, a waiting list for a lottery!!!?!!!) The pay has become so good that many many people are motivated to go to nursing
The problem of nursing schools is double: not enough teachers (because the pay is so low compared to real nursing work) and there are not enough places for clinical training in hospitals.
So this amendment will resolve at least partially one problem but certainly not the other.
To Clement:
I have another concern, hopefully not true. A lot of American students are waiting for the enrollment, that is true. However, a high percentage of them are hard to qualify. I took one course before with some of students waiting in line, and I do not believe that most of them can graduate, No math concept, no chemistry idea. They just heard that nurses earn good money. Hopefully the USA educational system will not lower their qualification to graduate only in order to meet their number requirement.
Too many bad stories I heard. Nursing is a job dealing with patients, I do not believe that everyone can fit well with this kind of job.
I do not believe USA citizen themselves can solve it perfectly.
Higher quality nurses and instructor from other country are urgently needed.
http://www.cbpp.org/10-24-07bud.htm
yes i guess maybe thats the problem not enough nursing faculty and hospitals for them to practice, how about after they’ve graduated? do they really choose nursing as their profession? and considering what reflash posted?
Excllent work. Really nice news. Thank you HLG! Good luck to everyone!
LET US ALL THANK THE LORD AND CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THIS AMENDMENT TO SURVIVE THE CONFERENCE.
BY THE WAY, CAN ANYONE TELL ME UNTIL WHEN IS THE SAID CONFERENCE???
Hi sassyf1,
You can check webpage below for it.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3043
The amemdmnet that was approved in Senate can be located here,
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/amendment.xpd?session=110&amdt=s3404
Thank you very much for the info Star Rock. I hope everything fall in its right places so that all of us waiting for this amendment will have the chance we are all looking for.
God bless all of us!!!
When they r going to do it? Anybody please!
Thank you HLG…Kudos!I’m prayin’ hard for God to take care of the rest while you do your part and we must pray…
I thank you all for the efforts, let’s pray together…
Hi Friends,
The Senate is debating and amending the 2008 spending bill this week. Your e-mails and calls to your Senators should be made before Friday when the Senate is expected to vote on final passage of H.R. 3043, although that final vote may slip into a Saturday session or into early next week.
Hopefully, the president will sign the bill, but if he vetoes it, then the House and Senate will attempt to override the president’s veto, which requires a two-thirds vote to make this spending bill law despite the president’s objections. H.R. 3043 will be the first FY 2008 spending bill sent to the White House by the Congress.
Getting more than two-thirds of Senators to vote for the bill will show the president that his veto can be overridden. Hopefully, a two-thirds vote for the bill will change the president’s mind and he will not veto it.
Hai friends
here is some information about the conference.
10/26/2007: List of Senate Conferees – H.R. 3043 Labor-HHS FY 2008 Appropriation Bill
On October 23, 2007, Senate asked for a conference: Senate Conferees are: Messrs. Harkin, Inouye, Kohl, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Landrieu, Messrs. Durbin, Reed, Lautenberg, Byrd, Specter, Cochran, Gregg, Craig, Mrs. Hutchison, Messrs. Stevens, Shelby, and Domenici.
This bill includes EB-3 visa number recapture bill for Schedule A Alliied Healthcare Workers and H-1B Supplemental Fee bill. The former must be strongly supported and the latter must be strongly opposed by the immigrant community.
Those who can contact sennators please act immediately.
Thanks
Hi HLG,
It’s wonderful to know the bridge legislation approval is under process.The hard work undertaken by the senatorsis highly appreciated.I am extending my heartfelt thanks to all those who are involved.A special thanks to our senators.I want to highight one thing.Nothing is too hard for God.God be with you in all your future endeavours.Hope to hear from you soon the signing of the bill by President.
Babu George
Good day HLG…
could you please confirm if S.AMDT.3404 has been approved/agreed in the senate… Thanks and have a nice day..
It will definately clear all its hurdle,be positive and keep praising the Lord
To all my dearest colleagues in the Nursing field and those who are involve in the Bridge legislation I am asking you to please pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
This Novena is made every hour for the nine consecutive hours on the same day.
O JESUS, You have said “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you”, by the intercession of Mary Your Holy Mother, I call on You and beg of You to listen favorably to my request.
(Mention your petition)
O Jesus, You have said,”what ever you ask My Father in My name He will give you”,I humbly and fervently beg from your Heavenly Father in Your name and through the intercession of Your Most Holy Mother Mary to grant me the favor that I am asking.
(mention your petition)
O Jesus, You have said “heaven shall pass away but My words ill never pass away”. Through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother I am most firmly confident that my petition will be granted.
(mention your petition)
My Jesus, Lord of my soul, You promised that Your Divine Heart would be the ocean of mercy for the needy who trust in You. I firmly believe that you can grant to me what I am asking even it would require a miracle to do it. Where should I go knocking at at the door of your heart. “Blessed are they who hope in you”.
O Jesus, I confide to your Heart this intention look at it and do what your heart dictates. Let Your heart act accordingly.
O Jesus, I count on You, I confide in You. I surrender and consecrate myself to You. I feel secure in You.
(Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be)
“SACRED HEART OF JESUS I TRUST IN YOU”
(Repeat 10 time with great fervor)
O Good Jesus, You have said if you wish to please Me, confide in Me. If you wish to please me immensely have an immense trust in me. Increase my confidence in You. Let me put all my trust in you. In You O Lord, I hope let me not be confounded forever. Amen.
May the Lord bless us all!!!
I hate Bush. He is bad boy.
HLG,
I read this in GovTrack.us site…
“After the survival of the bridge legislation in the House and Senate the bill may now proceed to a conference committee of senators and representatives to work out differences in the versions of the bill each chamber approved. The bill then goes to the President before becoming law”.
May I know when will the conference between the senators and representatives take place?
How long will it take before the proposed amendment reach Pres. Bush?
What is the passing chance of the HR 3034?
Correction pls….
What I mean is…. What is the passing chance of 3043?
Thanks!
Novena is not there in the Bible. Jesus never spoke about the Novena in the Bible. He asked us to pray to the Father in his name and pray in the will of God.
My dear friend needs to leave the easy quick fix way of forcing God to do something asthough God is a magician or slave.
I hope you will look into the Bible for Truth. Iam quoting the Bible here and there are many places where Jesus talks about Prayer and how to Pray? I hope you will search and study the Bible just the way you studied your Nursing books. I hope you didnt do your nursing by chanting nursing Novena’s.
John 16:22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
I feel pity about the guy who is arguing about bible at this point.
What is he trying to prove?
Come on, all we got to comment is about Immigration and that is the very purpose of this blog.
If there is nothing to contribute please keep quite.
Thank you Mark.
To the guy who is commenting about the Novena. I am not forcing you to say the novena. And most of all I have no intention of by passing the bible. I hope you just respect what I believe in.
At this point, I think we in this blog have one thing in heart and mind… and that is for God to intervene in our petition for the success of the Bridge legislation.
God bless us all.
10/27/2007: The House Schedule Until January 2008 and Grim Chances of Any Stand-Alone Immigration Legislation Other Than Appropriation Bills Riders
Report indicates the House may remain open through the holiest season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but owing to the limited time and pressing needs for acting on FY 2008 federal department appropriation bills and conference reports, the legislative activities are likely limited to the conference reports for approprriation legislations. It is unclear at this point what other immigration bills will be introduced in the Senate as riders to the remaining federal department appropriation bills, but chances may not be too promising. With reference to the Labor-HHS Appropriation Bill which contains EB-3 number recapture for Schedule A workers and H-1B Supplemental Fee, the House has yet to name conferees, but it is likely that the conference process may be completed before the year is over.
This is from oh law firm website.
Dear Friends,
The Bill HR 3043 has already been passed in senate comprising of the Bridge ammendment. Nothing to worry. It has to survive conference and President’s veto. Now since senators are in favour chances of Bill surviving in conference is more or less certain. Regarding president’s veto, if 2/3 majority is achieved it can survive.We have overcome major hurdle, and these are minor.
Hope and wish good luck
Hi HLG/Anybody else
Please update on outcome of Senate conference comittee;
when will House conference comittee be formed???
Will this bill go toward white house till the end of this October??
Whill Bush VETO on it??
any updates?
HI ANNA,
Can you point out where you find your information? Like what website webpage?
Hi! Herry!!!!!!!
To star rock,
http://www.immigration-law.com or u can just google oh law firm.
To Anna,
My understanding to the comment is that, if no other immigration bills ammended by House, they will allow the current two immigration amendment to pass the conference. If more immigration proposals other than the ones that are currently approved by Senate, are amended to the current appropriations bill, the end result might be they will totally withdraw any immigration related amendment. Just my 2 cents. I might be wrong. Hope the immigration amendment about Sch A visa number will survive the final version of the appropriations bill.
Thanks.
Yes I agree with star rock. i’ve read that at oh law firm site and we have the same view.
i’ve been a reader in this blog for about a year and I salute anu for all his comments .
Good luck to all nurses!!
To star rock,
I think we have more to fear from the Grassley amendment, it is purely a punitive amendment against alien workers. Big business lobby is against this amendment and may lead to some Congressmen taking a stand against it. And as HLG states, if this amendment is taken out our amendment may fall as collateral damage.
10/29/2007: 180 Degree Turn-Around of Senator Cornyn’s Immigration Legislation Strategy: A Frustrating News for EB-Based Immigrant Community
Senator Cornyn from Texas has been perceived as one of the strongest allies for the employment-based immigration legislation in the Hill, albeit his strong opposition to the illegal immigrant relief legislation. The SKIL bill was a hall mark for his support for the employment-based immigration legislation just as the DREAM bill was the hall mark for Senator Durbin from Illinois. Because of his opposition against the illegal alien relief legislation and his needs for support from the conservative constituents base for the upcoming reelection bid, Senator Cornyn lately took the position of opposing comprehensive immigration reform approach and advocating a piecemeal legislation approach. This was evidenced by his failed attempt to attach the SKIL bill to the FY 2008 fedeeral department appropriation bills. However, the news report indicates that he now comes forward with a declaration that he opposes to the pieceemeal legislation approach for the immigration legislation on the ground that piecemeal legislation wouild disrupt the immigration reforms needed in the various other sectors. Even though this statement was made relating to his opposition to the ill-fated DREAM bill, the declaration was stunning and the Democrats will definitely take this statement being contradicted to his past record of introducing SKIL bill as a piecemeal bill. This statement will definitely deprive the Senator of another try for SKIL bill in the upcoming Senate sessions as a piecemeal immigration legislation. It indeed is a frustrating news.
To Anna,
I think the SKIL Bill is unrelated to the Sch A visa number recap. To me it only seems Senator Cornyn changed his strategy for his SKIL Bill. That it is a bad news for SKIL bill. But I don’t think it will have any impact on Sch A recap, because it alreay unanimous approved in senate.
To abc123,
Increasing H1B fee is definitely a backward thing. No wonder many people strongly opposes it. But I don’t understand why the Sch A being affected by it. To me it seems two difference things. So the best outcome is turn down the H1B fee increase bill, and approve the Sch A recap.
hai all
i have doubt to clear i have paid my visa fee and ds 230 part one in the month of july 2007 i would like to know the information how long it will take the file to reach the chennai Us consulate
Plz help
Some update on the bill.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=48496
They always rising the fee instead of rising the visa allocation…after these increment of fee, what else next? well…retro again until our dear certificate expire just like that…what asshamed….
Tnks HLG….thumbs up for you.
To HLG…
You’ve been encouraging us to call concerned legislators of the US and although we’re are very much willing to make such efforts, its quite expensive for us from the Philippines. May I therefore, recommend that you publish the e-mail address of these legislators so we can send them letters of encouragement and requests for support. In this way, I guess we can take active participation in our quest for immediate solution to the retrogression problems.
tnx again.
Let us see what will happen next days… then only think abt other countries.. If we can wait more than a year then why not for 2 weeks..
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.lyricsdigs.com