VisaVisions!Demystifying the Visa Process

Advocacy for Dummies - Lesson 1: Recapturing Unused EB and FB Green CardsFiled Under: Advocacy

One of the amazing things about the US is that we can actually change the things we don’t like about our country (or at the very least, we can try). Immigration is always a hot topic, not only for prospective immigrants, but also for employers seeking talent from abroad, family members, and of course, immigration professionals.

Here are four simple steps to take to begin to move the wheels of change in our great democratic nation:

1. LEARN/THINK:It’s very easy to find yourself at a party having a heated debate about building a fence, “amnesty,” and the shortage of H-1B visas. However, without the proper knowledge and background, it’s impossible to a) figure out what you really believe is right b) convey your feelings to others and c) take the steps to initiate changes. Start by educating yourself:

Today the House Subcommittee on Immigration will markup H.R.5882, a bill to recapture unused employment-based and family-based green cards lost to bureaucratic delays, and to prevent losses of family- and employment-based immigrant visas in the future. I Googled the bill to learn more. I found a nice site govtrack which listed the background of the bill, as well as the actual text. Thomas is the Library of Congress website which provides information on everything introduced in Congress. After you play around on the website a bit, you will find that it’s an easy way to get a clear picture of legislative history, voting records, etc. Here’s some info on the Development of HR 5882:

• In March 2008, Bill Gates testified before Congress to increase the H-1B cap.
• HR 5630 introduced (proposition increase H-1B cap from 65,000 to 130,000 for FY 2008 by Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)) and HR 5642 introduced on 3/14/08 (proposition to raise H-1B visas from 65,000 to 195,000 by Lamar Smith (R-TX))
• On 04/23/08 Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduces HR 5882 to recapture all the unused visas from 1992 to 2007.

More about the BILL (From THOMAS):

1. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish the fiscal year worldwide level of employment-based immigrants at 140,000 plus: (1) the previous year’s unused visas; and (2) the number of unused visas from FY2002-FY2007.
2. Establishes the fiscal year worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants at 480,000 minus the number of certain aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations plus: (1) the previous year’s unused visas; and (2) the number of unused visas from FY2002-FY2007. (States that such annual level shall not be less than 226,000.)

2. ACT

Call your Representative now and express your support for this very important bill! It’s easier than you think. You don’t have to be a skilled orator, a lawyer, or have any prestigious letters after your name. All you have to do is locate your representative, and tell them that you are expressing your support or opposition to a specific bill. The people answering the phones keep a log of the number of constituents who contact the Senator or Representative office, and all of your phone calls (as well as letters and emails) count. Congresspeople are supposed to represent the views of their constituents, and if enough people call about an issue, they do notice.

3. VOTE

When November 4, 2008 rolls around, review the voting record of your Senator/Representative. Be sure to vote for people who VOTE for what you believe in (not only SAY that they support those issues). 35 of the 100 Seats in the Senate will be up for grabs and all 435 seats in the House are up for election.

4. CONTINUE CALLING

Just to reiterate the main point of this (slightly lengthly) lesson on advocacy, be sure to contact your representative (choose Senator or Representative, depending on where the bill is introduced). It will only take you a few minutes to make a phone call. Do it every day. Write to them. Tell your friends and family to do the same. Be persistent, and don’t give up! Interns on the Hill are hired every year to answer your calls, so make them do their job!

Tags: Advocacy, cap, green cards, H-1B visas, Understanding the System