archive.immigrationvoice.org

55.

2015/08:

Volunteers get active at the local level as Congress heads into August recess. Volunteers speak to local offices and attend town hall meetings to urge their representatives to support HR 213 – The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act. The bill now has 48 bi-partisan co-sponsors.

55.

2015/06:

Immigration Voice holds a congressional reception at the House office building in Washington DC to support HR 213 – The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act. The event was attended by key congressional staffers, the media and high skilled immigrants from across the country. The champion of the bill Rep. Jason Chaffetz spoke at the event about the importance of the bill and thanked Immigration Voice for the continued efforts and encouraged everyone to push Congress to pass this bill by contacting their local Representatives.

55.

2015/06:

Immigration Voice concludes its second advocacy event of the year 2015. High Skilled Immigrations from across the country converge in DC to petition congress to pass the Bill HR 213 – The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act. IV volunteers held about  300+ meetings and a meeting at The White House to petition the administration to accelerate implementation of the fixes that were announced by President Obama in November 2014

55.

2015/03:

Immigration Voice launches nationwide campaign to oppose Hatch Amendment #1025 to the Budget resolution that would have increased the H1-B visa cap and exempted advanced degree holders from the H1-B cap without any corresponding increase in green cards or other green card fixes. As a result of the nationwide campaign, Sen. Orrin Hatch withdrew the amendment within 24 hours.

55.

2015/03:

Immigration Voice attends an event thanking President Barack Obama for Executive Action on Immigration organized by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren & Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez.

54.

2015/03:

Immigration Voice Hails President’s Executive Action to Allow Work Authorization for Spouses of Certain H1-B Visa Holders

Press Release

53.

2015/02:

Immigration Voice collects EAD for H-4 stories on behalf of the Administration and for Media Outreach

52.

2015/02:

Immigration Voice hosts the first advocacy event of 2015 where volunteers from all 50 states converge on Washington DC to meet with over 350 Congressional offices and The White House for a discussion in the beautiful "Indian Treaty Room".

51.

2014/11:

Immigration Voice Hails President’s Executive Action on Immigration

Press Release

50.

2014/11:

Immigration Voice requests specific administrative fixes to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security’s policy makers for the skilled immigration system.

49.

2014/07:

Immigration Voice submits comments and recommendations to further improve the proposed regulation for allowing EAD for certain H4 visa holders. Full comments are available here.

48.

2014/06:

To push for Immigration Reform, around forty five Immigration Voice leaders from across the country meet with over 200 offices of House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

Press Release

47.

2014/05:

Immigration Voice welcomes rules allowing immigrants’ spouses to work and calls for further administrative action to reduce backlogs.

Press Release

46.

2014/03:

Immigration Voice once again in Washington DC, advocating for Immigration Reform. In spite of the weather conditions in Washington DC, members from all across the nation gathered in the nation’s capital to advocate for the reforms. Nearly 150 meetings were held in one day.

45.

2013/09:

Immigration Voice hosts the second advocacy event of the year in Washington DC.

44.

2013/04:

Immigration Voice at AAPI

43.

2013/03:

Immigration Voice gears up for another Washington DC advocacy event. More than 100 IV members gather in Washington DC attended over 200 meetings.

Live updates from advocacy event || My experience

Immigration Voice at White House Briefing || Pictures from the WH Briefing

42.

2013/02:

Immigration Voice at the House Judiciary Committee hearing

Dr. Puneet Arora represents Immigration Voice at the House Judiciary Committee hearing

41.

2013/01:

New Congress (113th) and New Administration (President Obama’s 2nd term) begins

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill in the Senate - IV Donor Forum Only

Immigration Voice recognized as a supporter of I-Squared Act of 2013

40.

2012/09:

Thousands of legal, high-skilled immigrants march peacefully in Silicon Valley in support of HR 3012

San Jose Summit – IV Rally || San Jose Summit – IV Rally

Immigration Voice Summit Walk to CPA

Immigration Voice Summit CPA Speech

39.

2012/08:

Event in Seattle, Washington

38.

2012/07:

Sen. Grassley removes his hold on HR 3012

37.

2012/05:

IV stands behind SMART Jobs Act of 2012

IV applauds Sen. Coons and Sen. Alexander for introducing Sustaining our Most Advanced Researchers and Technology Sustaining our Most Advanced Researchers and Technology (SMART) Jobs Act of 2012

36.

2012:

HR 3012 – Continued efforts by Immigration Voice

THE LOST DECADE – A DOCUMENTARY ON HR 3012 BY IMMIGRATION VOICE

IV Action Items for Sep 2012

IV Action Items for Jul 2012

IV Action Items for Apr 2012

IV Action Items for Jan 2012

35.

2011/12:

After successfully working on HR 3012 Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011 in the House, Immigration Voice channeled its member resources on the Senate. Holding another advocacy event, IV members once again congregated in Washington DC to seek support in the Senate for HR 3012. More than 90 meetings were held with the senate offices.

34.

2011/09:

Immigration Voice members meet with key House Judiciary Committee Members and the Senate offices prior to the introduction of the HR 3012 (Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011) in the House. IV is the ONLY member run immigration forum to actively advocate for elimination of per country limits and other sensible immigration reforms.

HR 3012 Introduced on Sep 22, 2011 || IV recognized in Rep. Chaffetz Press Release

HR 3012 Referred to Judiciary Committee on Sep 22, 2011 || IV Action Items

HR 3012 Reported by Committee on Oct 27, 2011 || IV Action Items

HR 3012 Passed in the House overwhelmingly on Nov 29, 2011 || IV Legislative Updates || House Session – Part 2

Link to the part of the discussion by Congressman Jason Chaffetz, sponsor of the H.R. 3012, in which Congressman Chaffetz refers to Immigration Voice for helping with the passage of the bill to remove per-country limits.

33.

2011/07:

Immigration Voice at the Senate Immigration Subcommittee hearing

Dr. Puneet Arora represents Immigration Voice at the Senate Immigration Subcommittee hearing

32.

2011/04:

Immigration Voice members meet US Congressional Offices, Director of Immigration Policy for Department of Homeland Security and the White House

In another massive advocacy event organized by Immigration Voice, more than 150 members congregated in Washington DC and met with more than 350 House and Senate Offices. The seeds for HR 3012 were sown during this advocacy event, identifying the key offices and working with them.

Meeting was held with the Director of Immigration Policy for the Department of Homeland Security, Francis Cissna

IV members met with the White House staff

Immigration Voice – Live Updates of the Advocacy Event

31.

2010/12:

Immigration Voice conducts another advocacy event

A small scale advocacy event was organized. IV volunteers met with key legislative offices.

30.

2010/06:

Immigration Voice advocates the US Congress for immigration reform

IV volunteers from all across the country gathered in Washington DC and met with more than 250 congressional offices both on the House and the Senate side.

Immigration Voice – Live Updates of the Advocacy Event

29.

2009/09:

Administrative Fix for “Same and Similar Occupation Classification”

Immigration Voice requests that jobs within SOC classification of a “major group” be treated as “similar occupation classification” for the purpose of section 106(c) of AC21 Act, clarifying job mobility for an individual with an un-adjudicated application for adjustment of status pending for 180 days or more.

IV forum

28.

2009/09:

Another successful campaign run by IV members

Streamlining of Security Screen Process for Foreign Scientists: DHS reduced the wait times for Visa stamping for foreign consulates to 2 weeks.

Immigration Voice Campaign

27.

2009/09:

Successful completion of FOIA Campaign

After filing hundreds of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, USCIS released the data of pending applications on their website.

Immigration Voice Campaign

USCIS Pending Employment Based I-485 Inventory

26.

2009:

Immigration Voice becomes a member of Compete America. Compete America advocates for reforms for high-skilled immigration in the US.

25.

2008/06:

Administrative Fix Campaign

2 Year EAD announced by USCIS for all foreign nationals who have filed for Adjustment of Status

USCIS

24.

2008/04:

Immigration Voices works with Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) on reforming high skilled employment based immigration system. Successful introduction of 3 bills in the House by Rep. Lofgren. This included elimination of per country limits, a fair concept that no other organization or business interest had ever advocated until this time. Immigration Voice successfully advocated these bills, brought in co-sponsors and received support from other interests for these bills.

HR 5882: To recapture employment based immigration visas lost to bureaucratic delays and to prevent losses of family and employment based immigrant visas in the future.

Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 4/23/2008) Cosponsors (31)

HR 5921: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per country level for employment-based immigrants and to end the spill-over of unused immigrant visa numbers between employment-based and family-sponsored categories.
Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 4/29/2008) Cosponsors (24)

HR 6039: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize certain aliens who have earned a master's or higher degree from a United States institution of higher education in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to be admitted for permanent residence.
Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 5/13/2008) Cosponsors (34)

23.

2007/09:

Immigration Voice advocates for Immigration Reform

IV Volunteers from all across the country gathered at the US Capitol to meet with the congressional offices, both in the Senate and the House advocating for immigration reform.

More than 125 meetings with congressional offices

22.

2007/09:

Immigration Voice hosts a peaceful march in the nation’s capital, Washington DC

About 1000 high skilled legal immigrants from all across the US Continent gathered in Washington D.C in a peacefully rally to the US Capitol to protest long delays and backlogs in the employment based immigration system. IV thread.

Media coverage:

New York Times

Washington Post

BBC

California News – Orange County Register

Paid Advertisement in the Roll Call

21.

2007/07:

Immigration Voice launches massive Flower Campaign

Immigration Voice launches a massive Flower Campaign. Hundreds of flowers were sent to the Director of USCIS, Emilio Gonzales as part of a symbolic and peaceful protest over a “flip-flop” by the State Department and the USCIS.

Media coverage:

Wiki News

IBNLive

Reuters

NPR

Washington Post

New York Times

20.

2007/07:

San Jose Rally

Mercury News covers IV San Jose Rally

19.

2007/07:

Immigration Voice on July 2007 Visa Bulletin reversal

Immigration Voice brings news of July 2007 Visa Bulletin reversal

More updates on July 2007 Visa Bulletin reversal

18.

2007/02:

Immigration Voice hires the top lobbying firm Patton-Boggs as its new lobbying firm.

17.

2007/01:

The new congress comes into session in Jan 2007 and the Democratic leadership of the Senate takes up Immigration as one of the priorities of the year.

16.

2006/12:

Immigration Voice participates in a symposium: Movement of Global Talent: The Impact of High Skill Labor Flows from India and China.

Jay Pradhan of Immigration Voice is one of the panelists.

15.

2006/06:

Immigration Voice in the news

Pratik Dakwala of Immigration Voice was interviewed by KTVU, a Fox affiliate of San Francisco.

14.

2006/06:

Last minute efforts for interim relief fail

In the second week of December 2006, during the lame-duck session, there was an effort in place to have an interim relief provision in the last minute bills, however due to nature of last minute legislations without any floor debate, unanimous consent was needed. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and then-chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin opposed such a provision.

13.

2006/06:

Other highlights of S.2611.ES

Excludes dependents from the Employment-based green card quota but there is a limit of 650,000 on the annual EB quota

Exempts advanced degree holders from the United States from the annual EB green card quota

Mandates that the Department of Labor clear the Labor Certification backlogs in 9 months.

12.

2006/06:

Immigration Bill is not taken up by the House

The Senate version of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, S.2611.ES, was not reconciled with the House and the House of Representatives held hearings on Immigration but did not pass any legislation nor did it hold a conference committee with the Senate.

11.

2006/05:

Managers’ Amendment and S. 2611 pass with Immigration Voice goals

Immigration Voice and Quinn Gillespie Associates, with the help of Sen. Specter and Sen. Kennedy, has its goals written into the bipartisan Managers’ Amendment to S.2611, the Hagel-Martinez Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. Highlights of S.2611.ES:

Removes the hard country cap for the EB category

Sets 3 year extensions for the Employment Authorization Document and Travel Document

Immigrants may file for Adjustment of Status even with visa number unavailability

10.

2006/05:

Hagel-Martinez compromise immigration reform introduced in Senate. Highlights of this bill:

Increase of the Employment-based Green card quota from 140,000 to 450,000; skilled categories get 70% of this total

Excludes dependents from the Employment-based green card quota

Increases the per-country quota from 7% to 10% but also makes it a hard cap. Unused Green cards would likely slip down all the way to the EB5 unskilled category, and would not be used in the highly skilled category that they were intended for. Backlogs would increase.

Exempts advanced degree holders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math who have worked for 3 years in a related field from the EB quota.

09.

2006/04:

Aman Kapoor, founder of Immigration Voice interviewed on Fox News Weekend Live

08.

2006/04:

Sen. Brownback: S.Amdt.3341 amends S.2454, first Senate Immigration bill

Immigration Voice confers with Sen. Brownback’s (R-KS) staff and succeeds in introducing Amendment #3341 to S.2454, the first Senate Immigration bill. This bill did not pass cloture, and hence the amendments were never voted on.

The highlights of these amendments were:

Removal of the hard country cap on Employment-based Green cards

Ability to file for Adjustment of Status even without visa number availability

Skilled green cards recaptured from 2001-2004 to be available to the skilled categories only

3 year extensions for H1B, Employment Authorization, and Travel Documents

Improves STEM exemption and drops the three year experience requirement

07.

2006/04:

Hard country cap in original Senate Comprehensive Immigration bill

S.2454, the original Senate Comprehensive Immigration Bill, increased the per-country quota on Employment-based green cards to 10% - but also mandated a hard country cap on these visas. Highlights of this bill:

Increase of the Employment-based Green card quota from 140,000 to 290,000; skilled categories get 70% of this total

Excludes dependents from the Employment-based green card quota

Increases the per-country quota from 7% to 10% but also makes it a hard cap. Unused Green cards would likely slip down all the way to the EB5 unskilled category, and would not be used in the highly skilled category that they were intended for. Backlogs would increase.

Exempts advanced degree holders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math who have worked for 3 years in a related field from the EB quota.

06.

2006/04:

Washington Post story on Immigration Voice.

05.

2006/02:

Roll Call article is first on Immigration Voice.

04.

2006/02:

After meeting several lobbying firms, settle on Quinn Gillespie Associates. QGA agrees to work for IV, knowing IV has only 300 members and just a few thousand dollars in the bank.

03.

2006/01:

Started Immigration Voice (IV) web site. On 7th and 8th January, 2006, a select group of IV core members meet in D.C.

02.

2005/12:

Some of the active posters on Immigrationportal.com Internet forums called Senate offices in support. Budget bill passes but high-skilled immigration provisions taken out in Senate-House Conference. At this time Aman Kapoor aka WaldenPond called for a conference call to form an organization. And so was born Immigration Voice, as we now all call IV. After a few phone calls, select members decided to meet in Washington, D.C. to discuss the action plan.

01.

2005/12:

Senate budget bill contains ability to file for Adjustment of Status even with visa number unavailability. Immigrants with Adjustment of Status pending may get Employment Authorization and Travel Documents; they may change employment to similar jobs; dependents may work; and they can travel freely in and out of the country.