sanjeev_2004
05-26 03:21 PM
Previously India used to have 150,000 * 7 / 100 = 10500 visas every year. Now India will get 90,000 * 10 /100 = 9000 visas every year. Loss of visas to india because this new law will be 10500 - 9,000 = 1500.
It will increase the waiting for PDs to be currenct by 1500 * 100 / 105,00 = 100 / 7 % = 14.3%.
If remaining waiting of remianing qualified aplicant is 1 year then we will suffer 3 more months with our currect emploer and if it 2 years then we will suffer 6 more months with our currect employer only because of this new bill.
thanks.
It will increase the waiting for PDs to be currenct by 1500 * 100 / 105,00 = 100 / 7 % = 14.3%.
If remaining waiting of remianing qualified aplicant is 1 year then we will suffer 3 more months with our currect emploer and if it 2 years then we will suffer 6 more months with our currect employer only because of this new bill.
thanks.
wallpaper Emma Watson has a #39;vigorous#39;
amitkhare77
09-30 09:02 PM
my wife's case was little different, Most of the time they(SSN office staff) don't know the procedure. It happned to my wife who entered US on H1B and we went to SSN office 3rd day after her arrival. The representative told us to wait 2 weeks and then apply as shw can't pull the data, we went very next day and told that we have called the office and they said there is no such rule to wait, the representative should accept your application immidiately. the lady took our application and guess what - less than 2 weeks we received SSN card for my wife.
My wife's H1 got approved & it is valid from October Ist. When she went to Social Security Office today 9/30 - they denied saying they can't pull up her information in their system (from INS) & hence they can't issue the SSN.
She was carrying her I-797 approval (along with I-94).
Anyone else faced a similar situation ? Any suggestions.
My wife's H1 got approved & it is valid from October Ist. When she went to Social Security Office today 9/30 - they denied saying they can't pull up her information in their system (from INS) & hence they can't issue the SSN.
She was carrying her I-797 approval (along with I-94).
Anyone else faced a similar situation ? Any suggestions.
s416504
12-02 12:54 PM
Is this your wife's first 485 application? Any past I485 Applications? It may possible that your wife has old A# number from 2003.
We got an RFE on my wife's I-485 requesting for copy of marriage certificate. Our priority date is August 2005 (EB2). ND is September 05, 2007.
Anyone else in the same boat? Does this mean USCIS has began processing the 2005 apps?
We got an RFE on my wife's I-485 requesting for copy of marriage certificate. Our priority date is August 2005 (EB2). ND is September 05, 2007.
Anyone else in the same boat? Does this mean USCIS has began processing the 2005 apps?
2011 Emma Watson recently chatted
lj_rr
11-11 06:11 PM
BUMP...Anyone?
Need advise from someone who renewed Indian passport by mail at the San Francisco Indian Consulate.
My wife filled the application online and is ready to mail it, but there are questions regarding the supporting docs.
1)Proof of Residence:CGISF website shows applicable docs as Driving license or PG&E, Water or landline telephone bill displaying applicant�s address or
House Lease Agreement.
However in my wife's case, her name is not on any of the utility bills mentioned above and her Driving license has the old address.
Can we use the HUD-1 closing statement or home title as proof. Or can we use a insurance bill for this purpose? If not, please advise on other options.
2)Notarizing:I understand photo copies of any docs that I sent needs to be notarized.
Is there anything else that needs to be notarized?Your website says that "If applying by mail, Photocopy of all supporting documents including Photo should be notarized and attached to the application".
Do I need to notarize both the photos from page 1 and page 4? Please clarify.
Need advise from someone who renewed Indian passport by mail at the San Francisco Indian Consulate.
My wife filled the application online and is ready to mail it, but there are questions regarding the supporting docs.
1)Proof of Residence:CGISF website shows applicable docs as Driving license or PG&E, Water or landline telephone bill displaying applicant�s address or
House Lease Agreement.
However in my wife's case, her name is not on any of the utility bills mentioned above and her Driving license has the old address.
Can we use the HUD-1 closing statement or home title as proof. Or can we use a insurance bill for this purpose? If not, please advise on other options.
2)Notarizing:I understand photo copies of any docs that I sent needs to be notarized.
Is there anything else that needs to be notarized?Your website says that "If applying by mail, Photocopy of all supporting documents including Photo should be notarized and attached to the application".
Do I need to notarize both the photos from page 1 and page 4? Please clarify.
more...
maximus777
10-27 04:18 PM
Last week I had the unfortunate experience of being "let go". This is my current situation:
EB-2 India PD July 2008
I-140 approved in April 2009
Currently on 7th year of my H1-B which is valid till May 2013.
Now the question I have is, if I were to transfer my H1-B visa to some other company (non consulting fulltime role), will I get an additional 3 years extension, i.e., till Oct 2013 or will it be only till May 2013?
Greatly appreciate any thoughts here. Thanks!
EB-2 India PD July 2008
I-140 approved in April 2009
Currently on 7th year of my H1-B which is valid till May 2013.
Now the question I have is, if I were to transfer my H1-B visa to some other company (non consulting fulltime role), will I get an additional 3 years extension, i.e., till Oct 2013 or will it be only till May 2013?
Greatly appreciate any thoughts here. Thanks!
minimalist
06-10 02:54 PM
Copy of 485 receipt
Copy Front and back of current EAD
Photos with A# and name in the back (With Pencil/Felt Pen)
Check for 340 Payable to US Department of Homeland Security" (with A#/Name in the memo section) -- Separate checks
Thanks for encouragement,
It's always scary the first time. : )
Re. Check caching - just FYI, now-a-days, they copy the check, convert it to EFT and destroy the original so getting case number from copy may not work.
Also do I write A# on back of photos or something else? Any idea if there are restrictions for using pen or pencil or such?
thanks again,
NS
Copy Front and back of current EAD
Photos with A# and name in the back (With Pencil/Felt Pen)
Check for 340 Payable to US Department of Homeland Security" (with A#/Name in the memo section) -- Separate checks
Thanks for encouragement,
It's always scary the first time. : )
Re. Check caching - just FYI, now-a-days, they copy the check, convert it to EFT and destroy the original so getting case number from copy may not work.
Also do I write A# on back of photos or something else? Any idea if there are restrictions for using pen or pencil or such?
thanks again,
NS
more...
sunny1000
12-13 01:00 PM
I am going thru the same thing...To answer your question, the travel agent told me that if my passport stamp had expired, I would need a transit visa for all European airports. I would not need a transit visa if I take a direct flight to middle-eastern airports (like Kuwait City, Dubai etc)..The transit visa might take a couple of weeks via mail.....
Typical travel agent replies are: "if you have valid visa stamped, then no need for transit visa".
Typical travel agent replies are: "if you have valid visa stamped, then no need for transit visa".
2010 Emma Watson just can#39;t catch a
raviram1980
01-15 01:19 PM
Thanks a lot for your reply and to everyone else who replied to my thread
more...
summerof98
10-24 01:38 PM
Under what circumstances can a Service Request be made?
hair Daniel spilled on what
smartboy75
08-14 11:56 AM
Hi All
Just wanted to share my exp as I had been to Biometric appointment yesterday.
I had an appointment @ 9:00 AM and my wife had it @ 12:00 PM...I reached at 8:15 AM and requested the staff if my wife could get her biometric done with me instead of waiting till 12:00 ...she refused....inspite of having only a handful of people she said she will only take her by 12:00 PM.....
I had my biometric done in 1 min...they took the application, asked me to confirm my name , took index finger print , took a snap and I was done....same thing for my wife....total time for both biometric 2 mins...wait 3 hrs....
Also intrestingly my wife had received an RFE for her EAD renewal.....guess what the RFE would be ???? I could not believe when I received the letter....the RFE letter was mailed on Aug 8th ..I received it in AUg 12th...it said that USCIS has not yet received my wife's biometric information and hence her case has been put in hold......the second page said pls provide the date of bimoetric appointment, ASC code , QA Review by -------- on ----------- and confirmation number if any....
Luckily for me our Appt was on Aug 13th...so I took the letter with me and showed it to the lady at the centre and she filled it out....but had a received the letter a day later...I had no clue what the heck to fill in QA review by ------ on -------- section....
What is more ridculuos is USCIS sends in the letter that they can see that biometric has not been done and hence they put my wife's case on hold.....they can very well see that the appointment is on Aug 13...so why send a letter to me asking when the Appointment is ????
What a waste of time and money....and the bigger implication is people who r working on EAD and who desparately need the EAD renewed in time have to unnecessarily go thorough the agony of having their application put in hold till the response is sent..when time is so crutial. If this unnecessary delay causes the EAD renewal to take more that 90 days, it is again the risk of loosing employment or salary for the applicant....
Anyways, I have filled out and mailed the respose to RFE today and hopefully they should process the application now...
Thought I should share my exp for all those who may receive same letters in the future......Hope this helps....
Just wanted to share my exp as I had been to Biometric appointment yesterday.
I had an appointment @ 9:00 AM and my wife had it @ 12:00 PM...I reached at 8:15 AM and requested the staff if my wife could get her biometric done with me instead of waiting till 12:00 ...she refused....inspite of having only a handful of people she said she will only take her by 12:00 PM.....
I had my biometric done in 1 min...they took the application, asked me to confirm my name , took index finger print , took a snap and I was done....same thing for my wife....total time for both biometric 2 mins...wait 3 hrs....
Also intrestingly my wife had received an RFE for her EAD renewal.....guess what the RFE would be ???? I could not believe when I received the letter....the RFE letter was mailed on Aug 8th ..I received it in AUg 12th...it said that USCIS has not yet received my wife's biometric information and hence her case has been put in hold......the second page said pls provide the date of bimoetric appointment, ASC code , QA Review by -------- on ----------- and confirmation number if any....
Luckily for me our Appt was on Aug 13th...so I took the letter with me and showed it to the lady at the centre and she filled it out....but had a received the letter a day later...I had no clue what the heck to fill in QA review by ------ on -------- section....
What is more ridculuos is USCIS sends in the letter that they can see that biometric has not been done and hence they put my wife's case on hold.....they can very well see that the appointment is on Aug 13...so why send a letter to me asking when the Appointment is ????
What a waste of time and money....and the bigger implication is people who r working on EAD and who desparately need the EAD renewed in time have to unnecessarily go thorough the agony of having their application put in hold till the response is sent..when time is so crutial. If this unnecessary delay causes the EAD renewal to take more that 90 days, it is again the risk of loosing employment or salary for the applicant....
Anyways, I have filled out and mailed the respose to RFE today and hopefully they should process the application now...
Thought I should share my exp for all those who may receive same letters in the future......Hope this helps....
more...
fromnaija
07-10 12:08 PM
This being your first post on this forum, I'd like to advise that you include URL in your post otherwise one might think you are making this up.
Why AILA not suing State Dept. or USCIS for other issues... read a letter posted by someone in a forum
To AILF/AILA,
I appreciate your effort in filing lawsuit on behalf of July I-485 filers.
There are several critics on your July I-485 lawsuit. They criticize that you are doing for the benefit of your members (AILA). Definitely, your members will be benefited by huge amount of legal fees. Also, the critic says it is waste of time.
Even one of your reputed member (Rajiv Khanna @ immigration.com) posted in his website that chance of winning the law suit is very minimum.
He posted in his website as follows: "Please note folks, I don�t think this class will be easily approved by courts. CIS could argue a lot of things against it, which I don�t wish to publish in an open forum."
Why you cannot sue for the people who struck at Consulate due to administrative process without probable cause.
Several of them working in U.S (they have proof of employment, pay stubs, worked in the U.S on H1B visa for many years) just went to their home country for short vacation and applied for visa; they have rented house in the U.S and unable to break the lease; unable to pay car dues; their U.S citizen children also held overseas; they are loosing their jobs. State department is holding these visa application for more than a year in several cases.
What steps AILA has taken in this issue. If not, why you are not aware of this issue or why you are not giving importance. Do you think this issue will not bring such a huge legal fee like I-485 lawsuit?
Why AILA not suing State Dept. or USCIS for other issues... read a letter posted by someone in a forum
To AILF/AILA,
I appreciate your effort in filing lawsuit on behalf of July I-485 filers.
There are several critics on your July I-485 lawsuit. They criticize that you are doing for the benefit of your members (AILA). Definitely, your members will be benefited by huge amount of legal fees. Also, the critic says it is waste of time.
Even one of your reputed member (Rajiv Khanna @ immigration.com) posted in his website that chance of winning the law suit is very minimum.
He posted in his website as follows: "Please note folks, I don�t think this class will be easily approved by courts. CIS could argue a lot of things against it, which I don�t wish to publish in an open forum."
Why you cannot sue for the people who struck at Consulate due to administrative process without probable cause.
Several of them working in U.S (they have proof of employment, pay stubs, worked in the U.S on H1B visa for many years) just went to their home country for short vacation and applied for visa; they have rented house in the U.S and unable to break the lease; unable to pay car dues; their U.S citizen children also held overseas; they are loosing their jobs. State department is holding these visa application for more than a year in several cases.
What steps AILA has taken in this issue. If not, why you are not aware of this issue or why you are not giving importance. Do you think this issue will not bring such a huge legal fee like I-485 lawsuit?
hot Getting all the action: Daniel
teachamerica07
09-04 04:58 PM
Yes. Reenter on AP .
more...
house She also told The Sun the kiss
milind70
08-26 11:03 AM
Check with your lawyer. Extension beyond 6 yrs is not available if you are eligible to apply for I485. If you are not able to apply for 485 because of retrogression, you can extend your H1 beyond 6 yrs (of course, it doesnt apply to you).
This is not correct. you can apply for 1 year extensions if you have applied for 485 and is pending.
This is not correct. you can apply for 1 year extensions if you have applied for 485 and is pending.
tattoo kiss. Raunchy: Daniel
Edison99
02-24 10:18 AM
Congrats beautifulMind on your immigration journey!
I successfully ported from EB3 to EB2 in the same company while on EAD
Now i am working on the new Eb2 position using the EAD obtained from the EB3 position. I have still not filed my Eb2 485 since dates are not current (priority date jan 2007)
The new Eb2 job description was similiar to Eb3 but the difference was that now it required masters degree and 1 year experience. This is becasue of more resposnitlity and supervisory role in the eb2 position. Also natural progression...
I qualified for the Eb2 position without using the Experience gained in the existing company. I had masters and previous experience which was used for qualification....
Also the older Eb3 position does not exist as it was modified to the new Eb2 position as the role now required more complexity...
Sharing my experience and wondering if everything is ok with my current situation? I do not have a h1b. I still work on EAd obtained from the Eb3 app and travel on AP and have not had any issues yet....
I successfully ported from EB3 to EB2 in the same company while on EAD
Now i am working on the new Eb2 position using the EAD obtained from the EB3 position. I have still not filed my Eb2 485 since dates are not current (priority date jan 2007)
The new Eb2 job description was similiar to Eb3 but the difference was that now it required masters degree and 1 year experience. This is becasue of more resposnitlity and supervisory role in the eb2 position. Also natural progression...
I qualified for the Eb2 position without using the Experience gained in the existing company. I had masters and previous experience which was used for qualification....
Also the older Eb3 position does not exist as it was modified to the new Eb2 position as the role now required more complexity...
Sharing my experience and wondering if everything is ok with my current situation? I do not have a h1b. I still work on EAd obtained from the Eb3 app and travel on AP and have not had any issues yet....
more...
pictures emma watson daniel radcliffe kissing. Emma Watson and Daniel
hmehta
09-11 10:43 PM
If the incumbents really care about being re-elected, they really need to do something over the next 30-40 days. All major news channels are already touting the current congress as a "do-nothing congress". And probably not only their re-election is at stake, if we look at a bigger picture, for some of them even their political career might be stalled!
Ofcourse, there is no gurantee that some kind of immigration bill will pass, but we should not lose hope at this point.
Ofcourse, there is no gurantee that some kind of immigration bill will pass, but we should not lose hope at this point.
dresses Emma Watson and Daniel
Prashanthi
05-08 04:17 PM
I agree you might be better off filing a new I-485 if the visa number is available once the I-140 is approved. It is sometimes difficult to get the USCIS to do the interfiling, they often don't send any acknowledgment of the same.
more...
makeup Daniel Radcliffe amp; Emma Watson
mchundi
12-17 08:42 PM
Most of the states had processed RIR cases till May 2002. N.J (05/2002) and
NY (10/2001) before all the applications were sent to BEC. So most of the
Applicants with these dates must have already got their Green Cards . Some of my friends with these dates have already got their GC some 1 year back.
It is Non-RIR cases which had 04/2001 processing times with NJ , NY being the states which were backlogged. It is these applications which would be
causing these delays. How many percentage of EB1 , EB2 , EB3
(Employement Category) applications might be in this process. ? If there are
less number of applications then Processing Dates may move forward to
2002 / 2003 for India.
Based on the serial numbering in the pre BEC scheme, there are an average of 1k-2k peteions from california alone for the 2002/2003 years. Many Indians amongst them. Thanks the BEC's most of them locked their PD's (hopefully).
If u look at the distribution for the fiscal year 2005, EB-2 did not use much of the surplus AC21 numbers. So why is EB2 retrogressed for India and China now. As somebody indicated in other threads, the USCIS may have suspended the AC21 act. But if they did that it wud not have moved to 2003 at all. So nobody really knows their formula.
Unless the state dept releases the statistics for the fiscal year 2006, we dont know what actually is happening. One thing though, they need to further break down the ROW EB3 and establish cutoff dates for other countries as well.
What about EB-3 (Inda). Hopefully it will move to 2002 very soon. After that i think it has better chances of moving up than EB-2 (India) if the USCIS is following the strict 7% limit.
NY (10/2001) before all the applications were sent to BEC. So most of the
Applicants with these dates must have already got their Green Cards . Some of my friends with these dates have already got their GC some 1 year back.
It is Non-RIR cases which had 04/2001 processing times with NJ , NY being the states which were backlogged. It is these applications which would be
causing these delays. How many percentage of EB1 , EB2 , EB3
(Employement Category) applications might be in this process. ? If there are
less number of applications then Processing Dates may move forward to
2002 / 2003 for India.
Based on the serial numbering in the pre BEC scheme, there are an average of 1k-2k peteions from california alone for the 2002/2003 years. Many Indians amongst them. Thanks the BEC's most of them locked their PD's (hopefully).
If u look at the distribution for the fiscal year 2005, EB-2 did not use much of the surplus AC21 numbers. So why is EB2 retrogressed for India and China now. As somebody indicated in other threads, the USCIS may have suspended the AC21 act. But if they did that it wud not have moved to 2003 at all. So nobody really knows their formula.
Unless the state dept releases the statistics for the fiscal year 2006, we dont know what actually is happening. One thing though, they need to further break down the ROW EB3 and establish cutoff dates for other countries as well.
What about EB-3 (Inda). Hopefully it will move to 2002 very soon. After that i think it has better chances of moving up than EB-2 (India) if the USCIS is following the strict 7% limit.
girlfriend Getting all the action: Daniel
ragz4u
02-03 01:36 PM
It would be Much easier to know our material and then get an appointment. Say we get an appointment for an earlier date, and we're not ready, it's not going to look very professional. We'll probably have one shot at this, let's do it right.
Look up the resource section. We have a brochure and a powerpoint presentation by Sunil Joshi which was even posted on the ILW website. The CA team of ImmigrationVoice have used these to great results
The lobbying firm might provide us valuable inputs on these but at the same time, these are already in very good shape having gone through many rounds of critique by the core members.
Again, this should not stop you from asking for appointments!
Look up the resource section. We have a brochure and a powerpoint presentation by Sunil Joshi which was even posted on the ILW website. The CA team of ImmigrationVoice have used these to great results
The lobbying firm might provide us valuable inputs on these but at the same time, these are already in very good shape having gone through many rounds of critique by the core members.
Again, this should not stop you from asking for appointments!
hairstyles emma watson daniel radcliffe kissing. This is Emma Watson Hot Photos
joshNJ
06-29 12:06 PM
if an A# is present in the I-140 receipt should that be used to fill the 485/EAD forms ?
thanks
thanks
Blog Feeds
09-01 10:00 PM
This is a recent update from the AILA Rome Chapter for the benefit of our readers. The State Department has substantially rewritten the FAM provisions relating to physical or mental disorders as medical grounds of inadmissibility. These significant changes, set forth at 9 FAM 40.11 N11, focus on physical or mental disorders with harmful behavior, and on substance-related disorders, corresponding to INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iii) and (iv), respectively.
The following is a summary of these sweeping revisions.
Introduction
As before, the mere presence of a physical or mental disorder does not by itself render a visa applicant inadmissible to the United States under 212(a)(1)(A)(iii). The trigger to inadmissibility is the presence of associated harmful behavior.
Key Concepts of Mental Health
In this new section, the Department defines the key concepts of physical and mental health disorders:
A "physical disorder" is a clinically diagnosed medical condition where the focus of attention is physical manifestations.
A "mental disorder" is a health condition characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behavior.
"Harmful behavior" is an action associated with a physical or mental disorder that causes (or has caused) one or more of the following:
1. Serious injury (psychological or physical) to the foreign national or others. An example of harmful behavior to the foreign national is attempted suicide. An example of harmful behavior to others is pedophilia.
2. A serious threat to the health or safety of the foreign national or others. An example of a serious threat to both the foreign national and to others is driving while intoxicated.
3. Major property damage.
NOTE: The Department emphasizes the following principle: Only harmful behavior that is associated with a physical or mental disorder is relevant for the purpose of determining a medical inadmissibility.
A "substance-related disorder" can involve one of the following:
1. Substance dependence - compulsive long-term use of alcohol or other psychoactive substance despite significant problems (physical, social, and others).
2. Substance abuse - a pattern of recurrent use of alcohol or other psychoactive substance despite adverse consequences or impairment.
Remission in the context of mental or substance-related disorders is defined as "a period of at least 12 months during which no substance use or associated harmful behavior have occurred."
Class "A" medical conditions are those which render a visa applicant ineligible for a visa.
Class "B" medical conditions do not render a visa applicant ineligible for a visa, even though the applicant has a disease, disability or abnormality amounting to a substantial departure from well-being.
Alcohol Abuse or Dependence
The FAM changes stress that alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence constitutes a medical condition which can lead to inadmissibility. That said, a panel physician's diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence alone does not make an applicant ineligible to receive a visa unless there is evidence of associated harmful behavior which has, or is likely to pose a threat to the property, safety or welfare of the foreign national or others.
Consular officers are instructed to refer nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants to panel physicians if the applicant has a single alcohol-related arrest or conviction within the past five years, or if the applicant has two or more such arrests or convictions within the past decade. Officers should also refer applicants to panel physicians if, in the absence of DUI arrests or convictions, there is any other evidence to suggest that the visa applicant has an alcohol problem.
Role of the Panel Physician
Panel physicians have a central role in evaluating the existence of a physical or mental disorder or a substance-related disorder that would render an applicant ineligible for a visa. In performing a medical examination, the panel physician is responsible (inter alia) for identifying and diagnosing physical or mental disorders (including alcohol-related disorders); identifying harmful behavior associated with a disorder; and determining the remission status of any previously diagnosed disorder.
Class "A" or Class "B" Medical Conditions
Panel physicians may make the following diagnoses with regard to applicants referred for examination:
Class "A": The applicant has a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior.
Class "A": The applicant has a disorder characterized by substance abuse or dependence.
Class "B": The applicant has a physical or mental disorder with no associated harmful behavior.
Class "B": The applicant has a history of a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior which is unlikely to recur.
Class "B": The applicant's substance abuse or dependence is in full remission.
Neither "A" nor "B": The applicant has not been diagnosed as having a physical or mental disorder or a substance-related disorder.
Waivers for Immigrant Visa Applicants
An immigrant visa applicant who is determined to have a communicable disease of public health significance may be eligible for a waiver of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(i).
An immigrant visa applicant who objects on religious or moral grounds to receiving required vaccinations against vaccine-preventable diseases may be eligible for a waiver of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii).
An immigrant visa applicant who is determined to have a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior may be eligible for a waiver of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iii).
An immigrant visa applicant diagnosed with substance abuse or addiction is NOT eligible for waiver relief of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iv).
Waivers for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
Consular officers may recommend waivers per 212(d)(3)(A) for any of the medical-related grounds of inadmissibility set forth in 212(a)(1)(A).
More... (http://www.visalawyerblog.com/2010/09/us_visa_denials_medical_ground.html)
The following is a summary of these sweeping revisions.
Introduction
As before, the mere presence of a physical or mental disorder does not by itself render a visa applicant inadmissible to the United States under 212(a)(1)(A)(iii). The trigger to inadmissibility is the presence of associated harmful behavior.
Key Concepts of Mental Health
In this new section, the Department defines the key concepts of physical and mental health disorders:
A "physical disorder" is a clinically diagnosed medical condition where the focus of attention is physical manifestations.
A "mental disorder" is a health condition characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behavior.
"Harmful behavior" is an action associated with a physical or mental disorder that causes (or has caused) one or more of the following:
1. Serious injury (psychological or physical) to the foreign national or others. An example of harmful behavior to the foreign national is attempted suicide. An example of harmful behavior to others is pedophilia.
2. A serious threat to the health or safety of the foreign national or others. An example of a serious threat to both the foreign national and to others is driving while intoxicated.
3. Major property damage.
NOTE: The Department emphasizes the following principle: Only harmful behavior that is associated with a physical or mental disorder is relevant for the purpose of determining a medical inadmissibility.
A "substance-related disorder" can involve one of the following:
1. Substance dependence - compulsive long-term use of alcohol or other psychoactive substance despite significant problems (physical, social, and others).
2. Substance abuse - a pattern of recurrent use of alcohol or other psychoactive substance despite adverse consequences or impairment.
Remission in the context of mental or substance-related disorders is defined as "a period of at least 12 months during which no substance use or associated harmful behavior have occurred."
Class "A" medical conditions are those which render a visa applicant ineligible for a visa.
Class "B" medical conditions do not render a visa applicant ineligible for a visa, even though the applicant has a disease, disability or abnormality amounting to a substantial departure from well-being.
Alcohol Abuse or Dependence
The FAM changes stress that alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence constitutes a medical condition which can lead to inadmissibility. That said, a panel physician's diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence alone does not make an applicant ineligible to receive a visa unless there is evidence of associated harmful behavior which has, or is likely to pose a threat to the property, safety or welfare of the foreign national or others.
Consular officers are instructed to refer nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants to panel physicians if the applicant has a single alcohol-related arrest or conviction within the past five years, or if the applicant has two or more such arrests or convictions within the past decade. Officers should also refer applicants to panel physicians if, in the absence of DUI arrests or convictions, there is any other evidence to suggest that the visa applicant has an alcohol problem.
Role of the Panel Physician
Panel physicians have a central role in evaluating the existence of a physical or mental disorder or a substance-related disorder that would render an applicant ineligible for a visa. In performing a medical examination, the panel physician is responsible (inter alia) for identifying and diagnosing physical or mental disorders (including alcohol-related disorders); identifying harmful behavior associated with a disorder; and determining the remission status of any previously diagnosed disorder.
Class "A" or Class "B" Medical Conditions
Panel physicians may make the following diagnoses with regard to applicants referred for examination:
Class "A": The applicant has a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior.
Class "A": The applicant has a disorder characterized by substance abuse or dependence.
Class "B": The applicant has a physical or mental disorder with no associated harmful behavior.
Class "B": The applicant has a history of a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior which is unlikely to recur.
Class "B": The applicant's substance abuse or dependence is in full remission.
Neither "A" nor "B": The applicant has not been diagnosed as having a physical or mental disorder or a substance-related disorder.
Waivers for Immigrant Visa Applicants
An immigrant visa applicant who is determined to have a communicable disease of public health significance may be eligible for a waiver of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(i).
An immigrant visa applicant who objects on religious or moral grounds to receiving required vaccinations against vaccine-preventable diseases may be eligible for a waiver of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii).
An immigrant visa applicant who is determined to have a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior may be eligible for a waiver of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iii).
An immigrant visa applicant diagnosed with substance abuse or addiction is NOT eligible for waiver relief of the inadmissibility set forth in INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iv).
Waivers for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
Consular officers may recommend waivers per 212(d)(3)(A) for any of the medical-related grounds of inadmissibility set forth in 212(a)(1)(A).
More... (http://www.visalawyerblog.com/2010/09/us_visa_denials_medical_ground.html)
rimzhim
02-12 11:43 AM
I am in Philadelphia so i would assume Vermont center. Is that a fair assumption, coz i have a previous I-140 and to the best of my knowledge it had gone to the Vermont center back then.
However back in the day there was no premium processing for I-140 so things may have changed :(
Has anyone in the North east USA recently received any approvals from the Vermont center?
140s are done in Nebraska or Texas now.
However back in the day there was no premium processing for I-140 so things may have changed :(
Has anyone in the North east USA recently received any approvals from the Vermont center?
140s are done in Nebraska or Texas now.
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