Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #H4EADDelays
Most recents (7)
After 4 years of constant struggle, last week, my wife and I became US permanent residents. The #immigration process emotionally exhausted us. We both came to the US 9 years back, are @MIT graduates and economically privileged. Still, the process made us feel small and desperate.
Overall, the lawyer fees and applications costed us ~$15,000. The documents submitted to USCIS amounted to more than 1,000 pages. My total exchanges with attorneys over the 4 years amount to more than 103,000 words (yes, it is a 6-figure number, I checked it).
I personally spent probably ~400 hours to complete the paperwork over the years. Spread over 4 years, this may not sound like a lot, but this does not include the time spent worrying about the results, worrying about changes to USCIS rules, checking case updates.
LONG THREAD: I have seen a some questions about the Shergill settlement. So I figured a thread can address some of the bigger ones.
#H4EADdelays #L2EADDelays 1/
#H4EADdelays #L2EADDelays 1/
First, it's important to remember that we still have an active class action case for #H4EADDelays and underlying I-539 delays. We can continue to push on that case. We understand that concurrently filed cases are the bigger group, and continue to fight for those people. 2/
A common question is why are L-2s incident to status and H-4s are not? The answer is the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 3/
315 days for a USCIS officer to (randomly) look into my case and finally endorse that someone who has been approved by the system for 10+ years is in fact a genuine #H4 spouse and not a threat to the nation in any way. #H4EADdelays 1/
After such long-drawn-out mental agony, it is only human to feel overwhelmed by sudden disbelief and mixed emotions. For a while you feel grateful for being finally "allowed" to breathe.. even if the relief is short-lived. #H4EADdelays 2/
Today, 322 days after filing, I finally have my #H4EAD card in hand. I realize how strongly this document dictates my life/well-being and also how many others on H4/L2 visas are still anxiously awaiting their turn. 3/
The recent attention in the media to the pressing issue of #DocumentedDreamers gives us an opportunity to take a bigger view of immigration issues. The issue of kids aging-out is an unintended though not unforeseeable consequence of massive #GCBacklogs.🧵 👇 1/9
Fundamentally, this is a demand-supply and allocation issue. The number of #GC annually given out has not changed meaningfully since 1990. Meanwhile the US economy and labor market today are completely different from back then. 2/9
On top of this supply issue of #GC is the fact that their allocation is not equitable. How long you wait in line, usually boils down to the country you were born in. Not on skills, education, work experience, duration of stay in the US or contribution to the economy. 3/9
#USCISMadeMeQuit my professional identity, crippled my finances, burdened me with anxiety & depression - all this during a pandemic while I was in bereavement, and excelling at work was my major source of healing #H4EADdelays are so much more than job losses (1/5)
Employer-backed expedite requests through Congress denied twice over 9 months; with no end in sight to resolving #H4EADdelays, my former position will be filled this week. I am struggling to find any strength remaining to start over AGAIN (2/5)
10yrs ago I started serving as a local community volunteer. When #H4EAD came along (thanks to @BarackObama ) I proved myself from the ground up in non-profits that served the interests of this country. I did my part wholeheartedly while enduring the unfair #GCbacklog (3/5)
This week, we were pleased to offer @Microsoft's perspectives on improving access to #immigration benefits and services, in response to the @USCIS request for public input. In our submission, we focused on the following:
Ensuring #greencardrecapture to eliminate the loss and waste of statutorily-authorized green card numbers that are critically needed for the existing green card backlog. We also included an explanation of how it is within the agency's existing authority to do this now.
Allowing the filing of AOS applications before final action dates are current. This would allow for a far more precise and efficient allocation of green cards to applications (eliminating waste) and also give individuals access to key benefits like portability, EADs and APs.
Arguments linking per-country caps to maintaining diversity in America are used repeatedly. They came up yet again during the house judiciary committee hearing on 04/28, so we wanted to take some time to address it. 1/12
The thing being considered right now, is the removal of per-country caps in EB immigration. The caps apply to immigrants in this category who are ALREADY in the US and have been awaiting their turn for a green card for years! 2/12
Eliminating these per-country caps wouldn't let in any more EB immigrants into the US annually than right now. It would just make it make everyone stand in the SAME LINE for them, irrespective of their country of birth. 3/12
