20000 Additional H1B Visa

Respected Sir/Madam,

Greetings!

We, the undersigned, are signing this online petition to express our views in regards to the delay in releasing the additional 20,000 H1B visas that was created by Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 for individuals holding advanced degrees (masters or higher degree) from US universities.

Employers regarded March 8, 2005 as the effective filing date for the law confirming the Omnibus Appropriations Act. The USCIS press release on March 4, 2005 asking the employers not to file H-1B under this act until further notice has a severe impact on US employers project commitments.

It is a very difficult phase for both employers and the prospective employees since March 4, 2005, expecting guidelines to come out anytime. In addition to the above mentioned, employers are holding back on their decisions after the final interviews due to contradicting press releases from the USCIS regarding the eligibility of applicants.

We totally understand that the USCIS has made considerable progress by working on this issue, but at the least, they could have given a press release updating employers either about the current status of the situation or an approximate time for releasing the guidelines.

We believe it is unfair on behalf of the USCIS, for not addressing the international students who are forced into the 60-day grace period and are eagerly expecting every single day for the guidelines. In the midst of this indefinite wait, we are ambiguous about filing for FY 2006 quota now and upon approval thereby, requesting for a change of start date to immediate, after the guidelines are released. The USCIS has once again failed to provide us with information pertaining to this aspect as well.

We have the impression that it is a privilege to provide our services for US employers, but the opportunity seems elusive as every day passes. We thereby kindly request you to represent us and address the above-mentioned issues to the concerned authorities. If there is an option for the OMB to review the guidelines quickly due to the impact of the delay, we will be more than delighted.

This letter is written with the intention to create awareness about the traumatic experience of immigrants due to the irregularities in the enforcement of the said law already signed by the President of United States. We sincerely hope that such immigration issues are
dealt in a more responsible way in the future.

We are very grateful to you for reading our petition and are eagerly expecting a representation from your office on our behalf.