India-US relations: News and Discussions III

hanumadu · Post by **hanumadu** » 31 Jan 2017 14:12

Singha wrote:for people with huge loans currently studying in 2nd tier US univs its a bleak situation, not funny for sure.

If they still allow the 30 month OPT period, they should be OK.

Bart S · Post by **Bart S** » 31 Jan 2017 15:41

What would be the situation for someone working in a legit US MNC and is being asked to transfer over on L1? Is that going to go through the same fuss as well?

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 31 Jan 2017 15:53

hanumadu wrote:
komal wrote:
H1 visas benefit the USA more than they benefit India, China, etc. People want to come to the USA to work and live. For that benefit, foreign workers will do work that Americans will not (I am talking about debugging C++ code written in 1995, not picking grapes)
Yep, there is always some study or the other that show h1bs and even outsourcing bring net benefit to US.

Mostly outsourcing is done to increase the bonus of CEOs by cutting costs.

All through the CEO will proclaim loudly he cannot find local talent - which usually is a lie.

What really they are looking for is to suppress wages and get people working for peanuts.

That is the reality.

Trump appears to be shutting this down.

It is perhaps the first time in a long time that the US local tech worker isn't being short changed by politicians bought & paid for by lobbyists of the above tech companies, diploma & degree mills, banksters, immigration lawyers, real estate flippers - what could be broadly called "the immigration industry" that profit off this.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 31 Jan 2017 15:57

+108.

When we see even in the staff layoffs, we find only small people losing their jobs and bosses getting more and more.

komal · Post by **komal** » 31 Jan 2017 17:02

Neshant wrote:
hanumadu wrote:
Yep, there is always some study or the other that show h1bs and even outsourcing bring net benefit to US.

Mostly outsourcing is done to increase the bonus of CEOs by cutting costs.

All through the CEO will proclaim loudly he cannot find local talent - which usually is a lie.

What really they are looking for is to suppress wages and get people working for peanuts.

That is the reality.

Trump appears to be shutting this down.

It is perhaps the first time in a long time that the US local tech worker isn't being short changed by politicians bought & paid for by lobbyists of the above tech companies, diploma & degree mills, banksters, immigration lawyers, real estate flippers - what could be broadly called "the immigration industry" that profit off this.

That is free market capitalism. CEO have a duty to deliver the same product at the lowest cost. As I've posted elsewhere, if they can get the code done 90% cheaper elsewhere, they will do it. The need for developers to physically present on site has long since disappeared.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 31 Jan 2017 17:06

There will be more night time jobs in India.

In what why the H1 and Paki terrorist is connected? But presstitutes find a link.

http://www.firstpost.com/world/donald-t ... 39866.html

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 31 Jan 2017 17:06

I think people should consider this - Zoe Lofgren is a Democrat from a Silicon Valley congressional district. Her bill would have been designed as to not p*ss off her constituents; and perhaps to head off a harsher Republican bill.

Given Republican disdain for Democrats, Lofgren's bill is not likely to go anywhere. Either Lofgren's bill (HR 670) quickly finds some Republican sponsors, or else watch for some equivalent Republican bill.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Jan 2017 17:08

Bart S wrote:What would be the situation for someone working in a legit US MNC and is being asked to transfer over on L1? Is that going to go through the same fuss as well?

L1 has been misused because there were no annual limits, all it needed was a US registered subsidiary of the foreign firm, so the honest ones will now have 'deep vetting'

komal · Post by **komal** » 31 Jan 2017 17:08

Yagnasri wrote:+108.

When we see even in the staff layoffs, we find only small people losing their jobs and bosses getting more and more.

Isn't that the essence of free market capitalism? And the bosses are going to spend/invest that money in the USA.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Jan 2017 17:09

a democratic country cannot exist to feed and clothe the bosses alone. as it is, the US has wide wealth disparity among the OECD.

asgkhan · Post by **asgkhan** » 31 Jan 2017 17:11

I foresee a bright future for cut copy paste coding warriors working night shift . Bwahahahaha.

What about our dear andhra neighbours ? Of all the southern states, never have I see a more ambitious crowd planning to land in US and dream of high dowry !

asgkhan · Post by **asgkhan** » 31 Jan 2017 17:13

Singha wrote:^ amen to that sentiment birader, but you know and I know whats the reality - 80% of new itvity hiring is in blr onlee.

I am thinking of digging a secret Nusrat type tunnel from my home to a empty patch near my office..and install a small rail flatcar within for my commute. a good party place to hangout for future brf meetups unless SHQs launch drones to surveil the area and use ground penetrating radar before letting in swarms of black rats at both ends to maul us cowering mujaheeds.

I had to ditch my bullet and shift to activa because of the lovely traffic. Just one more year, and it will be a soothing 10 mins drive from my nava cave to HQ !!!! But I hope no more IT Vity campus in bellandur/orr axis of evil.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 31 Jan 2017 17:16

hanumadu wrote:It has been a lottery system for many years now and only one application per person or you will be disqualified.

Informally, I've been told that the multiple applications per person scam is still running.
The Wall Street Journal in June 2015 says so (of course, it is Murdoch Media):
https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies- ... 1433237586

Immigration lawyers involved in the process say they have helped firms file multiple H-1B skilled-worker visa applications for the same person. Some workers, meanwhile, are accepting offers from multiple employers, each of whom files a petition on their behalf, the lawyers say.

Such practices, which aren’t illegal, likely have occurred in the past without public notice but appear to be proliferating as the economy rebounds and competition for the coveted visas intensifies, immigration lawyers say. Smaller businesses say such moves disadvantage them because they can’t afford to match them. Lawyers charge $2,000 to $4,000 to prepare each petition.

It isn’t known how many of the record 233,000 applications filed in April for the 85,000 H-1B slots this year were duplicates. Some attorneys who prepare applications believe it could be thousands.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 31 Jan 2017 17:25

Multiple applications did happen last year despite the stiff fee increase

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 31 Jan 2017 22:51

komal wrote:
Neshant wrote:

Mostly outsourcing is done to increase the bonus of CEOs by cutting costs.

All through the CEO will proclaim loudly he cannot find local talent - which usually is a lie.

What really they are looking for is to suppress wages and get people working for peanuts.

That is the reality.

Trump appears to be shutting this down.

It is perhaps the first time in a long time that the US local tech worker isn't being short changed by politicians bought & paid for by lobbyists of the above tech companies, diploma & degree mills, banksters, immigration lawyers, real estate flippers - what could be broadly called "the immigration industry" that profit off this.
That is free market capitalism. CEO have a duty to deliver the same product at the lowest cost. As I've posted elsewhere, if they can get the code done 90% cheaper elsewhere, they will do it. The need for developers to physically present on site has long since disappeared.

There are no free markets as counties protect their domestic markets for their own local enterprise.
Can American companies export their cars duty free to India or China? Nope.
Till recently, the US tech worker has been fed the line of free market competition while his livelyhood was destroyed for CEO bonuses. This even while many companies lived off the US market, govt contracts both directly and indirectly.
But the tide is about to turn.

Companies that do the above are about to get a big tax bill from the US govt and get cut off from numerous govt contracts and subsidies which is connected to just about everything.

Ironically, we are about to see the free markets in action as the market (I.e the people) decide what is in their best interest as opposed to a few CEOs lining their pockets.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 01 Feb 2017 01:30

If markets were free, free trade agreements would not be really difficult to sign.
----

Anyway, what to make of this news-item?
http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 269_1.html

Kashmiri snowshoe athlete, Tanveer Hussain Parra, on Tuesday claimed he was denied visa by the US Embassy here, with officials citing the "current policy" under the Donald Trump administration.

Parra, 24, was scheduled to attend the World Snowshoe Federation (WSSF) World Championship on February 25 in Saranac Lake, New York.

President Trump last week signed an executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations and placed Pakistan under "extreme vetting", an action which has led to widespread protests.

Parra told IANS that he was denied the visa despite having completed all formalities, and that his documents were in order and checked by a US embassy official.

"However, the official later told me she was 'sorry' and added that 'under the current policy, we cannot issue you visa'," Parra said.

The US embassy told IANS that Indian citizens are "not affected" by the Trump administration order.

"For privacy reasons we cannot discuss specific visa cases. However, we note that Indian citizens are not affected by the recent executive order," a US Embassy spokesperson said, declining to be named.

Parra said he had got invitation letters for the US event from WSSF and Mayor of Saranac Lake Village, New York, which he emailed to IANS.

He was being accompanied by Abid Hussain Khan, Secretary General, Snowshoe Federation of India, for the US event.

Last year, Parra represented India during the World Snowshoe championship that was held in Vezza de Ogglio, Brescia, Italy, where he finished 31st in the senior category.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 01 Feb 2017 02:16

Kashmiri snowshoe athlete, Tanveer Hussain Parra

Hmm! Reading what the US embassy said, I wonder what is the meaning of "Kashmiri" and why was this guy part of the INDIAN team and accompanied by an INDIAN manager. The latter, though Muslim, appears to have had no trouble. So why was the "Kashmiri" targeted? If his passport was not Indian, why was he representing India? Something smells here. Are "Kashmiris" permitted to hold passport saying ANYTHING other than "Republic of India"?

Here is what the US Embassy said: not that I believe him, after all, look who is their Supreme Commander, hain:
"However, we note that Indian citizens are not affected by the recent executive order,"
That means:
a)Not issuing him the visa may not have had anything to with RECENT executive order, just habitual pakistan-headedness.
or
b)He is not an INDIAN citizen.

IANS in their usual clarity, leave this clear as mud.

Atmavik · Post by **Atmavik** » 01 Feb 2017 02:20

UlanBatori wrote:
Kashmiri snowshoe athlete, Tanveer Hussain Parra
Are "Kashmiris" permitted to hold passport saying ANYTHING other than "Republic of India"?

No.The whole drama with Gilani's passport rejection was that he refused to write Indian in citizenship column. DDM never reported this bit and MEA had to clarify it on twitter.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 01 Feb 2017 02:24

So I wonder if Parra pulled the same on whatever application/ entry form he filled:
"Nationality: Pakistan." or maybe "Undecided". or honestly, "Terrorist".

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 01 Feb 2017 02:28

hanumadu wrote:
Raja Bose wrote:
In people's republic of california, you can get 120+ at a reputed big or medium sized co, its not uncommon.
Are we talking about masters? And outside a top 20 college?

Yes. Top 40 college.

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 01 Feb 2017 02:28

LokeshC wrote:Not the first time, it has happened to a lot of Indian Americans. But the first time it made news. It used to be ignored earlier. Why it made news is something for us to ponder.

Aravinda Pillalamarri - that name sounds familiar. Wife of AID founder has a the same first name. AID was started in U of Maryland. Any connection?

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 01 Feb 2017 06:22

Confirmation of my above speculation follows.

Indian-American Who Inspired Swades Questioned On Immigration Status

Swadesh, a wonderful movie IMHO, was based on the life of Ravi Kuchimanchi (?), founder of AID India.

NEW YORK:
HIGHLIGHTS
Aravinda Pillalamarri was stopped by police near her home, questioned
Police say they asked her why she did not have identification
Incident comes amid tensions over Donald Trump's immigration policies
An Indian-American woman, who along with her husband had been the inspiration behind Shahrukh Khan's film Swades, was stopped and asked by police if she was in the US "illegally", an incident which comes amid rising fears over President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Ms Pillalamarri, has lived in Bel Air for more than 30 years and is a US citizen.

Aravinda Pillalamarri, 47 was walking in her Bel Air neighbourhood in Maryland on the morning of December 21, a routine with her, when she said she was stopped by a Bel Air Police Department officer, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Ms Pillalamarri, who was born in India but moved with her parents to the US when she was young, was asked by the police officer about what she was doing and she replied that she was walking.

The officer continued to ask several questions. When she asked why the officer was asking her so many questions, he replied because someone had called police. "Walking while brown?" Ms Pillalamarri then asked the officer.
...

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 01 Feb 2017 10:40

A_Gupta wrote: Kashmiri snowshoe athlete, Tanveer Hussain Parra,

Here's a theory.

US considers Kashmir a disputed territory.

Maybe the officer saw on his passport that his place of birth was Kashmir, decided he might fall under the category of a Pakistani, and decided not to let him in. Or perhaps that he comes from a conflict zone where terrorists are running around.

Whatever the case, I bet you all the Kashmir "azadi" pro-pakistani dudes will be distancing themselves from Pakistan post-haste when traveling abroad.

We already have some Pakistanis declaring themselves as Indians so as to not get harassed by knuckle head goras abroad.

Anyway he is our countryman and we should stand behind him.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 01 Feb 2017 13:08

An earthquake of global proportions is taking place as the Donald puts into place his electoral promises. No-one will be immune to the aftershocks.The ban on Muslims was expected and will have a salutary effect upon other states who've been using these "immigrants" as ready votebanks to remain in power,those shifty Zero-peons like Hollande,Merkel,etc.We can also expect quite a bit of damage,as the fall in value of our IT cos. has shown. The after-effects of our own little tremor,the annual budget in the wake of the earthquake of demonoitisation,in concert with the great "Trumpet" from the US of A, is going to be very interesting. Take out insurance gents,like the walls of Jericho in ancient times,this "Trumpet" from the White House is also going to knock down may walls...and build a new one to keep Mexicans out too!

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 01 Feb 2017 15:23

Neshant wrote:
A_Gupta wrote: Kashmiri snowshoe athlete, Tanveer Hussain Parra,
Anyway he is our countryman and we should stand behind him.

if he is from Kashmir, ofcourse we should stand with him and behind him - innocent until proven otherwise
that is the way forward

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 01 Feb 2017 15:35

Banning Israelis from muslim counties VERY OK. banning muslims from US discrimination!

60+years and still going and not one liberal had time to demonstrate in the streets. All these liberal are hypocrites, racists and also specifically anti semitic.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 01 Feb 2017 17:14

Lisa wrote:Banning Israelis from muslim counties VERY OK. banning muslims from US discrimination!

60+years and still going and not one liberal had time to demonstrate in the streets. All these liberal are hypocrites, racists and also specifically anti semitic.

Why? There is nothing to protest:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-b ... s-embassy/

The US Embassy in Tel Aviv has clarified that President Donald Trump’s travel ban will largely not affect the tens of thousands of Israeli Jews born in Middle Eastern countries.

A Tuesday statement said the controversial executive order would not be enforced against Israelis from those countries unless they possess a valid passport from one of the seven Arab countries banned under the directive.

“If you have a currently valid US visa in your Israeli passport and were born in Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen, and do not have a valid passport from one of these countries, your visa was not cancelled and remains valid,” the statement said.

Regarding those Israelis born in the seven countries who do have a valid passport from one of those countries, the embassy did not have definitive information, but seemed to indicate this would be handled on a case-by-case basis. “Authorization to enter the United States is always determined at the port of entry,” it said in the statement.

.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 01 Feb 2017 17:20

X posted from the political thread

Look at what Trump said at Oprah's show over 25 years ago. It's eerie.

VIDEO Uncovered Trump Interview From Over 25 Years Ago Will Shock A Lot of People

https://www.youtube.com/embed/MOKi5YeNtRI

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 01 Feb 2017 17:42

Guptaji, in case of any misunderstanding, since 1948, I think,

I quote,

"According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the banned countries of Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Libya all block Israeli citizens from entering their own countries, and the measures are also enforced in Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates."

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 01 Feb 2017 18:18

^^^
My Son got admission in a school where DT was a student( 2015 ). Students live like cadets and all the hard life that comes with that. Day before I was going to do first payment, the school went bankrupt. DT made an appeal for donations few years back but nothing. He could have saved the school easily but no. He is pucca marwadi. Have somebody noticed how he managed to decrease the price of F-35 and new Air Force One. Any other classical president would have ignored such things.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 01 Feb 2017 18:24

Lisa - how many of those countries recognise Israel as a nation-state?

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 01 Feb 2017 19:31

Looks like the move is just for show. But they do seem to be afraid of Trump wielding the big danda.
______

Pakistani militant leader placed under house arrest

http://www.straitstimes.com%2Fasia%2Fsouth-asia%2Fpakistani-militant-leader-placed-under-house-arrest

ISLAMABAD • After years of living in the open in Pakistan despite a US$10 million (S$14.2 million) US bounty on his head, the militant leader accused of orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks has been placed under house arrest in Lahore, Pakistani officials said.

The move against Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, founder of banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), came amid a reported new round of pressure by the United States to arrest Saeed and to ban Jamaat-ud- Dawwa (JuD), the charity he leads which has been accused by US officials of being a front for militants.

The News, a Pakistani English-language newspaper, reported on Monday that US officials in the latter days of the Obama administration had threatened sanctions or other penalties if action was not taken.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 01 Feb 2017 20:49

Lalmohanji, Are you supporting the justification to ban Israelis from muslim countries. or am I misunderstanding your point?

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 01 Feb 2017 21:43

i am saying that there is a long history to how that ban on Israelis has come about in a-rab and a-rab friendly countries
the US could have done something about this years ago, but never did

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 01 Feb 2017 22:02

I am not talking about the Americans. I am asking about the liberals who are protesting the world over. Where have they been since 1948. If not then, then why now?

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 01 Feb 2017 22:49

no one has made a big deal about it... many older Indians will know that there was a CHaap on their passports saying 'no going to Israel' for many years...

we gloss over the behaviour of arab governments towards our people, their people, other people - because the powers that be have told us that this is not worth getting excited over

the excitement over the current issues are partly spontaneous, but are also being fed by various vested interests

we are all being manipulated

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 01 Feb 2017 22:59

expect mayhem soon.. the dems will soon explode with ex-Pelosi-ves.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 01 Feb 2017 23:00

Lisa wrote:Guptaji, in case of any misunderstanding, since 1948, I think,

I quote,

"According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the banned countries of Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Libya all block Israeli citizens from entering their own countries, and the measures are also enforced in Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates."

And, do note:

"According to Israeli law, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen and Iran are enemy countries and an Israeli citizen may not visit them without a special permit issued by the Israeli minister of the interior. An Israeli who visits these countries, be it with a foreign passport or an Israeli one, may be prosecuted when coming back to Israel. This list was set in 1954, and was updated only once, on 25 July 2007 to include Iran." (via Wiki).

Manny · Post by **Manny** » 02 Feb 2017 07:31

I am totally enjoying the Trump Presidency!

YES... THERE IS SUCH A THING CALLED ISLAMIC TERRORISM. The leftist jerks like Oshama and Shillary who refused to use the word "Islamic" terrorism.. and the leftists of India who had no qualms about using "Hindu Terrorism" can squirm all they want... I am enjoying this!

LOL

darshan · Post by **darshan** » 02 Feb 2017 09:02

+1
Without any question what a sea change in terms of starting up conversations at work about muslims, islam, and 9/11 terrorists and countries they came from. Even if it is all for political appeasement by Trump (for example, sending out sorries to KSA etc. in advance).