GCA
05-18 06:04 PM
Since the queue for EB3 India is very long, and if many EB3 India people change over to EB2, that will slow down EB2 India and this is what the May 2011 Visa Bulletin also says.
But shouldnt this make EB3 India go faster?
Then why do we see slow movement in EB3 India?
EB3 is currently in mid 2002. All EB3 filers till 2003 and may be early 2004 have waited enough and don't want to port at this time. till mid 2003, most of them received the GC during 2007 From my perspective, I don't even care if it ever comes. Couple of more years on EAD and I am set to go back. Having said that, I will still take the gc anytime it comes and if comes:). Just not after it.
EB3 to EB2 porting is more done by filers from 2004 thru' 2007 and for a good reason too. ( they will not get in a decade if they stay in EB3 unless recapture or other bills goes thru').
So to answer the question, porting will not easy the traffic until the date moves to end of 2003, then you can see some improvement as some of the original EB3's have made a smart choice and probably weree citizens by then.
But shouldnt this make EB3 India go faster?
Then why do we see slow movement in EB3 India?
EB3 is currently in mid 2002. All EB3 filers till 2003 and may be early 2004 have waited enough and don't want to port at this time. till mid 2003, most of them received the GC during 2007 From my perspective, I don't even care if it ever comes. Couple of more years on EAD and I am set to go back. Having said that, I will still take the gc anytime it comes and if comes:). Just not after it.
EB3 to EB2 porting is more done by filers from 2004 thru' 2007 and for a good reason too. ( they will not get in a decade if they stay in EB3 unless recapture or other bills goes thru').
So to answer the question, porting will not easy the traffic until the date moves to end of 2003, then you can see some improvement as some of the original EB3's have made a smart choice and probably weree citizens by then.
fide_champ
02-15 08:56 AM
yes, you can. I did it last summer. the first officer at the border did not know the rule and said we could not enter, then an older officer came and said we could. they let us in with expired visa but approved h-1b extension notice
Thank you very much. do you know suppose if we go for stamping our visa and for some reason they reject it, can we still enter USA? I am just trying to evaluate different options and the risks in each of them so that we can choose the best that works for us....
Thank you very much. do you know suppose if we go for stamping our visa and for some reason they reject it, can we still enter USA? I am just trying to evaluate different options and the risks in each of them so that we can choose the best that works for us....
chanduy9
07-05 11:47 AM
Hi Guys,
We have do it in a smart way. We need to get the atten of media.
Send the flowers on july 10th. If lot of people do this the media will cover this.
Just my idea.
Thanks,
Chandra.
We have do it in a smart way. We need to get the atten of media.
Send the flowers on july 10th. If lot of people do this the media will cover this.
Just my idea.
Thanks,
Chandra.
hypersphere
01-05 04:05 PM
I Agree there are some particularly bright ideas about fund raising but I dont think there is any significant variety in opinions regarding immigration floating around that we might miss. I would rather have people put their opinions into practise (by contributing) rather than simply share them.
more...
alterego
06-19 12:05 PM
I wanted to start this thread so we could get together a plan of action for victims of undue processing delays for EAD/AP. This is a very serious and upcoming issue and we would all be well served to pool ideas.
Here is what I have so far. Some ideas based on my experience and some on searching the web.
1) Apply for your EAD atleast 120 days ahead of the expiry of the current one(USCIS now reccomends 6mths ahead!) Yes you may lose time if they approve it early but atleast, you have the peace of mind and it gives you 30 days breathing space in case of RFE or to get an interim EAD.
2) Check for a LUD at or slightly after 80 days pending. Contact your lawyer at about this time for suggestions.
3) Schedule an infopass appointment for day 91. Ask for the interim EAD.
You can also call the regional service center if you wish.
4) Contact your congressman's office at about this time and ask for their assistance in expediting this request.
5) Fedex an application for an interim EAD the same day. Include a copy of your current EAD copy, your pending 485 on which the interim benefits are based and a copy of attendance at any recently done biometrics.
6) Consider talking with your employer to take a few days off while sorting this out.
If anyone has any additions to this checklist of items or suggestions/modifications. Let me know.
Here is what I have so far. Some ideas based on my experience and some on searching the web.
1) Apply for your EAD atleast 120 days ahead of the expiry of the current one(USCIS now reccomends 6mths ahead!) Yes you may lose time if they approve it early but atleast, you have the peace of mind and it gives you 30 days breathing space in case of RFE or to get an interim EAD.
2) Check for a LUD at or slightly after 80 days pending. Contact your lawyer at about this time for suggestions.
3) Schedule an infopass appointment for day 91. Ask for the interim EAD.
You can also call the regional service center if you wish.
4) Contact your congressman's office at about this time and ask for their assistance in expediting this request.
5) Fedex an application for an interim EAD the same day. Include a copy of your current EAD copy, your pending 485 on which the interim benefits are based and a copy of attendance at any recently done biometrics.
6) Consider talking with your employer to take a few days off while sorting this out.
If anyone has any additions to this checklist of items or suggestions/modifications. Let me know.
Pineapple
08-05 08:27 PM
I have to self file I-765. My 485 filed by employer to Lincoln, Nebraska. Address not know to me.
Please some one post where i can send my 765 application before Aug 17.
Thanks
If you are mailing via courier, then send it to
USCIS
Nebraska Service Center
850 S. Street
Lincoln, NE 68508-1225
Hope this helps.
Please some one post where i can send my 765 application before Aug 17.
Thanks
If you are mailing via courier, then send it to
USCIS
Nebraska Service Center
850 S. Street
Lincoln, NE 68508-1225
Hope this helps.
more...
desi485
07-27 12:04 PM
I forgot it initially and later realized that. fortunately my lawyer was still reviewing my papers (almost 4 weeks). so I sent him new copies. He included new copies and discarded old one. .Also some one told me that it should match what you specified in DS-156 at the time of visa interview. IS THIS TRUE?
Anders �stberg
May 31st, 2004, 03:47 PM
Fun series.
However, I can't help but feel slightly envious. The ducks approach me too, but as soon as I whip my camera out they dart away (only to return as soon as the camera is safely tucked back into the bag again).
OTOH, I don't bring duck-food with me... :)
On a more serious note: Aren't you afraid of making them a tad too tame? Won't they become easy prey once the wabbit season is over and duck season starts? (Crispy duck tastes extremely good, but I try to avoid eating duck if I can help it -- they're just too cute! :D)
Duck food / bribes is a must, otherwise they ignore me totally. I gave them bran flakes today as this was all I had at home, hope that's acceptable for duck digestion. :)
These ducks are too tame already, people feed them all day long at this small lake. This particular one was a bit too unafraid though, quacking at me and biting my jacket if I didn't give her more food. Some person is bound to abuse that trust some day and do something nasty I'm afraid.
However, I can't help but feel slightly envious. The ducks approach me too, but as soon as I whip my camera out they dart away (only to return as soon as the camera is safely tucked back into the bag again).
OTOH, I don't bring duck-food with me... :)
On a more serious note: Aren't you afraid of making them a tad too tame? Won't they become easy prey once the wabbit season is over and duck season starts? (Crispy duck tastes extremely good, but I try to avoid eating duck if I can help it -- they're just too cute! :D)
Duck food / bribes is a must, otherwise they ignore me totally. I gave them bran flakes today as this was all I had at home, hope that's acceptable for duck digestion. :)
These ducks are too tame already, people feed them all day long at this small lake. This particular one was a bit too unafraid though, quacking at me and biting my jacket if I didn't give her more food. Some person is bound to abuse that trust some day and do something nasty I'm afraid.
more...
sertasheep
03-07 05:58 PM
Immigration Voice will conduct conference calls periodically with immigration attorneys regarding issues affecting employment-based immigration.
The scope of discussion would be around issues pertaining to employment-based immigration law impacting highly-skilled primary beneficiaries as well as their dependents.
Immigration Voice provides this at no cost to all registered members. Members can benefit from this free advice, and access links to the recordings, transcripts and more.
How it works:
- Members email their questions to Immigration Voice (see procedure below)
- Since this is a pro-bono service from the attorneys at this time, please use your judgment on questions that are time-sensitive and require immediate consultation. Due to the volume of questions as well as availability of the attorney, please permit for more than the standard response time you would expect from a paid consultation
- During the pre-determined conference call, Immigration voice moderates the call and poses questions to the attorney
The lawyer(s) would answer accepted questions on the phone call in real time.
- We would allow one followup question from the person who originally submitted the question.
- The call and advice would be free to cost to everyone. After the call, the recording would be available for members to playback. If time permits, we will also post the pdf file transcript of questions-answers for the benefit of everyone.
- The question-answer session does not constitute any attorney-client relationship or any attorney-client privileges. The advice would be given based on information provided in the question which may not be sufficient for a complete answer.
- Questions that are related to H1, L1, H4, visa-stamping, employment based Green card etc will take higher priority over all other questions pertaining to areas of immigration that are not related to H1 or EB greencard. This is because this organization represents legal highly-skilled employment based immigrants.
- If your question is received after the cutoff date wherein the attorney accepts questions, such questions will be carried over to the next conference call due to paucity of time.
- Questions would be considered on a FIFO basis(First In, First Out), and a unique ID will be assigned to each question that will be used through the lifecycle of that question(Real FIFO, not BEC type FIFO).
How to submit your questions:
Please read the disclaimer below before submitting your questions via email.Please provide us with the following information, preferably in the following format, and keep it consise and crisp:
Email with Subject Line saying : Seeking Legal Opinion.
Email Address: legal_advise@immigrationvoice.org
Your Info: Please mention your first Name, City and State, so that we can use it to announce your question in the call. That way, your question would be distinguished from similar sounding questions.
Your Country of Citizenship: If your spouse is from a country other than yours, please specify both your countries of citizenship
Your Questions: Provide some clear background. Avoid questions with long and complicated case-specific situations that are like "Can I do X? If yes then is option A or option B better? If option A then can I file this? IF option B then can I file this? If B fails then can I refile A?". Such flow-chart and if-then-else type questions would be taken up only if time is left and attorney is comfortable in answering questions with limited information of your situation.
------------------------------------------------------------------
REQUEST: In the interest of everyone, we request you to run a spellcheck on your questions before you email them to us, to minimize the effort taken by us to clean up and send to the attorney. It provides a professional touch if we use formal, business English. (i.e., refrain from using slang, shorthand, abbreviations, all capitals, all lowercase, colloquialism, et-al).Microsoft Word, among other Word Processors provide excellent spell checkers and thesaurus options to help you with this.
------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
By participating in any conference calls or reviewing a transcript or recording of any conference calls, you agree that you have read and understand the following disclaimer:
The information provided during these conference calls as well as any transcripts or recordings posted on this website or websites of participating law firms or attorneys is of a general nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or to all circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of any participating attorneys or in any way establish an attorney-client relationship with any participating attorneys. You should not rely solely upon information that you may receive during any conference calls, or any transcripts or recordings of conference calls. You should consult an attorney of your choosing to obtain advice for your particular situation. Laws and regulations are constantly changing. The information provided during any conference calls and their transcripts or recordings was pertinent at the time of the conference calls, but may become outdated. We are not responsible in any way for any outdated materials.
IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTICIPATING ATTORNEYS, LAW FIRMS, INDIVIDUALS, OR IMMIGRATION VOICE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONFERENCE CALLS, THE USE OF THIS WEBSITE, OR ANY OTHER WEBSITE WHERE TRANSCRIPTS OR RECORDINGS MAY BE POSTED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARISE OUT OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Recordings from Previously Held Conference calls:
These can be accessed at Immigration Voice's Blog on Blogspot.com (http://immigrationvoice.blogspot.com/)
Transcripts from Previously Held Conference calls:
Transcripts of previous calls can be accessed here (http://immigrationvoice.blogspot.com/2006/12/check-out-my-public-files-on-mydatabus.html)
The scope of discussion would be around issues pertaining to employment-based immigration law impacting highly-skilled primary beneficiaries as well as their dependents.
Immigration Voice provides this at no cost to all registered members. Members can benefit from this free advice, and access links to the recordings, transcripts and more.
How it works:
- Members email their questions to Immigration Voice (see procedure below)
- Since this is a pro-bono service from the attorneys at this time, please use your judgment on questions that are time-sensitive and require immediate consultation. Due to the volume of questions as well as availability of the attorney, please permit for more than the standard response time you would expect from a paid consultation
- During the pre-determined conference call, Immigration voice moderates the call and poses questions to the attorney
The lawyer(s) would answer accepted questions on the phone call in real time.
- We would allow one followup question from the person who originally submitted the question.
- The call and advice would be free to cost to everyone. After the call, the recording would be available for members to playback. If time permits, we will also post the pdf file transcript of questions-answers for the benefit of everyone.
- The question-answer session does not constitute any attorney-client relationship or any attorney-client privileges. The advice would be given based on information provided in the question which may not be sufficient for a complete answer.
- Questions that are related to H1, L1, H4, visa-stamping, employment based Green card etc will take higher priority over all other questions pertaining to areas of immigration that are not related to H1 or EB greencard. This is because this organization represents legal highly-skilled employment based immigrants.
- If your question is received after the cutoff date wherein the attorney accepts questions, such questions will be carried over to the next conference call due to paucity of time.
- Questions would be considered on a FIFO basis(First In, First Out), and a unique ID will be assigned to each question that will be used through the lifecycle of that question(Real FIFO, not BEC type FIFO).
How to submit your questions:
Please read the disclaimer below before submitting your questions via email.Please provide us with the following information, preferably in the following format, and keep it consise and crisp:
Email with Subject Line saying : Seeking Legal Opinion.
Email Address: legal_advise@immigrationvoice.org
Your Info: Please mention your first Name, City and State, so that we can use it to announce your question in the call. That way, your question would be distinguished from similar sounding questions.
Your Country of Citizenship: If your spouse is from a country other than yours, please specify both your countries of citizenship
Your Questions: Provide some clear background. Avoid questions with long and complicated case-specific situations that are like "Can I do X? If yes then is option A or option B better? If option A then can I file this? IF option B then can I file this? If B fails then can I refile A?". Such flow-chart and if-then-else type questions would be taken up only if time is left and attorney is comfortable in answering questions with limited information of your situation.
------------------------------------------------------------------
REQUEST: In the interest of everyone, we request you to run a spellcheck on your questions before you email them to us, to minimize the effort taken by us to clean up and send to the attorney. It provides a professional touch if we use formal, business English. (i.e., refrain from using slang, shorthand, abbreviations, all capitals, all lowercase, colloquialism, et-al).Microsoft Word, among other Word Processors provide excellent spell checkers and thesaurus options to help you with this.
------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
By participating in any conference calls or reviewing a transcript or recording of any conference calls, you agree that you have read and understand the following disclaimer:
The information provided during these conference calls as well as any transcripts or recordings posted on this website or websites of participating law firms or attorneys is of a general nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or to all circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of any participating attorneys or in any way establish an attorney-client relationship with any participating attorneys. You should not rely solely upon information that you may receive during any conference calls, or any transcripts or recordings of conference calls. You should consult an attorney of your choosing to obtain advice for your particular situation. Laws and regulations are constantly changing. The information provided during any conference calls and their transcripts or recordings was pertinent at the time of the conference calls, but may become outdated. We are not responsible in any way for any outdated materials.
IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTICIPATING ATTORNEYS, LAW FIRMS, INDIVIDUALS, OR IMMIGRATION VOICE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONFERENCE CALLS, THE USE OF THIS WEBSITE, OR ANY OTHER WEBSITE WHERE TRANSCRIPTS OR RECORDINGS MAY BE POSTED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARISE OUT OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Recordings from Previously Held Conference calls:
These can be accessed at Immigration Voice's Blog on Blogspot.com (http://immigrationvoice.blogspot.com/)
Transcripts from Previously Held Conference calls:
Transcripts of previous calls can be accessed here (http://immigrationvoice.blogspot.com/2006/12/check-out-my-public-files-on-mydatabus.html)
Lasantha
12-13 09:25 AM
How come you got two red square thingies with just one post? :confused::eek::cool::D
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin for January 2008 contains more bad news for Indian nationals in the EB2 category. The cutoff date for EB2, India, retrogressed by two additional years, to January 1, 2000. Moreover, the prediction contained in the Visa Bulletin for EB2, India, is that the annual limit could be reached within the next few months. If this occurs, the category will become "unavailable" for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The explanation for this is simply that demand for visa numbers by the USCIS for EB2, India, adjustment-of-status cases far exceeds supply
EB3 cutoff dates either remained unchanged or moved slightly forward, depending upon country of chargeability. The January Visa Bulletin cutoff dates become effective on January 1, 2008. Until that time, the December 2007 Visa Bulletin cutoff dates remain valid.
thanks
ram
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin for January 2008 contains more bad news for Indian nationals in the EB2 category. The cutoff date for EB2, India, retrogressed by two additional years, to January 1, 2000. Moreover, the prediction contained in the Visa Bulletin for EB2, India, is that the annual limit could be reached within the next few months. If this occurs, the category will become "unavailable" for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The explanation for this is simply that demand for visa numbers by the USCIS for EB2, India, adjustment-of-status cases far exceeds supply
EB3 cutoff dates either remained unchanged or moved slightly forward, depending upon country of chargeability. The January Visa Bulletin cutoff dates become effective on January 1, 2008. Until that time, the December 2007 Visa Bulletin cutoff dates remain valid.
thanks
ram
more...
GCBoy786
08-27 06:31 PM
I called USCIS and they told me to wait for 30 days and then give them a call back. If I call them after 30 days about the missing card, they might open a case for it. I am not sure how many days it will take for them to send the replacement card.
Should I go ahead and send them the replacement application for the missing EAD? any suggestions/experiences?
Should I go ahead and send them the replacement application for the missing EAD? any suggestions/experiences?
brb2
04-15 10:13 PM
The objective here is two prong. The bill allows for US STEM MS/PhDs to work 3 years on a special F1 visa (3 year OPT against current 1 year). They can then "Self-Petition" to adjust status to permanent residence. Now the non US STEM 3 year requirement is to ensure they don't get special preference over US qualified applicants. Additionally, the 3 year working in the US rule most importantly prevents anyone say in India applying for permanent residence based on 3 years work experience say in Bangalore. Thus, this would allow a person 3 years on H1B in STEM to adjust status. However this itself will have a cap for non US STEM due to limited H1B visas. Additionally there is a move to limit the foreign STEM graduates to be working in the field not just qualification as opposed to US graduates. So a STEM from say India would need to be working in the field for 3 years on H1B (or other non-immigrant visa) to be eligible to apply.
more...
funny
09-16 12:22 PM
It happened to me as well, Last year my denied my Wife AP the Reson was that her 485 is approved, we send them the letter that its not the case and it was a mistake.....In the end we had to re- apply. I wonder if they can Print it on the same day in case of an emergency, why can't they give you the one which is already approved....weired people ...weired USCIS...
roseball
07-28 03:10 PM
We are planning to go to India in the last week of September. My current AP expires by Oct 10. Hence applying for a new one. How long are AP approvals taking now a days at TSC.
Thanks in advance
-Krishna
I e-filed my AP renewal on May 25th, mailed the supporting docs the next day. TSC approved my AP on June 19th and I received the AP in mail on June 21st.
Thanks in advance
-Krishna
I e-filed my AP renewal on May 25th, mailed the supporting docs the next day. TSC approved my AP on June 19th and I received the AP in mail on June 21st.
more...
redViper
04-28 08:44 AM
cybergold
USDream2Dust
04-16 03:21 PM
I was thinking on same lines. Who cares for h1 if 485 is denied. As days pass everything becomes so difficult. H1 used to be breeze 2 years back and now a lottery. GC is already retrogressed. Who knows when you start all over your GC again after 485 rejected what will happen.
I would add another point at 5th line.
You have 2 choices.
First what kumar1 said.
second stay in US illegal like millions of other people and get GC even faster.
USDream2dust
1. Sell all my stuff.
2. Transfer all my liquid money to home country.
2. Rent a one way van in New York.
3. Drive cross country with family and have fun. Meet all my friends on the way.
4. Return the van in San Francisco, take one way ticket to India.
5. Start a fresh life in India, free of immigration woes.
6. May be use I-485 receipt in Air India toilet on the way home (might hurt a bit but that is OK).
If after 10 years in this country, I-485 gets denied, I would not care for my H1-B status at all. I am speaking out of my heart, please do not give me red dots for that.[/QUOTE]
I would add another point at 5th line.
You have 2 choices.
First what kumar1 said.
second stay in US illegal like millions of other people and get GC even faster.
USDream2dust
1. Sell all my stuff.
2. Transfer all my liquid money to home country.
2. Rent a one way van in New York.
3. Drive cross country with family and have fun. Meet all my friends on the way.
4. Return the van in San Francisco, take one way ticket to India.
5. Start a fresh life in India, free of immigration woes.
6. May be use I-485 receipt in Air India toilet on the way home (might hurt a bit but that is OK).
If after 10 years in this country, I-485 gets denied, I would not care for my H1-B status at all. I am speaking out of my heart, please do not give me red dots for that.[/QUOTE]
more...
desi3933
03-27 03:51 PM
Thats not the case. USCIS will revoke employment based AOS since mariage based AOS has higher priority. ...
May I ask, where did you get this (incorrect) info from? Do you know that one can file only I-485 that is linked to I-130 as well as I-140. Read I-485 form.
________________
Not a legal advice.
May I ask, where did you get this (incorrect) info from? Do you know that one can file only I-485 that is linked to I-130 as well as I-140. Read I-485 form.
________________
Not a legal advice.
purgan
01-06 11:20 PM
What the failure to pass the Appropriations bills means to American science...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW YORK TIMES
January 7, 2007
Congressional Budget Delay Stymies Scientific Research
By WILLIAM J. BROAD
The failure of Congress to pass new budgets for the current fiscal year has produced a crisis in science financing that threatens to close major facilities, delay new projects and leave thousands of government scientists out of work, federal and private officials say.
�The consequences for American science will be disastrous,� said Michael S. Lubell, a senior official of the American Physical Society, the world�s largest group of physicists. �The message to young scientists and industry leaders, alike, will be, �Look outside the U.S. if you want to succeed.� �
Last year, Congress passed just 2 of 11 spending bills � for the military and domestic security � and froze all other federal spending at 2006 levels. Factoring in inflation, the budgets translate into reductions of about 3 percent to 4 percent for most fields of science and engineering.
Representative Rush D. Holt, a New Jersey Democrat and a physicist, said that scientists, in most cases, were likely to see little or no relief. �It�s that bad,� Mr. Holt said. �For this year, it�s going to be belt tightening all around.�
Congressional Democrats said last month that they would not try to finish multiple spending bills left hanging by the departed Republican majority and would instead keep most government agencies operating under their current budgets until next fall. Except for the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, the government is being financed under a stopgap resolution. It expires Feb. 15, and Democrats said they planned to extend a similar resolution through Sept. 30.
Some Republicans favored not finishing the bills because of automatic savings achieved by forgoing expected spending increases. Democrats and Republicans alike say that operating under current budgets, in some cases with less money, can strap federal agencies and lead to major disruptions in service.
Scientists say that is especially true for the physical sciences, which include physics, chemistry and astronomy. When it comes to federal financing, such fields in recent years have fared poorly compared with biology. The National Institutes of Health, for instance, spend more than $28 billion annually on biomedical programs, five times more than all federal spending for physical sciences.
For 2007, Congress and the Bush administration agreed that the federal budget for the physical sciences should get a major increase. A year ago, in his American Competitiveness Initiative, President Bush called for doubling the money for science over a decade. That prompted schools and federal laboratories to prepare for long-deferred repairs and expansions, plans that appear now to be in jeopardy.
Among the projects at risk is the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, on Long Island. The $600 million machine � 2.4 miles in circumference � slams together subatomic particles to recreate conditions at the beginning of time, some 14 billion years ago, so scientists can study the Big Bang theory. It was already operating partly on charitable contributions, officials say, and now could shut down entirely, throwing its 1,069 specialists into limbo.
�For us, it�s quite serious,� said Sam Aronson, the Brookhaven director. For the nation, Dr. Aronson added, the timing is especially bad because the collider has given the United States a head start on European rivals, who hope to build a more powerful machine.
�Things are pretty miserable for a year in which people talked a lot about regaining our competitive edge,� Dr. Aronson said. �I think all that�s stalled.�
Another potential victim is the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois, where a four-mile-long collider investigates the building blocks of matter. Its director, Piermaria Oddone, said the laboratory would close for a month as most of the staff of 4,200 are sent home.
Congress and the Bush administration could restore much of the science financing in the 2008 budget. Scientists say it would help enormously, but add that senior staff members by that point may have already abandoned major projects for other jobs that were more stable.
Other projects affected by the budget freeze include:
�A $1.4 billion particle accelerator at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee meant to probe the fine structure of materials and aid in cutting-edge technologies. Its opening might be delayed a year.
�A $30 million contribution to a global team designing an experimental reactor to fuse atoms rather than break them apart. Controlled fusion, if successful, would offer a nearly inexhaustible source of energy.
�A $440 million X-ray machine some two miles long at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in California that would act like a microscope to peer inside materials, aiding science and industry. Construction, begun last year, would slow.
�It�s pretty bad,� said Burton Richter, a Nobel laureate in physics. �There�s going to be another year of stagnation. That hurts a lot.�
The National Science Foundation, which supports basic research at universities, had expected a $400 million increase over the $5.7 billion budget it received in 2006. Now, the freeze is prompting program cuts, delays and slowdowns.
�It�s rather devastating,� said Jeff Nesbit, the foundation�s head of legislative and public affairs. �While $400 million in the grand scheme of things might seem like decimal dust, it�s hugely important for universities that rely on N.S.F. funding.�
The threatened programs include a $50 million plan to build a supercomputer that universities would use to push back frontiers in science and engineering; a $310 million observatory meant to study the ocean environment from the seabed to the surface; a $62 million contribution to a global program of polar research involving 10 other nations; and a $98 million ship to explore the Arctic, including the thinning of its sheath of floating sea ice.
Missions at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are also threatened, with $100 million in cuts. Paul Hertz, the chief scientist at NASA�s science mission directorate, said potential victims included programs to explore Mars, astrophysics and space weather.
Physicists said a partial solution to the crisis would let the Energy Department do what it wanted to do all along for 2007: move $500 million left over from environmental cleanup accounts into the physical sciences. That would require Congressional approval but no budget increase.
Raymond L. Orbach, the department�s under secretary for science, in a recent statement seemed to call for such legislative relief.
�A yearlong continuing resolution takes away many of the opportunities for advancing science,� Dr. Orbach said. �We urge Congress to continue critical investments in America�s scientific leadership.�
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW YORK TIMES
January 7, 2007
Congressional Budget Delay Stymies Scientific Research
By WILLIAM J. BROAD
The failure of Congress to pass new budgets for the current fiscal year has produced a crisis in science financing that threatens to close major facilities, delay new projects and leave thousands of government scientists out of work, federal and private officials say.
�The consequences for American science will be disastrous,� said Michael S. Lubell, a senior official of the American Physical Society, the world�s largest group of physicists. �The message to young scientists and industry leaders, alike, will be, �Look outside the U.S. if you want to succeed.� �
Last year, Congress passed just 2 of 11 spending bills � for the military and domestic security � and froze all other federal spending at 2006 levels. Factoring in inflation, the budgets translate into reductions of about 3 percent to 4 percent for most fields of science and engineering.
Representative Rush D. Holt, a New Jersey Democrat and a physicist, said that scientists, in most cases, were likely to see little or no relief. �It�s that bad,� Mr. Holt said. �For this year, it�s going to be belt tightening all around.�
Congressional Democrats said last month that they would not try to finish multiple spending bills left hanging by the departed Republican majority and would instead keep most government agencies operating under their current budgets until next fall. Except for the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, the government is being financed under a stopgap resolution. It expires Feb. 15, and Democrats said they planned to extend a similar resolution through Sept. 30.
Some Republicans favored not finishing the bills because of automatic savings achieved by forgoing expected spending increases. Democrats and Republicans alike say that operating under current budgets, in some cases with less money, can strap federal agencies and lead to major disruptions in service.
Scientists say that is especially true for the physical sciences, which include physics, chemistry and astronomy. When it comes to federal financing, such fields in recent years have fared poorly compared with biology. The National Institutes of Health, for instance, spend more than $28 billion annually on biomedical programs, five times more than all federal spending for physical sciences.
For 2007, Congress and the Bush administration agreed that the federal budget for the physical sciences should get a major increase. A year ago, in his American Competitiveness Initiative, President Bush called for doubling the money for science over a decade. That prompted schools and federal laboratories to prepare for long-deferred repairs and expansions, plans that appear now to be in jeopardy.
Among the projects at risk is the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, on Long Island. The $600 million machine � 2.4 miles in circumference � slams together subatomic particles to recreate conditions at the beginning of time, some 14 billion years ago, so scientists can study the Big Bang theory. It was already operating partly on charitable contributions, officials say, and now could shut down entirely, throwing its 1,069 specialists into limbo.
�For us, it�s quite serious,� said Sam Aronson, the Brookhaven director. For the nation, Dr. Aronson added, the timing is especially bad because the collider has given the United States a head start on European rivals, who hope to build a more powerful machine.
�Things are pretty miserable for a year in which people talked a lot about regaining our competitive edge,� Dr. Aronson said. �I think all that�s stalled.�
Another potential victim is the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois, where a four-mile-long collider investigates the building blocks of matter. Its director, Piermaria Oddone, said the laboratory would close for a month as most of the staff of 4,200 are sent home.
Congress and the Bush administration could restore much of the science financing in the 2008 budget. Scientists say it would help enormously, but add that senior staff members by that point may have already abandoned major projects for other jobs that were more stable.
Other projects affected by the budget freeze include:
�A $1.4 billion particle accelerator at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee meant to probe the fine structure of materials and aid in cutting-edge technologies. Its opening might be delayed a year.
�A $30 million contribution to a global team designing an experimental reactor to fuse atoms rather than break them apart. Controlled fusion, if successful, would offer a nearly inexhaustible source of energy.
�A $440 million X-ray machine some two miles long at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in California that would act like a microscope to peer inside materials, aiding science and industry. Construction, begun last year, would slow.
�It�s pretty bad,� said Burton Richter, a Nobel laureate in physics. �There�s going to be another year of stagnation. That hurts a lot.�
The National Science Foundation, which supports basic research at universities, had expected a $400 million increase over the $5.7 billion budget it received in 2006. Now, the freeze is prompting program cuts, delays and slowdowns.
�It�s rather devastating,� said Jeff Nesbit, the foundation�s head of legislative and public affairs. �While $400 million in the grand scheme of things might seem like decimal dust, it�s hugely important for universities that rely on N.S.F. funding.�
The threatened programs include a $50 million plan to build a supercomputer that universities would use to push back frontiers in science and engineering; a $310 million observatory meant to study the ocean environment from the seabed to the surface; a $62 million contribution to a global program of polar research involving 10 other nations; and a $98 million ship to explore the Arctic, including the thinning of its sheath of floating sea ice.
Missions at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are also threatened, with $100 million in cuts. Paul Hertz, the chief scientist at NASA�s science mission directorate, said potential victims included programs to explore Mars, astrophysics and space weather.
Physicists said a partial solution to the crisis would let the Energy Department do what it wanted to do all along for 2007: move $500 million left over from environmental cleanup accounts into the physical sciences. That would require Congressional approval but no budget increase.
Raymond L. Orbach, the department�s under secretary for science, in a recent statement seemed to call for such legislative relief.
�A yearlong continuing resolution takes away many of the opportunities for advancing science,� Dr. Orbach said. �We urge Congress to continue critical investments in America�s scientific leadership.�
Jerry2121
07-02 01:22 PM
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anilsal
12-13 10:55 AM
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new2gc
02-16 10:47 AM
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