psaxena
01-19 10:05 AM
Thought morons like you never existed..after reading your post I believe definitely they do exists. Do everyone a favor by just keeping your hands off the keyboard or this website.
Why do you think that you are doing a favor to the country as a whole by buying a house. The fact is that you are really scared to get a mortgage and put money into a asset that may continue to its value in future. The reason you are not buying the house is weak heartiness to invest money and not the immigration scare, you were just looking around a excuse to let go the idea of not buying the house.
Why do you think that you are doing a favor to the country as a whole by buying a house. The fact is that you are really scared to get a mortgage and put money into a asset that may continue to its value in future. The reason you are not buying the house is weak heartiness to invest money and not the immigration scare, you were just looking around a excuse to let go the idea of not buying the house.
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krishnam70
08-14 11:21 PM
My F1 visa was rejected for no good reason long back, before i even came on H1B. So its kind of scary every time I have to go for visa stamping. Its very random. Guess its just the fear inside me.
So I guess its all about the risk, if or not I want to get my H1B visa stamped or just wait for the freaking AP.
I was in the same boat as you and came here subsequently on H1. I do not think your F1 reject has any bearing on your H1 stamping both are different. If your stay in the US has been lawful, no gaps, out of status etc then you should be good be in good shape. You know the drill on the documents to carry etc if needed to get the stamping out of country.
cheers
So I guess its all about the risk, if or not I want to get my H1B visa stamped or just wait for the freaking AP.
I was in the same boat as you and came here subsequently on H1. I do not think your F1 reject has any bearing on your H1 stamping both are different. If your stay in the US has been lawful, no gaps, out of status etc then you should be good be in good shape. You know the drill on the documents to carry etc if needed to get the stamping out of country.
cheers
rockstart
09-19 08:47 AM
I wish to thank each and every one from IV team for their hard work and dedication. I sincerely pray that this rally will result in good news for all of us. Great job guys we are all proud of the rally.
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GCmaniac
03-27 10:56 AM
Hi Breddy2000,
Was your attorney from your company very much expert or you hired top rated attorney like Murthy or someother same category lawyer?
I am in same disstress as you were, please respond ASAP, becaue I am not getting the feel from my company lawyer, so thinking of not to take a chance and go for high-end attorney.
Thanks In advance
Was your attorney from your company very much expert or you hired top rated attorney like Murthy or someother same category lawyer?
I am in same disstress as you were, please respond ASAP, becaue I am not getting the feel from my company lawyer, so thinking of not to take a chance and go for high-end attorney.
Thanks In advance
more...
Tito_ortiz
03-27 01:34 PM
Guys, Sen. Reid has the power and will to make this one goes through.
I was told that Sen. Pelosi did not directly endorse the bill, but she is fine with amnesty bills. I think we may finally see something cooking. If we don't, then chances are we need to wait till 2009 !!
gsc u r a lil confused
speaker pelosi is the head of the house of representatives (Lok Sabha) with Steny Hoyer serving as majority leader in the House and Senator Reid is the majority leader of the Senate (Rajya Sabha). The president of the senate is the VP
Both have floor schedules and have issues that need to be debated on. the bill has to pass in both houses..either with the exact same wording or alternate text that will be reconciled in conference committee
http://www.answers.com/topic/party-leaders-of-the-united-states-senate
http://www.answers.com/topic/party-leaders-of-the-united-states-house-of-representatives
I was told that Sen. Pelosi did not directly endorse the bill, but she is fine with amnesty bills. I think we may finally see something cooking. If we don't, then chances are we need to wait till 2009 !!
gsc u r a lil confused
speaker pelosi is the head of the house of representatives (Lok Sabha) with Steny Hoyer serving as majority leader in the House and Senator Reid is the majority leader of the Senate (Rajya Sabha). The president of the senate is the VP
Both have floor schedules and have issues that need to be debated on. the bill has to pass in both houses..either with the exact same wording or alternate text that will be reconciled in conference committee
http://www.answers.com/topic/party-leaders-of-the-united-states-senate
http://www.answers.com/topic/party-leaders-of-the-united-states-house-of-representatives
akgind
05-22 03:03 PM
After eight years my husband is almost able to work (waiting for EAD) and my son has aged out for derivative benefits and is on an F1 with no realistic path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship.
I agree, those who crossed a border illegally or overstayed are now looking at the American Dream being handed to them.
The DREAM act, if it stays in the legislation will give the children of the illegals state tuition rates (I work for the university my son attends and found it hard to get in state tuition rates for him) and they will also get conditional residency and will be able to apply for their own green cards after five years.
Amazing really, that we are seeing and hearing this in the land we chose to live in which claims to be a land where the rule of law is paramount.
I am in the same boat. Waiting in GC line for 5 years. LC still pending. Two children - one aged out two years ago, other will age out in 3 months. We were hoping that DREAM Act will get them through. But no, that benefit will be reserved only for children of illegals. Only they will get in-state tuition, and can apply for GC till age 30. If you are child of legal alien, you age out at 21. What a cruel joke!
I agree, those who crossed a border illegally or overstayed are now looking at the American Dream being handed to them.
The DREAM act, if it stays in the legislation will give the children of the illegals state tuition rates (I work for the university my son attends and found it hard to get in state tuition rates for him) and they will also get conditional residency and will be able to apply for their own green cards after five years.
Amazing really, that we are seeing and hearing this in the land we chose to live in which claims to be a land where the rule of law is paramount.
I am in the same boat. Waiting in GC line for 5 years. LC still pending. Two children - one aged out two years ago, other will age out in 3 months. We were hoping that DREAM Act will get them through. But no, that benefit will be reserved only for children of illegals. Only they will get in-state tuition, and can apply for GC till age 30. If you are child of legal alien, you age out at 21. What a cruel joke!
more...
nagu
02-01 09:48 PM
We applied for H1B transfer on Jan/02/09 (California Service Center - Premimum) and attached pay stub and employement offer letter. First time we did not attach any contract details.
We got an RFE on Jan/09/09, Basically they wanted to know whether i am working on project currently. They are asking to submit contract agreements, client details (client letter - not sure it is must or not).
There are 2 layers between client and my employer and could not get client letter. However, I can provide the following docs,
1. Contract Agreement Between Employer and First Layer
2. Contract Agreement Between First and Primary Vendor
3. Letter from Primary Vendor (stating that i am working their client project).
4. Primary Vendor Invoices to Client
5. Time Sheet (Client approval)
6. Access Card
7. Work site Photo
8. Copy of Client WO (end date is 11/21/2008) - client with PO amount and end date is doest not matter... (i am not sure how is uscis will take it).
I could not able to client letter due to their policy. What do you guys think on this case approval. Any reply is highly appriciated..
thanks
We got an RFE on Jan/09/09, Basically they wanted to know whether i am working on project currently. They are asking to submit contract agreements, client details (client letter - not sure it is must or not).
There are 2 layers between client and my employer and could not get client letter. However, I can provide the following docs,
1. Contract Agreement Between Employer and First Layer
2. Contract Agreement Between First and Primary Vendor
3. Letter from Primary Vendor (stating that i am working their client project).
4. Primary Vendor Invoices to Client
5. Time Sheet (Client approval)
6. Access Card
7. Work site Photo
8. Copy of Client WO (end date is 11/21/2008) - client with PO amount and end date is doest not matter... (i am not sure how is uscis will take it).
I could not able to client letter due to their policy. What do you guys think on this case approval. Any reply is highly appriciated..
thanks
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Lou_Sifffer
04-17 11:12 PM
First, Don't call me Dude. If I'm not allowed to call you Sparky, you can call me Lou, or Mr Sifffer.
Just because this is a design forum do not assume everything here is related to design.
Assuming is wrong. You assume way too much.
Just because this is a design forum do not assume everything here is related to design.
Assuming is wrong. You assume way too much.
more...
srikondoji
06-16 01:18 PM
eb3_nepa,
Multi national aspect of IV team should come up on its own without anyone of us forcing it that way. One thing we should forcefully implement is give everybody an oppurtunity to speak up, if a right candidate steps up.
Again we should also be concerned about how we are interfacing the outside world. At this point in time we should be result focused than process focused.
thanks
sri
Multi national aspect of IV team should come up on its own without anyone of us forcing it that way. One thing we should forcefully implement is give everybody an oppurtunity to speak up, if a right candidate steps up.
Again we should also be concerned about how we are interfacing the outside world. At this point in time we should be result focused than process focused.
thanks
sri
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vikki76
11-30 02:16 PM
Got the approval notice today :) "Welcome to the United States of America" - ironically i have been in this country for a decade now! finally the "welcome" :)
It has been a very long journey!!! and a very frustrating one for the last few years... but the feeling that I now get is really liberating... first thing I did was thanked God for ending the seemingly endless wait that me and my wife (she didn't care as much) were in.
I'm already thinking of the things I want to do after this new found liberation... it includes showing the middle finger to those who have taken undue advantage of my status :cool: :D and i'm not taking it anymore... I'll be a new person starting Monday!
Just so there is no confusion... my PD was Feb 2003 EB3 but my wife's PD was EB2 April 2004... we got our freedom through her application. If anyone needs more info on how/what/when - i can share that (it had its up's and downs - mainly downs, but all's well that ends well)!
Lastly as a token of my real support to the cause of IV I will be donating a small amount. I have donated in the past... I have participated in conversations in the past... I was not so active on other fronts but I truly believe in this organizations effort to help the community. And God willing each one of you will get this freedom soon! God Bless!
Many congratulations..enjoy your freedom and don't forget IV ! :-)
It has been a very long journey!!! and a very frustrating one for the last few years... but the feeling that I now get is really liberating... first thing I did was thanked God for ending the seemingly endless wait that me and my wife (she didn't care as much) were in.
I'm already thinking of the things I want to do after this new found liberation... it includes showing the middle finger to those who have taken undue advantage of my status :cool: :D and i'm not taking it anymore... I'll be a new person starting Monday!
Just so there is no confusion... my PD was Feb 2003 EB3 but my wife's PD was EB2 April 2004... we got our freedom through her application. If anyone needs more info on how/what/when - i can share that (it had its up's and downs - mainly downs, but all's well that ends well)!
Lastly as a token of my real support to the cause of IV I will be donating a small amount. I have donated in the past... I have participated in conversations in the past... I was not so active on other fronts but I truly believe in this organizations effort to help the community. And God willing each one of you will get this freedom soon! God Bless!
Many congratulations..enjoy your freedom and don't forget IV ! :-)
more...
lazycis
12-15 09:33 PM
Legalese was never my strong point. Which part says that EB-1 unused must go to EB-2 of same category, and then to EB-3?
(2) Aliens who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability
(A) In general
Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 28.6 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraph (1),...
(3) Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
(A) In general
Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 28.6 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), to the following classes of aliens who are not described in paragraph (2):
(2) Aliens who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability
(A) In general
Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 28.6 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraph (1),...
(3) Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
(A) In general
Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 28.6 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), to the following classes of aliens who are not described in paragraph (2):
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hey.camelo
05-28 08:15 PM
Hey Brother,
I had a tough situation in my life and i was in this scenario and came out.
I consulted a debt services company and they settled it for me and repared my credit score. but, i had a serious intention to clear the debts.
normally the creditors go to court after 3 years, so talk to them through a company or by urself if you are ready to settle. If you settled like 30-50%, the creditors will send I099C and you have to pay tax for that...
Cheers,
I had a tough situation in my life and i was in this scenario and came out.
I consulted a debt services company and they settled it for me and repared my credit score. but, i had a serious intention to clear the debts.
normally the creditors go to court after 3 years, so talk to them through a company or by urself if you are ready to settle. If you settled like 30-50%, the creditors will send I099C and you have to pay tax for that...
Cheers,
more...
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bbct
02-17 05:05 PM
Today, I filed an official complaint with IRS about this employer. They told, they are going to send a notice asking the employer to reply to the tax bearer within 10 days from the receipt of the letter. I don't know how the employer is going to react and if they would still provide a corrected W2. Hoping, they would provide, otherwise I would have to call IRS again after another 2 weeks time. I had to be on the phone line for almost 30 mins to reach the IRS customer representative. It is a real pain.
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pcs
01-03 08:26 PM
Can you get AC 21 advantage if you just wait ( NOT WORK in case of a friendly past employer) after filing 485 ?
Is it necessary to work for 180 days ?
If working for 180 days is not required then, one can work for someone else on H1B & file 485 from the past employer. After 180 days of filing, one could use AC21 to move from one job to another.
Can some one give expert advise ?
Thanks
Is it necessary to work for 180 days ?
If working for 180 days is not required then, one can work for someone else on H1B & file 485 from the past employer. After 180 days of filing, one could use AC21 to move from one job to another.
Can some one give expert advise ?
Thanks
more...
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breddy2000
01-06 12:51 AM
Today I received RFE for my H1 Extension.
I received only one RFE which is obtaining contract documents from the chain .
Here is my situation.
I work for Client A for whom Company B does the project work. I was contracted through Company C who is the prime vendor for Company B.
Here is the chain.. My Company --> Company C --> Company B --> Client A.
RFE states that my company need to provide contract documents within the entire chain which is highly unlikely they can obtain.
Company B and Company C can only provide letters to affirm that that I work for Client A. Will this be enough or does it need to be only a Contract document?
Below are my questions
==================
1.) My company says that they have PO from Company C which provides details about the entire chain. Will this be enough to answer the RFE?
2.) Does withdrawing H1 extension cause any problems ? I can invoke EAD
3.)Also Company B is willing to take me fulltime, so essentially if I abaondon H1 extension and join Company B , will this help or cause any more problems?
Thanks and appreciate your response.
I received only one RFE which is obtaining contract documents from the chain .
Here is my situation.
I work for Client A for whom Company B does the project work. I was contracted through Company C who is the prime vendor for Company B.
Here is the chain.. My Company --> Company C --> Company B --> Client A.
RFE states that my company need to provide contract documents within the entire chain which is highly unlikely they can obtain.
Company B and Company C can only provide letters to affirm that that I work for Client A. Will this be enough or does it need to be only a Contract document?
Below are my questions
==================
1.) My company says that they have PO from Company C which provides details about the entire chain. Will this be enough to answer the RFE?
2.) Does withdrawing H1 extension cause any problems ? I can invoke EAD
3.)Also Company B is willing to take me fulltime, so essentially if I abaondon H1 extension and join Company B , will this help or cause any more problems?
Thanks and appreciate your response.
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dixie
04-13 09:01 PM
But in not "voting with our feet" we are part of the problem. Just imagine, if a substantial fraction of H1 visa holders left the US tomorrow (and quoted the backlogs as the cause) wouldn't that get more attention than all our efforts so far?
You are dead right .. but a bigger contributing factor is the fact that a vast majority of GC applicants come from a small number of highly populated labor-surplus countries, with a virtually infinite stream of young people itching to land here even if we go back ... the demand from our home countries is as big an issue as our reluctance to go back. Thats why you see corporates lobbying heavily for H1-B visas, but not as much for EBs.Simple supply and demand.
But, this game isnt going to go on forever. Those people who want to come here are not idiots. The prime reason so many students and skilled workers choose to come here rather some other developed country is because of the possibility of settling here .. when this turns out to be a mirage and word spreads about our plight, the trend will reverse dramatically. The only question is how soon .. we are definitely in a position to accelerate that.
You are dead right .. but a bigger contributing factor is the fact that a vast majority of GC applicants come from a small number of highly populated labor-surplus countries, with a virtually infinite stream of young people itching to land here even if we go back ... the demand from our home countries is as big an issue as our reluctance to go back. Thats why you see corporates lobbying heavily for H1-B visas, but not as much for EBs.Simple supply and demand.
But, this game isnt going to go on forever. Those people who want to come here are not idiots. The prime reason so many students and skilled workers choose to come here rather some other developed country is because of the possibility of settling here .. when this turns out to be a mirage and word spreads about our plight, the trend will reverse dramatically. The only question is how soon .. we are definitely in a position to accelerate that.
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ssunka01
04-04 10:38 AM
No one is 100% perfeect, it does not mean we should not work, If anyone feels we can do better than why you are talking rather than working what you believe is.
At least some one is trying to voice issue at some level at their best knowledge and efforts, so we have to encourage people to do better by providing means of moral support.
At least some one is trying to voice issue at some level at their best knowledge and efforts, so we have to encourage people to do better by providing means of moral support.
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vgayalu
07-24 10:43 PM
I mailed my I485 to NSC on June 29 , 2007. Reached to NSC 07/02/07.
NSC sent to CSC. CSC approved my EAD .Again CSC transfered my I 485 to NSC on 08/26/06.
Fingerprints were taken on 01/12/08.
After that no LUD.
What woul be caluclated as my RD?
Can I expect Interview ? OrI am going to get GC soon?
Please clarify my doubt.
NSC sent to CSC. CSC approved my EAD .Again CSC transfered my I 485 to NSC on 08/26/06.
Fingerprints were taken on 01/12/08.
After that no LUD.
What woul be caluclated as my RD?
Can I expect Interview ? OrI am going to get GC soon?
Please clarify my doubt.
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alp_waj
11-07 04:36 PM
Thanks guyz !!
I did spoke with Sheila Murthy Lawyers on chances of maintaining GC processing and Consular processing.
My firm is OK with my long Leave of Absence...Only thing that threw spanner in the wheel was comment from Sheila Murthy firm's advise.
Per them, to renew AP and EAD, I need to be phsically back in states and also stay in States for the duration of approval i.e. if it takes 3 months for renewal of AP and EAD, then I need to be in States for that duration.
I asked them what if I can apply 5months in advance, from Outside US and someone can fedex it to me. Max I can come back for few days.
.. Per them this will not work...
What do you guyz say ?
Many thanks !
I did spoke with Sheila Murthy Lawyers on chances of maintaining GC processing and Consular processing.
My firm is OK with my long Leave of Absence...Only thing that threw spanner in the wheel was comment from Sheila Murthy firm's advise.
Per them, to renew AP and EAD, I need to be phsically back in states and also stay in States for the duration of approval i.e. if it takes 3 months for renewal of AP and EAD, then I need to be in States for that duration.
I asked them what if I can apply 5months in advance, from Outside US and someone can fedex it to me. Max I can come back for few days.
.. Per them this will not work...
What do you guyz say ?
Many thanks !
saimrathi
07-11 10:13 PM
I think there is a concern here.. please dont undermine it.. after all if we can remember what happened at the Indian Consulate (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTLI81.DTL) It can happen anywhere....
Sensitive data dumped at recycling center
Indian Consulate tossed visa applications from business, political figures at S.F. facility
David Lazarus
Friday, February 2, 2007
Thousands of visa applications and other sensitive documents, including paperwork submitted by top executives and political figures, sat for more than a month in the open yard of a San Francisco recycling center after they were dumped there by the city's Indian Consulate.
The documents, which security experts say represented a potential treasure trove for identity thieves or terrorists, finally were hauled away Wednesday after The Chronicle inspected the site and questioned officials at the consulate and the recycling facility.
Among the papers were visa applications submitted by Byron Pollitt, chief financial officer of San Francisco's Gap Inc., and Anne Gust, wife of California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
"It's shocking and totally unacceptable," Brown said when asked about the incident.
Information on the documents includes applicants' names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, professions, employers, passport numbers and photos. Accompanying letters detail people's travel plans and reasons for visiting India.
"As we see it, the documents are not confidential," said B.S. Prakash, the consul general. "We would see something as confidential if it has a Social Security number or a credit card number, not a passport number."
But security experts say it wouldn't be hard to obtain someone's Social Security number using the information available in the consular documents. They also point out that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used false passports, which wouldn't be hard to obtain using data and photos from the documents.
"This is absolutely sensitive information," said Charles Cresson Wood, a Sausalito information-security consultant. "It needs to be safeguarded."
Pratik Sircar, deputy consul general for the Indian Consulate, said the office on Arguello Boulevard processes visa applications and other paperwork for 14 Western states.
"We have a shortage of space," he said. "We keep this material for a year, and then we have to destroy it."
However, the consulate didn't destroy the documents. Instead, it hired a hauling company in December to cart the boxes to the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council recycling center near Golden Gate Park on Frederick Street.
The open-air facility is accessible to the public seven days a week. Anyone can walk through the gate and poke around.
"We thought it was their job to shred the material as soon as they got it," Sircar said.
Andy Pugni, general manager of the recycling center, responded that he doesn't know where the consulate got this idea.
"We take in paper, put it in large containers and ship it off for recycling," he said. "That's all we do. We don't shred."
Pugni added: "We assume anyone who brings stuff over here will be smart enough to destroy any sensitive materials. I wouldn't bring any of my own materials here."
Alerted by The Chronicle to the presence of confidential documents in a corner of the recycling yard -- many of the white boxes were clearly marked "visa applications" -- Pugni had a truck brought in to haul the papers to an East Bay company that will boil them down and recycle them as blank pages.
All that remained in the yard Thursday were remnants of the boxes.
But a sampling of documents obtained by The Chronicle indicate that the boxes contained confidential paperwork for virtually everyone in California and other Western states who applied for visas to travel to India between 2002 and 2005.
They also contained thousands of documents submitted by Indian citizens and people of Indian background residing in the region.
"It's hard to believe that this is how confidential information is treated," said San Francisco resident Farah Champsi, who was born in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, and requested copies of her birth certificate in 2005.
Her application ended up at the recycling center. "This is terrible," Champsi said.
Visa applications were submitted by current and former executives of many of the region's leading employers, including AT&T Wireless Inc., Oracle Corp., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Williams-Sonoma Inc.
The documents illustrate the extent to which major U.S. companies have established operations in India or rely on India for key services.
A letter from Gap's then-CEO Paul Pressler accompanying the visa application for Pollitt says the company's CFO was heading to India for several days in April 2004 "for the purpose of visiting Gap Inc.'s sites and vendor facilities."
After the application surfaced this week, Pollitt said he found it "both astonishing and alarming to learn that basic safeguards were apparently not in place to ensure the privacy of my personal information.
"As a past victim of identity theft, I am painfully aware of how important it is to ensure personal information is well protected," he said.
Another Bay Area exec whose privacy was jeopardized is Rob Haragan, co-founder of NetDevices Inc., a Los Altos company that specializes in network security. Much of NetDevices' research is conducted at a facility in Bangalore.
Haragan, a former executive at Cisco Systems Inc., applied for a visa to travel to India in 2004. He estimates that he's since been to the country more than a dozen times.
He said he was surprised to learn that his application spent weeks at a recycling center.
"The consulate absolutely needs to correct this," Haragan said. "It's a breach of trust."
Brian Biega oversees storage of internal paperwork at Redwood City software giant Oracle, so he knows a thing or two about the proper handling of confidential documents. He, too, applied for a visa to visit India in 2004, and his application also ended up at the recycling center.
Biega didn't hesitate when asked how Oracle's famously truculent CEO Larry Ellison would react if boxes of sensitive information were left at a recycling center. "I'm sure I'd lose my job," he replied.
At the Indian Consulate, Consul General Prakash said there may be a cultural dimension to the level of outrage related to the incident among Western visa applicants.
"In India, I would not be alarmed," he said. "We have grown up giving such information in many, many places. We would not be so worried if someone had our passport number."
Deputy Consul General Sircar said that in other countries, Indian officials are able to go to the roofs of their offices and burn documents they're no longer able to store.
"In America, you cannot do that," he said.
Sircar said the consulate would find some other way to deal with its excess paperwork in the future.
Pugni at the recycling center said that shortly after he had the documents carted away, a representative of the consulate arrived at the facility.
"He apologized for everything," Pugni said. "Then he said he was on his way to Best Buy to pick up a shredder."
David Lazarus' column appears on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He also can be heard on Saturdays, 4 to 7 p.m., on KGO Radio. Send tips or feedback to dlazarus@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTLI81.DTL
Sensitive data dumped at recycling center
Indian Consulate tossed visa applications from business, political figures at S.F. facility
David Lazarus
Friday, February 2, 2007
Thousands of visa applications and other sensitive documents, including paperwork submitted by top executives and political figures, sat for more than a month in the open yard of a San Francisco recycling center after they were dumped there by the city's Indian Consulate.
The documents, which security experts say represented a potential treasure trove for identity thieves or terrorists, finally were hauled away Wednesday after The Chronicle inspected the site and questioned officials at the consulate and the recycling facility.
Among the papers were visa applications submitted by Byron Pollitt, chief financial officer of San Francisco's Gap Inc., and Anne Gust, wife of California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
"It's shocking and totally unacceptable," Brown said when asked about the incident.
Information on the documents includes applicants' names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, professions, employers, passport numbers and photos. Accompanying letters detail people's travel plans and reasons for visiting India.
"As we see it, the documents are not confidential," said B.S. Prakash, the consul general. "We would see something as confidential if it has a Social Security number or a credit card number, not a passport number."
But security experts say it wouldn't be hard to obtain someone's Social Security number using the information available in the consular documents. They also point out that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used false passports, which wouldn't be hard to obtain using data and photos from the documents.
"This is absolutely sensitive information," said Charles Cresson Wood, a Sausalito information-security consultant. "It needs to be safeguarded."
Pratik Sircar, deputy consul general for the Indian Consulate, said the office on Arguello Boulevard processes visa applications and other paperwork for 14 Western states.
"We have a shortage of space," he said. "We keep this material for a year, and then we have to destroy it."
However, the consulate didn't destroy the documents. Instead, it hired a hauling company in December to cart the boxes to the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council recycling center near Golden Gate Park on Frederick Street.
The open-air facility is accessible to the public seven days a week. Anyone can walk through the gate and poke around.
"We thought it was their job to shred the material as soon as they got it," Sircar said.
Andy Pugni, general manager of the recycling center, responded that he doesn't know where the consulate got this idea.
"We take in paper, put it in large containers and ship it off for recycling," he said. "That's all we do. We don't shred."
Pugni added: "We assume anyone who brings stuff over here will be smart enough to destroy any sensitive materials. I wouldn't bring any of my own materials here."
Alerted by The Chronicle to the presence of confidential documents in a corner of the recycling yard -- many of the white boxes were clearly marked "visa applications" -- Pugni had a truck brought in to haul the papers to an East Bay company that will boil them down and recycle them as blank pages.
All that remained in the yard Thursday were remnants of the boxes.
But a sampling of documents obtained by The Chronicle indicate that the boxes contained confidential paperwork for virtually everyone in California and other Western states who applied for visas to travel to India between 2002 and 2005.
They also contained thousands of documents submitted by Indian citizens and people of Indian background residing in the region.
"It's hard to believe that this is how confidential information is treated," said San Francisco resident Farah Champsi, who was born in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, and requested copies of her birth certificate in 2005.
Her application ended up at the recycling center. "This is terrible," Champsi said.
Visa applications were submitted by current and former executives of many of the region's leading employers, including AT&T Wireless Inc., Oracle Corp., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Williams-Sonoma Inc.
The documents illustrate the extent to which major U.S. companies have established operations in India or rely on India for key services.
A letter from Gap's then-CEO Paul Pressler accompanying the visa application for Pollitt says the company's CFO was heading to India for several days in April 2004 "for the purpose of visiting Gap Inc.'s sites and vendor facilities."
After the application surfaced this week, Pollitt said he found it "both astonishing and alarming to learn that basic safeguards were apparently not in place to ensure the privacy of my personal information.
"As a past victim of identity theft, I am painfully aware of how important it is to ensure personal information is well protected," he said.
Another Bay Area exec whose privacy was jeopardized is Rob Haragan, co-founder of NetDevices Inc., a Los Altos company that specializes in network security. Much of NetDevices' research is conducted at a facility in Bangalore.
Haragan, a former executive at Cisco Systems Inc., applied for a visa to travel to India in 2004. He estimates that he's since been to the country more than a dozen times.
He said he was surprised to learn that his application spent weeks at a recycling center.
"The consulate absolutely needs to correct this," Haragan said. "It's a breach of trust."
Brian Biega oversees storage of internal paperwork at Redwood City software giant Oracle, so he knows a thing or two about the proper handling of confidential documents. He, too, applied for a visa to visit India in 2004, and his application also ended up at the recycling center.
Biega didn't hesitate when asked how Oracle's famously truculent CEO Larry Ellison would react if boxes of sensitive information were left at a recycling center. "I'm sure I'd lose my job," he replied.
At the Indian Consulate, Consul General Prakash said there may be a cultural dimension to the level of outrage related to the incident among Western visa applicants.
"In India, I would not be alarmed," he said. "We have grown up giving such information in many, many places. We would not be so worried if someone had our passport number."
Deputy Consul General Sircar said that in other countries, Indian officials are able to go to the roofs of their offices and burn documents they're no longer able to store.
"In America, you cannot do that," he said.
Sircar said the consulate would find some other way to deal with its excess paperwork in the future.
Pugni at the recycling center said that shortly after he had the documents carted away, a representative of the consulate arrived at the facility.
"He apologized for everything," Pugni said. "Then he said he was on his way to Best Buy to pick up a shredder."
David Lazarus' column appears on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He also can be heard on Saturdays, 4 to 7 p.m., on KGO Radio. Send tips or feedback to dlazarus@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTLI81.DTL
gjoe
02-11 10:15 AM
Well, you have not pissed me at all. I did what IV had asked in one month back. I had sent my 2 letters (me and my wife) 17 days back and collected another 12 letters from friends and send them too. I had contributed what ever IV had asked until now, what ever it may be.
I am sorry, but just a note can baffle you guys and you put all the -ve comments to the post, then sorry to say you guys cannot take any constructive opinion from others. And I think I did no wrong in asking Chanduv to stop posting innumerable threads just for one cause.
GOD Bless you all.
I support Sanjay and Chanduv. Need balance in a democracy, so folks we got to walk the fine line in the middle.
I am sorry, but just a note can baffle you guys and you put all the -ve comments to the post, then sorry to say you guys cannot take any constructive opinion from others. And I think I did no wrong in asking Chanduv to stop posting innumerable threads just for one cause.
GOD Bless you all.
I support Sanjay and Chanduv. Need balance in a democracy, so folks we got to walk the fine line in the middle.
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