okuzmin
08-27 04:04 PM
Krishnam70, they require police certificates for any country where you lived in the last 10 (not 5!) years. Also, fingerprints must be sent to FBI to get "certified", and that can take 10-12 weeks nowadays.
NEVER bother the consulate with questions regarding your application status. Give it at least a year since they accept your documents. If you can't wait for so long, google "CAIPS notes" and use this process to get info about your application. However, if you have specific questions regarding your application/situation, the consulate will respond within 1-2 business days. Just make sure to include your file number (you'll be provided with it upon acceptance of your documents) at the top of each email message or response. I notified the consulate about my FBI fingerprints delay and asked some questions specific to my case. When I reviewed my CAIPS notes, I found out that they keep track of all communication, including email.
I'm almost done with my Canadian PR process and moving with my family to Calgary in October.
NEVER bother the consulate with questions regarding your application status. Give it at least a year since they accept your documents. If you can't wait for so long, google "CAIPS notes" and use this process to get info about your application. However, if you have specific questions regarding your application/situation, the consulate will respond within 1-2 business days. Just make sure to include your file number (you'll be provided with it upon acceptance of your documents) at the top of each email message or response. I notified the consulate about my FBI fingerprints delay and asked some questions specific to my case. When I reviewed my CAIPS notes, I found out that they keep track of all communication, including email.
I'm almost done with my Canadian PR process and moving with my family to Calgary in October.
smuggymba
10-08 05:14 PM
GCNirvana007 - Who filed you PERM? Who provided you with approved I-140? Who filed ur GC? ....company A.............right.............so u have to work for company A and yes u r obligated legally from USCIS perspective to work with them. Don't tell me u don't know this. Going thru GC process, one almost becomes an immigration lawyer so you should know this if u don't already.
Recent H1-B company B has nothing to do with GC.
Bottomline - Why did u file GC in EB category? ANSWER - To work for that employer A.
Now u r saying something about company C running ur payroll.
Ok. So whoever runs my payroll is my employer. Lets say its Company C.
Question is
Am I obligated to Company A in any way?
Am I obligated to Company B which had my recent H1B?
Based on the answers i am assuming no but will wait to hear from you guys.
Recent H1-B company B has nothing to do with GC.
Bottomline - Why did u file GC in EB category? ANSWER - To work for that employer A.
Now u r saying something about company C running ur payroll.
Ok. So whoever runs my payroll is my employer. Lets say its Company C.
Question is
Am I obligated to Company A in any way?
Am I obligated to Company B which had my recent H1B?
Based on the answers i am assuming no but will wait to hear from you guys.
k_usa
08-10 11:37 AM
I don't think it is correct.
Because i applied for my wife's H4 extension last year and i have sent a check without any address to USCIS, and my wife's H4 extn approved without any problems.
Because i applied for my wife's H4 extension last year and i have sent a check without any address to USCIS, and my wife's H4 extn approved without any problems.
immi2006
05-31 09:45 AM
My close friend mentioned - recently aged parents of a Cisco Systemss manager came from Madras. They arrived in SFO and were asked to go back, since they had come here a year before and had asked for an extension of visa from 6 months to 1 year, they stayed and then went back. They came back this year to visit and were denied entry at Port of ENtry. His parents were in 75 years range and have vowed not to come back.
I believe their doucmented were in order otherwise. So it is tough to take things for granted.
I believe their doucmented were in order otherwise. So it is tough to take things for granted.
more...
apb
09-05 02:27 PM
This should go to top of queue. BUMPING
vidyakulkarni
02-05 06:26 PM
what is OCI??
more...
Project_A
10-27 09:23 AM
Your situation is exactly like mine. Got OCI for first kid and PIO for the second.
Yes, rules have changed now. They denied OCI application submitted by a friend of mine (for his daughter). PIO is the only available choice.
We are able to get the OCI for our minor kid back in 2006 when there was no restriction on at least one parent to be non-Indian.
We were able to use the OCI card for couple of visits to India – no issues at the immigration ports.
Now it is time to apply for misc. services (due to the renewal of US passport). New rules imply that my kid is not eligible to renew the OCI card. CGI Chicago doesn’t have any information on this and they are not responding to emails and phones. After researching a while, I found the following from the the CGI – Edinburgh: “Minor PIO children whose both parents are Indian nationals or if one parent is an Indian national and the other is ineligible for OCI, are not eligible for registration as OCI. Such minor OCIs who are already issued with OCI cards are not eligible for services under OCI Miscellaneous services. “
I would like to know if anyone had a similar experience. Appreciate your inputs.
Project_A
Yes, rules have changed now. They denied OCI application submitted by a friend of mine (for his daughter). PIO is the only available choice.
We are able to get the OCI for our minor kid back in 2006 when there was no restriction on at least one parent to be non-Indian.
We were able to use the OCI card for couple of visits to India – no issues at the immigration ports.
Now it is time to apply for misc. services (due to the renewal of US passport). New rules imply that my kid is not eligible to renew the OCI card. CGI Chicago doesn’t have any information on this and they are not responding to emails and phones. After researching a while, I found the following from the the CGI – Edinburgh: “Minor PIO children whose both parents are Indian nationals or if one parent is an Indian national and the other is ineligible for OCI, are not eligible for registration as OCI. Such minor OCIs who are already issued with OCI cards are not eligible for services under OCI Miscellaneous services. “
I would like to know if anyone had a similar experience. Appreciate your inputs.
Project_A
MeraNaamJoker
09-17 10:32 AM
Thank you for your responses.
My situation is different, since my 485 is not yet approved (PD Dec 2006 EB2).
Company A applied for my GC (140 approved and 485 filed in July 2007), but I have never worked for company-A. I had been working for company-B during all these on H1. However I am now with company-C for last 6 months using EAD.
I have never done the AC-21, since my lawyer said that is not required since I was with company-B and did not change jobs in between.
In my case, company-A is not closing down, and I am willing to work for them after 6 months or so.
My question is are there any risks in my 485 in this context?
Should I be moving to company-A to reduce any risk?
Would appreciate your responses in this.
Again the issue here will revert to the topic of SHAM EMPLOYMENT.
Either you should be working for the sponsor company or file AC21 and port out the process. That helps you to be on the safer side.
Even after filing AC21 two and half years back, my original approval notices went to my original GC sponsoring company's attorney's office.
My situation is different, since my 485 is not yet approved (PD Dec 2006 EB2).
Company A applied for my GC (140 approved and 485 filed in July 2007), but I have never worked for company-A. I had been working for company-B during all these on H1. However I am now with company-C for last 6 months using EAD.
I have never done the AC-21, since my lawyer said that is not required since I was with company-B and did not change jobs in between.
In my case, company-A is not closing down, and I am willing to work for them after 6 months or so.
My question is are there any risks in my 485 in this context?
Should I be moving to company-A to reduce any risk?
Would appreciate your responses in this.
Again the issue here will revert to the topic of SHAM EMPLOYMENT.
Either you should be working for the sponsor company or file AC21 and port out the process. That helps you to be on the safer side.
Even after filing AC21 two and half years back, my original approval notices went to my original GC sponsoring company's attorney's office.
more...
immigrationvoice1
01-29 11:13 AM
Class of Admission: H1B
Date of intended Departure: Any future date (3 months from now or anything..)
Expected length of stay: One month
Our attorney told us that we need to provide definite answers to the travel questions, however, we can use the document to travel multiple times. We got our APs on time.
Hope that helps.
Dear All,
I need urgent information that how to file Advance Parole application. My I485 application is pending with USCIS and now i need to travel to my country as my uncle is very sick. I am planning to fill out the application by myself and not by the lawyer as he is ripping me off. Can any one help me how to fill out the application although it seems very easy but i dont want to make any kind of mistakes.
In part 1, field (3) of the application it asks me for "Class of Admission" i am not sure wat to write in it. NEED HELP IN THIS FIELD.
In part 3, field (1) and field (2) can i write "Various" as I want my document to be valid for multiple visits OR do i need to put any date.
I also need some guidance that what kind of letter I should make where it asks that "On a separate sheet(s) of paper, please explain how you qualify for an advance parole document and what circumstances warrant issuance of advance parole. * Include copies of any documents you wish considered."
Please, please help me in this regards.
I would really appreciate if any one can help me out in this matter.
Date of intended Departure: Any future date (3 months from now or anything..)
Expected length of stay: One month
Our attorney told us that we need to provide definite answers to the travel questions, however, we can use the document to travel multiple times. We got our APs on time.
Hope that helps.
Dear All,
I need urgent information that how to file Advance Parole application. My I485 application is pending with USCIS and now i need to travel to my country as my uncle is very sick. I am planning to fill out the application by myself and not by the lawyer as he is ripping me off. Can any one help me how to fill out the application although it seems very easy but i dont want to make any kind of mistakes.
In part 1, field (3) of the application it asks me for "Class of Admission" i am not sure wat to write in it. NEED HELP IN THIS FIELD.
In part 3, field (1) and field (2) can i write "Various" as I want my document to be valid for multiple visits OR do i need to put any date.
I also need some guidance that what kind of letter I should make where it asks that "On a separate sheet(s) of paper, please explain how you qualify for an advance parole document and what circumstances warrant issuance of advance parole. * Include copies of any documents you wish considered."
Please, please help me in this regards.
I would really appreciate if any one can help me out in this matter.
GCapplicant
02-01 07:57 PM
We had a similar problem during Dec 06 - Our bill came around 400 ...We reside in NJ...
We were surprised because we spent almost 20 days in Florida.
when we called our provider there wasn't much help ,they never accepted that it was a fault.
I immediately took a picture of my reading from the meter ,and gave copies to them and old bills of the last two years winter.
Then thet agreed not to charge for three months.
So check your meter...and previous bills usage ...for comparison...
But where were you at a stretch all those months??
We were surprised because we spent almost 20 days in Florida.
when we called our provider there wasn't much help ,they never accepted that it was a fault.
I immediately took a picture of my reading from the meter ,and gave copies to them and old bills of the last two years winter.
Then thet agreed not to charge for three months.
So check your meter...and previous bills usage ...for comparison...
But where were you at a stretch all those months??
more...
syzygy
07-11 06:07 PM
I can make some calls too, I have been away so slightly lost on thread.
Franklin,
Please post once we have enough volunteers for the calls
Franklin,
Please post once we have enough volunteers for the calls
psk79
05-30 12:20 AM
My few cents.. I was well aware of this situation from my past.. When you first filed h1 with A in 2006 and got approved, it doesn't mean anything unless u started the job with A. So that 'overridden' stuff is WRONG.
Basically u could continue with univ. as along as ur h1 is with them is valid.. then when u tried to transfer that old employerA's h1 to B, u are in GOOD status as u r working with the univ. However, the reason for using A is only to show uscis that u were counted against the CAP once before and u don't need cap for this new employment with B.
Since the problem here is with B, you better get some more info on why it was denied. See if they can appeal or something.. I didn't know that employer has to be qualified? Do they mean this company doesn't have enough revenue to support u or something?
Also there are different opinions on using employer A's h1 to transfer without actually working with A. Half the people say its not possible as u never worked for A and the other half say its fine as u were counted in CAP. B should have told you to wait until ur H1 was approved as this is a weird situation.
Anyway, since u already left univ, u can try to go back to univ or atleast start with A. Once u go out of the country and get the visa stamped, you should be clear of any out of status issues I believe.
Basically u could continue with univ. as along as ur h1 is with them is valid.. then when u tried to transfer that old employerA's h1 to B, u are in GOOD status as u r working with the univ. However, the reason for using A is only to show uscis that u were counted against the CAP once before and u don't need cap for this new employment with B.
Since the problem here is with B, you better get some more info on why it was denied. See if they can appeal or something.. I didn't know that employer has to be qualified? Do they mean this company doesn't have enough revenue to support u or something?
Also there are different opinions on using employer A's h1 to transfer without actually working with A. Half the people say its not possible as u never worked for A and the other half say its fine as u were counted in CAP. B should have told you to wait until ur H1 was approved as this is a weird situation.
Anyway, since u already left univ, u can try to go back to univ or atleast start with A. Once u go out of the country and get the visa stamped, you should be clear of any out of status issues I believe.
more...
karthkc
05-23 01:07 PM
EAD to H1 involves a status change that while being perfectly legal was just not envisioned policy wise as being a frequent occurrence.
Accordingly, the efforts to get back into non-immigrant status from an immigrant status is unduly complicated.
The reasons the conversion is complicated is because when you come back to H1B from EAD, you literally start from scratch, meaning you count against the cap and you also do not get a full 6 year term. In your case, if you switched back, you will have to wait for the cap to be available and you will get only 1.5 years unless you quailify otherwise for a full 6 year term. It is not enough that you were already in H1B because USCIS does not care about that. To them, you are going to a new status and that means you follow the rules for that just like anyone else.
Also, since you went back from AOS, USCIS may ask for additional documentation to record the reasons you want to switch. This is supposed to be only for cases where there are legitimate reasons to switch, like your AOS application has been denied and in order to continue staying in the US and explore other options, you need to maintain legal status, etc..etc..
Personally, I think the process is designed to be cumbersome in order to discourage people from doing it.
Disclaimer: This is based on what I heard from my attorney in part and my own research. Use at your discretion...
If anyone knows more or can confirm this, that would help...
Thanks!
--Karthik
Is EAD to H1 a complicated process? If so what could be the reasons.
I still have 1.5 years on H1. I posted earlier but didn't get a clear idea.
Accordingly, the efforts to get back into non-immigrant status from an immigrant status is unduly complicated.
The reasons the conversion is complicated is because when you come back to H1B from EAD, you literally start from scratch, meaning you count against the cap and you also do not get a full 6 year term. In your case, if you switched back, you will have to wait for the cap to be available and you will get only 1.5 years unless you quailify otherwise for a full 6 year term. It is not enough that you were already in H1B because USCIS does not care about that. To them, you are going to a new status and that means you follow the rules for that just like anyone else.
Also, since you went back from AOS, USCIS may ask for additional documentation to record the reasons you want to switch. This is supposed to be only for cases where there are legitimate reasons to switch, like your AOS application has been denied and in order to continue staying in the US and explore other options, you need to maintain legal status, etc..etc..
Personally, I think the process is designed to be cumbersome in order to discourage people from doing it.
Disclaimer: This is based on what I heard from my attorney in part and my own research. Use at your discretion...
If anyone knows more or can confirm this, that would help...
Thanks!
--Karthik
Is EAD to H1 a complicated process? If so what could be the reasons.
I still have 1.5 years on H1. I posted earlier but didn't get a clear idea.
abracadabra102
12-19 11:29 AM
My Friend, My Friend' Friend and Friend.. and the story goes on. I am sure you Friend has access to net and can express himself... ask him to post here and I am sure he will get ton's of first hand advise..
I second this post. Your "friend" should learn to fend for him/herself and post directly here.
I second this post. Your "friend" should learn to fend for him/herself and post directly here.
more...
arnet
10-29 12:47 PM
the answer is no if principal applicant still maintains H1B and the person in H4 not using EAD to work.
If prinicipal applicant changes uses EAD then the dependent H4 visa is no longer valid.
It is better to carry all the immigration papers while you travel. you might not know when you will need those. I always suggest that any person while travelling or at POE (port of entry) should have original EAD+AP (if they have or atleast receipt notices), H4 documents,etc. eventhough they need it or not (or using it or not). it is better to have.
I heard BUT NOT SURE ABOUT THE FOLLWOING, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR IMMIGRATION ATTRONEY, that if principal applicant is in H1B and if H4 person uses EAD for sometime and then went out of US and came back and at POE uses H4 visa stamping to enter US instead of AP then that person will be in H4 visa (it is not cancelled as the principal applicant is still in H1B) and they can convert again to EAD anytime later. Can anyone have any knowledge/experience about this?
If a person on H4 applies for EAD, does it mean his/her H4 is no longer active. And now, he needs to carry AP while traveling?
Please help...
If prinicipal applicant changes uses EAD then the dependent H4 visa is no longer valid.
It is better to carry all the immigration papers while you travel. you might not know when you will need those. I always suggest that any person while travelling or at POE (port of entry) should have original EAD+AP (if they have or atleast receipt notices), H4 documents,etc. eventhough they need it or not (or using it or not). it is better to have.
I heard BUT NOT SURE ABOUT THE FOLLWOING, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR IMMIGRATION ATTRONEY, that if principal applicant is in H1B and if H4 person uses EAD for sometime and then went out of US and came back and at POE uses H4 visa stamping to enter US instead of AP then that person will be in H4 visa (it is not cancelled as the principal applicant is still in H1B) and they can convert again to EAD anytime later. Can anyone have any knowledge/experience about this?
If a person on H4 applies for EAD, does it mean his/her H4 is no longer active. And now, he needs to carry AP while traveling?
Please help...
wandmaker
03-15 11:02 AM
is appreciated at IV. This is in addition to any other contributions (either time or money) to IV. :)
I meant "Recurring monthly Contribution" :)
Let us setup a recurring contribution funding drive -
Needhelp / janilsal - can you guys set one up, I will keep bumping with my pledges as usual.
I meant "Recurring monthly Contribution" :)
Let us setup a recurring contribution funding drive -
Needhelp / janilsal - can you guys set one up, I will keep bumping with my pledges as usual.
more...
frostrated
09-03 02:01 PM
Does that also apply to a case where the person is employed in another country and getting paid there? What about a case where the H4 holder travels to their home country and works for 3 months at a local company and gets paid for it?
Correct me if I am wrong but I would think the rule only applies if you work and earn money in the US.
You are correct. An H4 cannot work in the US if they are getting paid on US payroll. They can work as long as they do NOT get paid in US. They can telecommute for a company in India for all you want, and get paid in India in Indian currency. The H4 holder will have to file taxes in India though.
Correct me if I am wrong but I would think the rule only applies if you work and earn money in the US.
You are correct. An H4 cannot work in the US if they are getting paid on US payroll. They can work as long as they do NOT get paid in US. They can telecommute for a company in India for all you want, and get paid in India in Indian currency. The H4 holder will have to file taxes in India though.
snathan
05-19 06:57 PM
I am also travelling with the family in June for a couple of months !
the murthy link and this thread over all is helpful !
Our company's lawyer mentioned that if the 485 gets approved while abroad then when I come back I just tell the officer at the entry point that I was out and do not have the card in hand. So I enter using AP.
I also asked him (and in another thread here ) if I can have the card mailed to India by a friend and he said yes, I can do that if I am comfortable with it.
On a different note , one other person mentioned to me that one has to be in the US when the 485 application is approved or else they can reject the application, but that does not sound true and nor I have heard anything like that from the lawyer or in any of the forums !!
Then whats the purpose of AP....?
the murthy link and this thread over all is helpful !
Our company's lawyer mentioned that if the 485 gets approved while abroad then when I come back I just tell the officer at the entry point that I was out and do not have the card in hand. So I enter using AP.
I also asked him (and in another thread here ) if I can have the card mailed to India by a friend and he said yes, I can do that if I am comfortable with it.
On a different note , one other person mentioned to me that one has to be in the US when the 485 application is approved or else they can reject the application, but that does not sound true and nor I have heard anything like that from the lawyer or in any of the forums !!
Then whats the purpose of AP....?
doubleyou
05-20 10:38 AM
I have been reminising in contributing , and if contribution is the only factor, will start contribution. But I did do congressional letter as and when there was a campaign.
But more than for me, i am reaching out to all others in IV.
But more than for me, i am reaching out to all others in IV.
geve
09-22 11:58 AM
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2008/tc20080915_270731.htm
There's no place like the U.S. when it comes to creating a thriving tech sector. Or is there? The U.S. still has the world's most competitive information technology industry, but its lead is slipping, according to a new study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
The study, released Sept. 16, ranks 66 countries in six areas, including the availability of skilled labor, the "innovation friendliness" of a nation's culture, and the strength of its legal protections for intellectual property. The U.S. scored highest overall, but its rating fell from last year, and it was No. 1 in only three of the categories. "America should be proud that it's No. 1, but Americans should also be aware that it can no longer take its leadership for granted," says Robert Holleyman, president and CEO of the BSA, a Washington (D.C.)-based organization that promotes the interests of the software industry.
The EIU's analysis also weighed the quality of a nation's technology infrastructure, measuring the number of PCs per 100 people, market spending on IT hardware per 100 people, the availability of secure Internet servers per 100,000 people, and the percentage of the population with high-speed Internet access. Switzerland, ranked 11th overall, outscored the U.S. on IT infrastructure, which accounted for 20% of a country's score. The study also assessed the openness of a country's economy and the quality of government leadership on technology issues.
No. 5 in R&D Support
In a finding that's likely to vex would-be entrepreneurs, the U.S. scores even further down the list�No. 5�in support for R&D. Taiwan led the category, followed by South Korea, Japan, and Sweden. Here, the EIU scored countries based on the number of new IT-related patents, receipts from royalty payments and licensing fees, and public and private spending on R&D. Holleyman says the BSA plans to share its findings with both major Presidential campaigns and with members of Congress.
The U.S. also lags countries including Canada, Singapore, Britain, and Norway in support for IT development, which accounted for 15% of the overall score. This category covers such things as e-government initiatives, government spending on IT hardware, and access to financing.
The findings of the study will likely renew calls among both IT industry executives and politicians for the country to develop a national innovation strategy as countries such as Finland have done. "America needs a wake-up call," says John Kao, a former professor at Harvard Business School and author of Innovation Nation, a book arguing that the U.S. is losing its edge. "We don't really have a national strategy," he says. "And while I'm not a fan of top-down technocratic approach, I think that at this point in our history, having no strategy is not satisfactory."
Sounding the Alarm
As concerned as he is about U.S. competitiveness, Kao is not a favor of indexes that compare competitiveness among nations, saying they can misrepresent a country's true climate. "They're really abstractions of reality, and they often paint too rosy a picture," he says.
Kao isn't alone in calling the country's competitiveness into question. Judy Estrin, a former Cisco Systems (CSCO) executive, is sounding the alarm as well in a new book, Closing the Innovation Gap, published by BusinessWeek's parent, The McGraw-Hill Cos. (MHP). Estrin says that the lead America enjoys now is the result of work done decades ago, and that the same commitment to innovation and research that existed before has evaporated. "Innovation builds on innovation. We're reaping the benefits now of seeds planted 10, 20, and 30 years ago, and the problem is that we're not planting any more seeds," she says.
The study shows the U.S. still leads the world in the "human capital" category, which measures the number of students attending universities, a country's capacity to train scientists and engineers, and employment in the tech sector as a percentage of the overall workforce. Here too, though, the U.S. lead is threatened. While students from other countries still flock to U.S. universities to get their MBAs and PhDs, tight immigration policies are causing more of those students to go home after graduation. "Our own education system is not producing the innovators we need," Estrin says. "And we're not opening our doors to the best people, and our immigration policy is such that we have been making it harder for them to stay, and so they are going home and innovating elsewhere."
By highlighting vulnerabilities, the study doesn't just trumpet U.S. weaknesses; it points to areas where improvements can be made. "A strong tech industry is crucial to America's ability to address almost every economic and social challenge," Holleyman says in a statement. "Despite our current economic difficulties, the tech sector remains one of the primary engines of the U.S. economy. This index provides a guide to how we can keep that engine moving forward to ensure competitiveness in the future."
There's no place like the U.S. when it comes to creating a thriving tech sector. Or is there? The U.S. still has the world's most competitive information technology industry, but its lead is slipping, according to a new study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
The study, released Sept. 16, ranks 66 countries in six areas, including the availability of skilled labor, the "innovation friendliness" of a nation's culture, and the strength of its legal protections for intellectual property. The U.S. scored highest overall, but its rating fell from last year, and it was No. 1 in only three of the categories. "America should be proud that it's No. 1, but Americans should also be aware that it can no longer take its leadership for granted," says Robert Holleyman, president and CEO of the BSA, a Washington (D.C.)-based organization that promotes the interests of the software industry.
The EIU's analysis also weighed the quality of a nation's technology infrastructure, measuring the number of PCs per 100 people, market spending on IT hardware per 100 people, the availability of secure Internet servers per 100,000 people, and the percentage of the population with high-speed Internet access. Switzerland, ranked 11th overall, outscored the U.S. on IT infrastructure, which accounted for 20% of a country's score. The study also assessed the openness of a country's economy and the quality of government leadership on technology issues.
No. 5 in R&D Support
In a finding that's likely to vex would-be entrepreneurs, the U.S. scores even further down the list�No. 5�in support for R&D. Taiwan led the category, followed by South Korea, Japan, and Sweden. Here, the EIU scored countries based on the number of new IT-related patents, receipts from royalty payments and licensing fees, and public and private spending on R&D. Holleyman says the BSA plans to share its findings with both major Presidential campaigns and with members of Congress.
The U.S. also lags countries including Canada, Singapore, Britain, and Norway in support for IT development, which accounted for 15% of the overall score. This category covers such things as e-government initiatives, government spending on IT hardware, and access to financing.
The findings of the study will likely renew calls among both IT industry executives and politicians for the country to develop a national innovation strategy as countries such as Finland have done. "America needs a wake-up call," says John Kao, a former professor at Harvard Business School and author of Innovation Nation, a book arguing that the U.S. is losing its edge. "We don't really have a national strategy," he says. "And while I'm not a fan of top-down technocratic approach, I think that at this point in our history, having no strategy is not satisfactory."
Sounding the Alarm
As concerned as he is about U.S. competitiveness, Kao is not a favor of indexes that compare competitiveness among nations, saying they can misrepresent a country's true climate. "They're really abstractions of reality, and they often paint too rosy a picture," he says.
Kao isn't alone in calling the country's competitiveness into question. Judy Estrin, a former Cisco Systems (CSCO) executive, is sounding the alarm as well in a new book, Closing the Innovation Gap, published by BusinessWeek's parent, The McGraw-Hill Cos. (MHP). Estrin says that the lead America enjoys now is the result of work done decades ago, and that the same commitment to innovation and research that existed before has evaporated. "Innovation builds on innovation. We're reaping the benefits now of seeds planted 10, 20, and 30 years ago, and the problem is that we're not planting any more seeds," she says.
The study shows the U.S. still leads the world in the "human capital" category, which measures the number of students attending universities, a country's capacity to train scientists and engineers, and employment in the tech sector as a percentage of the overall workforce. Here too, though, the U.S. lead is threatened. While students from other countries still flock to U.S. universities to get their MBAs and PhDs, tight immigration policies are causing more of those students to go home after graduation. "Our own education system is not producing the innovators we need," Estrin says. "And we're not opening our doors to the best people, and our immigration policy is such that we have been making it harder for them to stay, and so they are going home and innovating elsewhere."
By highlighting vulnerabilities, the study doesn't just trumpet U.S. weaknesses; it points to areas where improvements can be made. "A strong tech industry is crucial to America's ability to address almost every economic and social challenge," Holleyman says in a statement. "Despite our current economic difficulties, the tech sector remains one of the primary engines of the U.S. economy. This index provides a guide to how we can keep that engine moving forward to ensure competitiveness in the future."
patfanboston
03-04 11:19 AM
What the f*** is she trying to say????
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