go_guy123
07-14 12:49 PM
I was looking at the discription but couldn't figure it out. Which category does parents fall into? Does anyone know hot long it takes for parents to receive GC under ROW?
Only US citizens can apply for parenst . There is no quota for it and so no backlog. July the processing delay which si not much.
Actually instead sibling (F4) it is faster for
USC to parent getting GC followed by GC parents to unmarried children or GC parent to USC and then to other married children.
Only US citizens can apply for parenst . There is no quota for it and so no backlog. July the processing delay which si not much.
Actually instead sibling (F4) it is faster for
USC to parent getting GC followed by GC parents to unmarried children or GC parent to USC and then to other married children.
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ilikekilo
04-17 04:11 PM
bbct & vin13,
Thanks for all your feedback.
I explored civil surgeon in India option. Didnt work out. Panel physicians in India do medicals for FB AOS. Civil surgeons in US do medicals for EB AOS.
It can not be interchanged since the forms and procedures are different.
Everyone I asked say gambling against USCIS is like playing with fire. I don't want to jeopardize my wife's pending I-485.
We should have done her TB test before trip. That is a mistake I did and now paying a price. Another Lesson learned!
-GCisaDawg
Sorry looks like it didnt work out for you..
Thanks for all your feedback.
I explored civil surgeon in India option. Didnt work out. Panel physicians in India do medicals for FB AOS. Civil surgeons in US do medicals for EB AOS.
It can not be interchanged since the forms and procedures are different.
Everyone I asked say gambling against USCIS is like playing with fire. I don't want to jeopardize my wife's pending I-485.
We should have done her TB test before trip. That is a mistake I did and now paying a price. Another Lesson learned!
-GCisaDawg
Sorry looks like it didnt work out for you..
simple1
10-07 03:36 PM
Enlighten us about your mutiple company stint in L1B visa.
My L1 visa is expiring on Nov5 2009 and If I have file my COS status in mid of oct and it's in pending status at the time of my L1 visa expiry date then will i be able to stay in US or do i have to go back india
Hi,
I am currently working in Skilled visa through one of MNC company.I am working for this company for last 4 years and prior to this company i worked in another small company for two years.When I join my current company i provided all the legal document like exp,last two month pay stub and releiving letter and they did BG . They did not find anything wrong with prior employer in last 4 year. recently they found something wrong about my prior employer and asking me providing additional document and unfortunately company is closed or rename. I have told my current employer that i don't have any more evidance of my prior employer.Because of this reason they are asking me to come back india.
Is there any way that i can take legal action against this company in US because from last one week
they are harrassing my like anything.
Please let me know if anyone come across in this situation.
My L1 visa is expiring on Nov5 2009 and If I have file my COS status in mid of oct and it's in pending status at the time of my L1 visa expiry date then will i be able to stay in US or do i have to go back india
Hi,
I am currently working in Skilled visa through one of MNC company.I am working for this company for last 4 years and prior to this company i worked in another small company for two years.When I join my current company i provided all the legal document like exp,last two month pay stub and releiving letter and they did BG . They did not find anything wrong with prior employer in last 4 year. recently they found something wrong about my prior employer and asking me providing additional document and unfortunately company is closed or rename. I have told my current employer that i don't have any more evidance of my prior employer.Because of this reason they are asking me to come back india.
Is there any way that i can take legal action against this company in US because from last one week
they are harrassing my like anything.
Please let me know if anyone come across in this situation.
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BharatPremi
12-07 10:10 AM
My wife went for her biometrics today and what a surprise, her date of birth on the system was wrong.
She only had DL on her and no passport. So, the ASC staff took her biometrics but refused to correct her DOB, claiming that passport was needed.
So, we called up USCIS and upon description of the problem,were immediately transferred to level 2. Level 2 looked at the cases and confirmed that DOB was wrong on I-485. It was correct in I-765 and I-131. She said that the only way to correct it was to take infopass and present passport and DL.
It is now more or less clear that DOB mismatch has caused her EAD to be stalled for so long.I have already got my EAD.
Moral of the story : take passport for FP, infopass, etc. all the time.
Our EADs and APs were filed separately with I-485 courier receipt. What a mess !!
lets see what happens at infopass.
Yes, USCIS is a Jungle and not sweet
She only had DL on her and no passport. So, the ASC staff took her biometrics but refused to correct her DOB, claiming that passport was needed.
So, we called up USCIS and upon description of the problem,were immediately transferred to level 2. Level 2 looked at the cases and confirmed that DOB was wrong on I-485. It was correct in I-765 and I-131. She said that the only way to correct it was to take infopass and present passport and DL.
It is now more or less clear that DOB mismatch has caused her EAD to be stalled for so long.I have already got my EAD.
Moral of the story : take passport for FP, infopass, etc. all the time.
Our EADs and APs were filed separately with I-485 courier receipt. What a mess !!
lets see what happens at infopass.
Yes, USCIS is a Jungle and not sweet
more...
h1bnogc
08-28 10:52 PM
When I went on a vacation to India, I had a valid H1B visa stamp that was valid for 30 more days. I also had an approved petition for extension.
I could have gone for stamping, but I chose not to and when I came back I showed them my H1B visa which was valid for 10 more days and also my extension petition. I was sent to Secondary Inspection (you can also be sent here in case you have an AP, nothing to be worried about SI, it very common nowadays). In that, a senior IO looked at both and then stamped my I-94 till the end of the extension petition (Oct 2010).
Though your situation is slightly different - you dont have a valid H1B stamp when you go to India, you can go to consulate and get it stamped with current H1B petition and while coming back you need to show the IO at counter both the VISA and the extension. Better yet, as some-one suggested, present both petitions to embassy in India and see how they handle it.
Have a safe trip..
sbay2006: Could you please share your experience during secondary inspection? thanks!
I could have gone for stamping, but I chose not to and when I came back I showed them my H1B visa which was valid for 10 more days and also my extension petition. I was sent to Secondary Inspection (you can also be sent here in case you have an AP, nothing to be worried about SI, it very common nowadays). In that, a senior IO looked at both and then stamped my I-94 till the end of the extension petition (Oct 2010).
Though your situation is slightly different - you dont have a valid H1B stamp when you go to India, you can go to consulate and get it stamped with current H1B petition and while coming back you need to show the IO at counter both the VISA and the extension. Better yet, as some-one suggested, present both petitions to embassy in India and see how they handle it.
Have a safe trip..
sbay2006: Could you please share your experience during secondary inspection? thanks!
ras
02-19 03:36 AM
I know this has been discussed zillion times on these forums. Parents health insurance is one big concern for many of our immigrant folks in here. Things have been changing and so does the insurance companies plans.
How are people on this forum opting for the health insurance companies?
A few suggested on this forum to get Insurance in USA for parents than in India. That would be good but how about the travelling insurance in that case. Does the USA company Insurance cover the parent travel too?
My father has pre existing health issues like Renal Failure. Now he is okay. So to say from insurance point of view he has pre existing health problems. So in that case will he be covered for any untowards health issues in USA under the plans? Even if it is little expensive we want to go for a comprehensive insurance plan that covers all the scenarios. Does any one have suggestions on the best way to go about this?
is it that we have to take the insurance before starting from India or we could take even after arriving in USA? Are there any separate health insurance plans for just travelling?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
How are people on this forum opting for the health insurance companies?
A few suggested on this forum to get Insurance in USA for parents than in India. That would be good but how about the travelling insurance in that case. Does the USA company Insurance cover the parent travel too?
My father has pre existing health issues like Renal Failure. Now he is okay. So to say from insurance point of view he has pre existing health problems. So in that case will he be covered for any untowards health issues in USA under the plans? Even if it is little expensive we want to go for a comprehensive insurance plan that covers all the scenarios. Does any one have suggestions on the best way to go about this?
is it that we have to take the insurance before starting from India or we could take even after arriving in USA? Are there any separate health insurance plans for just travelling?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
more...
sdrblr
10-11 05:30 PM
Just write to your state DOL and they will take care after that. You might have to provide some proof for them to start investigation. Make sure you have a plan B with regards to work and status if things go south.
2010 El Triunfo Del Amor Capitulos
dwhuser
06-15 01:02 PM
My husband is the primary applicant for our GC application and he's on bench since Feb 2009. We have valid EAD and AP's. We are planning to travel using our AP for a 3 week visit to India. He still has a valid H1B, since his payroll is not running for the last 4 months his employer suggested him to move into his EAS status. When we asked the attorney if we need to apply somewhere to move to EAD status from H1B he said we donot need to.
Our question....Is it sensible to travel on AP him being unemployed?
Our question....Is it sensible to travel on AP him being unemployed?
more...
ajju
08-28 04:08 PM
Hello fellow IV members,
I am hoping to port to a new job using AC21. I contacted my attorney with various questions about the process, but she told me that she can not respond to my questions because she represents me as well as the current company I work for. For those of you who are looking to port or have already done so, did you face a similar situation - where your attorney could not advise and assist you through the process of porting? How did you resolve this situation? Did you have to find another attorney to help you with porting to a new job?
Thanks for your help.
What kind of help are you looking for?? Its all in the IV forums about AC21... You need nothing... If you think your employer may revoke your approved I-140.. then you need to inform USCIS of your using AC21 to do a job change... If your I-140 is not approved yet.. you need to wait...
All the needed details would be in AC21 threads...
I am hoping to port to a new job using AC21. I contacted my attorney with various questions about the process, but she told me that she can not respond to my questions because she represents me as well as the current company I work for. For those of you who are looking to port or have already done so, did you face a similar situation - where your attorney could not advise and assist you through the process of porting? How did you resolve this situation? Did you have to find another attorney to help you with porting to a new job?
Thanks for your help.
What kind of help are you looking for?? Its all in the IV forums about AC21... You need nothing... If you think your employer may revoke your approved I-140.. then you need to inform USCIS of your using AC21 to do a job change... If your I-140 is not approved yet.. you need to wait...
All the needed details would be in AC21 threads...
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mantric
09-17 06:30 AM
this is a song that will convey the human struggle aspect in a way americans may be able to relate to.
the music is catchy - can get a recording and play it in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ced8o50G9kg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KUtFtD5ziw
-----------
Blowin in the wind (Bob Dylan).
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
the music is catchy - can get a recording and play it in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ced8o50G9kg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KUtFtD5ziw
-----------
Blowin in the wind (Bob Dylan).
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
more...
cherish37
11-05 04:38 PM
Finally, case shows up this morning with notice date Oct 9th. However, physical notice was not received. Does anyone know how to request a copy of the receipt? Thanks.
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LostInGCProcess
11-26 10:43 AM
Perhaps I am missing something. I thought you could get an extension beyond six years only if:
1. Your labor was pending for more than 360 days OR
2. Your I-140 was approved
I did not know that you could get an extension if:
Your labor was approved and your I-140 was still pending.
My understanding is that the USCIS came out with the I-140 premium processing only to address the above scenario. Perhaps someone who has dealt with this first hand can enlighthen us.
You are right. For approved labor (or pending more then a year, which is rare these days), pending more then a year, and if I-140 is still pending, you get H1 for 1 year. With approved I-140, you get 3 year extension.
1. Your labor was pending for more than 360 days OR
2. Your I-140 was approved
I did not know that you could get an extension if:
Your labor was approved and your I-140 was still pending.
My understanding is that the USCIS came out with the I-140 premium processing only to address the above scenario. Perhaps someone who has dealt with this first hand can enlighthen us.
You are right. For approved labor (or pending more then a year, which is rare these days), pending more then a year, and if I-140 is still pending, you get H1 for 1 year. With approved I-140, you get 3 year extension.
more...
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widad2020
07-17 05:47 PM
Congrats and Good Luck to all.Thanks
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Sandeep
03-08 07:28 AM
Pl. find here some more stuff about DOL/BEC and PERM.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/detail.10002380.2005.html
I believe this is an older version of the report I was talking about as it says "Assessment Year2004"
The question is why is DOL projecting that it is doing a great job? There are serious flaws everywhere and there are thousands who will testify to that. They do not know how much money to ask from the Congress and they do not know if they can even meet the deadlines they have set. Also look at the way the goals have changed
Page 212
"The goal to reduce processing time to six months for 90% of applications, though ambitious relative to current 32- month processing, may not be either sufficiently tailored or ambitious for the new automated review process, if program reforms go as planned, and processing rates are as high as envisioned."
"ETA Congressional Justification submitted with the President's Budget for FY 2005: (1) Reduce average processing time such that 90% of new applications are processed within six months of filing (target ambitious relative to current processing time of 32 months; target remains same in future years; contingent on implementation of reforms). (2) In 2004, reduce backlog of permanent applications by 36. 5% from 270,000, and in 2005, by 42% from 171, 450 (revised goal: elimination of backlog by end of 2006). (3) Goal for 2003 was to "assist employers in meeting their workforce needs by providing them with expeditious determinations on their applications to hire foreign workers under the [permanent, H- 1B, and H- 2B programs]". (4)Goal for 2001 and 2002 had been to "promptly review employer applications for foreign labor certification". Goals tie to program's mission and DOL's Strategic Goal 4, A Competitive Workforce. Numerical targets for processing will almost certainly need adjustment upon implementation of the new,automated system and centralized processing."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/detail.10002380.2005.html
I believe this is an older version of the report I was talking about as it says "Assessment Year2004"
The question is why is DOL projecting that it is doing a great job? There are serious flaws everywhere and there are thousands who will testify to that. They do not know how much money to ask from the Congress and they do not know if they can even meet the deadlines they have set. Also look at the way the goals have changed
Page 212
"The goal to reduce processing time to six months for 90% of applications, though ambitious relative to current 32- month processing, may not be either sufficiently tailored or ambitious for the new automated review process, if program reforms go as planned, and processing rates are as high as envisioned."
"ETA Congressional Justification submitted with the President's Budget for FY 2005: (1) Reduce average processing time such that 90% of new applications are processed within six months of filing (target ambitious relative to current processing time of 32 months; target remains same in future years; contingent on implementation of reforms). (2) In 2004, reduce backlog of permanent applications by 36. 5% from 270,000, and in 2005, by 42% from 171, 450 (revised goal: elimination of backlog by end of 2006). (3) Goal for 2003 was to "assist employers in meeting their workforce needs by providing them with expeditious determinations on their applications to hire foreign workers under the [permanent, H- 1B, and H- 2B programs]". (4)Goal for 2001 and 2002 had been to "promptly review employer applications for foreign labor certification". Goals tie to program's mission and DOL's Strategic Goal 4, A Competitive Workforce. Numerical targets for processing will almost certainly need adjustment upon implementation of the new,automated system and centralized processing."
more...
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vdesai_8
03-18 11:52 AM
If your wife is on H4 she has no income hence she qualifies for free medicaid insurance. provided you fill out the forms the right way.
And there is a seperate Health insurance sponsored by government for kids below 18 years. based on your wife's Medicaid, your child can qualify for that insurance in your state.
You might need to buy insurance for you.
And there is a seperate Health insurance sponsored by government for kids below 18 years. based on your wife's Medicaid, your child can qualify for that insurance in your state.
You might need to buy insurance for you.
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BraveMadMan
07-17 11:55 PM
Totally agree. Let's relax for a few days, and then move on to tackle the issues
more...
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sumansk
07-18 09:17 AM
This is a personal Message from me TO the IV Core and its founder.People can keep it alive by thanking the core.
I Thank the Core and Aman for their dedication, support, campaigns and whatever they have done to bring about the latest development and a big big releif to everyone in the Legal community.
While all other web sites and forums were just picking things from IV , IV was leading in updating and keeping the members informed about each and every development.I am sure they had been primarily instrumental in getting this done.The issue has and their effort has not only given this releif but have brought the burning issue to the limelight and in the eyes of lawmakers and the Govt, which will now lead to a larger and sustainable solution to the IV community.
I once again THANK each of the IV Core members and other members for really making the IV a force to reckon with...
THANKS AND REGARDS
I Thank the Core and Aman for their dedication, support, campaigns and whatever they have done to bring about the latest development and a big big releif to everyone in the Legal community.
While all other web sites and forums were just picking things from IV , IV was leading in updating and keeping the members informed about each and every development.I am sure they had been primarily instrumental in getting this done.The issue has and their effort has not only given this releif but have brought the burning issue to the limelight and in the eyes of lawmakers and the Govt, which will now lead to a larger and sustainable solution to the IV community.
I once again THANK each of the IV Core members and other members for really making the IV a force to reckon with...
THANKS AND REGARDS
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Sakthisagar
06-07 08:44 AM
Hi,
If you are entering Unites States now on H1B then, you should get 3 Years, I think as per law you do not have to extend your visa after 2.5 months. Please discuss this with your company Attorney (Lawyer) regarding this. because if one takes vacation days on H1B that is not counted on 3 years of H1B so I think you can demand 3 years in stead of extending. because of the administrative mess USCIS does why one suffer?
All the very best to you.
Welcome to the USA
may GOD Bless
If you are entering Unites States now on H1B then, you should get 3 Years, I think as per law you do not have to extend your visa after 2.5 months. Please discuss this with your company Attorney (Lawyer) regarding this. because if one takes vacation days on H1B that is not counted on 3 years of H1B so I think you can demand 3 years in stead of extending. because of the administrative mess USCIS does why one suffer?
All the very best to you.
Welcome to the USA
may GOD Bless
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gmb
01-14 09:45 PM
Asfar as I know the I94 date is always linked to a visa and not the Notice of Action. when i faced the same issue this what I was told.
invincibleasian is totally WRONG in saying this. Officer at POE does not always determine the expiry date of I-94 based on visa stamp expiry. In case of H1 or H4, the expiry date is determined by the expiry of the concerned H1B petition (Notice of Action) from the current employer. I don't know what kind of issue invincibleasian faced.
Lemme share my own experience to prove my point. I entered the US in Sep 2006 with my visa stamp from my previous employer expiring in 15 days. The Notice of Action from my current employer however had an expiry date of Apr 2007. Officer issued the I-94 with Apr 2007 as the expiry date. No questions were asked. I guess that answers all of your questions.
Shruti is right for the most part. However, I would re-phrase this sentence
>>If the Officer gives June 2007 date, your wife should show the latest I-797 and get the date corrected.
to say this
Present the latest I-797 along with your visa stamp first so officer puts he correct expiry date on I-94, leaving no room for any mistake. With my experience, I can vouch that POE officers seem to be quite aware of this procedure.
invincibleasian is totally WRONG in saying this. Officer at POE does not always determine the expiry date of I-94 based on visa stamp expiry. In case of H1 or H4, the expiry date is determined by the expiry of the concerned H1B petition (Notice of Action) from the current employer. I don't know what kind of issue invincibleasian faced.
Lemme share my own experience to prove my point. I entered the US in Sep 2006 with my visa stamp from my previous employer expiring in 15 days. The Notice of Action from my current employer however had an expiry date of Apr 2007. Officer issued the I-94 with Apr 2007 as the expiry date. No questions were asked. I guess that answers all of your questions.
Shruti is right for the most part. However, I would re-phrase this sentence
>>If the Officer gives June 2007 date, your wife should show the latest I-797 and get the date corrected.
to say this
Present the latest I-797 along with your visa stamp first so officer puts he correct expiry date on I-94, leaving no room for any mistake. With my experience, I can vouch that POE officers seem to be quite aware of this procedure.
plassey
08-04 07:06 AM
If what u r saying is correct then I consider you a man of great intelligence, this is truly remarkable.
lin0722554234
LIN -> Nebraska
07 -> Year in 2 digits
225 -> Number of working days since October 1 2006
5 -> Default for all electronic data
4234 -> Serial number for the receipts issued on that day starting with 0001.
lin0722554234
LIN -> Nebraska
07 -> Year in 2 digits
225 -> Number of working days since October 1 2006
5 -> Default for all electronic data
4234 -> Serial number for the receipts issued on that day starting with 0001.
zerozerozeven
05-07 12:00 AM
Time to get our voices heard
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1896482,00.html?cnn=yes
The first tweet the White House Twittered was not about the weather. It had nothing to do with how the President was feeling, what he was doing or what he wanted for lunch. The First Dog, Bo, failed to receive even an oblique mention.
Instead, the Obama Administration jumped with both feet into the 140-character Twitterverse on May 1 with a one-sentence post on how Americans can learn about swine flu directly by joining social networks with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "We wanted to use these tools to some end, some effect, some public good," said Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media. (See the best social-networking applications.)
So it has gone in the first few months of the Obama Administration. At the new President's urging and by his example, the entire Federal Government has bounded into the world of social-networking. Twenty-five agencies now have YouTube channels. The Library of Congress has begun posting thousands of free historical photos on Flickr. In the past week alone, about 30 agencies, including the White House, have joined Facebook.
"The whole pondering process � Should we do it? Should we not do it? � has been truncated because the White House is doing it," says Theresa Nasif, director of the Federal Citizen Information Center, which helps coordinate Web outreach. "It's very exciting to be in government."
The federal technology transformation remains very much a work in progress, with several agencies just beginning to grapple with allowing employees to even access social-networking sites. The White House communications team, for instance, is not able to access the government's Facebook postings and Twitter feeds, let alone those of reporters from the press corps, because of filters installed at the White House. (The White House New Media team, which posts on the networks from four old speech-writing rooms in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, has been able to win an exemption from this policy.)
Still, the Administration has already made great strides in opening up to technological innovation. On Jan. 21, his first full day in office, Obama signed an Executive Order calling for all departments and agencies to "establish a system of transparency, public participation and collaboration." At the same time, White House lawyers, working with other federal agencies, sought to create new "terms of use" agreements with private companies that would allow government to sign up for social networks like MySpace, YouTube and Facebook as if they were just another person. What was once the sole domain of adventuresome government agencies and officials soon became standard policy.
At present, government lawyers have drafted agreements with 10 private social-networking companies. (The tailored agreements take into account certain federal privacy statutes and require that disputes be settled in federal court, not state courts.) Six other private-sector products, including iTunes, are being considered for further expansion, potentially clearing the way for easy iPod downloads of Obama Administration messages.
At some agencies, like the White House, other considerations had to be taken into account. To comply with the Presidential Records Act, every Twitter and Facebook posting, for instance, generates an e-mail record that can be stored with other records. Citizen responses to the White House postings are also sampled and archived for the sake of history. On Monday, to coincide with the announcement of a crackdown on corporate overseas tax havens, the White House Twitter feed asked followers � who now number more than 40,000 � for their reaction. Jason Furman, deputy director of the White House National Economic Council, responded to three of the questions in a follow-up posting, which was linked to the White House blog. The questions, far from softballs, led to a discussion of the difference between statutory and effective tax rates, among other things. (See the 50 best websites of 2008.)
Other areas of government have had success on a far greater scale. The CDC, which began experimenting with social media three years ago, has created a raft of YouTube videos, podcasts, webpage widgets and Twitter-size feeds to inform the public about the latest news on the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. Between April 22 and May 4, the CDC received 1.2 million views of flu-related material on YouTube and 46.6 million Web-page views, and attracted 99,000 followers on its Twitter feed "CDCemergency," which provides breaking updates on health issues. Janice Nall of the CDC's Center for Health Marketing says the agency is interested in employing any social media that people use. As for Twitter, she added, "It just happens to be sexy right now."
Several agencies have been struggling to free themselves of bureaucratic restraints, like filtering software that bars employees from accessing social networks from work computers. In recent months, both the Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have opened up employee access to social-networking tools. The Defense Department has also been going online, with a new Air Force Twitter page and a Facebook page for General Ray Odierno, the U.S. commander of multinational forces in Iraq.
Nonetheless, the entire project of making the government social-network-friendly remains in its infancy. As it stands, the government controls about 24,000 websites but is only beginning to utilize the social-networking sites on which citizens are spending an increasing amount of their time. Yet the historic bureaucratic resistance to adapting to new media has clearly begun to fade, says Bev Godwin, director of Online Resources and Interagency Development at the White House. "I think you will see a huge increase in use across the government of social-networking tools," she says.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1896482,00.html?cnn=yes
The first tweet the White House Twittered was not about the weather. It had nothing to do with how the President was feeling, what he was doing or what he wanted for lunch. The First Dog, Bo, failed to receive even an oblique mention.
Instead, the Obama Administration jumped with both feet into the 140-character Twitterverse on May 1 with a one-sentence post on how Americans can learn about swine flu directly by joining social networks with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "We wanted to use these tools to some end, some effect, some public good," said Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media. (See the best social-networking applications.)
So it has gone in the first few months of the Obama Administration. At the new President's urging and by his example, the entire Federal Government has bounded into the world of social-networking. Twenty-five agencies now have YouTube channels. The Library of Congress has begun posting thousands of free historical photos on Flickr. In the past week alone, about 30 agencies, including the White House, have joined Facebook.
"The whole pondering process � Should we do it? Should we not do it? � has been truncated because the White House is doing it," says Theresa Nasif, director of the Federal Citizen Information Center, which helps coordinate Web outreach. "It's very exciting to be in government."
The federal technology transformation remains very much a work in progress, with several agencies just beginning to grapple with allowing employees to even access social-networking sites. The White House communications team, for instance, is not able to access the government's Facebook postings and Twitter feeds, let alone those of reporters from the press corps, because of filters installed at the White House. (The White House New Media team, which posts on the networks from four old speech-writing rooms in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, has been able to win an exemption from this policy.)
Still, the Administration has already made great strides in opening up to technological innovation. On Jan. 21, his first full day in office, Obama signed an Executive Order calling for all departments and agencies to "establish a system of transparency, public participation and collaboration." At the same time, White House lawyers, working with other federal agencies, sought to create new "terms of use" agreements with private companies that would allow government to sign up for social networks like MySpace, YouTube and Facebook as if they were just another person. What was once the sole domain of adventuresome government agencies and officials soon became standard policy.
At present, government lawyers have drafted agreements with 10 private social-networking companies. (The tailored agreements take into account certain federal privacy statutes and require that disputes be settled in federal court, not state courts.) Six other private-sector products, including iTunes, are being considered for further expansion, potentially clearing the way for easy iPod downloads of Obama Administration messages.
At some agencies, like the White House, other considerations had to be taken into account. To comply with the Presidential Records Act, every Twitter and Facebook posting, for instance, generates an e-mail record that can be stored with other records. Citizen responses to the White House postings are also sampled and archived for the sake of history. On Monday, to coincide with the announcement of a crackdown on corporate overseas tax havens, the White House Twitter feed asked followers � who now number more than 40,000 � for their reaction. Jason Furman, deputy director of the White House National Economic Council, responded to three of the questions in a follow-up posting, which was linked to the White House blog. The questions, far from softballs, led to a discussion of the difference between statutory and effective tax rates, among other things. (See the 50 best websites of 2008.)
Other areas of government have had success on a far greater scale. The CDC, which began experimenting with social media three years ago, has created a raft of YouTube videos, podcasts, webpage widgets and Twitter-size feeds to inform the public about the latest news on the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. Between April 22 and May 4, the CDC received 1.2 million views of flu-related material on YouTube and 46.6 million Web-page views, and attracted 99,000 followers on its Twitter feed "CDCemergency," which provides breaking updates on health issues. Janice Nall of the CDC's Center for Health Marketing says the agency is interested in employing any social media that people use. As for Twitter, she added, "It just happens to be sexy right now."
Several agencies have been struggling to free themselves of bureaucratic restraints, like filtering software that bars employees from accessing social networks from work computers. In recent months, both the Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have opened up employee access to social-networking tools. The Defense Department has also been going online, with a new Air Force Twitter page and a Facebook page for General Ray Odierno, the U.S. commander of multinational forces in Iraq.
Nonetheless, the entire project of making the government social-network-friendly remains in its infancy. As it stands, the government controls about 24,000 websites but is only beginning to utilize the social-networking sites on which citizens are spending an increasing amount of their time. Yet the historic bureaucratic resistance to adapting to new media has clearly begun to fade, says Bev Godwin, director of Online Resources and Interagency Development at the White House. "I think you will see a huge increase in use across the government of social-networking tools," she says.
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