All new H1-B visas filled on opening day

This is the first time quotas for the whole fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2005, have been filled so swiftly, a federal official is quoted by CNETNews.Com as saying. The nationality breakdown of visa-holders is not given.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which processes applications for the H-1B programme, is no longer accepting petitions for visas for initial employment for this fiscal year, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The visas, which allow skilled foreign workers to work in the United States for up to six years, have frequently been used by technology companies.

That the cap has been reached as of the first day of the fiscal year is sure to stir up debate over the visa program, CNET said. Businesses are seeking an exemption from the annual cap for foreign students graduating from US Schools with master's and doctorate degrees. Labor groups oppose the proposal.

Legislation to create such an exemption, along with other changes to the H-1B and L-1 guest worker programmes, is under serious discussion in the US Senate. Although the cap has been reached, H-1B visas for 2005 have not necessarily been issued. USCIS, the immigration agency, has not finished processing the applications, the official said. Visas will be issued by the state department throughout the year, he said.

US Employers do not have to attest that they sought US Workers to fill a job before applying for an H-1B visa, but they are supposed to pay the prevailing wage to the guest worker.

One-third of the approved visa applications in 2002 were for system analysts or programmers, though that figure was down from half of all approved visa petitions in 2001, according to USCIS. In February, the government said it had received enough applications to reach the cap for the last fiscal year, which ended Thursday.

The fact that all the fiscal year 2005 visas have been accounted for so quickly is not a complete surprise. As of August 18, USCIS had received petitions amounting to 71 percent of the annual cap.

Sandra Boyd, chair of Compete America, said in a statement: "A logical and immediate remedy would be to exempt foreign students receiving advanced degrees from US universities from the H-1B cap...This is a critical talent pool that US Business and research institutions cannot afford to lose to foreign competitors. Indeed, we should encourage these individuals to stay."

But labour advocates say that a recent study finds significant job losses in the technology sector and high unemployment among tech workers. Critics also say guest worker visas accelerate the trend to send highly skilled work offshore to countries such as India or the Philippines. (PTI)

Gandhi's statue unveiled in Houston

Sculpted in India by renowned artist Ram Sutar, the six-feet tall bronze statue, a gift to the citizens by the Indian government, was formally unveiled by Houston Mayor, Bill White, and Indian Ambassador to US, Ronen Sen, at the International Sculpture Garden - Hermann Park, in downtown Houston.

The ceremony was witnessed by hundreds of citizens from all walks of life amidst chanting of prayers and songs praising the father of the nation.

Recalling the historic salt march at Dandi and its resonance with the courageous Montgomery Bus Boycott against racial segregation in the United States, Sen referred to the spiritual link between the Mahatma and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Mahatma symbolises India's unity in diversity and, for the world, he was an embodiment of peace and non-violence," he said.

White elucidated Gandhi's contributions to principles of tolerance and non-violence and their relevance to mankind in today's world.

Former Mayor, Lee P Brown, recollected the influence of Gandhi on Martin Luther King and how it guided him to adopt non-violence as the means to achieve his goal of racial equality. (PTI)

Asians avoid British Police

Police recruiters have been going into mosques to give presentations about the force in a bid to win the trust of the Asian community and find new recruits.

Officers have also been giving talks in schools and community centres used by people from ethnic minorities across Lancashire.

East Lancashire was targeted because it has the highest percentage of people from ethnic minorities in the county.

Lancashire Constabulary has 97 ethnic minority officers out of 3,500 policemen and women less than three percent.

The government has set a target to increase the number to 111 by March so the force is focusing its efforts on achieving that aim.

Mebs Ahmed the force's ethnic minority liaison officer ran the pilot scheme.

He said: "We talked in schools and asked people why they didn't want to go in the police.

"They might say it is not something they had talked about or something their parents would agree with.

"Then we would go and talk to the parents by visiting community centres and mosques. We would talk about their perceptions.

"Some of their perceptions of the police were based on India and Pakistan. Most of the parents had had very little experience of the police.

"We particularly targeted the older people so they could talk to the children. We would give a presentation on a day in the life of an officer and the criteria required to join the service.

"They wanted to hear about things like chasing criminals but we gave them a balanced account as it is not all exciting work.

"We want to get the message to communities that we want a representative organisation."

Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, welcomed the pilot scheme.

He said: "It is certainly a good idea and something which was required to break down perceptions in the Asian heritage community about the police service.

"People like Mebs Ahmed can act as role models for young people from the Asian community.

"They really haven't got that many people who they can consult to find out about the police service." (IANS)

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