harivenkat
05-06 08:54 PM
Tech firms play quiet role in immigration-overhaul push - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/06/1617199_p2/tech-firms-play-quiet-role-in.html)
WASHINGTON � The technology sector, a little-publicized but key player in the coalition that's pushing for an overhaul of immigration laws, has given mixed reviews to the proposal that Senate Democrats unveiled last week.
Public dialogue on immigration has focused largely on a path to legalization for the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, but technology companies have lobbied for years to streamline and ease the process of hiring skilled legal immigrant workers. They hope to capitalize on the momentum that surrounds immigration.
Peter Muller is the director of government relations for Intel, one of the largest sponsors of H-1B temporary visas for skilled workers. The company was approved for 723 new H-1B visas in 2009. Muller said Intel had been hindered in hiring and keeping the most qualified people by the annual caps on H-1B visas and the sometimes decade-long delay in processing green card applications.
"To not be able to hire the people who really drive innovation in our company is a frustration," he said.
The number of H-1B visas issued each year is capped at 65,000, with another 20,000 reserved for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, programs from which companies such as Intel recruit many of their workers. In past years, the allotment often was gone within days after the application period opened in April. Last year, it took until December to hit the cap.
Even with a slower economy reducing demand for workers, however, tech companies say they want the system overhauled.
"Companies are still hiring, so fixing the problems and fixing the system is important," said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, the co-executive director of Compete America, a coalition of companies that are lobbying for more high-skilled immigration. "It's an issue today for some companies, and it's going to continue to be an issue that needs to be addressed."
For H-1B workers who want to stay in the country permanently, the wait for a green card can take years. Ashish Sharma, an Indian citizen who's working for a technology company in California, has waited for a green card for seven years. At one point, Sharma said, he considered leaving the United States because of the uncertainty of his status.
"The long wait does bother people," he said. "I did look at what Canada was offering, where they give you a green card within three months."
Sharma ultimately decided to stay for the sake of his two children, who were raised in the U.S., but some employers as well as workers have chosen to go abroad. Microsoft, a top sponsor of H-1B visas with 1,318 petitions approved in 2009, opened a development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2007, in part to take advantage of Canada's more lenient immigration laws.
Compete America praised some aspects of the Democratic immigration framework that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey put forward last week.
The coalition favors a provision that would offer green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in specialized fields, but it's pushing back against provisions that would limit the hiring of H-1B workers and increase government scrutiny of companies that sponsor the temporary visas.
The language in the Democrats' framework that deals with temporary visas came largely from a bill intended to curb abuses in the H-1B system that Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced last year.
Durbin said in an e-mailed statement that the H-1B program was too easily abused by employers who used it to, in effect, outsource jobs that American workers could fill.
"Congress created the H-1B visa program so an employer could hire a foreign guest worker when a qualified American worker could not be found," he said. "However, the H-1B visa program is plagued with fraud and abuse and is now a vehicle for outsourcing that deprives qualified American workers of their jobs."
Tech industry representatives disagreed.
"We are all for strong enforcement," Herrera-Flanigan said. "But the way the provisions are written, it's much more far-reaching than that, and it could have an adverse effect on companies that are not bad actors."
The H-1B provisions came in for criticism from people who represent immigrant workers as well as from employers. Aman Kapoor, the president of Immigration Voice, a network of skilled immigrant workers, called the proposal draconian and said the restrictions could render the H-1B process essentially useless.
Schumer's office didn't respond to requests for comment.
Advocates in the broader immigration-overhaul coalition said support from the technology industry would be key to winning the wide political backing that was necessary to give a comprehensive bill a shot at passing.
"I think it is important, and in part that is because tech is one of the key business sectors that will be necessary to bring the Republican votes we will need, in the Senate, especially," said Jeanne Butterfield, a senior adviser for the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates policies that are more welcoming toward immigrants.
Technology companies make up a substantial portion of the voices that are lobbying for federal immigration revisions. Of the 288 federal lobbyist filings that had reported lobbying on immigration issues in the first quarter of the year as of Monday, an analysis shows that about 17 percent came from companies and organizations that represent the technology and engineering sectors. Others represented fields such as medicine and education, which also are interested in skilled immigrants.
The people who are lobbying on behalf of the tech sector said that although their issues with the immigration system were specific, they had no plans to peel off from the broader overhaul coalition to pursue a more tailored bill.
Muller said the word from Capitol Hill had been that immigration was too contentious an issue to tackle piecemeal.
PROVISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT TECH SECTOR:
Green cards (legal permanent resident visas):
* Foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics automatically would be eligible for green cards if U.S. employers offer them jobs.
* The caps that limit the numbers of immigrants who can come from specific countries would be eliminated.
H-1B visas (temporary work visas for foreign workers in specialized jobs):
* Would forbid employers from giving priority to H-1B applicants and would limit the number of H-1B employees that large employers may hire.
* Would authorize the Department of Labor to investigate applications for possible fraud and would require the department to audit companies that have large numbers of H-1B employees.
WASHINGTON � The technology sector, a little-publicized but key player in the coalition that's pushing for an overhaul of immigration laws, has given mixed reviews to the proposal that Senate Democrats unveiled last week.
Public dialogue on immigration has focused largely on a path to legalization for the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, but technology companies have lobbied for years to streamline and ease the process of hiring skilled legal immigrant workers. They hope to capitalize on the momentum that surrounds immigration.
Peter Muller is the director of government relations for Intel, one of the largest sponsors of H-1B temporary visas for skilled workers. The company was approved for 723 new H-1B visas in 2009. Muller said Intel had been hindered in hiring and keeping the most qualified people by the annual caps on H-1B visas and the sometimes decade-long delay in processing green card applications.
"To not be able to hire the people who really drive innovation in our company is a frustration," he said.
The number of H-1B visas issued each year is capped at 65,000, with another 20,000 reserved for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, programs from which companies such as Intel recruit many of their workers. In past years, the allotment often was gone within days after the application period opened in April. Last year, it took until December to hit the cap.
Even with a slower economy reducing demand for workers, however, tech companies say they want the system overhauled.
"Companies are still hiring, so fixing the problems and fixing the system is important," said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, the co-executive director of Compete America, a coalition of companies that are lobbying for more high-skilled immigration. "It's an issue today for some companies, and it's going to continue to be an issue that needs to be addressed."
For H-1B workers who want to stay in the country permanently, the wait for a green card can take years. Ashish Sharma, an Indian citizen who's working for a technology company in California, has waited for a green card for seven years. At one point, Sharma said, he considered leaving the United States because of the uncertainty of his status.
"The long wait does bother people," he said. "I did look at what Canada was offering, where they give you a green card within three months."
Sharma ultimately decided to stay for the sake of his two children, who were raised in the U.S., but some employers as well as workers have chosen to go abroad. Microsoft, a top sponsor of H-1B visas with 1,318 petitions approved in 2009, opened a development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2007, in part to take advantage of Canada's more lenient immigration laws.
Compete America praised some aspects of the Democratic immigration framework that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey put forward last week.
The coalition favors a provision that would offer green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in specialized fields, but it's pushing back against provisions that would limit the hiring of H-1B workers and increase government scrutiny of companies that sponsor the temporary visas.
The language in the Democrats' framework that deals with temporary visas came largely from a bill intended to curb abuses in the H-1B system that Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced last year.
Durbin said in an e-mailed statement that the H-1B program was too easily abused by employers who used it to, in effect, outsource jobs that American workers could fill.
"Congress created the H-1B visa program so an employer could hire a foreign guest worker when a qualified American worker could not be found," he said. "However, the H-1B visa program is plagued with fraud and abuse and is now a vehicle for outsourcing that deprives qualified American workers of their jobs."
Tech industry representatives disagreed.
"We are all for strong enforcement," Herrera-Flanigan said. "But the way the provisions are written, it's much more far-reaching than that, and it could have an adverse effect on companies that are not bad actors."
The H-1B provisions came in for criticism from people who represent immigrant workers as well as from employers. Aman Kapoor, the president of Immigration Voice, a network of skilled immigrant workers, called the proposal draconian and said the restrictions could render the H-1B process essentially useless.
Schumer's office didn't respond to requests for comment.
Advocates in the broader immigration-overhaul coalition said support from the technology industry would be key to winning the wide political backing that was necessary to give a comprehensive bill a shot at passing.
"I think it is important, and in part that is because tech is one of the key business sectors that will be necessary to bring the Republican votes we will need, in the Senate, especially," said Jeanne Butterfield, a senior adviser for the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates policies that are more welcoming toward immigrants.
Technology companies make up a substantial portion of the voices that are lobbying for federal immigration revisions. Of the 288 federal lobbyist filings that had reported lobbying on immigration issues in the first quarter of the year as of Monday, an analysis shows that about 17 percent came from companies and organizations that represent the technology and engineering sectors. Others represented fields such as medicine and education, which also are interested in skilled immigrants.
The people who are lobbying on behalf of the tech sector said that although their issues with the immigration system were specific, they had no plans to peel off from the broader overhaul coalition to pursue a more tailored bill.
Muller said the word from Capitol Hill had been that immigration was too contentious an issue to tackle piecemeal.
PROVISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT TECH SECTOR:
Green cards (legal permanent resident visas):
* Foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics automatically would be eligible for green cards if U.S. employers offer them jobs.
* The caps that limit the numbers of immigrants who can come from specific countries would be eliminated.
H-1B visas (temporary work visas for foreign workers in specialized jobs):
* Would forbid employers from giving priority to H-1B applicants and would limit the number of H-1B employees that large employers may hire.
* Would authorize the Department of Labor to investigate applications for possible fraud and would require the department to audit companies that have large numbers of H-1B employees.
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JunRN
06-02 06:18 PM
What happens when a new I-140 was filed but was denied, will USCIS consider the previously approved i-140 for the AOS (i-485)?
gjoe
02-04 04:36 PM
I guess you should be good with your AP . But also there was a thread about one of the IV'ians AP experience at SFO. Please read that so can understand what AP is for and when it can be used as per the IO at SFO airport
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TUnlimited
11-07 05:22 PM
By the way, I got my EAD. I don't want to spend money
You can start to earn money instead by filling those stupid forms for somebody else... You got EAD, open you secondary business....:D
You can start to earn money instead by filling those stupid forms for somebody else... You got EAD, open you secondary business....:D
more...
mzdial
March 27th, 2004, 02:19 AM
Well.. speak of the devil.. I did score the publisher's tickets for the Heat game.. Not where I thought they were though.. It's section 14, row 5, seats 10,11,12,13. So I'm over in the corner behind you it appears.
Checking the Fieldhouse website it says:
"Camcorders/Recording Devices:
�Still� cameras are permitted at Pacers, Fever and Firebirds games. No Video cameras are allowed. During other events this policy will vary, and guests may be asked to check these items in at Guest Relations in the Entry Pavilion."
I've never bothered to bring a camera into the games ever.. It seems as they are pretty liberal in the policy -- kudos to them.
Now I'm going to exploit it. :-) My wife is going to the game with me and I'm guessing she is going to give me grief if I drag the borrowed 300 w/o the hood into the game.. I went down to work to borrow it this afternoon.. I'll probably have to settle for the 70-200 after she throws a fit.
Are you shooting the game Steve?
-- Matt
Checking the Fieldhouse website it says:
"Camcorders/Recording Devices:
�Still� cameras are permitted at Pacers, Fever and Firebirds games. No Video cameras are allowed. During other events this policy will vary, and guests may be asked to check these items in at Guest Relations in the Entry Pavilion."
I've never bothered to bring a camera into the games ever.. It seems as they are pretty liberal in the policy -- kudos to them.
Now I'm going to exploit it. :-) My wife is going to the game with me and I'm guessing she is going to give me grief if I drag the borrowed 300 w/o the hood into the game.. I went down to work to borrow it this afternoon.. I'll probably have to settle for the 70-200 after she throws a fit.
Are you shooting the game Steve?
-- Matt
sidbee
02-22 12:37 PM
I am not a lawyer , and this is not a legal advise.
According to my study , and talk with some lawyers .. Yes it could be same.
But if the Job description is same (not more than 50% different) , then u cannot use the experienced gained in the previous job with the same employer.
Eg .
You had 7 years of experience , and u worked as a software engineer (which required BS + 3 years of exp in c), and Ur company filed Ur GC in eb3.
Now u get promoted to Senior Software Engineer (which required BS + 6 years of exp in c),Now if u had 6 years of exp in c before joining this company in the previous job. you should be eligible to file in EB2 based on Ur previous work ex.
Talk to Ur attorney about the points i mentioned.
According to my study , and talk with some lawyers .. Yes it could be same.
But if the Job description is same (not more than 50% different) , then u cannot use the experienced gained in the previous job with the same employer.
Eg .
You had 7 years of experience , and u worked as a software engineer (which required BS + 3 years of exp in c), and Ur company filed Ur GC in eb3.
Now u get promoted to Senior Software Engineer (which required BS + 6 years of exp in c),Now if u had 6 years of exp in c before joining this company in the previous job. you should be eligible to file in EB2 based on Ur previous work ex.
Talk to Ur attorney about the points i mentioned.
more...
newuser
10-05 10:50 AM
Its probably a planned leak by the Obama Administration to the press to placate the hispanic lobby. Just chill... nothing's gonna happen.
Its a ploy to keep the immigration community at peace. I don't have high hopes for CIR until 2011. One thing we can keep doing is meeting the lawmakers and making them aware of the issues facing High Skilled Immigrants.
Its a ploy to keep the immigration community at peace. I don't have high hopes for CIR until 2011. One thing we can keep doing is meeting the lawmakers and making them aware of the issues facing High Skilled Immigrants.
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prabasiodia
04-08 03:05 PM
This one was posted originally at http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-20450.html. Just replace USVI with Hawaii.
USVI is a US territory hence, you will be able to fly in with the drivers license. They do not take your I 94 back. Just to make sure you are in US territorial waters, don't swim or wade out more than 5 feet out in the water. You could be swimming in international waters without proper US exit authorization. Your entry to shore could be subject to unauthorized landing. A water tight bag lugged around your fanny with passport/I94/H1B/paystubs/employer letters/DL(Driver License)/EAD(Employment Authorization Document)/AP(Advanced Parole)/receipts/etc etc. should keep you safe though. Just keep it away from the sharks. Enjoy your vacation.:D:D:D
USVI is a US territory hence, you will be able to fly in with the drivers license. They do not take your I 94 back. Just to make sure you are in US territorial waters, don't swim or wade out more than 5 feet out in the water. You could be swimming in international waters without proper US exit authorization. Your entry to shore could be subject to unauthorized landing. A water tight bag lugged around your fanny with passport/I94/H1B/paystubs/employer letters/DL(Driver License)/EAD(Employment Authorization Document)/AP(Advanced Parole)/receipts/etc etc. should keep you safe though. Just keep it away from the sharks. Enjoy your vacation.:D:D:D
more...
punjabi
09-29 01:02 PM
My suggestion is don't ask for a referral for a good consulting company.
If two consultants are working through a consultancy, their own opinion might differ drastically about the same company. These desi consultancies treat everybody differently.
They do not have set standards. Even if they have some on papers, I have seen none so far who follows those.
They say we will give you 90% of your share. They meet you with smiling face and they talk very politely. And when you ask the Work Order to confirm your rate, they very conveniently change the figure and fax it over to you. This is not an assumption, I have seen it happening before my eyes.
And most of all, they do not feel any remorse or guilt at all.
So, please look for your own. Be careful. Avoid the ones who smile constantly even while chewing the biggest burger on their plate. :-)
Find an American company. They know their state laws and are afraid to commit anything against those.
Good luck, my friend!
Guys, Suggest me a good consulting company. My employer is OK until now and he just started demanding money even for H1 extensions. I am seriously thinking of moving. Please suggest good desi consulting companies who can support my GC and keep min billing. I have a very good project in hand
If two consultants are working through a consultancy, their own opinion might differ drastically about the same company. These desi consultancies treat everybody differently.
They do not have set standards. Even if they have some on papers, I have seen none so far who follows those.
They say we will give you 90% of your share. They meet you with smiling face and they talk very politely. And when you ask the Work Order to confirm your rate, they very conveniently change the figure and fax it over to you. This is not an assumption, I have seen it happening before my eyes.
And most of all, they do not feel any remorse or guilt at all.
So, please look for your own. Be careful. Avoid the ones who smile constantly even while chewing the biggest burger on their plate. :-)
Find an American company. They know their state laws and are afraid to commit anything against those.
Good luck, my friend!
Guys, Suggest me a good consulting company. My employer is OK until now and he just started demanding money even for H1 extensions. I am seriously thinking of moving. Please suggest good desi consulting companies who can support my GC and keep min billing. I have a very good project in hand
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senk1s
10-26 06:20 PM
waiting ...
more...
senthil1
04-04 09:57 PM
If you stay out of country for long time CIS may consider that you may abandon GC.
I need expert advice -
My I-140 has been approved and I-485 pending for more than 18 months. I have a valid EAD & AP. I also have a valid H1-B visa valid till 2011,
that I am using for my current employment with my current employer
1. If I get laid-off, how long can I stay in US without another job?
2. I understand that in order to maintain my eligibility to "port" to a new employer / sponsor under AC21, I should have another job in same or similar occupation. Till I find another job, am I allowed to do some part-time job in different occupation?
3. If new employer gives me the option to move permanently to its subsidiary in another country, what are the available option for me to continue with green card processing?
4. If after going out of the country , I want to come back in future before Green card approval, what will be the available options?
I need expert advice -
My I-140 has been approved and I-485 pending for more than 18 months. I have a valid EAD & AP. I also have a valid H1-B visa valid till 2011,
that I am using for my current employment with my current employer
1. If I get laid-off, how long can I stay in US without another job?
2. I understand that in order to maintain my eligibility to "port" to a new employer / sponsor under AC21, I should have another job in same or similar occupation. Till I find another job, am I allowed to do some part-time job in different occupation?
3. If new employer gives me the option to move permanently to its subsidiary in another country, what are the available option for me to continue with green card processing?
4. If after going out of the country , I want to come back in future before Green card approval, what will be the available options?
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imm_check
11-01 04:27 PM
Hi All,
I have a scenario like this...
My wife and I got the receipt date for I-485 while my daughter did not...even though all of us filed on the same day through same mail package. It is puzzling how one would miss one application and process the others. Please let me know if anyone faced a similar situation.
The scene has changed a little bit with both of us receiving a FP mail notice recently. I wanted to know what would happen if both of us go ahead with the biometrics while not knowing the status of my daughters application.
Thanks...
I have a scenario like this...
My wife and I got the receipt date for I-485 while my daughter did not...even though all of us filed on the same day through same mail package. It is puzzling how one would miss one application and process the others. Please let me know if anyone faced a similar situation.
The scene has changed a little bit with both of us receiving a FP mail notice recently. I wanted to know what would happen if both of us go ahead with the biometrics while not knowing the status of my daughters application.
Thanks...
more...
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glen
05-02 03:57 PM
:)
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ak_2006
05-05 06:04 PM
On home page clikc on forums. Then select a topic. You should see new thread there.
Thanks for the quick reply...Got it.
Thanks for the quick reply...Got it.
more...
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Green.Tech
09-11 11:36 AM
Are there any PERM approvals with priority date after DEC 08? I believe a lot of people on IV have already passed this stage (Many may have EAD by now) and there may not be many in this PERM queue. There are people like us who are still stuck with PERM and need to hear from fellow IVians if they are aware of the reasons for the PERM delays. It is taking more than 10 months to get the regular PERM approvals.
ivar,
From my passive reading about PERM on this forum and other forums, it seems like DOL is currently processing Nov 2008 PERM cases. So, I doubt you will see many people who have approved PERMs from after Dec 2008. But hang in tight, your time will come!
GT
ivar,
From my passive reading about PERM on this forum and other forums, it seems like DOL is currently processing Nov 2008 PERM cases. So, I doubt you will see many people who have approved PERMs from after Dec 2008. But hang in tight, your time will come!
GT
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srarao
07-23 12:51 PM
There is no significance, just to track
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vivache
08-24 07:58 PM
Has anyone been to the Mumbai consulate for stamping
Can you let me know the process?
Also website where I can get more info?
Is this a drop docs at embassy .. and they mail it to you kind of thing?
Thanks
V
Can you let me know the process?
Also website where I can get more info?
Is this a drop docs at embassy .. and they mail it to you kind of thing?
Thanks
V
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sparky_jones
09-30 05:55 PM
I am currently with a company through which I filed my I-485. The filing was done by the company laywer. If I invoke AC21 after 180 days of filing and change to a different company, how would I ensure that USCIS removes the current lawyer as the attorney of record? This is assuming that I want to represent myself and not use a lawyer after switching to a new company.
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WeShallOvercome
08-03 12:12 PM
So my status doesnt change until my I 485 is approved- any idea how long that will take? My H 1B expires in Nov of 2007 should I get an extension? Thank you for your replies- Lisa
After you file your I-485, your status changes to 'Adjustment of status' or 'Adjustee'.
On this status you have 2 options to be able to work:
1) Use EAD, in that case you lose your H1-B status and if your I-485 is denied for any reason, you fall out of status immediately.
Please note that if you use EAD, you HAVE TO use AP for travel.
2) Continue using and extending your H1-B until your I-485 is approved and your status is adjusted to 'Permanent resident'.
You can switch from H1-B to EAD anytime, but there are limitations on whether you can easily switch back from EAD to H1-B.
Good luck
After you file your I-485, your status changes to 'Adjustment of status' or 'Adjustee'.
On this status you have 2 options to be able to work:
1) Use EAD, in that case you lose your H1-B status and if your I-485 is denied for any reason, you fall out of status immediately.
Please note that if you use EAD, you HAVE TO use AP for travel.
2) Continue using and extending your H1-B until your I-485 is approved and your status is adjusted to 'Permanent resident'.
You can switch from H1-B to EAD anytime, but there are limitations on whether you can easily switch back from EAD to H1-B.
Good luck
dpsg
03-06 08:46 PM
Buddy,
I know pessimism sometimes is hard on people who is giving everything to cause... But again concentrate on work we are doing. Ignore doom/gloom
from some members, because if you show them light at the end of tunnel,
many sitting on the fences will join... again suggest don't worry about it &
concentrate on goals/objectives.
good luck.
I know pessimism sometimes is hard on people who is giving everything to cause... But again concentrate on work we are doing. Ignore doom/gloom
from some members, because if you show them light at the end of tunnel,
many sitting on the fences will join... again suggest don't worry about it &
concentrate on goals/objectives.
good luck.
shana04
02-01 10:47 AM
Hey Shana,
I hv sent you a PM.
If you could check that.
Thanks
please check your PM
I hv sent you a PM.
If you could check that.
Thanks
please check your PM
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