I appreciate your insight and understand your reasoning.Just another canuck wrote: ↑Fri Feb 24, 2023 8:47 amI agree with you. I did use a law firm and the amount of approvals they have are still only in the double digits and they represent clients worldwide. If you find a law firm who calls it a sure thing, run. The law firm I used explicitly states it is not a sure thing and will not accept you as a client if they do not think you have an above average shot at success. They want a high success rate so they can advertise it as such.172ReliefPilot wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 11:30 amI dont doubt that there have been successful cases getting approved lately, but feel that some in this thread think that it is something that will open the flood gates for a flow down south. All this information should be taken with a grain of salt because like you said, its not a sure thing. Lawyers will take advantage of those looking to apply, which may not be favourable for those paying mortgages, kids etc.Just another canuck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 11:26 am
My NIW application passed. A colleague of mine also had his pass. The only thing standing between us and a green card is a medical and interview at the consulate. The major hurdle was the NIW petition.
That being said, there have been many pilots who have had their applications rejected. And the decision process seems quite random. Some more experienced pilots have been unsuccessful while their less experienced colleagues have had success. In no way am I saying this is a sure thing. Far from it. But it does work.
Curious though, did you use a firm or all on your own? Are you considering following through on it?
At this point and unless things change at USCIS, I will not be following through on my green card application. Unfortunately, between the time I applied and the time I received my notice of approval for my NIW petition, the medical requirements changed with regards to the COVID vaccine. When we started the process, all green card applicants aged 12 (or maybe it was 16, can’t remember) and older were required to be vaccinated against COVID. Late last summer that requirement was lowered to age 6 months and older. Because my children would now be required to be injected with a mRNA vaccine, I can not continue with the process as I am not comfortable with the risk. I’m not trying to start a debate about vaccines, just providing information. You can petition for a waiver based on moral or religious grounds, but that would cost even more money and would very likely end in disappointment. With millions of people immigrating to the U.S. every year, you either follow the rules or don’t come. There are others in line who are willing. I was hoping the requirement would be discarded with the end of the COVID emergency, but with the vaccines now being added by the CDC to the routine vaccines, I believe it to be unlikely that will happen.
Again, not trying to start a COVID vax debate. Just providing information. If you are not vaccinated against COVID, you will not get the green light from the medical examiner. If you don’t have that, you will not get an interview at the consulate. If you have children you are planning on bringing with you and they are not vaccinated against COVID and you will not subject them to it, don’t bother starting the process.
For me it will have been a waste of money if the requirement is not removed, but such is life. If the cost of this will break you, then you shouldn’t be considering it in the first place.
It will be interesting to see if the FAA clamps down on this NIW pathway with the USCIS to promote more hiring and training within the USA. Past climates, especially on the Trump admin side seemed to want to really slow down the immigration intakes in all categories. I think this will be a big election point (not aviation exclusive) for 2024. And FWIW, the American flight crew are Ive spoken with are a bit upset at the thought of Canadians trying to go down south, even though they already got their seniority #.....oh well.
I am surprised my attorney never brought up the NIW when I applied for my green card back in 2021. However, things were still slow in the airline side due to restrictions and probably didnt have much of a shot, if any, without the recommended experience and accolades. I have my visa interview next week in montreal and am happy to finally have a path to be on one side of the border.