Refused Green Card because Graduate Visa Expired

kevincool

Hi All,
I'm a software developer based in Dublin.I completed my Masters in Computing in Dublin and got an internship in a company for 6 months.I worked very hard in this internship and finally got an offer for two years for a salary of more than 30,000 euro p.a.
But due to unexpected situations(like my manager going overseas and when he returned his father was expired) my green card application got delayed.My Graduate visa ended on feb/28/2012.I somehow managed to send my green card application by march 15(2012).Everything was ok with the documents.
But today I got a refusal letter from them saying my immigration has ended on feb 28 itself.Can someone please help me what to do now?Im totally shocked and confused as I have no where else to go.Based on one point they refused me Green card.

avalon68

Did you overstay on the visa? Technically you should have left when it expired and continued your application from abroad......that could be a point of contention as they are strict on that. You definitely shouldn't have been working when it expired......I think you get a months grace to leave, but not to work. Does the company have an immigration lawyer? They might be able to help.

kevincool

I did not work after feb 28 when my graduate visa got expired.But i applied to green card on march 20.I told them the reason for me applying late but they just refused it saying my visa expired.My company does not have a immigration lawyer..what chance do i have if i apply once again going abroad.I work as a software developer and is in the category for issuing green cards and my employer is very much interested in getting me a green card.

avalon68

It's good that you stopped working on the 28th, but, are you still in the USA ? Ie have you overstayed your visa limit? That could negatively impact any application. You should move this to the USA forum - you might get more feedback there

kevincool

Im in Ireland and applied for a Green Card of Ireland.

avalon68

Ah, my mistake - I assumed it was a greencard for the US.....didnt know we had "greencards" in Ireland too Could you try talking to a local councillor/TD and see if they can shed any light on why the application was refused? Are there a lot of Irish people qualified to do the job - as in, given the high unemployment rates in Ireland at the moment, if there are no shortage of qualified applicants, then perhaps greencards are being restricted for that employment area? If the employer has offered you a position and wants to keep you, ask them to phone immigration and find out why the application was denied and go from there. Sorry I cant be of more help......really dont know that much about the Irish immigration system.

Mrs OBumble

avalon68 wrote: »

Could you try talking to a local councillor/TD and ... Are there a lot of Irish people qualified to do the job

Avalon, I'm guessing you don't know much about the software job market either ;-)


OP, the suggestion to talk to your local TD is a good one. I think you know full well why your application was refused. But they may be able to find some loophole etc.

You could also ask senior managers in your company if they have an immigration lawyer contacts. (maybe not in your company, but they may have friends).

Other than that, I would suggest talking to an immigration lawyer you find yourself - from the golden pages if nothing else works
(if anyone reading this has recommendations, then by PM please, not posts).

You may need to leave the country to apply - but really I don't know much about this area at all.

kevincool

Thanks for the replies,will speak to the concerned authorities tomorw.

avalon68

JustMary wrote: »

Avalon, I'm guessing you don't know much about the software job market either ;-)

Not a byte :P Is it saturated?

Mrs OBumble

avalon68 wrote: »

Not a byte :P Is it saturated?

Only with difficult-to-fill vacancies. Do you know any unemployed java developers?

kevincool

spoke to the GNIB people and got a visa extension of 3 months.hurray!
Mary,i know some very good software testers.