My I 485 is pending(July '07 filer.) When applying to a university, how should I indicate my status? There are not many options to choose from: permanent resident, resident alien, international student, or other visa type.
Thanks!
Thanks!
wallpaper LADY GAGA pre FAME
My take on this is that if 40,000 visa numbers remain for July, August and September, then USCIS by itself cannot use 40,000 visa numbers in one month alone (i.e. in july), because the DOS just supplies them monthly quotas. So, if you take approx.
18,000 per month, you are looking at 18,000 for July and 18,000 for August. Then, USCIS have to use them. Which means USCIS has to approve 18,000 petitions in July.
As, I have heard that USCIS just started out sending finger print notices this month, because Priority Dates moved a lot in June 2007. Now, the fingerprints, will come in and forwarded to FBI for security clearance. That will take atleast a month. And, all petitions activated for clearance in June 2007 won't get adjudicated till August 31, 2007, because it takes atleast three months, for a case to approve and the visa number to be used. (Remember Visa numbers are allocated on visas used and not how amny people applied). Please share your thoughts. Thats my 2 pennies.
Ombudsman report mentioned that 40K GCs would be wasted at the end 2007. This means that there should be more then 40K GCs at the beggining of June.
The applications submitted starting this month will take some time (whatever that is) for processing. GC # is assigned after 485 processing is complete.
USCIS had approved 485s before June. They have started getting GCs and are decrementing the 40K+ count. That is, applications being submitted now are not decrementing the 40K+ count.
I don't think there is a monthly GC quota.
18,000 per month, you are looking at 18,000 for July and 18,000 for August. Then, USCIS have to use them. Which means USCIS has to approve 18,000 petitions in July.
As, I have heard that USCIS just started out sending finger print notices this month, because Priority Dates moved a lot in June 2007. Now, the fingerprints, will come in and forwarded to FBI for security clearance. That will take atleast a month. And, all petitions activated for clearance in June 2007 won't get adjudicated till August 31, 2007, because it takes atleast three months, for a case to approve and the visa number to be used. (Remember Visa numbers are allocated on visas used and not how amny people applied). Please share your thoughts. Thats my 2 pennies.
Ombudsman report mentioned that 40K GCs would be wasted at the end 2007. This means that there should be more then 40K GCs at the beggining of June.
The applications submitted starting this month will take some time (whatever that is) for processing. GC # is assigned after 485 processing is complete.
USCIS had approved 485s before June. They have started getting GCs and are decrementing the 40K+ count. That is, applications being submitted now are not decrementing the 40K+ count.
I don't think there is a monthly GC quota.
Is there a site that gives step by step instructions to filing for canadian PR? Like what sort of documents you need and when?
Go to CIC web site and download all the forms and instruction book you need in pdf - Fill them yourself - Pay fees - Follow instructions which come after filing - Simple process.
start here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.html
Go to CIC web site and download all the forms and instruction book you need in pdf - Fill them yourself - Pay fees - Follow instructions which come after filing - Simple process.
start here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.html
2011 lady gaga before fame.
This proposal if it hits the major news media will atleast catch the attention of most people regarding our plight as immigrants.
On the other hand though, those on the other side will think that this proves their point --- they are losing jobs and money -- immigrants are taking it. They are losing houses and properties --- immigrants are taking it. They will put the blame on us.
On the other hand though, those on the other side will think that this proves their point --- they are losing jobs and money -- immigrants are taking it. They are losing houses and properties --- immigrants are taking it. They will put the blame on us.
I agree with you 100%, this change was made by Congress in attempt to reduce the backlog.
Think about it in terms of Congress, it was under a lot of pressure from high skilled workers and from companies like Google and Bill gates who argued for more number of visas. No offense to any EB3 category, but we all know, EB2 are the ones which have earned a higher skilled education from this country.
(Now please don't start any debates on EB2 or EB3, I didn't make any distinctions and it has no relevance.)
For Congress to somehow act, they made the change in movement of visa numbers, and geared more towards EB1/EB2, to reduce the backlog among EB2 category. This will eventually lead to roll over of visa numbers from EB2 to EB3.
Advantage? High skilled workers who have attained a Masters degree from
U.S., now will see a reduce in backlog.
This recent change in the flow of visa numbers, acknowledges all these problems. We all know, who ever takes over the next presidential elections, will not issue something right away, it will take a few months.
This change buys time and greatly reduces the backlog among EB2, eventually for Eb3 as well. The new process makes much more sense and I don't think this change will revert to its original movement (back to vertical flow)
A correction -
there are many who are not Masters from US but can apply under EB2...i.e. BS + 5 years Experience. (Even those who can prove their International MS degree is Equivalent to US degrees can qualify for MS + 3 years and hence EB2)
Important point to note is that - It is the Job requirements that makes ur GC application EB2 or EB3 and not your qualification..
Think about it in terms of Congress, it was under a lot of pressure from high skilled workers and from companies like Google and Bill gates who argued for more number of visas. No offense to any EB3 category, but we all know, EB2 are the ones which have earned a higher skilled education from this country.
(Now please don't start any debates on EB2 or EB3, I didn't make any distinctions and it has no relevance.)
For Congress to somehow act, they made the change in movement of visa numbers, and geared more towards EB1/EB2, to reduce the backlog among EB2 category. This will eventually lead to roll over of visa numbers from EB2 to EB3.
Advantage? High skilled workers who have attained a Masters degree from
U.S., now will see a reduce in backlog.
This recent change in the flow of visa numbers, acknowledges all these problems. We all know, who ever takes over the next presidential elections, will not issue something right away, it will take a few months.
This change buys time and greatly reduces the backlog among EB2, eventually for Eb3 as well. The new process makes much more sense and I don't think this change will revert to its original movement (back to vertical flow)
A correction -
there are many who are not Masters from US but can apply under EB2...i.e. BS + 5 years Experience. (Even those who can prove their International MS degree is Equivalent to US degrees can qualify for MS + 3 years and hence EB2)
Important point to note is that - It is the Job requirements that makes ur GC application EB2 or EB3 and not your qualification..
I had a Infopass apt this morning. My PD is Jul 2005 (Eb2-I) , 140 approved 18 months ago. The IO told me this morning that my Namecheck is cleared. How long do you guys think i get the approval?
Yes... at the time of application the H1B should be valid for at least 1 year.... I got my papers returned to me coz of this. I reapplied once I renewd my H1 for 3 more yrs
It doesn't have to be H1B; you simply had to enter the USA legally (in any status) and stay legally in the country for at least one year. F1, J1, H1, L1, or any other status -- it doesn't matter.
It doesn't have to be H1B; you simply had to enter the USA legally (in any status) and stay legally in the country for at least one year. F1, J1, H1, L1, or any other status -- it doesn't matter.
2010 Gaga was just 12 or 13.
..I am waiting for the punch line. What's the point of this? We all know it...
Well this is just another source or confirmation that EB-1 and EB-2 India is going to become unavailable in the coming months or year.
"In addition, the DOS has indicated that the EB-1 category for individuals born in India or China may backlog or retrogress later this summer, and may do so again in the coming fiscal year. Predictably, prognostications for the EB-2 category for India and China are also quite grim - in the next month or two, the EB-2 category could become unavailable. In particular, USCIS has indicated that it has about 25,000 EB-2 India cases and "significant numbers" of cases for Chinese nationals that have been reviewed and are simply awaiting visa number availability. This category has a typical fiscal-year limit of 2,800, plus any remaining numbers from the EB-1, EB-4 and EB-5 categories."
Well this is just another source or confirmation that EB-1 and EB-2 India is going to become unavailable in the coming months or year.
"In addition, the DOS has indicated that the EB-1 category for individuals born in India or China may backlog or retrogress later this summer, and may do so again in the coming fiscal year. Predictably, prognostications for the EB-2 category for India and China are also quite grim - in the next month or two, the EB-2 category could become unavailable. In particular, USCIS has indicated that it has about 25,000 EB-2 India cases and "significant numbers" of cases for Chinese nationals that have been reviewed and are simply awaiting visa number availability. This category has a typical fiscal-year limit of 2,800, plus any remaining numbers from the EB-1, EB-4 and EB-5 categories."
Well since the start of this thread and ones before this thread focused on the dates for EB2 India. A lot of speculations were drawn, some members like vldrao and others put in a lot of thought and work to reach a significant analysis.
But let's not dwell in to the dates only.
We have certain bills in the house, no recent posts have been developed to discuss about campaigns. We got this far because of all our joint efforts. So let us not pause ourselves right here, now that EB2 dates are getting close to being current, let us all make loud noise to galvanize USCIS members to work more effectively.
Speculations at this point are excellent, but lets work towards the bigger picture.
Thanks
But let's not dwell in to the dates only.
We have certain bills in the house, no recent posts have been developed to discuss about campaigns. We got this far because of all our joint efforts. So let us not pause ourselves right here, now that EB2 dates are getting close to being current, let us all make loud noise to galvanize USCIS members to work more effectively.
Speculations at this point are excellent, but lets work towards the bigger picture.
Thanks
hair pictures Lady Gaga before she
Two of my close friends be-friended me because of this..
Agree with earlier posting..desis stopped smiling and stopped saying Hi because of this..
Agree with earlier posting..desis stopped smiling and stopped saying Hi because of this..
Yes, Lasantha.. you are right. But that was one of mbartosik's points when he/she was comparing cost/benefit.
hot Back on form: Lady Gaga talks
So this is very clear example where dates were current for June but they just came up on June 5th and asked to reject all other worker application..
Now why can't they do fsame or EB?
Do you know if they even accepected application that they got before June 5th.
That was 5th June as per Oh's website and Oh's website was quoting AILA's memo.
Now why can't they do fsame or EB?
Do you know if they even accepected application that they got before June 5th.
That was 5th June as per Oh's website and Oh's website was quoting AILA's memo.
house lady gaga before famous pics.
For first quarter EB2 India will have 1/4 of 9,800(7% of 140k visas), which are 2,450 visas. I wonder
how u got 800 visas. I dont see much retrogression in EB2 dates other than some mild ones. And the dates move pretty fast on a whole.
About EB3: it wont be like now all the time. The Immigration reform bill wont keep failing all the time. There would be a time for it to pass in the next two years. As soon as it passes all our Employment Based categories, specifically EB3, will get greatest benefit with PDs almost becoming current.
Vdlrao:
First of let me congratulate you. You have been amazingly accurate time and time again about the movement. Do you have some internal sources:rolleyes:
Jokes aside I think you miss calculated the 2450 visas for the first quarter for the EB2 India. I think the 7% country limit is on a state as a whole including EB1, EB2, EB3, and others. So going by this India gets 9800 visas for a year without any spillovers. The spillovers happen in the final quarter only so for each of the first 3 quarters EB2 will get 28 percent of one fourth of 9800 and the same amount will go to EB1 and EB3 as well. so EB2 I gets 686 visas. But I agree with you that in the last quarter EB2 I will move very fast because it will get all the spillovers from EB1 and EB2 ROW..
how u got 800 visas. I dont see much retrogression in EB2 dates other than some mild ones. And the dates move pretty fast on a whole.
About EB3: it wont be like now all the time. The Immigration reform bill wont keep failing all the time. There would be a time for it to pass in the next two years. As soon as it passes all our Employment Based categories, specifically EB3, will get greatest benefit with PDs almost becoming current.
Vdlrao:
First of let me congratulate you. You have been amazingly accurate time and time again about the movement. Do you have some internal sources:rolleyes:
Jokes aside I think you miss calculated the 2450 visas for the first quarter for the EB2 India. I think the 7% country limit is on a state as a whole including EB1, EB2, EB3, and others. So going by this India gets 9800 visas for a year without any spillovers. The spillovers happen in the final quarter only so for each of the first 3 quarters EB2 will get 28 percent of one fourth of 9800 and the same amount will go to EB1 and EB3 as well. so EB2 I gets 686 visas. But I agree with you that in the last quarter EB2 I will move very fast because it will get all the spillovers from EB1 and EB2 ROW..
tattoo Kanye West And Lady GaGa -
Chanduv,
I know in the past many times it was debated -- why people do not support? Let me put forth what I feel.
Effort put by IV is very commendable. But the beneficiary of IV work (mostly) do not give importance to Green Card. That is what I think based on talking to multiple people and that is what we see from the % participation of people for various fruitful effort put forth by IV. Most of them say they do not care if they get GC or not. In their heart of heart they may but not too much.
Other reason I can think of is -- There could be doubt in minds of many people of IV strength. The day IV gets some success, people will rally behind IV for a while. And that is the scenario outside world too. See the stock price. If the company is doing good, stock price goes up. The day one bad news comes, stocks falls down. Take the presidential election. You can very well make out that contribution by company or people is proportional to candidate wins. If you are loosing, contribution will dry out very fast. I am not saying that candidate will not have supporter but that would be less in number. Take N.T. Rama Rao case. The day Naidu ditched him and others followed him, no officials gave importance to NTR.
Believe me, in my office or outside, I have talked to every Indian. And not one comes back n discusses with me about IV.
I strongly feel IV is doing a commendable job with some dedicated contributors.
Well - Thats what I have noticed, but people go nowhere nor do they do anything for themselves. More than interest, I think people do not want to get into these things, no one wants to take unwanted risks - as thats how people percieve it. A lot of people feel IVs protocols are tough - I don't think askig people to send letters is tough.
Talking about organization's successes - IV is not a software company attracting people to buy shares or seek advantage - for the nth time - this is not a software or IT project or a wall street financial. WSe must come out of that mind sets.
AMAN KAPOOR, JAY PRADHAN, HIMANSHU and everyone who are on the forefront are JUST ORDINARY COMMON PEOPLE LIKE EVERYONE HERE. the idea behind IV is to provide a support network. If people want to see success - they HAVE to be a part of it. The efforts of such organizations is not to make profits and then sell shares and perform well and then make people join it, it is to provide with a platform where people can help themselves.
We are having issues - green card delays - lets think of it as an ailment that needs to be cured. Now lets do something about it. Lets go to a doctor - a doctor does not guarantee that they will cure u but gives you advice, treats you and gives you medicine and asks you to follow certain protocols. That is exactly what IV is.
Our primary issue is in our thought process. We want to do everything, we want everything in the world BUT we do not want to stand up and rise in unity. We want to blame IV leaders saying they are rude and pushy. We come up with discussion threads saying we must do this we must do that and finally we see these discussions just getting buried.
Good examples of how communities thrive anywhere in the world are the Jewish community and the Patel community. The only reason they have succeeded is because they believe in themselves and their cause - they are all over the world and are united, they have managed to make their lives easier by uniting for their causes.
Look at us - if green card is delayed - we say - I dont care about it, India is rising - but are we going there? No way - no one who says "India is rising" will go - in fat they will be the first to apply for any immigration benefit.
Why are we individually so highly skilled and intelligent and capable but collectively so naive? Why do we always want others to do it for us? is it because if there is any opposition the active ones will be affected and we can escape? is it cowardice that stops us from being united?
What is success? How can we achieve success? Why are we finding excuses for not doing our part? Why do we always want to praise others but not do something?
I know in the past many times it was debated -- why people do not support? Let me put forth what I feel.
Effort put by IV is very commendable. But the beneficiary of IV work (mostly) do not give importance to Green Card. That is what I think based on talking to multiple people and that is what we see from the % participation of people for various fruitful effort put forth by IV. Most of them say they do not care if they get GC or not. In their heart of heart they may but not too much.
Other reason I can think of is -- There could be doubt in minds of many people of IV strength. The day IV gets some success, people will rally behind IV for a while. And that is the scenario outside world too. See the stock price. If the company is doing good, stock price goes up. The day one bad news comes, stocks falls down. Take the presidential election. You can very well make out that contribution by company or people is proportional to candidate wins. If you are loosing, contribution will dry out very fast. I am not saying that candidate will not have supporter but that would be less in number. Take N.T. Rama Rao case. The day Naidu ditched him and others followed him, no officials gave importance to NTR.
Believe me, in my office or outside, I have talked to every Indian. And not one comes back n discusses with me about IV.
I strongly feel IV is doing a commendable job with some dedicated contributors.
Well - Thats what I have noticed, but people go nowhere nor do they do anything for themselves. More than interest, I think people do not want to get into these things, no one wants to take unwanted risks - as thats how people percieve it. A lot of people feel IVs protocols are tough - I don't think askig people to send letters is tough.
Talking about organization's successes - IV is not a software company attracting people to buy shares or seek advantage - for the nth time - this is not a software or IT project or a wall street financial. WSe must come out of that mind sets.
AMAN KAPOOR, JAY PRADHAN, HIMANSHU and everyone who are on the forefront are JUST ORDINARY COMMON PEOPLE LIKE EVERYONE HERE. the idea behind IV is to provide a support network. If people want to see success - they HAVE to be a part of it. The efforts of such organizations is not to make profits and then sell shares and perform well and then make people join it, it is to provide with a platform where people can help themselves.
We are having issues - green card delays - lets think of it as an ailment that needs to be cured. Now lets do something about it. Lets go to a doctor - a doctor does not guarantee that they will cure u but gives you advice, treats you and gives you medicine and asks you to follow certain protocols. That is exactly what IV is.
Our primary issue is in our thought process. We want to do everything, we want everything in the world BUT we do not want to stand up and rise in unity. We want to blame IV leaders saying they are rude and pushy. We come up with discussion threads saying we must do this we must do that and finally we see these discussions just getting buried.
Good examples of how communities thrive anywhere in the world are the Jewish community and the Patel community. The only reason they have succeeded is because they believe in themselves and their cause - they are all over the world and are united, they have managed to make their lives easier by uniting for their causes.
Look at us - if green card is delayed - we say - I dont care about it, India is rising - but are we going there? No way - no one who says "India is rising" will go - in fat they will be the first to apply for any immigration benefit.
Why are we individually so highly skilled and intelligent and capable but collectively so naive? Why do we always want others to do it for us? is it because if there is any opposition the active ones will be affected and we can escape? is it cowardice that stops us from being united?
What is success? How can we achieve success? Why are we finding excuses for not doing our part? Why do we always want to praise others but not do something?
pictures Kanye West and Lady Gaga
As you use the phrase Check Mate....
Chess is all about thinking strategically several moves ahead.
Given the current political climate on immigration I think that we will be in a check mate position (on the loosing end) if we pursue that road.
The anti's would be all over us as soon as we filed in federal district court probably even before a hearing, and definitely after a hearing. If we lost in lower courts the Supreme Court would probably refuse to hear the appeal, in the mean time we'd have just stirred up the anti's hornets nest against us, just as much if not worse than against the illegals.
Asking Congress to make small changes in the existing laws annoys the anti's. Telling them or forcing them to wholesale rewrite their laws would make us public enemy #1. We would be lucky to have more than a handful of law makers willing to stand up for us. It would kill off all lobbying ability.
Think of lobbying as polite negotiation.
Think of Supreme court case as picking a fist fight, in which we are badly out numbered.
Once you have started a fist fight it is much harder to negotiate, especially from a loosing position.
I would rather negotiate than fight, I would rather lobby than court challenge.
So yes, check mate, if we follow this route.
Alternatively, a British phase: Royally screwed!
It make sense to use the wisdom tooth and be practical. But even with lobbying we will still have cat (Anti's)... no way to bell it?
Chess is all about thinking strategically several moves ahead.
Given the current political climate on immigration I think that we will be in a check mate position (on the loosing end) if we pursue that road.
The anti's would be all over us as soon as we filed in federal district court probably even before a hearing, and definitely after a hearing. If we lost in lower courts the Supreme Court would probably refuse to hear the appeal, in the mean time we'd have just stirred up the anti's hornets nest against us, just as much if not worse than against the illegals.
Asking Congress to make small changes in the existing laws annoys the anti's. Telling them or forcing them to wholesale rewrite their laws would make us public enemy #1. We would be lucky to have more than a handful of law makers willing to stand up for us. It would kill off all lobbying ability.
Think of lobbying as polite negotiation.
Think of Supreme court case as picking a fist fight, in which we are badly out numbered.
Once you have started a fist fight it is much harder to negotiate, especially from a loosing position.
I would rather negotiate than fight, I would rather lobby than court challenge.
So yes, check mate, if we follow this route.
Alternatively, a British phase: Royally screwed!
It make sense to use the wisdom tooth and be practical. But even with lobbying we will still have cat (Anti's)... no way to bell it?
dresses 1 In Pictures: Lady Gaga
My friend, in 2003-2004 alone there were 136K EB greencards wasted. When recaptured, in the past they have been given to oversubscribed countries. That is almost an entire years supply of EB greencards.
I didn't know they give significant percentage of the recaptured numbers to retrogressed countries. That is cool.
As far as your last question goes: I'm amazed, given your interest in this subject, that you have not read the 2005-2006-2007 Ombudsmans reports which discusses in some detail how USCIS claims that it cannot provide data on pending applications by EB preference, country of chargeability, and PD. Do take some time to familiarize yourself with these reports (and read the damn footnotes.)
I think i read only last year's report , that too the section concerning FBI namecheck, because at that time my PD was current most of time and i was stuck in name check. Now time to read rest of the stuff in Ombud's rpt.
I didn't know they give significant percentage of the recaptured numbers to retrogressed countries. That is cool.
As far as your last question goes: I'm amazed, given your interest in this subject, that you have not read the 2005-2006-2007 Ombudsmans reports which discusses in some detail how USCIS claims that it cannot provide data on pending applications by EB preference, country of chargeability, and PD. Do take some time to familiarize yourself with these reports (and read the damn footnotes.)
I think i read only last year's report , that too the section concerning FBI namecheck, because at that time my PD was current most of time and i was stuck in name check. Now time to read rest of the stuff in Ombud's rpt.
makeup Believe it or not Lady Gaga
It is very troubling to note that one persons identity was uncovered online because his political views and legitimate concerns about the crimes of YSR (Good riddance to him).
IV must delete all posts relating to the uncovering of this gentlemans identity. And ensure it never happens again. If this is not done, we will lose faith and trust in IV.
IV core needs to understand this.
When criminal followers of YSR are abound even in USA, we have to deal with them. Shame on these educated idiots.
IV must delete all posts relating to the uncovering of this gentlemans identity. And ensure it never happens again. If this is not done, we will lose faith and trust in IV.
IV core needs to understand this.
When criminal followers of YSR are abound even in USA, we have to deal with them. Shame on these educated idiots.
girlfriend Lady Gaga before The Fame!
Giving GC's for buying home seems toomuch biased and benefits only a subset of EB, and totally shifts the basis of the EB category.
On the other hand, if their visas can be exempted from the visa numbers(annual quota), but still tied to the visa dates being current for their priority dates, this will benefit the entire community and law makers can justify the approach without stiff oppositions, if any. To me this feels lot more reasonable and everyone(EB applicants) will evenly benefit from this.
Almost 20-30% of the Eb appl. from 2001-2005 should be already in a position to buy or bought a home. That should help dates move faster for older dates.
Just a thought. But this alone will NOT resolve all our issues and backlogs. Just speedsup the date movement in a steadily manner.
On the other hand, if their visas can be exempted from the visa numbers(annual quota), but still tied to the visa dates being current for their priority dates, this will benefit the entire community and law makers can justify the approach without stiff oppositions, if any. To me this feels lot more reasonable and everyone(EB applicants) will evenly benefit from this.
Almost 20-30% of the Eb appl. from 2001-2005 should be already in a position to buy or bought a home. That should help dates move faster for older dates.
Just a thought. But this alone will NOT resolve all our issues and backlogs. Just speedsup the date movement in a steadily manner.
hairstyles Lady GaGa before The Fame
Hi
Is it ok to work part time (say 10 hrs a week) for a different company using EAD, while working for a primary company on H1B ?
Thanks
Is it ok to work part time (say 10 hrs a week) for a different company using EAD, while working for a primary company on H1B ?
Thanks
Folks,
Since this can potentially be a great win for us, why don't we take the advice of a top constitutional attorney.
Note that it would certainly not benefit the other 60%+ from countries other than India that are also stuck in various steps (EB3, name check). So, unless you want IV to stand for IndiaVoice, you should concentrate your admirable effort on increasing the overall quota (with increased per-country quota), excluding dependents, etc.
Since this can potentially be a great win for us, why don't we take the advice of a top constitutional attorney.
Note that it would certainly not benefit the other 60%+ from countries other than India that are also stuck in various steps (EB3, name check). So, unless you want IV to stand for IndiaVoice, you should concentrate your admirable effort on increasing the overall quota (with increased per-country quota), excluding dependents, etc.
Thanks for the post
I have been working here for 9 years and next year we plan to return back to India. I spoke to SSN customer service to find out my retirement and survivor benefits. Being an Indian citizen, all these are available only if me, or my dependants, have a valid residing status with the US, at the time of making the application. The contribution at this point is like getting a right to work.
Per the current grey SS Rules, you cannot claim SS benefits on retirement if you are an Indian citizen residing in India at the time of filing the claim. (Even if you have accumulated 40 credits)
I have been working here for 9 years and next year we plan to return back to India. I spoke to SSN customer service to find out my retirement and survivor benefits. Being an Indian citizen, all these are available only if me, or my dependants, have a valid residing status with the US, at the time of making the application. The contribution at this point is like getting a right to work.
Per the current grey SS Rules, you cannot claim SS benefits on retirement if you are an Indian citizen residing in India at the time of filing the claim. (Even if you have accumulated 40 credits)