newbee7
07-06 06:55 AM
Can you please change the headling in Digg to:
Homeland security compromised in mad rush to process Green Cards
Homeland security compromised in mad rush to process Green Cards
wallpaper 1 X Adorable Monkey nail/toe
santb1975
05-23 12:56 AM
Thanks a lot for your one time and recurring contributions
I just sent a check of $100 via online bill payment to IV. I've also set up recurring contribution checks of $25 every month beginning June. I strongly believe in IV's cause and hope that many folks will come forward. This is the time to act to help ourselves, otherwise we'll be left behind. Keep up the good work.
I just sent a check of $100 via online bill payment to IV. I've also set up recurring contribution checks of $25 every month beginning June. I strongly believe in IV's cause and hope that many folks will come forward. This is the time to act to help ourselves, otherwise we'll be left behind. Keep up the good work.
CADude
07-04 03:18 PM
Contact your Senator regarding unprecedented move by the Department of State.
If you all can then please contact your senator.
Below is the letter I sent to my local senator.
You can find your local senator by using this link (Enter zip code and state) - http://capwiz.com/aila2/officials/congress/?lvl=C&azip=75063&state=TX.
You can also send email from this link.
It does not matter whether this brings any value or not but there is no harm in doing this, in case you are really frustrated, troubled and sad!.
Dear Senator :
This is to bring to your attention regarding an unprecedented move by Department of State with regards to filing of adjustment of status applications.
On June 13, Department of State announced in its Visa Bulletin for July 2007 that all employment-based categories (except for the Other Workers category) for immigrant visas will be "current," (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3263.html) meaning that individuals/businesses going through the lengthy and backlogged immigrant visa or "green card" process can, throughout July, file adjustment of status applications.
The Department Of State regulations at 22 CFR 42.51 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/22cfr42_05.html) and 8 CFR 245.1(g), allows individuals/businesses to rely on and use such information. Historically, they have relied on such information knowing that when they prepare and file such applications, they will be accepted and adjudicated.
However on July 2, 2007, The Department of State issued a new bulletin (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3263.html) with an update on July Visa Availability and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) started rejecting adjustment of status applications for several employment-based immigration preference categories (http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/VisaBulletin2Jul07.pdf), despite the fact that the published July Visa Bulletin shows that visas for these categories are available thereby violating its long-standing policy and the expectations of thousands of people, without any advance notification to the general public or issuing any notification under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). Such a revision, coming in the same month in which the bulletin is issued, would be contrary to years of practice in which revisions or adjustments to the availability of immigrant visa numbers are made in the following month of before the beginning of the month, not in the same month individuals and businesses have begun preparing and submitting applications for adjustment of status.
By taking this unprecedented mid-month update, the Departments of State and Homeland Security have seriously undermined the stability and predictability of U.S. immigration law. Thousands of individuals and businesses rely on the monthly bulletins to prepare and plan for the submission of applications. In addition, individuals have taken the necessary steps to prepare and file applications for adjustment of status, including thousands of dollars of expenses to engage counsel, flights for employees to quickly obtain necessary documents and medical exams for the applications, cancellation of business and holiday travel, changes in family plans to ensure families are in the proper location, etc. This unprecedented action of the government is shocking and disturbing. It has left many in a state of disbelief, frustration, confusion, and anger.
Pursuant to Department Of State regulations 8 CFR 245.1(g), [i]f the applicant [for adjustment of status] is a preference alien, the current Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin will be consulted to determine whether an immigrant visa is immediately available.. Thus, when the Visa Bulletin shows that visas for most preference categories are available for applicants with priority dates on or before the listed priority date, the USCIS must accept those adjustment of status applications for adjudication. Under section 245 of the INA, an alien may apply for adjustment of status if, inter alia, (3) an immigrant visa is immediately available to him at the time his application is filed. The question is what the term immediately available means. The regulation at 8 CFR 245.1(g) defines the term and instructs how to determine when an immigrant visa is immediately available under Sec. 245 of the INA.
8 CFR 245.1(g) states, An alien is ineligible for the benefits of section 245 of the Act unless an immigrant visa is immediately available to him or her at the time the application is filed. If the applicant is a preference alien, the current Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin will be consulted to determine whether an immigrant visa is immediately available. An immigrant visa is considered available for accepting and processing the application Form I-485 i[f] the preference category applicant has a priority date on the waiting list which is earlier than the date shown in the Bulletin (or the Bulletin shows that that numbers for visa applicants in his or her category are current). An immigrant visa is also considered immediately available if the applicant establishes eligibility for the benefits of Public Law 101-238. Information concerning the immediate availability of an immigrant visa may be obtained at any Service Office. (Emphasis added.)
Reliance on the current Visa Bulletin is well-established. In 1994, the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) published a revision to 8 CFR Part 245 in response to enactment of section 245(i) of the Act. In the Supplementary Information provided with that regulation, the INS took the opportunity to revise its definition of immediately available to be consistent with that of the Department of State.
The INS said: All applicants for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Act must have an immediately available immigrant visa number. "Immediately available" for the
purpose of accepting and processing the Form I-485 application filed by a preference alien is defined in 8 CFR 245.1(f) as being not later than the date shown in the current Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin. The Department of State, however, defines "immediately available" as being earlier than the date shown in the current Visa Bulletin. This rule amends 8 CFR 245.1(f) to bring the adjustment of status provision into accordance with the Department o f State's definition.
I request your prompt attention on this matter asking the Department of State for clarification on this unprecedented change which defies years of established process of individuals/businesses relying on visa bulletin to prepare and file adjustment of status applications.
Sincerely,
If you all can then please contact your senator.
Below is the letter I sent to my local senator.
You can find your local senator by using this link (Enter zip code and state) - http://capwiz.com/aila2/officials/congress/?lvl=C&azip=75063&state=TX.
You can also send email from this link.
It does not matter whether this brings any value or not but there is no harm in doing this, in case you are really frustrated, troubled and sad!.
Dear Senator :
This is to bring to your attention regarding an unprecedented move by Department of State with regards to filing of adjustment of status applications.
On June 13, Department of State announced in its Visa Bulletin for July 2007 that all employment-based categories (except for the Other Workers category) for immigrant visas will be "current," (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3263.html) meaning that individuals/businesses going through the lengthy and backlogged immigrant visa or "green card" process can, throughout July, file adjustment of status applications.
The Department Of State regulations at 22 CFR 42.51 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/22cfr42_05.html) and 8 CFR 245.1(g), allows individuals/businesses to rely on and use such information. Historically, they have relied on such information knowing that when they prepare and file such applications, they will be accepted and adjudicated.
However on July 2, 2007, The Department of State issued a new bulletin (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3263.html) with an update on July Visa Availability and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) started rejecting adjustment of status applications for several employment-based immigration preference categories (http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/VisaBulletin2Jul07.pdf), despite the fact that the published July Visa Bulletin shows that visas for these categories are available thereby violating its long-standing policy and the expectations of thousands of people, without any advance notification to the general public or issuing any notification under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). Such a revision, coming in the same month in which the bulletin is issued, would be contrary to years of practice in which revisions or adjustments to the availability of immigrant visa numbers are made in the following month of before the beginning of the month, not in the same month individuals and businesses have begun preparing and submitting applications for adjustment of status.
By taking this unprecedented mid-month update, the Departments of State and Homeland Security have seriously undermined the stability and predictability of U.S. immigration law. Thousands of individuals and businesses rely on the monthly bulletins to prepare and plan for the submission of applications. In addition, individuals have taken the necessary steps to prepare and file applications for adjustment of status, including thousands of dollars of expenses to engage counsel, flights for employees to quickly obtain necessary documents and medical exams for the applications, cancellation of business and holiday travel, changes in family plans to ensure families are in the proper location, etc. This unprecedented action of the government is shocking and disturbing. It has left many in a state of disbelief, frustration, confusion, and anger.
Pursuant to Department Of State regulations 8 CFR 245.1(g), [i]f the applicant [for adjustment of status] is a preference alien, the current Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin will be consulted to determine whether an immigrant visa is immediately available.. Thus, when the Visa Bulletin shows that visas for most preference categories are available for applicants with priority dates on or before the listed priority date, the USCIS must accept those adjustment of status applications for adjudication. Under section 245 of the INA, an alien may apply for adjustment of status if, inter alia, (3) an immigrant visa is immediately available to him at the time his application is filed. The question is what the term immediately available means. The regulation at 8 CFR 245.1(g) defines the term and instructs how to determine when an immigrant visa is immediately available under Sec. 245 of the INA.
8 CFR 245.1(g) states, An alien is ineligible for the benefits of section 245 of the Act unless an immigrant visa is immediately available to him or her at the time the application is filed. If the applicant is a preference alien, the current Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin will be consulted to determine whether an immigrant visa is immediately available. An immigrant visa is considered available for accepting and processing the application Form I-485 i[f] the preference category applicant has a priority date on the waiting list which is earlier than the date shown in the Bulletin (or the Bulletin shows that that numbers for visa applicants in his or her category are current). An immigrant visa is also considered immediately available if the applicant establishes eligibility for the benefits of Public Law 101-238. Information concerning the immediate availability of an immigrant visa may be obtained at any Service Office. (Emphasis added.)
Reliance on the current Visa Bulletin is well-established. In 1994, the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) published a revision to 8 CFR Part 245 in response to enactment of section 245(i) of the Act. In the Supplementary Information provided with that regulation, the INS took the opportunity to revise its definition of immediately available to be consistent with that of the Department of State.
The INS said: All applicants for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Act must have an immediately available immigrant visa number. "Immediately available" for the
purpose of accepting and processing the Form I-485 application filed by a preference alien is defined in 8 CFR 245.1(f) as being not later than the date shown in the current Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin. The Department of State, however, defines "immediately available" as being earlier than the date shown in the current Visa Bulletin. This rule amends 8 CFR 245.1(f) to bring the adjustment of status provision into accordance with the Department o f State's definition.
I request your prompt attention on this matter asking the Department of State for clarification on this unprecedented change which defies years of established process of individuals/businesses relying on visa bulletin to prepare and file adjustment of status applications.
Sincerely,
2011 Wild Nail Art Designs. Toe
GreenMe
07-21 11:14 AM
1. Sen. Cornyn yesterday offered the bridge amendment.
SA 2339. Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Enzi, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Voinovich) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2327 proposed by Mr. Kennedy to the bill H.R. 2669.
The amendment was ruled out of order by the Chair of the Committee, after a Motion by Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and a vote more-or-less on party lines. This is hopefully just a procedural slowdown. HLG is aware that alternative procedural options are still being considered.
The amendment also called for a one-time increase in H1 visas, which seemed to be the reason for the amendment�s defeat.
What you can do.
If anyone lives in these Senators' jurisdictions, please call their offices and thank them for sponsoring the amendment, and encourage them to keep pushing for this amendment.
If you live in the jurisdiction of those who voted against the amendment, please call them and encourage them of the urgent need for foreign trained nurses and PTs. Telephone is the best way to make your voice heard. Here is the link to the Senators' phone numbers and contact info.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Hello All,
I live inTexas and fall under Sen. Cornyn constituency. I faxed his Dallas and Washington Office this thank you letter. Everyone of us can send letter to their Senators. After all we are legal tax payers.... what u all say ???
Dear Sen. Cornyn,
Subject: Reintroduce Amendment No. 2339
I applaud your Amendment to provide interim relief for shortages in employment-based visas for aliens with extraordinary ability and advanced degrees and for nurses. I am one of those who are currently stuck in the muck of USCIS. I would like to request you to not give up on us. Please try to introduce another similar amendment to at least help USCIS clear the humongous backlog of Green Cards. We all really appreciate your help!
Regards,
Name
Tel #
Email ID
SA 2339. Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Enzi, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Voinovich) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2327 proposed by Mr. Kennedy to the bill H.R. 2669.
The amendment was ruled out of order by the Chair of the Committee, after a Motion by Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and a vote more-or-less on party lines. This is hopefully just a procedural slowdown. HLG is aware that alternative procedural options are still being considered.
The amendment also called for a one-time increase in H1 visas, which seemed to be the reason for the amendment�s defeat.
What you can do.
If anyone lives in these Senators' jurisdictions, please call their offices and thank them for sponsoring the amendment, and encourage them to keep pushing for this amendment.
If you live in the jurisdiction of those who voted against the amendment, please call them and encourage them of the urgent need for foreign trained nurses and PTs. Telephone is the best way to make your voice heard. Here is the link to the Senators' phone numbers and contact info.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Hello All,
I live inTexas and fall under Sen. Cornyn constituency. I faxed his Dallas and Washington Office this thank you letter. Everyone of us can send letter to their Senators. After all we are legal tax payers.... what u all say ???
Dear Sen. Cornyn,
Subject: Reintroduce Amendment No. 2339
I applaud your Amendment to provide interim relief for shortages in employment-based visas for aliens with extraordinary ability and advanced degrees and for nurses. I am one of those who are currently stuck in the muck of USCIS. I would like to request you to not give up on us. Please try to introduce another similar amendment to at least help USCIS clear the humongous backlog of Green Cards. We all really appreciate your help!
Regards,
Name
Tel #
Email ID
more...
Macaca
09-14 12:25 PM
S Mitra Kalita (kalitam@washpost.com) who has written many articles (http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/results.html?st=basic&uid=&MAC=50a23aa1f3f5c6104e90e36051420d61&QryTxt=mitra+kalita&sortby=REVERSE_CHRON&x=5&y=1) on us
cpolisetti
07-21 11:59 AM
I believe this is amendment to reconcillation bill between the house and sentate bill.
Sorry, I'm still confused, but it is entirely possible its my misunderstanding of American Senate and House of Representatives proceedings. How does a Senator add an amendment to a House of Representative bill?
Are we talking about 240,000 greencards to recapture or 2,400,000?
By the way - just because you make the letters huge and bold, it doesn't make it easier to comprehend.
Sorry, I'm still confused, but it is entirely possible its my misunderstanding of American Senate and House of Representatives proceedings. How does a Senator add an amendment to a House of Representative bill?
Are we talking about 240,000 greencards to recapture or 2,400,000?
By the way - just because you make the letters huge and bold, it doesn't make it easier to comprehend.
more...
pappu
08-24 07:59 AM
If there is abuse of the system, then people should go ahead and complain to USCIS WITH PROOF. Writing hearsay stories on the forum without proof will not help solve anything.
2010 Finger Toe Nail Art Polish
chinna_sss
06-25 01:06 PM
Employed based people investments. I think everyone know how employment based people is earning .
more...
mirage
04-01 02:45 PM
C�mon boy I�m not asking to make Steve miller their VP operation and use that million dollar in grants to fund that project. What I�m asking is �can you tell us how many applications you received of which chargeability and in which EB categories� and assurance that they will issue EADs and APs in less than 90 days. To ask this you don�t need citizen rights you are asking a public agency a service which they are supposed to provide and they are charging us to do that� I'm not saying we don't have rights, but what you are asking are the internal workings of a government agency.
You can't even vote. You can't even just change employers without hassle. You can't even just leave the country and come without proper documents. You can't even apply for a student loan. You can be deported any time you have a problem. You can't even renew your driver's license without showin proof of proper residency.
Even with GC your rights are still not as good as a US citizen.
Yes we do have rights.
But the government is only answerable to a certain level. You cannot ask for information of the internal workings of a government. That's not going to happen.
You can't even vote. You can't even just change employers without hassle. You can't even just leave the country and come without proper documents. You can't even apply for a student loan. You can be deported any time you have a problem. You can't even renew your driver's license without showin proof of proper residency.
Even with GC your rights are still not as good as a US citizen.
Yes we do have rights.
But the government is only answerable to a certain level. You cannot ask for information of the internal workings of a government. That's not going to happen.
hair Art Nail, toe nail,fake nail,
priti8888
07-23 04:14 PM
this is a 2004 EB3 approval! This is the first one I am seeing from 2004. So looks like they have really cleaned the pipes here, and things should be better going forward.
The nicest thing of this whole fiasco is that they seem to have ignored country-limits and approved as many as possible. Last year they did only 9.8K EB Indians (teh final count was 17k, but that was due to ScheduleA). THis year (2007) if they have gotten 20-30K India applications out, the dates should move better in the future.
Eagerly awaiting 2 USCIS stats:
1. per-country per-category EB approvals in 2007
2. number of 485 applications received by August 17th
They indeed are clearing up the pipes, so the situation is not as horrible as it seems to be. A pd of 2004 is considered "old" so as soon as visa nos become available in october, they would be the first ones to get approved.
The nicest thing of this whole fiasco is that they seem to have ignored country-limits and approved as many as possible. Last year they did only 9.8K EB Indians (teh final count was 17k, but that was due to ScheduleA). THis year (2007) if they have gotten 20-30K India applications out, the dates should move better in the future.
Eagerly awaiting 2 USCIS stats:
1. per-country per-category EB approvals in 2007
2. number of 485 applications received by August 17th
They indeed are clearing up the pipes, so the situation is not as horrible as it seems to be. A pd of 2004 is considered "old" so as soon as visa nos become available in october, they would be the first ones to get approved.
more...
smuggymba
08-23 08:06 AM
This line is not good:
(ii) Evidence in the form of letter(s) from current or former employer(s) showing that the alien has at least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation for which he or she is being sought;
(ii) Evidence in the form of letter(s) from current or former employer(s) showing that the alien has at least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation for which he or she is being sought;
hot Who creativelyfree nail art
venkat_gc
09-11 08:49 PM
Contributed 100$ thru paypal.
Confirmation Number: 79V39439MM761645M.
Confirmation Number: 79V39439MM761645M.
more...
house Buy nail art printer,
r_mistry
01-07 11:27 AM
Friends,
Anybody received any updates on their APs for late July and early August,07 filers.
My AP was filed on July 24th at NSC and still no news????
Thanks in advance for your input!!
Anybody received any updates on their APs for late July and early August,07 filers.
My AP was filed on July 24th at NSC and still no news????
Thanks in advance for your input!!
tattoo toe nail designs (129)
vjkypally
03-17 07:22 PM
Which part says that you are not eligible? Please elaborate.
more...
pictures 5 X Adorable Monkey nail/toe
Junky
09-12 08:23 AM
Same loser MF AssHole give me a red with the remark. "gimme red!" for my following post
:D:D:D:D:D
:D:D:D:D:D
dresses Toe Nail Art Polish Dryer
kaisersose
06-24 12:30 PM
Hasn't this been discussed already?
It does not make a difference to America, if a few hundred thousand foreign workers get their GCs today or 10 years later. The people America would really be concerned about are outstanding researchers, but then these people fall in the EB1 category which is always current and so they have no cause for complaint. The other category that the US is concerned about is cheap and illegal labor, but that is not related to GCs. So in short, there is nothing about the Eb2/Eb3 GC backlog that America needs to worry about.
The delay causes anxiety & frustration only for us applicants. So the impact is only on us.
It does not make a difference to America, if a few hundred thousand foreign workers get their GCs today or 10 years later. The people America would really be concerned about are outstanding researchers, but then these people fall in the EB1 category which is always current and so they have no cause for complaint. The other category that the US is concerned about is cheap and illegal labor, but that is not related to GCs. So in short, there is nothing about the Eb2/Eb3 GC backlog that America needs to worry about.
The delay causes anxiety & frustration only for us applicants. So the impact is only on us.
more...
makeup artificial toe nails,toe nail
Ahimsa
08-10 11:11 AM
good point which has been overlooked.
thus one can say lack of social security numbers for spouse and kids of a high skilled immigrant waiting for gc causes sevaral administrative and taxation issues.
Please also note:
Gor GC waiters, the child tax credit will not be available for kids under age 1.
In Oct 2004, my kid was 6 months when she landed in US.
When she was 9 months in Jan 2005, I tried to include her in my tax returns but IRS said I can not include her until she becomes one year old.
This year 2006, I could include her after getting her an ITIN.
In short, child taxation issue is there only for one year at the maximum.
thus one can say lack of social security numbers for spouse and kids of a high skilled immigrant waiting for gc causes sevaral administrative and taxation issues.
Please also note:
Gor GC waiters, the child tax credit will not be available for kids under age 1.
In Oct 2004, my kid was 6 months when she landed in US.
When she was 9 months in Jan 2005, I tried to include her in my tax returns but IRS said I can not include her until she becomes one year old.
This year 2006, I could include her after getting her an ITIN.
In short, child taxation issue is there only for one year at the maximum.
girlfriend Portable Finger Toe Nail Art
pointlesswait
04-01 09:53 AM
what i dont get is..why are desis so stuck up abt GC... dont get frustrated...work the system and work with the system!
making statements like Mirage did in the beginning of this thread are pointless!!!
i think its all part of a well thought out conspiracy to:
1.) Keep the chicken in the cage: get those desis into the system and tie them up in some legal/bureaucratic loop for 10-15 yrs.. the taxes and the application fees we desis pay keeps the system running..
2.) These fixes that IV is trumpeting abt..is just chicken feed... nothing big will ever materialize...
teh fact is THEY dont want too many desis in US..THEy dont want US to become another UK..Great Britain se Great BritainSthan ban gaya!!!
so dont let the frustration get to you.. work with IV..join local chapters and stay positive!
yeh USCIS ka chakra-vyuh hai bhaiya ..chakra-vyuh!!!
making statements like Mirage did in the beginning of this thread are pointless!!!
i think its all part of a well thought out conspiracy to:
1.) Keep the chicken in the cage: get those desis into the system and tie them up in some legal/bureaucratic loop for 10-15 yrs.. the taxes and the application fees we desis pay keeps the system running..
2.) These fixes that IV is trumpeting abt..is just chicken feed... nothing big will ever materialize...
teh fact is THEY dont want too many desis in US..THEy dont want US to become another UK..Great Britain se Great BritainSthan ban gaya!!!
so dont let the frustration get to you.. work with IV..join local chapters and stay positive!
yeh USCIS ka chakra-vyuh hai bhaiya ..chakra-vyuh!!!
hairstyles Finger Toe Nail Art Polish
smuggymba
08-12 03:49 PM
There are lot of good/standard consulting companies ... Some are 'con' but they can't create massive impact , however the MNC's do MANIPULATION at a large scale.
I believe that small companies have a big impact too. As someone mentioned, check to see which companies filed GCs in the last 10 years....Infy, TCS or Small body shops?
I believe that small companies have a big impact too. As someone mentioned, check to see which companies filed GCs in the last 10 years....Infy, TCS or Small body shops?
skv
08-12 02:55 PM
Hi Lonedesi and team,
I wish, I could move forward on this, unfortunately my employer a financial firm , will not sign or support the DHS Form 7001 due to legality, instead I can just send the letter by E-mail or mail to Ombudsman's office ?
Does it make sense ? Please advise.
Thank you!
I wish, I could move forward on this, unfortunately my employer a financial firm , will not sign or support the DHS Form 7001 due to legality, instead I can just send the letter by E-mail or mail to Ombudsman's office ?
Does it make sense ? Please advise.
Thank you!
jung.lee
09-12 12:41 AM
Great idea, although I prefer the "Whatever Clock (http://www.amazon.com/California-Clock-Co-Whatever/dp/B00103ON5Y/ref=pd_sbs_k_5)" since their [USCIS] forward and backward movements happen for no apparent rhyme or reason.
No comments:
Post a Comment