Move your checking account to Bank of America and get $75

I have moved my checking account to Bank of America and, before applying online, did a search for coupons. And its a good thing I did because this is is what I found. (coupon link at the end of the post)

Make the move to better banking and you can receive $75. Just open a new, personal checking account, and you'll enjoy access to your money on the nation's largest network of bank-owned ATMs. And the freedom to bank from your new home with our free Online Banking service with unlimited Bill Pay.

Offer does not apply to second or multiple checking accounts and/or existing checking customers. Student checking accounts are not eligible for this offer. Bank of America associates are not eligible for this offer. All accounts are subject to our normal approval process. This form must be presented at the time the account is opened if account is opened in a banking center. This minimum deposit required to open a new, personal checking account and receive the $75 offer is $100. We will make every attempt to directly deposit the $75 into your new Bank of America checking account. If for any reason we are unable to do so, a check will be issued as a replacement. We will deposit the money within 90 days of opening your new account. Limit one check per household. To the extent required by law, Bank of America will report the value of the offer to the IRS on Form 1099. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the account holder. For interest-bearing personal checking accounts, the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 0.05% as of 3/02/2007 for any account balance. The rate may change after the account is opened. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Please consult a Banking Center, visit bankofamerica.com or see the Personal Schedule of Fees for other account fees, rates and information.

The big reason for me to move to Bank of America is that recently they have this new NO Closing Costs, NO PMI mortgage plan that I might go for, and one of the pre-requisites to apply for this mortgage is that you need to have an account with them.

Please keep in mind that this deal is only till May 31, 2007.

Coupon Link: Move your checking account to Bank of America and get $75

TB Test Update on I-485 Adjustment Application

Foreign nationals who are filing the I-485 application for adjustment of status (i.e. final stage of the "green card" process) have to demonstrate eligibility in a number of areas. One area involves medical screening, by a specially authorized physician, referred to under law as a civil surgeon. The exam includes a number of different tests to order to determine whether the applicant has certain "contagious diseases of public health significance" that should prevent her/him from obtaining the I-485 approval and becoming a U.S. permanent resident. One of the medical conditions for which an individual is tested is tuberculosis (TB). The required test for TB for obtaining the I-485 approval is a skin test, not simply an x-ray test from the civil surgeon.

USCIS RFEs Request Skin Test for TB
There recently have been many reports of the USCIS sending Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for tuberculosis skin tests. These were generated because the doctors in these cases used x-ray only examinations for TB, rather than skin tests as part of the physical examination. TB is comparatively rare in the U.S. and more common in India and several other countries. Under the regulations, the USCIS is correct in insisting upon a skin test.

Request that Your Doctor Perform Skin Test for TB
A TB skin test is a necessary part of the physical examination required by the green card application process. It can be waived only in limited circumstances, such as for children under two years of age. Otherwise, a showing of good cause, such as a particular health condition, may exempt an applicant from the actual skin test. In order to avoid delays or an RFE on this issue, it is best to ask the civil surgeon to perform a skin test for TB, in the event that the physician does not do so without prompting.

Source: murthy.com

Visa Dates Move Forward for June 2007 for EB2 and EB3 categories !

Finally, there is some good news for people waiting to file their I-485 application.
For Jun 2007, the visa dates for EB2 and EB3 categories have moved forward..not by a month or two, but more than 2 years !
For EB3, all those who have a priority date on or before June, 2003, can file their I-485 applications. So in my case my priority date is Jan, 2003. So I am wasting no time in submitting my application.

For other categories, please refer to the visa bulletin

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