US H1B REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. Documents to be sent by U.S Employer.
   I – 797 à The original Notice of Approval
   I – 129 à The Complete I – 129 petition submitted Employer including Labour Condition Application.
   L C A (Labour Certification Approval)
   Appointment Letter by Employer
   a. Copy of the complete petition filed with INS.
   Copy of letter to the Dept of Justice
   Copy of letter to the Consular Journal of Indian Consulate.
   Copy of Official Evaluation Of Degrees
   Letter From Petitioning Employer Confirming Employers intent to hire the Applicant.
   Short description of job Duties with Sponsoring US Company
   a. If at Client place - Client invitation letter, Technical description of the project Document, Itenary of services (3 Years Dates), client photos and client & employer agreement, Contract of end client and client,Notarised from client, Role and Responsibilities, If its Third party names and contact information for that party and client.
   b. If it is Inhouse Project - Market Reasearch of the product,Employer Marketing Analysis Document, Technical description of the project Document, Itenary of services (3 Years Dates), Cost of the Project, Modules, Time Line, Current Phase/Status of Project, Applicant Role and Responsibilities, List of petetioners Active Projects, Product Broucher, If possible live demo of prototype, Purchase Order.
   US company Information : Photographs of Inside and Outside of Companys Offices, Prospectus, Brouchers, Annual reports, Tax returns papers 3 years, Year Company was Established, Current Number of Employees in US Company, Companies gross Annual Income, Employer support letter, Some Information about the Nature of the employers Business, Building Lease agreement Document, w2 forms.
   Copy of interview appointment letter which you get at the time of setting appointment with VFS.
   Including Full Details Of why it is a “Speciality” Occupation.
   If the visa applicant is the sole employee of the company in the United States, the latest copy of the company's FICA and IRS forms must be submitted along with the applicant's letter of explanation. Make certain that you include the company's fax number.
   A comprehensive letter from the applicant's employer addressed to the Visa Office, Department of State explaining the need for the visa. The covering letter must identify the applicant, describe in detail the nature and function of the applicant's position and also contain information on the nature of the employer's business. The letter must be written on the letterhead of the current employer and signed by a representative of the company. The Visa Office will not accept letters signed by the visa applicant.
   Beyond the applicant's intended.
   If occupation requires licensure in the US, copy of current US License or Temperory License.
   Documents by Current Employer & Past Employers.
   Original appointment letters from all your employers and relieving/experience letters from your previous employer
   Names and Current Phone Numbers of Personnel managers from Present & Past Employer.
   Photographs of the inside and outside of your current or most recent place of work.
   Names and Contact Info of 2 Co-workers from Present & Past Employer.
   Company Profile, Brouchere, Annual Reports of Present & Past Employers.
   Number of Employees (Present & Past).
   Year Company was Established (Present & Past).
   Latest Pay slips from Recent place of Employment.
   Company’s Gross Annual Income (Present & Past), Financial Statement.
   Your identity card and business / visiting card of your current employer.
   Documents, which prove your work, experience.
   
   Required Documets from Applicant.
   All Educational Certificates (Original & 1 Copy)
   All Transcripts (Originals and 1 Copy).
   Last Six Months Bank Statements.
   Income tax returns and Form 16.
   Clear Copy Of Passport (All Pages Including Blank, Front And Back Covers)
   Complete CV and Cover Letter describing Current job Duties in Detail.
   3 Passport Size Color Photos. (37X37mm)
   Additional Supporting Certifications (Original & 1 Copy)
   Completed non immigration visa application form DS-156, DS-157, Interview Letter, Bank DD’s
   Application visa fee original receipt issued by HDFC bank.( If you are applying in India)
   
   
   Dos and Don’t at the time of the Visa Interviews
   · Dress properly for the Visa interview
   · Answer all questions confidently
   · Read your entire visa documentation before you go for the interview
   · Get all information about the organization which applied for your work permit. Get the names of the key officers in the organization
   · Get to understand clearly the areas of work of your prospective employer and be prepared to explain how your skills are relevant to the requirements of the employer
   · Find out which medical plans are offered by your employers
   · If asked about your place of work, please repeat faithfully what is said in your h1 petition
   · Donot volunteer information or keep on talking. Answer only to the point.
   · Please donot say anything about green card or anything to the effect that you would want to be in the USA permanently.
   · Go sufficiently early for the interview to avoid the queues
   NOTE:
   v Please also understand that the US Consulate tries to find out whether your employer is bodyshopper or a general development company.
   v Please also ask you employer to submit brochures/ documents to show that they are a development company in US and they need you to do development work on site.
   v The Consulate will not accept documents received directly from the company; applicants must bring their own documents. If you are the beneficiary of a Blanket L petition, you must submit 3 additional copies of the I-797 and the I-129 forms with your application.
   
   WHY FAILURE
   1. Failure To Carry Adequate Documents For Stamping: A large number of visas are rejected on account of the candidates’ ignorance of the accompanying documents he/she needs to carry for stamping the H-1B visa. A list of the important documents are:
   · Completed visa application form available at the US Embassy or Consulate.
   · Passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months.
   · Beyond the applicant's intended.
   · One colored photograph 1 and 1/2 inches square (37 x 37mm).
   · Original H1 visa approval, Form I-797.
   · Copy of the complete petition filed with INS.
   · Degree certificates issued by the Universities.
   · Original appointment letters from all your employers and relieving/experience letters from your previous employer.
   · Last salary slip. Income tax returns and Form 16. Your identity card and business / visiting card of your current employer. Documents, which prove your work, experience.
   · Technical description of the project, market analysis, itinerary of services
   Many candidates fail to carry the last pay slip, identity card or the appointment letter. The Consulate does not operate on trust and needs tangible documents to establish proof of identity and authenticity of information. (See Stamping Requirements) A failure to carry these documents could send a wrong signal to the Consular officer that you have something to hide.
   2. Failure To Review Documents: Before stepping into the Consulate office, step into the Consular officer’s shoes and thoroughly review documents to be presented as evidence of proof of identity. Consider this: Parvati M lost her chance of getting a visa because her name was spelt as Parvathi M on two vital documents. Although this particular reason for rejection could be termed an aberration rather than the rule, a large number of visas are rejected on account of errors which appear minor to the candidate but are not necessarily so in the eyes of the Consulate.
   3. Qualification Failure: The H-1B visa is available only to professionals who are engaged in specialty occupation. The INS defines the term professional as: a) you do work that requires a Bachelor’s degree in a specific field and b) you have a degree which is the equivalent of an American university degree. If you do not possess a degree in your field you should have a minimum of three-year work experience. If you do not possess the requisite educational qualification or work experience, the Consulate has the right to disqualify your petition.
   4. Failure To Answer Questions Briefly: Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act states: "Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status." This means that before your visa is approved, you must prove to the Consulate that you will return to your country. Most candidates fail to realise that the law places the burden of proof on the candidate and fail to answer questions on future plans correctly.On a number of occasions, the US Consulate rejects visas because candidates do not answer questions posed by officer succinctly and accurately. The most common question asked by the Consular officer is: "Do you intend to permanently immigrate to the US? Your answer should be a clear and unhesitant No. Beware of questions such as: "What if the employer sponsors your green card or has the employer applied for your green card’ must be answered in the negative. Answers such as "I will think about it then" or "if circumstances change I may become a resident" will result in immediate rejection of the your visa application because it indicates that you are thinking of using the H-1B route to permanently immigrate to the US. Even if you are not averse to applying for a green card later, please do not confide in the Consular officer.Many applicants lose their visa because they literally "think" too much. The innocuous sounding phrase "I think" has cost more visas than any other phrase. The US Consulate is not against the reasoning faculty but does not want the candidates to think that the company is in Provo-Utah. The phrase I think does not prove your mental agility but reveals that you are uncertain and unsure of the answer.
   5. Failure To Gather Adequate Information About Sponsor: The Consulate will check on your sponsor to ensure it is not being duped. The Consulate expects the candidate to have basic information about the company, which has applied for the visa. Many visa applicants look blankly at the Consular officer on being asked: How many branch offices does the company have in the US, in which US State does the company have its head quarters, who is the Director of the company, how many employees does the company employ? Answer these questions accurately.
   6. Do Not Badmouth The Company: Do not badmouth the employer and confide in the Consular officer that you are dissatisfied with the salary or the medical package or that you have entered into some kind of private agreement with your employer. The only corrective action the Consulate will take is to cancel the application.
   7. Failure To Understand The Salary Package: The Consular officer may question you on the last salary you were drawing. Many candidates fail to understand the salary package correctly. Your salary does not merely include the take home pay but also benefits such as PF, medical allowance etc. The Consular officer will perceive your ignorance as misrepresentation of facts and deny the visa.
   8. The Multiple H-1B Visa Factor: Often, IT professionals forget that negotiating for the H-1B visa with various companies is not the same as simultaneously negotiating for a job with various companies in India. If two or more companies file for H-1B papers at the same time on your behalf, and you conceal this information from the Consulate; you could be permanently debarred from entering the US. The INS maintains computerised records of all applications. A simple check would reveal that you have forwarded incorrect information and attempted to defraud the Consulate by misrepresenting your case.
   9. Company's Sins Of Omission And Commission: The INS wants concrete proof that the sponsor has the financial muscle to pay worker’s salaries. If a particular H-1B candidate’s sponsor has committed the following sins of omission and commission, the visa petition will be rejected:
   · The company has defaulted on tax payments.
   · The company does not have an IRS number.
   · The company is a start-up and does not have a single year’s balance sheet to prove its Financial muscle to pay workers. There is no minimum business volume or number of US employees required by law, but the sponsor must be able to prove that he can support the petition. If you are being sponsored by a start-up, the company must show contracts or letters regarding future business to be contracted by the candidate.
   
   
   SOME H1B Querys
   v A detailed description of the petitioners needs for this position and how benificiary worker intends to address him. Technical specification, timeline, current status, no. of emplyees, worksite location, market analysis document
   v A list of all petitioner's active projects. Identify the client and point of contact with the client, including a phone number and email address for that person. If the contract with the client is held by a third party, provide names and contact information for that party as well.
   v A signed letter from the beneficiary's prospective supervisor at the end client location to which he/she will be assigned, stating the client's intention to make use of the beneficiary's services and explaining the nature and duration of the project to which he/she will assigned.
   ****************************************************************************************
   v A list of all of the petitioner's active projects. Identify the client and point of contact with the client including a phone number and e-mail address for that person. If the contract with the client is held by a third party, provide names and contact information for that party as well. Do not send a batch of contracts in lieu of this documentary requirement.
   v A detailed and specific description of the internal development project to which the beneficiary will be assigned include the complete technical description of the project, timeline, current status, number of employees assigned to it, location of the worksite and a marketing analysis for the final product.
   *************************************************************************************
   v A detailed description of the petitioners needs for this position and how benificiary worker intends to address him.
   v A list of all petitioner's active projects. Identify the client and point of contact with the client, including a phone number and email address for that person. If the contract with the client is held by a third party, provide names and contact information for that party as well.
   v A signed letter from the beneficiary's prospective supervisor at the end client location to which he/she will be assigned, stating the client's intention to make use of the beneficiary's services and explaining the nature and duration of the project to which he/she will assigned.
   *************************************************************************************
   v A detailed and specific description of the internal development project to which the beneficiary will be assigned. Include a complete technical description of the project, timeline, current status,number of employees assigned to it, location of the worksite, and a marketing analysis for the final product.
   v A complete itinerary of services or engagements specifying the dates of each service or engagement, the names and addresses of agent, the names and addresses of the actual employers, and the names and addresses of the establishment, venues, or locations where the services will be performed
   *************************************************************************************
   
   v A signed letter from the beneficiary's prospective supervisor at the end client location to which he/she will be assigned, stating the client's intention to make use of the beneficiary's services and explaining the nature and duration of the project to which he/she will be assigned. A detailed and specific description of the internal development project to which the beneficiary will be assigned. Include a complete technical description of the project, timeline, current status, number of employees assigned to it, location of the worksite, and a marketing analysis for the final product.
   v 2. A complete itinerary of services or engagements specifying the dates of each service or engagement, the names and addresses of agent, the names and addresses of the actual employers, and the names and addresses of the establishment, venues, or locations where the services will be performed.
   Preparation
   · I got a letter from client, which stated their need for requiring good no. of resources from my employer for their oracle based ERP application project.
   · For item 2 :My employer just wrote a letter saying that we wish to utilize beneficiary for entire length of H1B, and can't exactly provide the dates of engagement and services.The petitioner confirms that beneficiary shall remain the employer at all times and shall be paying the applicant’s salary in terms of the LCA filed along with the petition.
   ***************************************************************************************
   Main Check List
   1)A list of all of the petitioner's active projects. Identify the client and point of contact with the client, including a phone number and email address for that person. If the contract with the client is held by third party, provide names and contact information for that party as well. Do not send a batch of contracts in lieu of this documentary requirement.
   2)A signed letter from the beneficiary's prospective supervisor at the end client location to which he/she will be assigned, stating the client's intention to make use of the beneficiary's services and explaining the nature and duration of the project to which he/she will be assigned.
   3) A detailed and specific description of the internal development project to which the beneficiary will be assigned. Include a complete technical description of the project, timeline, current status, number of employees assigned to it, location of the worksite, and a marketing analysis for the final product.
   4) A complete itinerary of services or engagements specifying the dates of each service or engagement, the names and addresses of agent, the names and addresses of the actual employers, and the names and addresses of the establishment, venues, or locations where the services will be performed.
   
   
   
   
   Documents needed in this Order:-
   Interview appointment letter
   HDFC receipt given for booking visa appointment.(4600Rs + 276 Rs) (If its thru VFS).
   A DD from national or international bank in favour of American consulate General, Chennai for Rs 2300.
   DS-156 (A 50mm by 50mm size photo of yours stuck and form should be signed at the back.)
   DS-157
   I-797, H1B Approval notice (Notice of Action) issued by Immigration and naturalization service.
   I-129 form, petition for a nonimmigrant worker.
   H1B Data collection and filing fee exemption supplement.
   Labor condition application for H1B nonimmigrants (Issued by US department of Labor)
   A letter from your company to US Consulate requesting for issuing a H1B visa to you.
   Offer letter & employment agreement from your company.
   Financial documents of your company (Record of federal tax liability) for atleast 6 months and (Statement of account)
   Company profile
   Details of the project (Timelines, phases and activities, tentative schedule and technology used in each phase), Its better if you show that project is atleast 1 yr.
   Current status of the project
   Number of people assigned to the project (Title, experience, # of resources)
   i. Eg:- Manager, 8 yrs, 1
   ii. Programmers, 4yrs, 6
   iii. Testers, 3yrs, 2 etc etc
   Location Information of the work site.
   Client and contact information.
   If you are mentioning inhouse product, then above details would be your companies address itself.
   If you are mentioning clients, then client contract with your company is needed.
   Description(Role played by you in this project, technical skills, experience) and responsibilities of benificiery worker(Youself) in this project.
   Complete product description prepared by your company incase of inhouse project.
   Market analysis is also required in case of inhouse product.
   Atleast 15 photos of your company covering both inside and outside. (Ask your employer to take photos on some holiday when people are not working, but it should cover whole office).
   Degree certificates along with marks sheets till 10th class and one set of xerox copy.
   Any other certificates like computer courses, certifications etc.
   Offer letters and Experience certificates from your previous employers.
   
   Please pin all the above documents saperately and place them in the same order as mentioned above in your folder so that you wont get confused when asked for some document.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   SOME ONE CHECK LIST
   Passport
   Experience Letters of previous employers
   Personal Manager Contact numbers of all Organization
   Latest Resume
   Present company Color Xerox of ID card
   Educational Certificates including Mark sheet
   3 Months Payslips
   6 months Bank Statements where salary is credited
   4 photos ( 50mm X 50mm size)
   Web appointment Printout
   I-797 -- the original notice of approval
   I-129 petition / Labor Condition Application
   US Company Offer letter
   US company information: photographs of the inside and outside of the company's offices (provided by the employer), prospectus, brochures, and annual report , Web Pages
   Names and contact information of two co-workers from your current or most recent place of employment
   Names and contact information of two co-workers from past jobs
   A fully completed and signed Visa Application Form - DS-156
   Supplemental Application Form DS-157
   Tax returns for last three years
   I-94
   PAN Card
   Latest Utility Bills
   Company Client List & Details
   TTS Service Charge DD - 441
   Visa Application Fees - 4400
   Visa Issuance Fees - 2200
   Address in US -Where u will stay
   Evaluation of Academic Credentials
   I907 (Premium Processing)
   G28 (Notice of Entry of appearance as attorney or representative)
   Copy of the Letter from the Attorney stating the Filing Fees Details, that was submitted to the INS.
   Employers Recommendation Letter to the Consulate
   ********************************************
   I had also prepared a Question bank which I think will be useful for anyone going for an interview. Here is the list of question for which I had prepared for:
   
   What does your U.S. company do?
   How many employees does the U.S. company have?
   What is the annual turnover of the U.S. company?
   Where will you be working in the U.S.?
   name of the person who interviewed you
   CEO name?
   How many clients the company has?
   Name of the Client?
   What does the client do?
   Location of Client?
   Turn Over?
   Consultant: Name of the consultant
   Consultant: Employer Name / Contact person
   Consultant: Location
   Consultant: Year of Establishment ?
   Consultant: Gross Annual Income ?
   Consultant: Current no. of Employees -
   Consultant: Has the consultant filed any H1b before ?
   Consultant: Who are the other clients ?
   How log you are associated with this employer?
   Where is the company in US?
   When was company established?
   Is your company a contracting company?
   How many H1B your employer is going to feel for the next 12 months?
   Do your employer have a website?
   Who owns the company?
   Is this a Software Consulting firm?
   What will be your job duties in the U.S. company?
   where will you work in Clients place or in HQ
   No of resources in the project / Team size
   Non-IT background - how to convince
   Can I see you offer letter (with current employer)
   What is your highest degree?
   When did you finish your graduation?
   Can you prove to me that you were on a good status as a student?
   Why do you want to go to US?
   Why do you want to leave your current job
   Have you ever traveled to US?
   Have you ever traveled to any other country?
   Are you married?
   Are u planning to settle in U.S? If not, then why are you going to US?
   When are you planning to leave for US?
   How long have you worked with your current employer?
   Area of expertise of the company which is processed for you?
   What computer languages do you know? (Information Technology professionals are often asked this question)
   What is your role in the current company?
   Name of the Project & Description.
   What Technology
   What will be your role and responsibilities in the project?
   Month of Interview - Salary - Other benifits - Job Title -
   Is this a full time job ?
   What other Companies you have worked till date? What roles you played.
   What makes you the best fit for this position at this US company?
   What is the duration of your Project?
   What computer languages are you currently using for your company?
   How long do you plan to stay in the U.S.?
   Which state do you live in the U.S.? What’s your opinion about the state?
   Why do you need H1b visa?

WINDOWS SERVER-2008

Release Candidate of Hyper-V released

Reaching the next major milestone in virtualization development, Microsoft today made broadly available a feature-complete release candidate of Microsoft Hyper-V, the hypervisor-based virtualization software available with various versions of Windows Server 2008. A beta of Hyper-V was included with Windows Server 2008 when it launched last month, and this release candidate provides updated, near-final code. Hyper-V provides customers with efficient and cost-effective virtualization infrastructure software. It enables customers to reduce operating costs by increasing hardware utilization, optimizing infrastructure and improving server availability. Customers and partners can learn more and download the release candidate here.

Read more about the tools, training, and resources that Microsoft is providing to help make it easier for customers and partners to deploy or build upon Windows Server 2008, and utilize technology such as Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008, with built-in Web and virtualization technologies, enables you to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure. New virtualization tools, Web resources, and security enhancements help you save time, reduce costs, and provide a platform for a dynamic and optimized datacenter. Powerful new tools like IIS7, Windows Server Manager, and Windows PowerShell, allow you to have more control over your servers and streamline Web, configuration, and management tasks. Advanced security and reliability enhancements like Network Access Protection and the Read-Only Domain Controller harden the operating system and protect your server environment to ensure you have a solid foundation on which to build your business.

Product Highlights
Built for the WebSimplify Web server management with Internet Information Services 7.0, which is a powerful Web platform for applications and services. This modular platform provides a simplified, task-based management interface, greater cross-site control, security enhancements, and integrated health management for Web Services.Internet Information Server (IIS) 7 and .NET Framework 3.0 provide a comprehensive platform for building applications that connect users to each other and to their data, enabling them to visualize, share, and act on information.

Virtualization
Virtualize multiple operating systems - Windows, Linux and others - on a single server. With virtualization built into the operating system and with simpler, more flexible licensing policies, it’s now easier than ever to take advantage of all the benefits and cost savings of virtualization.

Windows Server 2008 provides you with the flexibility to create an agile and dynamic datacenter to meet your changing business needs.Terminal Services Gateway and Terminal Services RemoteApp are designed for easy remote access and application integration with the local desktop, enabling secure and seamless application deployment without the need for a VPN.


Security
Windows Server 2008 is the most secure Windows Server ever. Its hardened operating system and security innovations, including Network Access Protection, Federated Rights Management, and Read-Only Domain Controller, provide unprecedented levels of protection for your network, your data, and your business.Windows Server 2008 helps protect against failure and intrusion for servers, networks, data, and user accounts.Network Access Protection gives you the power to isolate computers that don’t comply with your organization's security policies, and provides network restriction, remediation, and ongoing compliance checking.Federated Rights Management Services provides persistent protection for sensitive data; helps reduce risks and enables compliance; and provides a platform for comprehensive information protection.

Read-Only Domain Controller allows you to deploy Active Directory Domain Services while restricting replication of the full Active Directory database, to better protect against server theft or compromise.

A Solid Foundation for Your Business Workloads
Windows Server 2008 is the most flexible and robust Windows Server operating system to date. With new technologies and features such as Server Core, PowerShell, Windows Deployment Services, and enhanced networking and clustering technologies, Windows Server 2008 provides you the most versatile and reliable Windows platform for all of your workload and application requirements.

Server Manager accelerates server setup and configuration, and simplifies ongoing management of server roles via a unified management console.Windows PowerShell is a new command-line shell with more than 130 tools and an integrated scripting language that enables an administrator to automate routine system administration tasks, especially across multiple servers.Server Core is a new installation option for selected roles that includes only the necessary components and subsystems without a graphical user interface, to provide a highly available server that requires fewer updates and less servicing.

US H1 B ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA DOCUMENTS & NOTES

Check List of Documents needed for H-1B filing/transfer
(Please attach the documents and check the points against them)


1. Copy of passport (including visa stamps, if any)
2. Copy of latest I-94 (arrival/departure records), if any
3. Copy of H-1 approval (in case of H-1B transfer)
4. Copy of L-1 approval (in case of L-1 to H-1 transfer)
5. Copy of I-20 from school issued through the SEVIS system in case of F-1 to H-1 transfer
6. Copy of EAD issued as part of OPT in case of F-1 to H-1 change of status
7. Copy of Social Security Card (if residing in United States on H1/L1/F1 visa)
8. Copy of Drivers license or State ID
9. Copy of academic credential evaluations, if available (in case of H-1B transfer)
10. Copy of all Degree/Diploma certificates and associated transcripts/ mark sheets
11. Copy of Experience or reference letters from current and past employers
12. Copy of last 3 pay stubs
13. Copy of latest W2 (if residing in United States)
14. Copy of H-1/L-1 petition (in case of H-1 transfer/L-1 to H-1 transfer)
15. Resume (should include the details about previous employers and in case of a H-1B transfer should give the employment period based on H-1B employer along with clients worked for) .

Introduction to H1B visas
The United States H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa, which allows a US company to employ a foreign individual for up to six years. As applying for a non-immigrant visa is generally quicker than applying for a 'Green Card', staff required on long-term assignment in the US are often initially brought in using a non-immigrant visa such as the H1B.

Individuals can not apply for an H1B visa to allow them to work in the US. The employer must petition for entry of the employee. H1B visas are subject to annual numerical limits.The H1B visa is designed to be used for staff in "specialty occupations", that is those occupations which require a high degree of specialized knowledge. Generally at least the equivalent of a job-relevant 4-year US Bachelor's degree is required (this requirement can usually be met by having a 3-year degree and 3 years' relevant post-graduate experience). However, professionals such as lawyers, doctors, accountants and others must be licensed to practice in the state of intended employment – e.g. a lawyer must generally have passed the relevant state bar exam.

Non-graduates may be employed on an H1B visa where they can claim to be 'graduate equivalent' by virtue of twelve or more years' experience in the occupation.Positions that are not "speciality occupations", or for which the candidate lacks the qualifications/experience for an H1B visa, may be filled using an H-2B visa. The disadvantage of the H-2B visa is that it requires 'labor certification' - an expensive and time consuming process that involves extensive advertising of the position, and satisfying the authorities that there are no US workers available to do the job. Also, H-2B visas are initially granted only for one year, extendable in one year increments to a maximum of 3 years. As each extension requires a new Labor Certification, it unsurprising that, of the annual quota of 66,000 H-2B visas, only a few thousand are ever issued.

The new H1B legislation requires certain employers, called 'H1B dependent employers' to advertise positions in the USA before petitioning to employ H1B workers for those positions. H1B dependent employers are defined as those having more than 15% of their employees in H1B status (for firms with over 50 employees – small firms are allowed a higher percentage of H1B employees before becoming 'dependent'). In addition all new H1B petitions and 1st extensions of H1B's now require a fee (in addition to the usual filing fees) of US$500 to be paid, which will be used to fund a training programme for resident US workers.

The initial visa may be granted for up to three years. It may then be extended, in the first instance for up to two further years, and eventually for one further year, to a maximum of six years. Those wishing to remain in the US for more than six years may, while still in the US on an H1B visa, apply for permanent residence (the "green card"): if such employees do not gain permanent residence, when the six year period runs out, they must live outside the US for at least one year before an application is made for them to enter on an H or an L visa.
Once a company has brought an employee to the US on an H1B visa, should the company dismiss that employee before the expiry of the visa, the company is liable for any reasonable costs that the employee incurs in moving him/herself, his/her effects, and (where appropriate) his/her dependants, back to his/her last foreign residence. This provision covers only dismissal, it is not relevant when an employee chooses to resign.

H1B Dependent Employers
Before making an H1B application, an H1B dependent employer must make "good faith" attempts to recruit resident US workers using "procedures that meet industry-wide standards" and "offering compensation at least as great as that offered to the H1B alien". Given the wide variety of recruitment methods used in different industries, this provision is likely to cause some confusion both for the BCIS and employers. For example, Internet advertising might be in "good faith" and "meet industry-wide standards" for the IT sector, but would it for, say, the engineering industry? This is a matter that will demand careful consideration on the part of H1B dependent employers.

It is worth noting, however, that the recruitment attestation described above is not required by H1B dependent employers seeking to employ aliens with Master's (or higher) Degrees, or those earning in excess of US$60,000. Non H1B dependent employers are not required to make such an attestation in any event.

Can my company make H1B visa applications?
Any US employer can sponsor an H1B petition, provided it has an IRS Tax Number, also known as an IRS Number or Tax ID Number. This number is needed for obtaining approval of the Labor Condition Application (LCA), which is an essential preliminary to the H1B petition itself. However, employers should take note that sponsoring an H1B petition involves them making a number of undertakings, enforceable by heavy civil and criminal penalties: These undertakings are:-

To pay the H1B worker at least the higher of the wage paid to similar workers in the same company or the "prevailing wage" (usually determined by the relevant State Employment Services Agency) for the occupation in the area the worker will be employed; That the recruitment of the H1B worker(s) will not adversely affect the conditions of the employer's US-resident employees in similar jobs;

That there is no strike or lockout occurring at the time the Labor Condition Application is submitted, and that the approved LCA will not be used to support petitions for H1B aliens to be employed at the site of any subsequent strike or lockout; That a copy of the LCA form will be given to the H1B worker and either given to the bargaining representative of employees in similar occupations or (if there is no bargaining representative) posted in 2 conspicuous locations for at least 10 days in the place the H1B alien will be working;

To maintain records of the LCA and the H1B alien's employment for inspection by the US Department of Labor.
Note that the prevailing wage is generally lower for non-profit and academic/research organizations.

H-1b visa application process flowchart
You complete our on-line appraisal formworkpermit.com considers the application. If your company, the position and the candidate are eligible for an H1B visa, workpermit.com e-mail to you: A formal instruction form to return Details of any additional data required, and confirmation of which documents we needYou post documents to workpermit.com at 11 Bolt Court, London EC4A 3DQworkpermit.com files a Prevailing Wage request with the relevant State Employment Security Agency. Determination generally takes between three and ten working days.workpermit.com prepares a Labor Condition Application form and instructions, and the I-129H petition forms.

You sign and return to us the LCA and I-129 H formWe submit the LCA to the US DoL, and once the LCA is certified, workpermit.com compiles and submits your I-129H petition to the Immigration & Naturalization Service at the appropriate Regional Service Center

After 2 to 6 months the petition is approved, and the Notice of Approval is returned to you, these are then taken to the relevant US consulate by the candidate for issue of the H1B visa. workpermit.com will provide full instructions and forms, and in some instances can arrange for visa issuance.

International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)

{{Software Testing}}
The ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) was founded in Edinburgh in November 2002. The [[EOQ]]-SG (European Organisation for Quality – Software Group) is the legal entity acting as the umbrella organization for the ISTQB.

The ISTQB is responsible for the international qualification scheme called "[[ISTQB Certified Tester]]". The qualifications are based on a [[syllabus]], and there is a hierarchy of qualifications and guidelines for accreditation and examination.

The ISTQB Foundation Level exam became aligned with the [[ISEB]] Foundation Exam as of [[2006-06-01]]. ISEB, established in 1967 is the world's leading issuer of Software Testing qualifications and offers courses in over 50 countries worldwide.

Currently ISTQB only have a Foundation level exam available for Software Testing, with progression routes available through ISEB's intermediate and practitioner certificates.

It is the ISTQB's role to support a single, universally accepted, international qualification scheme, aimed at software and system testing professionals, by providing the core syllabi and by setting guidelines for accreditation and examination for national boards.

The contents of each syllabus are taught as courses by training providers, which have been accredited by national boards. They are globally marketed under the brand name "ISTQB Certified Tester".

Each course is concluded by an examination covering the contents of the syllabus. After the examination, each successful participant receives the "ISTQB Certified Tester" certificate (or the local variant with the added "ISTQB compliant" logo).

The accreditation process and certification are regulated by accreditation and certification regulations of the national boards (e.g. ASTQB - the [[American Software Testing Qualifications Board]]) in their various valid versions.

== External links ==
* [http://www.istqb.org ISTQB Official Website]
* [http://www.iseb-exams.com/st ISEB Official Website]
* [http://www.istqb.org/downloads/syllabi/SyllabusFoundation.pdf Syllabus (Version 2007)]
* [http://www.astqb.org ASTQB - ISTQB in the U.S.]
* [http://www.sqtl.com Leading ISTQB Training provider organization in India]
* http://www.istqb.org/downloads/syllabi/CTAL_Syllabus_V_2007.pdf

WHAT IS HTTPS ?

A. HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure Socket Layer or HTTP over SSL. HTTPS encrypts and decrypts the page requests and page information between the client browser and the web server using a secure Socket Layer (SSL). HTTPS by default uses port 443 as opposed to the standard HTTP port of 80. URL's beginning with HTTPS indicate that the connection between client and browser is encrypted using SSL.

SSL transactions are negotiated by means of a key based encryption algorithm between the client and the server, this key is usually either 40 or 128 bits in strength (the higher the number of bits the more secure the transaction).

HTTPS should not be confused with S-HTTP, a security-enhanced version of HTTP. SSL and S-HTTP have very different designs and goals so it is possible to use the two protocols together. Whereas SSL is designed to establish a secure connection between two computers, S-HTTP is designed to send individual messages securely.
Both protocols have been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for approval as a standard.

What is Secure Socket Layer (SSL)?

A. Originally developed by Netscape, SSL - short for Secure Sockets Layer - has been universally accepted on the World Wide Web for authenticated and encrypted communication between clients and servers. SSL works by using a public key to encrypt data that's transferred over the SSL connection.
The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) controls and is responsible for the routing and transmission of data all over the Internet. The SSL protocol runs in a "layer" above TCP/IP and below higher-level protocols such as HTTP or IMAP. SSL allows an SSL enabled server to authenticate itself to an SSL enabled client and vice versa enabling both machines to establish an encrypted connection .

SSL makes use of a public key infrastructure (PKI) to operate. The server operating securely generally obtains an SSL key and certificate pair from an issuing authority. It then makes these available on the server itself and announces the availability within the protocol exchanges between the server and client.
An SSL exchange is initiated with an SSL handshake where the client and the server exchange information with each other regarding the encryption information indicated by the SSL certificate.

Once this handshake is completed both the client and the server know exactly how to encrypt the information in a way that the other end will understand and be able to decrypt.
From that point on, anyone listening to (or snooping on) the data transfer between the client and the server will only see this encrypted information. They would then have to spend a long time decrypting it before they could make any sense out of it.

The greater the number of bits used when generating a certificate the stronger the encryption used with 1024 bit keys now being commonplace. It can take weeks of work using fast computers to successfully decrypt such a key. SSL encryption is available on web pages to a secure server. Further, messaging servers (such as

GMS) can also support SSL over POP3, IMAP4, SMTP as well as HTTP. By providing a complete secure route for messages, users of GMS can be confident that they can read, write and respond to email without anyone snooping on them.

SSL has more recently become known as Transport Layer Security, or TLS for short.

QA Testing

1.What is Software Testing?

A. Testing involves operation of a system or application under controlled conditions and evaluating the results, the controlled conditions should include both normal and abnormal conditions.Testing is a process of executing a program with the intend of finding the errors.

2. What is the Purpose of Testing?

A. The purpose of testing is

1· to uncover hidden errors

2· to achieve the maximum usability of the system

3· to Demonstrate expected performance of the system

3. What types of testing do testers perform?

A. Two types of testing 1.Functional testing 2. Non functional testing.

4. What is the Outcome of Testing?

A. The outcome of testing will be a stable application which meets the customer Req's

.5. What kind of testing have you done?

A. Usability, Functionality, System testing, regression testing, and AUT (it depends on the person).

6. What is the need for testing?

A. The Primary need is to match requirements get satisfied with the functionality

7. What are the entry criteria for Functionality and Performance testing?

A. Entry criteria for Functionality testing is Functional Specification /BRS (CRS)/User Manual. An integrated application, Stable for testing.Entry criteria for Performance testing is successfully of functional testing, once all the requirements related to functional are covered and tested, and approved or validated

8. Why do you go for White box testing, when Black box testing is available?

A. A benchmark that certifies Commercial (Business) aspects and also functional (technical) aspects is objectives of black box testing. Here loops, structures, arrays, conditions, files, etc are very micro level but they arc Basement for any application, So White box takes these things in Macro level and test these thingsEven though Black box testing is available, we should go for White box testing also, to check the correctness of code and for integrating the modules.

9. What are the entry criteria for Automation testing?

A. Application should be stable. Clear Design and Flow of the application is needed.

10. What is testing?
A. “The execution of an application manually with intention of finding errors.

11. When to start and Stop Testing?

A. This can be difficult to determine. Many modern software applications are so complex, and run in such an interdependent environment, that complete testing can never be done. Common factors in deciding when to stop are: Deadlines (release deadlines, testing deadlines, etc.) Test cases completed with certain percentage passed Test budget depleted Coverage of code/functionality/requirements reaches a specified point Bug rate falls below a certain level Beta or alpha testing period ends

12.What is Quality?

A. It ensures that software is a Bug free, delivered in time, with in budget, meets customer requirements and maintainable. Quality standards are different in various areas like accounting department might define quality in terms of Profit.

13. What is Baseline document?

A. The review and approved document is called as baseline document (i.e.) Test plan, SRS

14. What is verification?

A. To check whether we are developing the right product according to the customerrequirements and company standards r not. It is a static process.

15. What is validation?

A. Validation is a process of evaluating system or components at end of the development process to determine whether it is satisfies specified req. r not. It is a Dynamic process.

16. What is quality assurance?

A. Quality Assurance measures the quality of processes used to create a quality product.1. It is a system of management activities.2. It is a preventive process.3. It applies for entire life cycle.4. Deals with Process.

17. What is quality control?

A. Quality control measures the quality of a product1. It is a specific part of the QA procedure.2. It is a corrective process.3. It applies for particular product.4. Deals with the product.

18. What is SDLC and TDLC?

A. Software development life cycle (SDLC) is life cycle of a project from starting to ending of the project.1. Requiremnts Specification. 2. Analysis3.Design 4.Coding5.Testing 6.Delivery & Maintenance.Software Test Life Cycle (STLC) is a life cycle of the testing process.1. Test Initiation. 2. Test Planning3. Test case Design. 4. Review 5.Test case Execution6. Bug Reporting. 7. Test Closer

19.What are the Qualities of a Tester?

A. Tester should have qualities like 1. Ability to break 2.paitence 3.communication 4. Presentation 5.team work. 6. Negative thinking with good judgment skills

20.What are the various levels of testing?

A. The various levels of testing like1· Unit level testing2. Module Level testing 3. Integration level Testing4. System level testing5· UAT Level Testing

21.What are the types of testing you know and you experienced?

A. I am experienced in Black Box testing.

22. After completing testing, what would you deliver to the client?

A. It is depend upon what you have specified in the test plan document.The contents delivers to the clients is nothing but Test Deliverables.1. Test plan document 2.Master test case document 3.Test summary Report.4. Defect Reports.

23. What is a Test Bed? & Harness?

A. List of test cases to be executed is test bed. Harness means ready to start testing. Test harness =Test bed + Test Environment (test bed= list of test cases. Test environment = S/W+H/W).

24. Why do you go for Test Bed?

A. We will prepare test bed bcoz first we need to identify under which environment (Hardware, software) the application will run smoothly, thenonly we can run the application smoothly without any intereptions.

25. What is Severity and Priority and who will decide what?

A. Severity and priority will be assigned for a particular bug to know the importance of the bug. Tester can decide the severity and priority.Severity: How severely the bug is effecting the application.Priority: Informing to the developer which bug to be fix first.

26. Can Automation testing replace manual testing? If it so, how?

A. Yes, it can be done manually when the project is small, having more time.We can test with minimum number of users.

27. What is a test case?

A. A test case is a document that describes an input, action, or event and an expected response, to determine if a feature of an application is working correctly.
(Or)
It is a perception of test engineer to validate a specific functionality is called test case. It is one of the out coming document, it is a unique condition. In the testing phase to validate functionality a test engineer can take a several real time scenarios both positive and negative.

28. What is a test condition?

A. The condition required to test a feature. (Pre condition) Test condition derived from requirement specifications. It includes all possible combinations and validations

29.What is the test script?

A. Test script is the script which is generated by an automation tool while recording an application features. It contains navigations steps, Instructions, data exp, result……. To execute the test case

30. What is the test data?

A. Test data means the input data (valid, invalid data) giving to check the feature of an application is working correctly.

31. What is an Inconsistent bug?

A. The bug which is occurring.The bug which can’t catch even if we follow a process. It may occur, May not occur when we follow same scenario

32. What is the difference between Re-testing and Regression testing?

A. Re-testing: Testing the already tested application in the given AUT. In order to check the reproduceble of defect and role out the environmental issues.
Regression testing: Testing the already tested functionalities in the given AUT. Whether the already tested functionalities are changed or remain same because of newly added functionality to the application.

33. What are the different types of testing techniques?

A. 1. BVA (Boundary Value Analysis) 2. ECP (Equalence class partitiency) 3. Error Guessing

34. What are the different types of test case techniques?

A. 1. Equilance Partition. 2. Boundary Value Analysis. 3. Error guessing.

35. Differentiate Test bed and Test Environment?

A. Both are same. But little bit difference is there test bed is nothing but list of test cases to excuted. Test environment means S/W+ H/W.

36. What ifs the difference between defect, error, bug, failure, fault?

A. Defect: Deviation from desired functionality (Detected by test engineer- accepted by developer.)
Error: Mistake in coding (Un desirable deviation from requirements)Bug: Missing functionality / wrong functionality / Extra un wanted functionality
Failure: Absence of expected result (Client side people can find the mistake)
Fault: A Problem, which causes the system not to perform its task.

37. What is the difference between quality and testing?

A. QA is more a preventive thing, ensuring quality in the company and therefore the product rather than just testing the product for software bugs?TESTING means "quality control"Quality control measures the quality of a product.Quality Assurance measures the quality of processes used to create a quality product.

38. What is the difference between White & Black Box Testing?

A. White Box Testing: Based on the knowledge of the internal logic of an application's code. Tests are based on coverage of code statements, branches, paths, conditions. Black Box testing: - Not based on any knowledge of internal design or code.Tests are based on requirements and functionality. (It is a build level testing, to validate the customer requirements and an expectation depends on external interface).

39. What is the difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control?

A. Refer Question no.16 & 17Quality Assurance measures the quality of processes used to create a quality product.Quality control measures the quality of the product.

40. What is the difference between Testing and debugging?

A. The Purpose of testing is to show the program has bugs.The Purpose of debugging is find the error/ misconception that led to failure and implement program changes that correct the error.

41. What is the difference between bug and defect?

A. Defect: While executing the test case if u found any mismatch, that u will report it to the development team that is called defect. Deviation from desired functionality (Detected by test engineer- accepted by developer.)Bug: Missing functionality / wrong functionality

42. What is the difference between verification and validation?

A. Verification: To check whether we are developing the right product according to the customer requirements and company standards are not. It is a static process.
Validation: Validations is a process of evaluating system or components at end of the development process, to determine whether it is satisfies specified requirement r not. It is a Dynamic process.

43. What is the difference between unit testing and integration testing?

A. Unit Testing: It is a testing activity typically done by the developers not by testers, as it requires detailed knowledge of the internal program design and code. Not always easily done unless the application has a well-designed architecture with tight code.Integration testing: testing of combined parts of an application to determine if they function together correctly. (Functionality flow of navigation) The 'parts' can be code modules, individual applications, client and server applications on a network, etc. This type of testing is especially relevant to client/server and distributed systems.

44. What is the diff between Volume & Load?

A. Combination of Load, volume and stress testing comes under performance testing.Load Testing: To test the performance of the application by gradually increasing the user loads.Stress Testing: TO test the performance of the application and to find the server break down or where the server crashes.Volume Testing: To test whether it can able to send max data according to client req's.

45. What is diff between Volume & Stress?

A. Stress Testing: TO test the performance of the application and to find the server break down or where the server crashes.Volume Testing: To test whether it can able to send max data according to client req's.

46. What is the diff between Stress & Load Testing?

A. Load Testing: To test the performance of the application by gradually increasing the user loads.Stress Testing: TO test the performance of the application and to find the server break down or where the server crashes.

47. What is the Diff between Two Tier & Three tier Architecture?

A. Two Tier Architecture: It is nothing but client server Architecture, where client will hit request directly to server and client will get response directly from server.Three tier Architecture: It is nothing but Web Based application, here in between client and server middle ware will be there, if client hits a request it will go to the middle ware and middle ware will send to server and vise-versa.

48. What is the diff between Integration & System Testing?

A. Integration testing: testing of combined parts of an application to determine if they function together correctly. The 'parts' can be code modules, individual applications, client and server applications on a network, etc. This type of testing is especially relevant to client/server and distributed systems.System Testing: system testing will conducted on the entire system to check whether it is meeting the customer requirements r not. (Or)
Testing the application as a whole from login to logout, to covering by all requirements with functionality end to end, interms of Usability, Functionality, and Non-functionality is System testing.

49. What is the diff between walk through and inspection?

A. Walk through: A 'walk through' is an informal meeting for evaluation or informational purposes. Little or no preparation is usually requiredInspection: Inspection is an formal meeting, here every thing discussed will be documented such as a requirements spec or a test plan, and the purpose is to find problems and see what's missing, The result of the inspection meeting should be a written report.

50. What is the Diff between static and dynamic?

A. Static Testing: Test activities that are performed without running the software is called Static Testing, it includes inspections, walk throughs and desk checks.Dynamic testing: Test activities that are performed by running the software is called dynamic Testing.

51. What is the diff between alpha testing and beta testing?

A. Alpha Testing: Alpha testing will be performed by in the presence of client in our environment with dummy data, in this phase some major bugs can be allowed, later which will be solved by our development team.Beta testing: Beta testing will be performed by client in his environment with real data.

52. What is the diff between Client Server & Web Based Testing?

A. Client server application is 2 tier applications and web Application is n tier application.Client server is the single user application and the web Application is the multi User .

53. What is functional testing?

A. It is mandatory level in Block box testing, validating the functionality of the application according to business requirements, to check the behavior of the application. Functional testing main object is “To meet customer requirements”. It is also known as ‘Requirements testing’, test engineers validates the correctness of functionalities in terms below coverage’s.1. Whether it is taking valid text data or not.2. If it is taking valid data, it is giving correct output or not3. If we are giving invalid data whether it shows error messages or not4. It is preventing wrong (negative) navigations or not5. Impact of front operations on backend tables contents6. Order of functionalities.

54. What are the risks involved in the testing?

A. 1.Resource risk A. Human Risk B. H/W risks C. S/W risks 2. Technical Risks 3. Commercial RisksRisks involved in testing process 7 types……1. Lack of time2. Lack of knowledge3. Lack of resources4. Lack of documents5. Lack of communication6. Lack of seriousness7. Lack of deliverables.

55. What is mean by UAT?

A. If we perform every test as user acceptance test, after completion of all possible functional system tests, our organization management is concentrate on UAT. The main object is “Feed back from customer side people”. AT is done to achieve the following1. User specified requirements have been satisfied2. Functionality is doing as per supporting documents3. Expected performance have been achieved4. End user is comfortable to use the application
UAT 2 types
Alpha Testing: In the presence of client our environment is called alpha testing
Beta testing: In the presence client and his environment our people can do testing is called beta testing.

56. What is traceability matrix?
A. It is an inner mapping between requirement id to defect id via test case id. This is gives a summary report on that total testing process. It is a brief conclusion of testing process, quality can be measured by using trace matrix. Trace matrix has been maintained to ensure that verification & validation of the testing is complete.

57. What is SRS Documents contains? What’s its use?
A. It defines the complete behavior of the system to be build.
Bridge between customer and company.
1.INTRODUCTION
a .purpose
b.context diagrams
c.scope
d.functional de composition diagrams
e.definitions & acronyms
f.system functions
g.references & Major constraints

2.FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
a.database requirements
b.UI req
c.computability req
d.reports req

severity req
i
system features
j
traceability matrix

3
NON FUNCTIONAL REQ
4
COMMON CONSIDERATIONS
a
performance req
a
External interface specifications
b
safety req
b
user interfaces
c
security req
c
hardware interfaces
d
software quality attributes
d
software interfaces
e
business rules/other req
e
communication interfaces


58. What is the advantage of test case documents?
A. 1. Proper testing can be done.
2. We can validate the application in all possible permutation and combination.
3. Without repeating, without missing the tasks we can do the testing.
4. Any feature changes occur we can modify the test case document.
5. It makes us to follow a democratic approach
6. It useful for feature correspondence.
7. We can measure how many requirements covered.
8. At what level the quality is coming out.
9. The defect severities and prioritized in easy manner.
10. Correspondence will be developed to customer, tester, and developer also.

59. What is negative testing?
A. We test the application in all perspective. What is the application is not suppose to do. We give the invalid data for negative testing.

60. What is smoke and Sanity testing?
A. Smoke: Whenever we received the initial build from the developer we check whether all fields are available in every screen or not? And also we check the stability of the application.
Sanity: All fields are available ok but that fields are testable are not? Ex: Edit box is there editable or not. List box there list out all items or not?

61. What are the challenges you faced while you testing?
A. 1. Avoiding the duplication of testing effort across the different phases of testing
2. Reduce the cycle time of testing.
3. Standard testing process, templates and methodologies
4. Maintaining objectivity in the testing process
5. Availability of test environmental trained resources
6. Involvement testing in the entire system life cycle
7. Communication with development team
8. Unstable work package & environment
9. Shared Environment
10. Lack of dedicated environment support
11. Short time frames
12. Co-ordination with other team
13. Access from offshore for environment setup
14. Slow response
15. Knowledge acquisition due to various sub systems

62. What us usability testing?
A. Test execution process starts with usability testing. We are looking for the user friendliness of the application. This testing main object is “User friendliness”. A common user can use the application without any hesitation. Instructions should be available on every screen.
1. Ease of use: Understandable screens
2. Look & Feel: Attractiveness or pleasantness of screens
3. Speed in interface: Less number of events to complete a task
4. Context sensitiveness of user commands
5. Help documents.
6. Meta data (Tool tips).

63. What is BVA and ECP?
A. BVA: Identifying the boundary conditions of an object with in a given range of inputs.
ECP: Dividing the input domain in to valid and invalid types according to the business usage of the application.

What are some recent major computer system failures caused by software bugs?

In April of 2003 it was announced that the largest student loan company in the U.S. made a software error in calculating the monthly payments on 800,000 loans. Although borrowers were to be notified of an increase in their required payments, the company will still reportedly lose $8 million in interest. The error was uncovered when borrowers began reporting inconsistencies in their bills.

News reports in February of 2003 revealed that the U.S. Treasury Department mailed 50,000 Social Security checks without any beneficiary names. A spokesperson indicated that the missing names were due to an error in a software change. Replacement checks were subsequently mailed out with the problem corrected, and recipients were then able to cash their Social Security checks.

In March of 2002 it was reported that software bugs in Britain's national tax system resulted in more than100,000 erroneous tax overcharges. The problem was partly attributed to the difficulty of testing the integration of multiple systems.

A newspaper columnist reported in July 2001 that a serious flaw was found in off-the-shelf software that had long been used in systems for tracking certain U.S. nuclear materials. The same software had been recently donated to another country to be used in tracking their own nuclear materials, and it was not until scientists in that country discovered the problem, and shared the information, that U.S. officials became aware of the problems. According to newspaper stories in mid-2001, a major systems development contractor was fired and sued over problems with a large retirement plan management system. According to the reports, the client claimed that system deliveries were late, the software had excessive defects, and it caused other systems to crash.

In January of 2001 newspapers reported that a major European railroad was hit by the aftereffects of the Y2K bug. The company found that many of their newer trains would not run due to their inability to recognize the date '31/12/2000'; the trains were started by altering the control system's date settings. News reports in September of 2000 told of a software vendor settling a lawsuit with a large mortgage lender; the vendor had reportedly delivered an online mortgage processing system that did not meet specifications, was delivered late, and didn't work.

In early 2000, major problems were reported with a new computer system in a large suburban U.S. public school district with 100,000+ students; problems included 10,000 erroneous report cards and students left stranded by failed class registration systems; the district's CIO was fired. The school district decided to reinstate it's original 25-year old system for at least a year until the bugs were worked out of the new system by the software vendors.
In October of 1999 the $125 million NASA Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft was believed to be lost in space due to a simple data conversion error. It was determined that spacecraft software used certain data in English units that should have been in metric units. Among other tasks, the orbiter was to serve as a communications relay for the Mars Polar Lander mission, which failed for unknown reasons in December 1999. Several investigating panels were convened to determine the process failures that allowed the error to go undetected.

Bugs in software supporting a large commercial high-speed data network affected 70,000 business customers over a period of 8 days in August of 1999. Among those affected was the electronic trading system of the largest U.S. futures exchange, which was shut down for most of a week as a result of the outages.In April of 1999 a software bug caused the failure of a $1.2 billion military satellite launch, the costliest unmanned accident in the history of Cape Canaveral launches. The failure was the latest in a string of launch failures, triggering a complete military and industry review of U.S. space launch programs, including software integration and testing processes. Congressional oversight hearings were requested.

A small town in Illinois received an unusually large monthly electric bill of $7 million in March of 1999.This was about 700 times larger than its normal bill. It turned out to be due to bugs in new software that had been purchased by the local power company to deal with Y2K software issues.