pappu
03-17 03:55 PM
http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1294871282792.shtm
Teleconference Recap: FOIA: How Is It Working For You?
On December 6, 2010, the Ombudsman's Office hosted a public teleconference on "FOIA: How Is It Working for You?" where the Ombudsman's Office interviewed Terry Sloan, Acting Center Director, National Records Center and Jill Eggleston, the Assistant Center Director ofFreedom of Information Act (FOIA) Operations for the National Records Center at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Inquiries to the Ombudsman's Office have identified FOIA requests as an area where the public continues to experience frustration in relation to citizenship and immigration services. Please direct any inquiries related to the topics raised in this teleconference to Margaret Gleason, Senior Advisor to the Ombudsman, at margaret.gleason@dhs.gov. If you have a concern with your USCIS FOIA request and have been unable to resolve the issue with USCIS, the Ombudsman's Office may be able to help.
Freedom of Information Act
Under the FOIA statute, "any person" may request documents from a U.S. government agency. This applies to both U.S. citizens and to citizens of foreign countries. The law allows 20 business days for response to a FOIA request. USCIS has been unable to make that deadline to date, although processing has improved in the past few years. Agencies may withhold information from a FOIA requester under certain exemptions. The law does not allow an agency to withhold information for other reasons, such as possible embarrassment to the agency.
USCIS Processing of FOIA Requests
USCIS FOIA processing is consolidated at the National Records Center (NRC). Prior to 2005, FOIA requests were decentralized, and could be handled on the local level by USCIS. In FY 2006, USCIS had a backlog of more than 88,000 FOIA requests. Jill Eggleston reported in the teleconference that in FY 2010 the backlog was down to 8,000 cases.
There are currently 120 NRC employees, with 30 more new employees authorized for hiring in 2011. Ms. Eggleston informed teleconference participants that current USCIS processing times for FOIA requests vary according to the type of request and that USCIS sorts FOIA requests into three separate tracks. Ms Eggleston also noted the processing time for each type of request.
* Track One FOIA Requests, or simple document requests, are those that request only a specific document, such as a copy of a particular immigration petition.
Processing time: 43 working days
* Track Two FOIA Requests are those where an entire file is requested.
Processing time: 34 working days
* Track Three FOIA Requests are those requests where the individual has a pending hearing scheduled before the Immigration Court.
Processing time: 59 working days
In the FOIA Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2009, the processing times published for USCIS show an average processing time of 215 business days for Track One FOIA requests, 344 business days for Track Two FOIA requests, and an average of 60 business days for Track Three FOIA Requests.
USCIS FOIA Process
As stated on the teleconference, FOIA requests to USCIS can be made with a Form G-639 (PDF - 2 pages, 100 KB) or by written request submitted by mail to USCIS NRC, P.O. Box 648010, Lee's Summit, Mo. 64064-8010; or by fax to 816-350-5785. Most FOIA requests are free, but if fees exceed $25, the requester will be notified in advance of such a charge. Ms. Eggleston stated that a web-based request system would be established in the near future and will be rolled out in two phases: Phase One will be for media requests, while Phase Two will be for all other requests. Currently, the status of a FOIA request can be checked with an NRC receipt number through the FOIA link on USCIS Home Page (http://www.uscis.gov).
Appeals of USCIS FOIA denials or material withheld under FOIA exemptions may be filed to USCIS FOIA Appeals, 150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, Mo. 64064-2139.
As noted in the teleconference, more information on filing FOIA requests with other Department of Homeland Security components, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is available at DHS | Freedom of Information Act & Privacy Act (http://www.dhs.gov/foia).
Expedite Criteria
By regulation, there are narrow expedite criteria that may allow a requester priority to receive a FOIA response. Expedites will only be granted for cases that present an imminent threat to life or safety requiring the FOIA response, or where there is an urgency to inform the public.
Overall, FOIA requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, which is only differentiated based on the three tracks described above, or the occasional expedite case.
Teleconference Questions
In response to questions from callers on the teleconference, Ms. Eggleston stated that certain information is required with a FOIA request to verify identity including name, address, date of birth, and place of birth. Without this information, a FOIA request is incomplete. If information in a file is incorrect, a Form G-639 (PDF - 2 pages, 100 KB) can be used to correct information under the Privacy Act. Another caller asked if USCIS could retrieve an envelope with a postmark from a particular file under FOIA. This documentation might be needed to support an application for adjustment of status under . Ms. Eggleston stated that there is a separate receipt file where payments to USCIS are recorded. If a receipt is requested, the FOIA request should specify that the NRC should search the alien's receipt file.
If records are requested on behalf of a child, Ms. Eggleston stated that names of parents will be requested, and USCIS may ask for proof of parent or guardian relationship before sending information to that party.
Ms. Eggleston said that sometimes in denying FOIA requests for persons with final removal orders, USCIS invokes the 'fugitive disentitlement doctrine' under Meddah v. Reno, No. 98-1444, (E.D. Pa. Dec. 8, 1998). She also said that her office may refer such FOIA requests to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE
Teleconference Recap: FOIA: How Is It Working For You?
On December 6, 2010, the Ombudsman's Office hosted a public teleconference on "FOIA: How Is It Working for You?" where the Ombudsman's Office interviewed Terry Sloan, Acting Center Director, National Records Center and Jill Eggleston, the Assistant Center Director ofFreedom of Information Act (FOIA) Operations for the National Records Center at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Inquiries to the Ombudsman's Office have identified FOIA requests as an area where the public continues to experience frustration in relation to citizenship and immigration services. Please direct any inquiries related to the topics raised in this teleconference to Margaret Gleason, Senior Advisor to the Ombudsman, at margaret.gleason@dhs.gov. If you have a concern with your USCIS FOIA request and have been unable to resolve the issue with USCIS, the Ombudsman's Office may be able to help.
Freedom of Information Act
Under the FOIA statute, "any person" may request documents from a U.S. government agency. This applies to both U.S. citizens and to citizens of foreign countries. The law allows 20 business days for response to a FOIA request. USCIS has been unable to make that deadline to date, although processing has improved in the past few years. Agencies may withhold information from a FOIA requester under certain exemptions. The law does not allow an agency to withhold information for other reasons, such as possible embarrassment to the agency.
USCIS Processing of FOIA Requests
USCIS FOIA processing is consolidated at the National Records Center (NRC). Prior to 2005, FOIA requests were decentralized, and could be handled on the local level by USCIS. In FY 2006, USCIS had a backlog of more than 88,000 FOIA requests. Jill Eggleston reported in the teleconference that in FY 2010 the backlog was down to 8,000 cases.
There are currently 120 NRC employees, with 30 more new employees authorized for hiring in 2011. Ms. Eggleston informed teleconference participants that current USCIS processing times for FOIA requests vary according to the type of request and that USCIS sorts FOIA requests into three separate tracks. Ms Eggleston also noted the processing time for each type of request.
* Track One FOIA Requests, or simple document requests, are those that request only a specific document, such as a copy of a particular immigration petition.
Processing time: 43 working days
* Track Two FOIA Requests are those where an entire file is requested.
Processing time: 34 working days
* Track Three FOIA Requests are those requests where the individual has a pending hearing scheduled before the Immigration Court.
Processing time: 59 working days
In the FOIA Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2009, the processing times published for USCIS show an average processing time of 215 business days for Track One FOIA requests, 344 business days for Track Two FOIA requests, and an average of 60 business days for Track Three FOIA Requests.
USCIS FOIA Process
As stated on the teleconference, FOIA requests to USCIS can be made with a Form G-639 (PDF - 2 pages, 100 KB) or by written request submitted by mail to USCIS NRC, P.O. Box 648010, Lee's Summit, Mo. 64064-8010; or by fax to 816-350-5785. Most FOIA requests are free, but if fees exceed $25, the requester will be notified in advance of such a charge. Ms. Eggleston stated that a web-based request system would be established in the near future and will be rolled out in two phases: Phase One will be for media requests, while Phase Two will be for all other requests. Currently, the status of a FOIA request can be checked with an NRC receipt number through the FOIA link on USCIS Home Page (http://www.uscis.gov).
Appeals of USCIS FOIA denials or material withheld under FOIA exemptions may be filed to USCIS FOIA Appeals, 150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, Mo. 64064-2139.
As noted in the teleconference, more information on filing FOIA requests with other Department of Homeland Security components, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is available at DHS | Freedom of Information Act & Privacy Act (http://www.dhs.gov/foia).
Expedite Criteria
By regulation, there are narrow expedite criteria that may allow a requester priority to receive a FOIA response. Expedites will only be granted for cases that present an imminent threat to life or safety requiring the FOIA response, or where there is an urgency to inform the public.
Overall, FOIA requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, which is only differentiated based on the three tracks described above, or the occasional expedite case.
Teleconference Questions
In response to questions from callers on the teleconference, Ms. Eggleston stated that certain information is required with a FOIA request to verify identity including name, address, date of birth, and place of birth. Without this information, a FOIA request is incomplete. If information in a file is incorrect, a Form G-639 (PDF - 2 pages, 100 KB) can be used to correct information under the Privacy Act. Another caller asked if USCIS could retrieve an envelope with a postmark from a particular file under FOIA. This documentation might be needed to support an application for adjustment of status under . Ms. Eggleston stated that there is a separate receipt file where payments to USCIS are recorded. If a receipt is requested, the FOIA request should specify that the NRC should search the alien's receipt file.
If records are requested on behalf of a child, Ms. Eggleston stated that names of parents will be requested, and USCIS may ask for proof of parent or guardian relationship before sending information to that party.
Ms. Eggleston said that sometimes in denying FOIA requests for persons with final removal orders, USCIS invokes the 'fugitive disentitlement doctrine' under Meddah v. Reno, No. 98-1444, (E.D. Pa. Dec. 8, 1998). She also said that her office may refer such FOIA requests to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE
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ebizash
07-24 05:06 PM
Sanjay:
Most likely you will not have to do anything further and your application will be approved when the Visa Bulletin reaches your priority date. However it will depend on how long it is before that date is reached. you may have to be fingerprinted again, as the fingerprint checks are only valid for 18 months. Also, if the wait is long enough, USCIS may want you to go for another interview to make sure you are still eligible.
I heard contrary to what you mentioned about the fingerprints being valid only for 18 months. I think someone had posted a document from USCIS site that said that they have digitized FPs and can reuse them without having to do fingerprinting every 18 months. I will try to search for that document and will post if I find it
Most likely you will not have to do anything further and your application will be approved when the Visa Bulletin reaches your priority date. However it will depend on how long it is before that date is reached. you may have to be fingerprinted again, as the fingerprint checks are only valid for 18 months. Also, if the wait is long enough, USCIS may want you to go for another interview to make sure you are still eligible.
I heard contrary to what you mentioned about the fingerprints being valid only for 18 months. I think someone had posted a document from USCIS site that said that they have digitized FPs and can reuse them without having to do fingerprinting every 18 months. I will try to search for that document and will post if I find it
deepakjain
01-08 09:44 AM
Interview date 9th dec 2009
Submitted all documents 10th dec 2009 as mentioned below:-
1) Petitioner's Federal Income Tax returns
2) Petitioner's state unemployment wage reports for last 4 quarters.
3) Letter from end client in US on letterhead indicating your services are expected.
4) List of petitioner's employees at your job site including names, titles, salaries, and immigration status.
5) Copy of contract between petitioner and contracting company with detailed job itinerary.
Till date I together with my employer have written 6 emails but there is no response.
I personally visited mumbai Consulate information center but they did't ave me any answer.
Can anyone please tell me how long this whole process will take?
Is there any chance that such case goes into endless loop?
My house and all belongings are in U.S. and I am clueless as what to do
I was on the same boat in Nov at mumbai consulate, I was given 221g yellow slip, and was told your case is in pending status for administrative reasons they did not ask me for anything and said that the administrative processing can take any thing between 2 days to 2 months and the officer told me that you will be contacted by e-mail ones the processing is complete. I was contacted 3 weeks after I was interviewed. For me it took total of 4 weeks to get my H1B Visa stamped on my passport.
Regards,
Deepak
Submitted all documents 10th dec 2009 as mentioned below:-
1) Petitioner's Federal Income Tax returns
2) Petitioner's state unemployment wage reports for last 4 quarters.
3) Letter from end client in US on letterhead indicating your services are expected.
4) List of petitioner's employees at your job site including names, titles, salaries, and immigration status.
5) Copy of contract between petitioner and contracting company with detailed job itinerary.
Till date I together with my employer have written 6 emails but there is no response.
I personally visited mumbai Consulate information center but they did't ave me any answer.
Can anyone please tell me how long this whole process will take?
Is there any chance that such case goes into endless loop?
My house and all belongings are in U.S. and I am clueless as what to do
I was on the same boat in Nov at mumbai consulate, I was given 221g yellow slip, and was told your case is in pending status for administrative reasons they did not ask me for anything and said that the administrative processing can take any thing between 2 days to 2 months and the officer told me that you will be contacted by e-mail ones the processing is complete. I was contacted 3 weeks after I was interviewed. For me it took total of 4 weeks to get my H1B Visa stamped on my passport.
Regards,
Deepak
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voldemar
03-27 08:30 AM
you can volunteer for your future employer as long as there is no financial transactions involved.Then you are replacing american guy.
more...
lccleared
08-26 06:04 PM
I have not received it either, where as my spouse and child got theirs 10 days back. Wonder whats happening, called up USCIS they asked me wait for couple of more days.
immigrationvoice1
12-08 01:25 PM
BTW, what are some of the online MS / MBA schools that the H1B community is attending ? Please share this information as I plan to take up one, and wanted to learn from your experirnce.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
more...
WeShallOvercome
07-20 06:32 PM
My PD is Nov 2004, I got 140 approved. Im not filing 485 now as im unmarried.
Any ideas when can be the date current again(for my PD atleast)?
If you plan to get married in the next few months, you can still go ahead and apply your I-485.
the dates are goign to retrogress again in October. so if you get married before your date becomes current again, you can file the I-485 for your spouse on the very first day it becomes current and before your I-485 approval
Any ideas when can be the date current again(for my PD atleast)?
If you plan to get married in the next few months, you can still go ahead and apply your I-485.
the dates are goign to retrogress again in October. so if you get married before your date becomes current again, you can file the I-485 for your spouse on the very first day it becomes current and before your I-485 approval
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GC_ASP
08-14 02:50 PM
$ 745 is the total fee for I-485, I-131, I-765 & biometrics. Many people sent single check of $745 per application. It is weird to see that kind of rejection.
more...
akhilmahajan
07-01 04:33 PM
This is the link.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/ac21-portability-after-180-days-485-filing/21472-student-aid-ead-stage.html
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/ac21-portability-after-180-days-485-filing/21472-student-aid-ead-stage.html
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indianabacklog
08-13 11:39 AM
Yes, i opened a new thread so that everybody can see that CIS does mostly work on cases according to 485 Receipt Date. Otherwise i can't justify my EAD approval. I filed 485 and AP on June 18th and got RNs 2 weeks later. But EAD was filed later on July 12th. I got the receipt number for EAD from the back of my cashed check but never got actual Receipt Notice. Today i got the email that card production has been ordered.
So if they have to approve an EAD filed in mid July, they must have gone with the 485 Receipt date. There is an LUD for our APs too for this Sunday. I'm happy that they are processing the cases in somewhat FIFO order. I was expecting EAD only 3-4months later since i filed it along with the July flood of applications.
Dec2002 EB3 India.
From your case alone this is rather a sweeping judgment. I can assure you they do NOT process based on receipt date if they did my husbands EAD which was received on May 3rd would be approved by now and yours would not. He is still waiting thirteen weeks on.
So if they have to approve an EAD filed in mid July, they must have gone with the 485 Receipt date. There is an LUD for our APs too for this Sunday. I'm happy that they are processing the cases in somewhat FIFO order. I was expecting EAD only 3-4months later since i filed it along with the July flood of applications.
Dec2002 EB3 India.
From your case alone this is rather a sweeping judgment. I can assure you they do NOT process based on receipt date if they did my husbands EAD which was received on May 3rd would be approved by now and yours would not. He is still waiting thirteen weeks on.
more...
sagittariusarm
08-27 01:47 PM
We cannot get the passport renewed anywhere, if you are in south most probably you need to get it renewed from Houston. So any one ............who went in person for non-emergency case.
Thanks
When did this change? I got it renewed from Washington DC a year back
Thanks
When did this change? I got it renewed from Washington DC a year back
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CADude
11-20 11:53 PM
I sent too..
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message sent to CBS60 minutes...
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ash27
03-31 10:35 PM
I've read multiple posts but it is not clear if an EAD recipient can do contract work on W2.
My situation is that I work for a desi consulting co. and currently doing corp to corp with TekSystems. TekSystems is OK to employ me as a W-2. However, it is contract based employment. Could Gurus please advice if an EAD recipient can work on W-2 with vendors like TekSystems.
My situation is that I work for a desi consulting co. and currently doing corp to corp with TekSystems. TekSystems is OK to employ me as a W-2. However, it is contract based employment. Could Gurus please advice if an EAD recipient can work on W-2 with vendors like TekSystems.
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rbalaji5
03-19 12:52 PM
Friends,
I heard that,
Priority date is used only for filing the I-485. Once we filed the I-485, GC is provided based on the Receipt date of I-485 if the Visas are available after review
Is it True ?.
I heard that,
Priority date is used only for filing the I-485. Once we filed the I-485, GC is provided based on the Receipt date of I-485 if the Visas are available after review
Is it True ?.
more...
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pcs
04-15 01:36 PM
Tonne of jobs in IT sector. Apply through www.naukri.com.
Indian immigration system will not discriminate
All the best
Indian immigration system will not discriminate
All the best
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Daisy
10-26 10:31 AM
I have a question: How many months in advance should you apply for H1 extension? Do you get extension from the date you applied or from date when your H1 expires?
more...
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chanduv23
04-13 10:43 AM
You are very correct. For them immigration issue means, family based greencard system. They will be happy if EB greencard is eliminated so that all greencards are given to their families.
My friend contacted such organization and they said that they will help us by putting our issue on their website. For that I should ask IV to contribute to their cause. They refused to contribute anything or do anything for IV. They said that by putting IV's name on their site, they are doing us a favor by enhancing our profile and that is a big help. I am now repulsed by such ABCDs.
This is so much in contrast to hispanic orgs or Irish orgs or jewish orgs who care for their people.
yes, our community is divided. The main reason is, all these years, majority people used short cuts methods or got lucky or effortlessly immigrated and jumped to the other side. Things were not so tough for them as compared to us and we are competitive. They hate us for being competitive so they influence the law makers and the results is obvious EB green card is 10% and FB system is bringing in 60%. They take advantage of the the H1b system to live on us and influence the policies making it tougher.
We are better off not seeking their help, but if people think otherwise, go for it. A lot of these organizations are formed for convinience and self interest and they really do not have any interest in the community as a whole.
Take example of ATA and TANA. ATA is called American telugu Association and TANA is called Telugu association of North America. They say ATA is for Reddys and TANA is for Khammas.
Look at the Gujjus. They are strongly bound their community only. Look at all the Tamil sangams, Kannada Sangams, ......
I am not blaming them, but just saying that their agendas are not ours. We may be better off not spending time with these people.
My friend contacted such organization and they said that they will help us by putting our issue on their website. For that I should ask IV to contribute to their cause. They refused to contribute anything or do anything for IV. They said that by putting IV's name on their site, they are doing us a favor by enhancing our profile and that is a big help. I am now repulsed by such ABCDs.
This is so much in contrast to hispanic orgs or Irish orgs or jewish orgs who care for their people.
yes, our community is divided. The main reason is, all these years, majority people used short cuts methods or got lucky or effortlessly immigrated and jumped to the other side. Things were not so tough for them as compared to us and we are competitive. They hate us for being competitive so they influence the law makers and the results is obvious EB green card is 10% and FB system is bringing in 60%. They take advantage of the the H1b system to live on us and influence the policies making it tougher.
We are better off not seeking their help, but if people think otherwise, go for it. A lot of these organizations are formed for convinience and self interest and they really do not have any interest in the community as a whole.
Take example of ATA and TANA. ATA is called American telugu Association and TANA is called Telugu association of North America. They say ATA is for Reddys and TANA is for Khammas.
Look at the Gujjus. They are strongly bound their community only. Look at all the Tamil sangams, Kannada Sangams, ......
I am not blaming them, but just saying that their agendas are not ours. We may be better off not spending time with these people.
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Jeff Wheeler
11-30 01:11 AM
why would flash people move on to flex ? That makes no sense at all.
Either you have no idea what you're talking about, or you think you do, but you really don't.
Is this directed at me?
Either you have no idea what you're talking about, or you think you do, but you really don't.
Is this directed at me?
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optimystic
09-27 02:53 AM
Quote from the article
Comprehensive immigration reform in Congress this year appears dead. Perhaps an incremental approach would be more politically viable. Lawmakers could first concentrate their efforts on correcting the glitches in the system that affect legal immigration, before turning to illegal immigration. After all, if the legal process was more efficient and less daunting, perhaps the illegal immigration problems wouldn't be quite so bad.
How many times and thru how many channels do the Congress/USCIS need to hear this message before they act on it??? :(
Comprehensive immigration reform in Congress this year appears dead. Perhaps an incremental approach would be more politically viable. Lawmakers could first concentrate their efforts on correcting the glitches in the system that affect legal immigration, before turning to illegal immigration. After all, if the legal process was more efficient and less daunting, perhaps the illegal immigration problems wouldn't be quite so bad.
How many times and thru how many channels do the Congress/USCIS need to hear this message before they act on it??? :(
chanduv23
09-10 02:40 PM
Come Jan '08 (6 months after the July fiasco) and these companies will learn their lesson hard way. July filers will be able to exercise AC-21 rule to switch employers and most of these desi consulting companies who have no end clients and only supply cheap H1 consultants will have to fold up.
Interesting. I have personally known of companies who teamed up with Attorneys and delayed filing 485s for good performing employees for fear of losing them. Some even cheated their employees by saying they filed but did not file.
During July Visa Bulletin fiasco - I have known of Attorneys that were doing all these things to their clients (I warned these people that their employer and Attorney is jointly cheating them, some understood and sprung in action, some said, there is nothing much we can do, some did not believe me)
Interesting. I have personally known of companies who teamed up with Attorneys and delayed filing 485s for good performing employees for fear of losing them. Some even cheated their employees by saying they filed but did not file.
During July Visa Bulletin fiasco - I have known of Attorneys that were doing all these things to their clients (I warned these people that their employer and Attorney is jointly cheating them, some understood and sprung in action, some said, there is nothing much we can do, some did not believe me)
srh1
10-28 10:57 PM
Thanks for your reply it was helpful.
BUt can any one tell me do we have to be on payroll for at least 6 months after you get Gc or can we on and off payroll and still be with the same employer for what ever length of time we stick to the same employer who filed GC..
BUt can any one tell me do we have to be on payroll for at least 6 months after you get Gc or can we on and off payroll and still be with the same employer for what ever length of time we stick to the same employer who filed GC..
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