Limey187

Hey,

Just wondering what peoples opinions were on this matter! Will Clinton or Trump make any changes to the Visa progress that could affect us Brits? Will it be for the better or for the worse?

Pulaski

I doubt there'll be any change either way. I can't see ESTA/VWP changing and it is already tough for British citizens to get any other visa type, and neither candidate is going to make it any easier.

scrubbedexpat099

No change

MarylandNed

I can't see much changing. Implementing any type of immigration change has been notoriously difficult for a couple of reasons. Firstly, no party has enough control to implement anything on their own and also don't have enough support from the opposition in the current polarized environment - this will likely still be the case after the upcoming election. Secondly, any immigration bill is usually the subject of a hijack as lawmakers try to add other things to it and then the whole thing is debated to death and fails to pass into law anyway.

It's generally accepted that US immigration is skewed too far in favor of family immigration instead of skills-based immigration (probably by a factor of 2 to 1). The US will eventually need to address this is if it hopes to stay competitive globally. Unfortunately it probably won't get done unless the wider issue of undocumented immigrants is also dealt with at the same time - which means nothing is going to happen any time soon.

Rete

If there were a change, it would not affect only Brits. It would be a global affecting change. Will it happen? Not with Clinton but might if Trump could get the support to make the changes. Think he will first concentrate on illegal immigrants and that centers on the immigrants from Mexico, Central and South American. Doubt he would want to upset the status quo on current work visas available to all nations, not just to Brits.

livinginnyc

I think Rete has summed this up nicely.

The only *legal* immigration I can recall he's blustered over was the K1 visa after San Bernardino. Short of another tragedy happening I doubt he will look to shake things up (and if he does, I suspect it will take years to change).

Pulaski

Pres Trump could tighten B-1/2 screening, and deny more people, but that would impact very few British citizens, unless he also tightened the rules for ESTA, to reject certain groups of otherwise VWP-eligible individuals (this wouldn't just affect Britain, it would affect some people in all VWP-eligible countries). I believe both changes can be made by executive action of the President.

sir_eccles

I'd disagree about the "not with Clinton" comment. I suspect she might push to continue Obama's Dreamer stuff. That doesn't apply to Brits though (or very unlikely unless you are a Brit brought in illegally as a child).

As others have said, I wouldn't hold your breath for any legislative change. The only time I have seen rapid change was when USCIS reacted to the same sex ruling in Windsor v US. But no legislation or even executive action was required, just a rule change really.

dc koop

Caddies, grounds keepers etc who have worked at any of Trump's golf courses in UK will get first preference for visas

tuxedocat

There isn't enough hate for foreign born engineers sending their kids to private schools for the politicians to score points by even discussing changing the law.

I wonder if there will be more recruitment for intelligence.

scot47

Eugenics is probably too difficult for Trump to understand, but if he could grasp the ideas, I am sure that he would be all for it ! He and Lindbergh would get on very well together.