Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight?
#1
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Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight?
Is the short answer that if the rules were relaxed at all the entire world, including the EU, would stampede there overnight, which is unlikely, or are there other policy reasons behind why they wish to control it, i.e. Protection of the labour market for their citizens etc?
#2
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Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
It depends on what your definition of historically/traditionally is as during the late 19th early 20 century it was anything but strict do you remember this ...
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door
#3
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Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
Historically strict and tight? In what sense?
My husband is a US citizen. His ancestors arrived by ship from Germany unable to read, write, speak English, with no money and no job or family in the country. They went into it completely blind. No visa process. No sponsorship. And they were welcomed with open arms (insofar as they were admitted into the country without any hassle).
Actually the US is easier to get into than you think - provided you fall into one of the right categories. As mentioned, my husband is a US citizen but has been denied a visa to settle in the U.K. - we never planned to make the USA our permanent home, we both wanted to live in the U.K. - due to a criminal conviction from over 20 years ago for theft. Had I committed theft over 20 years ago in the U.K. it would not bar me from moving to the USA. Likewise, for the UK the financial requirements are stricter than the US. No joint sponsors are permitted for would-be immigrants to the UK and the wage requirement is higher. Also the cost (visa fees) to immigrate to the UK is considerably higher than to the USA on a like-for-like basis (spouse of a citizen). Also the USA is one of the only countries I can think of that allows adults to petition for their siblings, parents and adult children. My brother brought his wife from Mexico into the UK and she could bring herself and that was that. Her sisters, parents (and adult children if she had any) would not be able to immigrate to the UK based solely on a relative's marriage to a British citizen. Ignoring the timescales and the financial requirements, theoretically my marriage to my husband could open the door for dozens of people to live in the USA - both my parents, my 4 siblings, their spouses, between them they have 9 minor children. And again, ignoring time scales, once in the USA and having taken citizenship they could then petition others and so on. What I am saying is that there are more qualifying categories than in other countries. The policies exist to bring many different types of extended "family members" into the country.
For family-based visas to the US, you are pretty much guaranteed to get your visa unless there is something very serious in your background. The same cannot be said for the UK. I have found the process long and somewhat tedious but certainly not difficult. But that's because I fit into a qualifying category.
My husband is a US citizen. His ancestors arrived by ship from Germany unable to read, write, speak English, with no money and no job or family in the country. They went into it completely blind. No visa process. No sponsorship. And they were welcomed with open arms (insofar as they were admitted into the country without any hassle).
Actually the US is easier to get into than you think - provided you fall into one of the right categories. As mentioned, my husband is a US citizen but has been denied a visa to settle in the U.K. - we never planned to make the USA our permanent home, we both wanted to live in the U.K. - due to a criminal conviction from over 20 years ago for theft. Had I committed theft over 20 years ago in the U.K. it would not bar me from moving to the USA. Likewise, for the UK the financial requirements are stricter than the US. No joint sponsors are permitted for would-be immigrants to the UK and the wage requirement is higher. Also the cost (visa fees) to immigrate to the UK is considerably higher than to the USA on a like-for-like basis (spouse of a citizen). Also the USA is one of the only countries I can think of that allows adults to petition for their siblings, parents and adult children. My brother brought his wife from Mexico into the UK and she could bring herself and that was that. Her sisters, parents (and adult children if she had any) would not be able to immigrate to the UK based solely on a relative's marriage to a British citizen. Ignoring the timescales and the financial requirements, theoretically my marriage to my husband could open the door for dozens of people to live in the USA - both my parents, my 4 siblings, their spouses, between them they have 9 minor children. And again, ignoring time scales, once in the USA and having taken citizenship they could then petition others and so on. What I am saying is that there are more qualifying categories than in other countries. The policies exist to bring many different types of extended "family members" into the country.
For family-based visas to the US, you are pretty much guaranteed to get your visa unless there is something very serious in your background. The same cannot be said for the UK. I have found the process long and somewhat tedious but certainly not difficult. But that's because I fit into a qualifying category.
#4
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Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
Strict and tight in terms of the fact that I can't get in there via employment and virtue of being an HR professional in London etc.
I am however already married so don't have that route to go down.
I am however already married so don't have that route to go down.
#5
Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
Other countries are just as tricky for many to get in to (including the UK), it's just that you're focussing on the US as it's the one place you want to get to but can't easily. It's possibly slightly tougher than places like Canada or Oz to get in to, but they're still not easy without the education and specialist skills mentioned above.
#6
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Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
Hong Kong was always my dream. I have been fascinated with it since childhood. After several short visits I did take a few months unpaid from work to go to Hong Kong to see if it would really live up to my expectation as a long-term option and it did. I absolutely loved it. But there was no way for me to be able to immigrate. I don't have family in Hong Kong and the work visa options did not match my qualifications or experience. It happens. Just because the policy doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it should be changed.
Enjoy your holidays in the US, just like I enjoy mine in Hong Kong.
Enjoy your holidays in the US, just like I enjoy mine in Hong Kong.
#7
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Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
Hong Kong was always my dream. I have been fascinated with it since childhood. After several short visits I did take a few months unpaid from work to go to Hong Kong to see if it would really live up to my expectation as a long-term option and it did. I absolutely loved it. But there was no way for me to be able to immigrate. I don't have family in Hong Kong and the work visa options did not match my qualifications or experience. It happens. Just because the policy doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it should be changed.
Enjoy your holidays in the US, just like I enjoy mine in Hong Kong.
Enjoy your holidays in the US, just like I enjoy mine in Hong Kong.
I spent many months in Australia, living with a partner rather than holidaying, so when that relationship ended I thought this was Nirvana! This was everything I wanted.I then got the chance to move here when I gpt into a new relationship and within 2 years I knew I hated the place. Holidaying, even with the everyday supermarket, bill payiny, rent paying stuff, was NOT the same as living here and knowing thats it.You can't leave cos your life is here. Be careful what you wish for.........
#8
Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
I have no idea why many seem to think the US is some sort of Utopia...it isn't.
#9
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#11
Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
As previously illuded to it depends on the personal circumstances.
For example, if I want to bring my USC wife to the UK I'd need to secure a moderately paying job back in the UK first. I couldn't ask my father to help out and cosign, for example.
Whereas in the US for the I-864 multiple financial sponsors can help out.
For example, if I want to bring my USC wife to the UK I'd need to secure a moderately paying job back in the UK first. I couldn't ask my father to help out and cosign, for example.
Whereas in the US for the I-864 multiple financial sponsors can help out.
#12
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Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
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Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
I once successfully found my wife's paternal grandmother's grave in New Jersey, though, so it's not all bad.
#13
Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
My paternal grandparents came from Poland in the late 1880's to the US. From what we have been told and later substantiated, Grandfather's oldest brother came to the US first and he then in turn petitioned for both his brothers and his mother and sister. He had to show that he would be able to support them until they could find employment.
My grandmother was petitioned by an aunt who was already in the US and owned a boarding house in Beacon, NY. This aunt also petitioned for my grandmother's stepsister who became a nun in Goshen, NY.
My mother came to the US in 1948 as the spouse of a US Citizen. I came to the US as the daughter of a US citizen and became a US Citizen when we landed in Springfield, MA.
I only tell you this because even as far back as 1880, there were immigration laws in place.
Check out the history of Ellis Island in New York Bay and read the stories of those who were attempting to come to the US in the early 1800's. There were regulations in place as early as then. You had to be of good health, have someone who was going to let you live with them for a period of adjustment, a small amount of money, etc.
Unless you go back to the very beginnings of the settling of the US, you will always find regulations and laws dealing with immigration. The poem on the Statute of Liberty was a winning entry in a contest. It means nothing.
My grandmother was petitioned by an aunt who was already in the US and owned a boarding house in Beacon, NY. This aunt also petitioned for my grandmother's stepsister who became a nun in Goshen, NY.
My mother came to the US in 1948 as the spouse of a US Citizen. I came to the US as the daughter of a US citizen and became a US Citizen when we landed in Springfield, MA.
I only tell you this because even as far back as 1880, there were immigration laws in place.
Check out the history of Ellis Island in New York Bay and read the stories of those who were attempting to come to the US in the early 1800's. There were regulations in place as early as then. You had to be of good health, have someone who was going to let you live with them for a period of adjustment, a small amount of money, etc.
Unless you go back to the very beginnings of the settling of the US, you will always find regulations and laws dealing with immigration. The poem on the Statute of Liberty was a winning entry in a contest. It means nothing.
Last edited by Rete; Nov 24th 2016 at 1:23 pm.
#14
Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
Those who are already living in countries who offer them first class living conditions and who have degrees, good jobs, families and friends, are smart enough to know that the US is not heaven on earth but an adventure; a chance to experience life somewhere else where the standard of living is somewhat similar.
There are two places in the world I would love to live for a few years. I would love to be able to get back my German citizenship and live in Germany for a while and then go to Amsterdam and live there for a few years. It is a dream, well it was a dream, and utopia lives in that dream.
For you, your utopia is back in the UK but you are caught between needing and wanting and for now have the back and forth of two great countries to call home. Three if you wanted to return to the US.
#15
Re: Why has US immigration historically & traditionally always been so strict & tight
It was the Rogers Act 1924 that set up the foreign service. It eventually closed places like Ellis Island and required potential immigrants to get approval first before coming to the US.