NOVANEWS
by Debrah McFarlane
There are different reasons why individuals immigrate to the United States. Regardless of what their reasons are, there is much time and money involved in the process. Immigrants spend millions of dollars every year applying for entry permits/visas to the United States. Whether they intend to be tourists or permanent residents, the process of getting approved for a visa can be extremely tedious.
The expenses involved in applying for the visa are non-refundable, and at a cost that is equivalent to a month’s salary in most countries, it is a rather expensive pursuit. Immigrants applying for visas must have no criminal pass, sexually transmitted diseases, and their moral character needs to be classified as “good”.
Approval of initial entry documents do not mean that an individual will receive approval for a second entry. The individual must go through the same process that initally resulted in the first entry visa should an extension or renewal be denied.
The costs of reapplying for entry documents will more than likely increase as prices for filing papers can drastically increase in short time spans. Yet, immigrants are treated as if they all received free visas and tickets to the US.
Immigration is big business. Though government officials continue to declare a war on illegal and legal immigrants (some of who are veterans), make no mistake in thinking that immigrants do not pay their way. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services collect millions of dollars in fees annually and fees are not returned for denying an application.
Immigrants contribute to the country’s economy, and yes, there are issues with illegality in statuses of some immigrants. However, there is still the overwhelming majority of immigrants who are legal. It is extremely unfortunate that along the way, this “war against immigrants” have resulted in great distortion of information when it comes to the rights of legal immigrants and veteran immigrants.
Immigrant veterans have been caught in the crossfire aimed at keeping illegal immigrants out of the US. Currently, many immigrant veterans continue to be denied their stay in the US and citizenship even after serving in the US military, and in the more recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush signed an executive order permitting permanent residents on active duty to file for citizenship immediately instead of waiting the usual three years of military service.
What people need to remember is that many immigrants have been joining the military long before 9-11 without any promises of citizenship. After five years of being a continuous permanent resident in the US, anyone can apply to become a citizen of the US once they meet immigration criteria.
However, not all immigrants apply for citizenship and many of those who do apply, intend to return to their home country eventually for one reason or another.
That being said, it is imperative that if the government offer citizenship to immigrants in return for serving in the military of their now adopted country of residence, it is important that the government follow through on such promise.
Immigrants who are US veterans should be allowed to live in peace rather than continuous fear of deportation. There are many Americans who will not serve their country under any circumstances, even in a cases such as 9-11 type acts. It is quite evident that Americans were not overwhelming military recruiting offices in droves after 9-11. Had that been the case, there would have been no need to entice more immigrants into serving in the new wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
We need to remember our promises to the brave men and women who answered the call of duty (immigrant or citizens), irrespective of whether it was through enticement or otherwise. These men and women are not criminals, but rather heroes and heroines who were willing to give their lives for the United States of America.
There are many immigrants that were killed on the battle front in both wars and received their citizenship posthumously. What about the immigrants who served and are still alive and expecting this promised benefit of citizenship in order to make a living after military service?
Unless an immigrant receives the red carpet treatment that is handed out to Cubans and humanitarian refugees who escape being scrutinized by the USCIS upon entering US shores, they have to pay thousands of US dollars for entry visas and legal documentations. They also must meet conditions of having no criminal pass, no sexually transmitted diseases, and possess good moral character before being given a visa of any type to enter the country.
Nonetheless, the aforementioned criteria are no guarantees for a visa, as the process can take multiple trips and years of going back and forth to US embassies in hopes of getting an entry permit / visa. Many Americans fail to comprehend the amount of money that immigrants spend in order to enter and remain temporarily and permanently in the United States. The amount is far less than what US residents pay to become residents and citizens in other countries.
For example, an individual from Jamaica who applies for a visa to the United States for one reason or another, must spend an exorbitant amount of money over the period of the application. With each trip to the embassy amounting to more than $13,000.00 Jamaican currency (about a month’s salary) in application fees, there are no guarantees of receiving a visa and before long, a single individual can spend a fortune over years of applying.
Immigrant veterans had to go through this process before being able to legally reside in the US. However, if they are promised a faster way to obtain their documents (military service), then they should not have to beg the government to honor that promise.
Though the immigration process is tedious, people go through it because they genuinely believe that they can make a better life for themselves and their families. We should not take that away from our fellow veterans because they are classified by “immigrant status”. The USCIS makes millions of dollars every year from expensive fees charged to immigrants who file their immigration documents legally.
Lawyers make millions representing immigrants who are legally residing in the United States, and some of those being represented are veterans who have served without questions. Just as many Americans emigrate to other countries every year permanently without being treated as pariahs, it is time the US treat immigrants and veteran immigrants with the same amount of respect given to ex-patriots who decide to permanently reside outside the US.
