SPI114 and Immigration Services

Every now and then, I get off track in class and we end up discussing and learning something completely different than what was planned. Fortunately, the information that we learn is so rewarding or interesting, that no one complains about the detour. Today was a prime example.

One of my students is from Panama. We were discussing the Immigration Issue in Arizona, when she shared that she travels home to Panama every year to apply for a visa for her father to visit for Christmas break. Every year she completes forms and pays $150 for the travel visa. For the last 15 yrs, she has missed "something" in her application. First,  it was financial statements for her and her husband in the US, then it was financial statements for her father. She needed medical history, work history, criminal records, and the list continues. Each year something new was added and each year she was denied. Her father is in his late 60's...almost 70! He wants to spend Christmas with his family and then return home! He doesn't want to stay. I was amazed. I heard stories before of the problems people have trying to enter the US legally and each story saddens me. You have people who COMPLAIN about illegal immigrants, then when you see the paperwork required and MONEY needed to become legal...I'm thinking, I might be illegal too.

So, out of curiosity, we went to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services web page.  Good Night Louise! The FEES to apply for residency, citizenship and other things that I don't even understand are outrageous!

• Do you know there is a fee for an "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition"? $670! 
• How about a fee "to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident"? $1370
• My favorite "Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition" $340

What does that mean? It looks like...to me at least...that I've completed an application, it was approved and I have to PAY you to complete the process! There's even a fee to "Request for Premium Processing Services." $1000! Are you serious? $1000 for "premium" processing services. These people don't need things written in gold or done in a "premium" manner. They just want it done!

If you get a chance, check out the Fee Chart on the website. I'm interested in what you think.

http://bit.ly/FilingFees

Ciao,
MLMoore