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U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

wsj.com

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Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#411

Post by preg_match »

throwaway85825 wrote: post #280
preg_match wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a symbiotic relationship. The reason the US is so prosperous is due to immigration, mostly during the 20th century. The US cannot run off of just the existing citizens. Well, it can, for a while, but not indefinitely.

Can't? Do citizens expire? Are you unaware of the concept of children?

I am aware of the concept of children, thank you. Not sure why we have to argue like we have a stick up our asses, but here we are.

As you're well aware, the US is just barely meeting replacement birth rate. Most developed countries are under it. And the big picture: the US is all about growth. Economic growth, cultural growth. If you want more of that, you need immigrants. Sorry, that's how the US has always worked. If you don't agree with it, then I'm not sure the US is the country for you.

There are plenty of developed, homogeneous countries. Diversity is what makes the US the US. Please, feel free to seek a country that better aligns with your beliefs.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#412

Post by jetpks »

copper-float wrote: post #378
nekusar wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Don't forget Nazism! (AKA, anyone who isn't left-wing.) There's nothing inherently wrong with pausing immigration visas. These commenters act like anything less than fully open borders and unlimited immigration quotas makes you Satan reincarnate. They intentionally over-dramatize everything he does to spread fear and alarmism cause that's all they can do. It's so tiring and nonsensical.

You're the one dramatizing here

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#413

Post by overfeed »

yodsanklai wrote: post #396
overfeed wrote: post #381

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I just rate their performance. And everybody is paid the same. For some visa classes, the law says you should hire an American citizen if they can do the job - not if they rank first at whiteboards or fizz-buzz. > If tomorrow you were to tell (let say) Google they now need to hire only US citizens, would they lower their hiring bar Does it really matter? To a point, obviously, but a lot of people are good enough fo…

> not if they rank first at whiteboards or fizz-buzz. As an interviewer, I don't rank candidates. I have my set of questions, some candidates solve them, others don't. You can argue that it's the bar to do your job properly. Should politicians tell big tech companies what's the bar for being a successful SWE? > When it comes to national interest, the argument for "meritocracy" falls apart quickly. A lot of US tech ex…

> As an interviewer, I don't rank candidates

Someone in your org does - an individual or committee: that's the entire purpose of the hiring pipeline. I've interviewed candidates at multiple companies small and (extremely) big, and interviews always have to give recommendations for ranking purposes (out of 10/100, or (strong-/)yes / maybe / (strong-/)no)

I am not attacking you personally, but the fact remains: in some circumstances hiring "the best" - when they happen to be a non-citizen - can be in contravention with the law depending on the visa class and whether you failed to find an American capable of doing the job.

Don't just take my word for it, big tech companies have lost or settled multiple AG suits because they tried to hide job postings from Americans, e.g. by posting SWE/PM jobs in some podunk, print-only Farmers-Weekly-type magazines.

> A lot of US tech exists because of skilled foreign workers.

I fully agree. Unfortunately being skilled doesn't grant them the right to vote, and as young people keep finding out, those who write (and sign) laws care a lot about what actual voters think and feel. You have to get into office first before you can do the hard labor-policy stuff.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#414

Post by budman1 »

wat10000 wrote: post #188
trgn wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think many (if not most) countries in the developed world should reduce immigration, and usa in particular should abolish birthright citizenship. The first because a lower supply of labor is going to create breathing space for an entire working population who will see tremendous job upheaval due to AI automation. A lower aggregate demand on houses, services will also be welcome to take the fuel out of inflation, an…

Just how many people are being born through birth tourism and end up claiming more in welfare than they pay in taxes?

Minimal. In the hundreds vs H1b with the tens of thousands.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#415

Post by bigtoe416 »

tptacek wrote: post #406
conductr wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not trying to make a political point at all and perhaps a controversial take. But, it’s specifically and maybe implicitly by design. Meaning they made this way precisely so you have to reapply so they can change their mind or block you out later. Nothing about getting a visa is permanent and you’re fully at risk when you move here with that type of status. If you evaluate the situation that’s always been the case.

Lots of countries have temporary worker status. The requirement to leave the country to re-up it appears to be a distinctively American thing.

I was recently in Malaysia on a digital nomad visa. When it expired I was required to leave the country and either wait for the renewal to go through or reenter on a tourist visa (and either not work or work illegally). So not distinctively American.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#416

Post by Razengan »

green_wheel wrote: post #366
Razengan wrote: post #109

Not just immigration, seems like travel in general is becoming difficult too. It's a real shame that just when we have the tech and infrastructure to allow people to travel anywhere in the world within a day, for a single person to be able to explore the entirety of this awesome planet for the first time in human history, that the worst among us have to enforce artificial borders and deny everyone this basic freedom.…

People aren't simply interchangeable units of economic output, and when they live together for long periods of time they develop unique and distinct cultures that are dear to them. Letting the entirety of the world into your country without stops is cultural suicide. If you put any a value in preserving culture you will find it ethical to put some limit on immigration. Assimilation is possible but there is a limit to…

> Letting the entirety of the world into your country without stops is cultural suicide.

The natives of the Americas, Australia, and the many nations previously colonized by European countries, know that better than any descendants of the colonizers.

Did they get to have any say?

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#417

Post by doc_ick »

jimbob45 wrote: post #393
dzonga wrote: post #19

the current admin are working hard to destroy the U.S as if they're foreign agents. not only are they making it hard & unbearable for families of US citizens & PR holders to be together. while at the same time - discouraging talent to come to the US at a crucial time when talent is at a premium due to A.I development. last the backwards energy policy of banning renewable energy.

Do you think China should open their borders for everyone no questions asked? Kick out no one, even overstayed visas? If not, are you willing to equate the current Chinese regime’s quality to that of your perceived quality of the US?

I see you trying to kick a field goal all the way from the school parking lot, good luck with that.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#418

Post by wasabi991011 »

rayiner wrote: post #400
shostack wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cruelty is the point.

It’s not “cruelty” to have and enforce rules. The words “temporary” and “nonimmigrant” is plastered all over the laws that govern these visas. People shouldn’t have treated them as permanent immigration visas. And employers shouldn’t have mislead employees into thinking these were permanent immigration visas. It’s like saying that it’s “cruelty” to remove someone who uses a 2 hour parking spot as their permanent car…

This entire article is about immigrant visas.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#419

Post by ericmay »

weakfish wrote: post #234
jayGlow wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I looked it up there are a few articles. https://cis.org/Camarota/New-January-Data-Still-Shows-Most-J... https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/7/immigrants-t... https://guestworkervisas.com/bls-a7-analysis.html

CIS is an anti immigration think tank and Washington times is pretty blatantly conservative outlet. I’d be wary of those sources.

Sure but don’t they quote BLS data? Or do you believe their interpretation of the data is incorrect?

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#420

Post by arjie »

cheonc720 wrote: post #241
arjie wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, this is a pretty big risk. I'm similarly married to an American and we have an American child. Other country seems to have screwed the family, though. Mine (India) offers a fairly indefinite visa called an Overseas Citizen of India. And my wife's other nationality (Taiwan) also permits foreign spouses to live there after some straightforward paperwork. So, in theory, we could live in either of these other place…

> And my wife's other nationality (Taiwan) also permits foreign spouses to live there after some straightforward paperwork. Not really. Taiwan doesn’t like India either. There’s a reason out of the 1.1 million immigrants/foreigners in Taiwan, only 6,000 are from India.

I’ve never had any trouble going to Taiwan. One of the easier places to go as an Indian who lives here in the US since you have an online form and you get 6 visits of 14 days each and you can do that while you wait for your visa application. My parents also found it quite easy and they live in India.

Also, even with NWOHR it’s not that hard. What trouble did you encounter? Might be useful for me to be aware.

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