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U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

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

#511

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Afrikaaners are a subgroup of what you refer to as Caucasians in South Africa.

So an even narrower group, driven mostly by one man's claim that they were being persecuted and warranted refugee status at a time when we pretty much refuse refugee status to applicants from the rest of the world...

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

#512

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t think of any other rationale. What, only border officers are able to process a visa renewal? Please. We can have offices inside the country handle this stuff, just like offices handle Trusted Traveler applications and Social Security card issuances. The point is surely to get another chance to grill the immigrant and potentially bar them entry. Other countries don’t always do this: Canada for example has inla…

Not sure if things have changed recently, but up until at least 2019 (last time I had to do it iirc) you definitely had to do a "flagpole" (drive through the border and immediately turn back) to change your status in Canada.

Nah, you can renew work permits online—-and in fact, they push you to.

However, the in-country processing takes 6 months while the flagpole option (If you’re eligible) takes 15 minutes.

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

#513
post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I can’t think of any other rationale. Lack of real domestic enforcement would be an obvious one, so everything gets pushed to the border entry points.

They know who you are and where you work… how hard could it be to enforce rules? Wait, what’s getting enforced here, anyway? They are getting a new visa, no? I don’t believe this rationale at all.

> how hard could it be to enforce rules?

See the recent events and pushback on immigration enforcement, to answer this, with whole cities (with their judicial system and police) refusing to participate, and governors condemning enforcement.

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

#514

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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To equate immigrants who have followed due process to a homeless person insisting on staying in a property owner's living room is appalling. It's understandable for everyone to have varying views on immigration and immigrants, but this sort of rhetoric is a vile, racist and xenophobic dog whistle.

An immigrant who has followed due process is equivalent to a homeless person who has convinced the property owner to willingly let the homeless person stay in the property owner's living room. The property owner is allowed to change their mind about the arrangement at any point, unless and until the person obtains part ownership of the property (citizenship).

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

#515

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Better for whom? Minorities and women, for a start.

White people are a global minority at ~7%. "Minorities™" have their own countries where they are majorities. If they don't want to be Minorities™, they can stay home.

Seriously? You don’t like non-white people?

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

#516
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.

This was never about talent. It's about companies hiring foreigners on h1b visas at below market wages where their life in the USA is contingent on their job performance forcing them to work harder and longer than their peers to remain in the country. It's a situation that only benefits companies, while harming US citizens who have to compete with the lower wages of foreigners.

Actually they get normal wages now. H1B’s get hired because H1B’s are now in hiring, recruiting, HR, etc.. they stack the candidate pool with their own shamelessly. I’ve seen it first hand.

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

#517

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

To equate immigrants who have followed due process to a homeless person insisting on staying in a property owner's living room is appalling. It's understandable for everyone to have varying views on immigration and immigrants, but this sort of rhetoric is a vile, racist and xenophobic dog whistle.

[flagged]

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

#518
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.

This was never about talent. It's about companies hiring foreigners on h1b visas at below market wages where their life in the USA is contingent on their job performance forcing them to work harder and longer than their peers to remain in the country. It's a situation that only benefits companies, while harming US citizens who have to compete with the lower wages of foreigners.

[deleted]

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

#519
Some of the comments are talking about H1-B which isn't impacted by this.

Vivek Wadhwa, one of the staunchest supporters of H1B (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12489558) is now recommending to end it: https://x.com/wadhwa/status/2090958079726927873

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

#520
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.

This was never about talent. It's about companies hiring foreigners on h1b visas at below market wages where their life in the USA is contingent on their job performance forcing them to work harder and longer than their peers to remain in the country. It's a situation that only benefits companies, while harming US citizens who have to compete with the lower wages of foreigners.

The news is about immigrant visas and H1B is temporary non-immigrant visa...
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