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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

#861

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Artifact ? What do you mean? I stated where I found this claim. > Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism by Anne Case, and Angus Deaton. And all the references it has.

the point is that almost nobody will read the book just to verify an internet comment. If you can provide some resources cited in the book it would be better... but this reasoning can be applied to 99% of comments here. At least you provided a book.

ty both. Fair points by both you and orsenthil.

I will do research on those books, and they are more easily accessible.

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

#862

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"feels intentionally cruel" They are intentionally cruel. Its the point. They aren't even trying to hide it. The posts on official Whitehouse X account are borderline gleeful on topics of deportation and immigration. I'm in dis-belief at times.

The intentional cruelty must be visible because they're doing it to gain support from those who want to see immigrants mistreated. They're not trying to change the rate of immigration, they're just looking to score political points.

After having blamed immigrants for many of our problems. It fits nicely in their strategy.

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

#863

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. People seem to hold views that getting visas to the US is a human right. It’s no fun, but these are adults (and often very privileged adults) that decided to move to a new country for more upside at the cost of no residency. Conflating this with “inhumane” is just a basic misunderstanding of immigration and the contract these people signed up for. Very uncomfortable, yet a risk these people took, and hopefull…

> People seem to hold views that getting visas to the US is a human right. Come on, there's nothing to be gained by misrepresenting people's views. The argument is a simple one: if you are currently within the immigration process you should be able to move through that process in a timely manner, with clear communication of expectations. Freezing appointments is a political hack: they're not changing the law, they're…

Here is what hvb2 actually said:

> “Just ‘putting a pause’ on people with existing appointments with no answer for when they might resume is.... Inhumane”

And now you're saying:

> “if you are currently within the immigration process you should be able to move through that process in a timely manner, with clear communication of expectations.”

Sure it sucks. But do you understand there is no right to have this visa application interview nor a yes/no decision in a timely manner? Applying for a visa is a privilege. You aren't being denied some human right if the process is interrupted.

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

#864

As a relatively centrist American, I find this reasonable. I live in a very blue state (NY) and still 43% of my neighbors voted for Trump, with immigration cited as a key reason. So changes to immigration policy are to be expected. With regard to temporary visas, the article cited a few types of issues. For example the scenario where someone obtain a temporary visa (promissing to return is a part of the application)…

You're suspiciously credulous. There is no practical reason to do this and the idea you have to shut down immigration for training staff suggests that the relevant US agency is merely incompetent. Moreover, this administration has a track record which makes it clear its not being reasonable on purpose. I don't think centrism is about leaving logic behind and splitting the difference.

A judge vacated the previous “more humane” way the state department was doing this (targeted pause on specific problem countries) so this is reactionary. Not including that in the calculation feels disingenuous.

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

#865

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.

Unless you use the visa to marry Donald Trump, as his 3rd wife did.

That shows immigrants work on jobs American's don't want.

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

#866
post #620

This is political warfare. War is cruel and inhumane. If you want to stop the cruelty, stop the war. There’s a lot of discussion about whether this is cruel or justified or legal—whatever. This sucks for people who get caught up in our immigration fight and ultimately it’s bad for all of us because it makes the US a less attractive place for immigrants. However, we are here (1) because US citizens voted for more scru…

Do you believe the majority of immigrants come here specifically to leech and NOT work? The data that decades of policy across parties has been based on doesn't support that at all. Living on even the most generous state and federal government benefits alone is a terrible way to live, and not something you would leave your country for.

No. At the same time I do believe it’s a huge problem when even a small number come here fraudulently and abuse the welfare systems we have to unduly enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers.

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

#867
post #491
post #15

So for those that don't know, it's quite common for a visa renewal to be required to leave the country. Depending on the visa, you might have to do this every year. So just imagine, having a normal job in the US and you're asked to leave to renew your visa and this stuff happens. That's no more appointment, not even a new date and you're now very likely unable to work and possibly can't even enter the country to get…

Notably, this is exceptionally common in every country I’ve ever lived in that had such Visa’s. Including them being used as political footballs (including for India, Brazil, Germany, etc). Does it suck? Yes. Is this unexpected? Not really, no.

Not sure when you lived here but Germany does not require you to leave the country to renew the document that lets you re-enter¹, same as rest of Schengen. Renewal frequency is also 4 years for "EU Blue Card" holders (STEM workers).

¹: residence permit card in case of schengen, visa in case of "non-immigrants" in US.

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

#868
post #15

So for those that don't know, it's quite common for a visa renewal to be required to leave the country. Depending on the visa, you might have to do this every year. So just imagine, having a normal job in the US and you're asked to leave to renew your visa and this stuff happens. That's no more appointment, not even a new date and you're now very likely unable to work and possibly can't even enter the country to get…

There is no human right to have a US visa interview; everything is a privilege that can be withdrawn.

> There is no human right to have a US visa interview; everything is a privilege that can be withdrawn.

I'm not sure what you're trying to argue with this strawman.

No one in the thread is claiming it's a "human right".

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

#869
post #713

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Common around the world? I'd be curious what other countries require this, pretty much everywhere else I know has you renew your status within the country (incl. US), and they give you some form of proof of residence that takes the place of a visa (excl. US). In many cases I've seen this is either a sticker on your passport (incl. possibly a visa) or a physical card, and does not require traveling abroad for it for "…

Thailand explicitly requires you to leave the country. There are companies that specialize in bussing expats to nearby countries.

No, you can extend your visa at the local immigration bureau if you have the appropriate type (that lets you work, though even tourist visas are extendable¹) and pay the cost².

People who do visa runs are doing so to extend their tourist visas for cheap.

¹: I've done it before at Si Racha Immigration Bureau. In my case it was more expensive than doing a visa run or paying the fine for 3 days of overstaying, but it was less hassle and left a positive/neutral mark on my passport, not a suspicious one.

²: This can sadly also require bribery just to get them to do their job, even if you do everything by the book. People around us were bringing bribes in form of food. We weren't asked for a bribe, probably because the person I was traveling and applying with had an official passport.

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

#870
post #15

So for those that don't know, it's quite common for a visa renewal to be required to leave the country. Depending on the visa, you might have to do this every year. So just imagine, having a normal job in the US and you're asked to leave to renew your visa and this stuff happens. That's no more appointment, not even a new date and you're now very likely unable to work and possibly can't even enter the country to get…

Theyre pinching H1B visas to bootlick for fascism. Any other rationale ignores history.

This is for immigrant visas, H1-B is (for silly reasons) non-immigrant. This does close the path for green card for H1-Bs for now (alongside everyone else).
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