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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

#541

Post by NooneAtAll3 »

hvb2 wrote: 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…

> it's quite common for a visa renewal to be required to leave the country

you mean leaving the country is required for visa renewal? the other way around?

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

#542

Post by BobbyJo »

maest wrote: post #343
jimbo808 wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's clear you are not considering the long-term effects of labor policy. If we want a stronger domestic workforce, the answer is to incentivize Americans to develop the skills we need and to train them when they do not already have those skills. Mass importing foreign labor is not a substitute for building and investing in the domestic workforce.

Btw, this is analogous to the argument for positive discrimination: Preferentially treat one group of people (non-white/women/Americans) even if in the short term the revealed preference of businesses is to hire a different group of people (white/men/immigrants), such that, in the long term, the first group of people can develop the necessary skills to compete with the second group. Short term pain for long term gain…

The arguments can be the same but have entirely different hidden variables that make it fine to use the argument in one context and not the other.

Also, this ignores that the government works for citizens, no matter their race. Promoting racial equality among citizens is a function that the government might undertake. Pursuing policies that favor citizens over non-citizens falls in line with that same reasoning.

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

#543

Post by ks2048 »

yalogin wrote: post #37

This one doesn’t mention tourist visas, so I am guessing they will be issued? I don’t get what benefit they see by inconveniencing and potentially harming folks that are already in the country legally to just live their lives. I get that this administration’s goal is to completely shut down all immigration and potentially even remove folks here legally too but there will be a cost to bear for the country because of t…

"tourist visas" is in the sub-headline.

"The State Department and Department of Homeland Security are reviewing all B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas, he said."

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

#544

Post by itake »

nostrebored wrote: post #532
ra0x3 wrote: post #387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think the situation is quite simple. Companies want the best candidates they can get, and the larger the recruitment pool, the better. Respectfully, this sounds terribly naive.

Having worked at a few large companies, this was the case at all of them. I do think there is a messy middle of companies built on vibes.

There are 2 issues:

1/ Employment provides training and experience. If the h1bs are given access to the jobs (training and experience), then is it the American's fault that they are no longer considered "best"?

2/ h1b increases labor supply, not the demand. More supply, means lower wages for everyone.

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

#545

Post by foltik »

15155 wrote: post #481
scoofy wrote: post #456

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, anyone who is still defending this administration isn't even trying to have a conversation in good faith. I have a Republican friend who appreciates the Supreme Court Justices, and then suddenly has zero clue about any news story involving the administration, and shrugs off the war. This despite meticulously following Benghazi hearings when it was someone he wanted to dislike. He would rather Trump be Romney,…

> defending this administration "Leave to renew" has been policy for decades.

> isn't even trying to have a conversation in good faith.

What about the sweeping halt of all legal immigrant visa processing?

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

#546

Post by ModernMech »

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.

> the current admin are working hard to destroy the U.S as if they're foreign agents.

They are insurgents. These people are Confederates.

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

#547

Post by lanstin »

rayiner wrote: post #475
nielsbot wrote: post #451

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Suspicious given the xenophobic nationalist government the US has in place. "But we're just following the rules!" innocent look

American immigration laws are designed to have a small stream of permanent immigration, both to protect american jobs and to protect american culture from foreign influence. That’s what people voted for over decades. The New York Times did a good podcast on the issue. https://youtu.be/xgDdTV7A57w . If you want to define “xenophobic” to encompass that then that’s your choice. I don't think that's a sensible or useful…

I know a lot of people that support these cruel and chaotic changes to our immigration laws and they are mostly xenophobic - they don’t like people speaking languages other than English at the store, they don’t like religions different than their own, they don’t like family traditions different than their own.

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

#548

Post by itake »

yodsanklai wrote: post #357
sinecure wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I work in a global company. As an interviewer, I don't even know if the person I interview is a US citizen. I don't even know if they live in the US or another country, and I'm probably not allowed to ask. I just rate their performance. And everybody is paid the same. I think the situation is quite simple. Companies want the best candidates they can get, and the larger the recruitment pool, the better. If tomorrow yo…

If the h1bs are given access to the jobs (training and experience), then is it the American's fault that they are no longer considered "best"?

Google (and friends) famously have teams composed of a single national origin (or caste...). What does that say about their hiring bar?

Google (and friends) are already expanding the Shanghai and Zurich offices.

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

#549

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

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

#550

Post by cheonc720 »

testbjjl wrote: post #536
NeutralWanted wrote: post #445

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speak for yourself, I voted for exactly these policies.

But will remain anonymous and are okay with the collateral damage. My suspicion is that competition makes you feel insecure. I was born and raised in SF, and I see this not only with immigrants but also from people who feel violated by migrants. There is a spectrum. It’s ugly, short sighted and unhelpful. It’s what it takes to make the valley, but people love pulling up ladders. At least, behind an alias, you’re will…

> But will remain anonymous and are okay with the collateral damage.

Have you worked at a tech company in 2026?

Plenty of engineers, born in India/China and working in Silicon Valley, are openly anti-immigration. And I also support them since I agree with them.

Pull up the ladder once you’ve made it.

Nothing new.

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