I hear a lot of: "people should get here the right
way". I agree 100%. However, many times its almost IMPOSSIBLE to get here
the right way. I would like to start sharing about what it takes to get in the
U.S. legally. I will do this by sharing real stories. Today I begin with
how difficult it is to come to the US as a tourist.
I have found it
very amusing at times to hear my fellow Americans say things like the following
when they have to travel to other countries,
• "Why
do we have to get a VISA to go to ________?"
• "Why
do I have to pay $ so much to get a VISA to travel to that country?"
• "Why
do I have to go to that country's consulate in ____ city to get my VISA?"
• "Why
do I have to mail my passport to get my VISA?"
I'm sure you've
heard many other things as well. It's amusing yet upsetting to hear these
comments. I am going to share with you what other travelers from other
countries have to do to come to America. I will share this information based on
my experience on trying to have my in-laws come to visit my husband and I from
Colombia.
A few years
ago, my husband and I wanted his siblings to come to the USA to spend Christmas
with us. We thought it would be so fun to have all three of them come,
they were all still single, in college or just graduated (they didn't want to
stay in America).
As an American,
I prepared an invitation letter for them to take to the US Embassy.
My family lives in Barranquilla, Colombia so these were the steps they
had to take:
1. Get
their Colombian Passport.
2. Pay
for a special required "Card" to make an appointment with US Embassy
that cost $25
3. Travel
to Bogota, Colombia to go to VISA appointment. 16 hour trip by bus, or a 1 1/2 hour plane ride which can cost you approximately $250 round-trip (in Colombia)
• In
many countries you have to travel to the capital city of the country to go to
your VISA appointment. (Unlike getting a VISA to other countries you are
obligated to go to consulate, you can't hire anyone to go for you nor can you
mail in your application).
• You
don't get to choose the appointment date or time.
• You
have to take a whole dossier (compilation) of paperwork to prove who you are,
how much money you make and sufficient evidence that you will not overstay your
visit in USA.
• You
have to arrive really early to the Embassy to get in on time. You can
wait in line for hours in order to get in so you better get there super early
so you can get in on time for your appointment or you will loose your
appointment and money.
4. Pay
$160 prior to your appointment.
5. Go to
appointment without ANY guarantee that you will be given a VISA.
If you do not
get a VISA you do not get your money back.
Well back to my
family...so they did all they had to go to the appointment. They went off
to Bogota, to their appointment. We prayed, they had all of their
paperwork to prove everything they needed and paid their fees.
Once they each
got called to their appointment, they were asked 1-2 superficial questions and
then denied their VISA. They never took the time to look at any of the
paperwork requested. They were all simply told--NO.
In total each
one of them spent approximately $500 to go to this appointment just to be told,
NO, without any explanation, no real interview, just No. BTW- $500 is
almost twice as much the monthly minimum wage per person. People live on
less than that a month.
The following
year my family thought they would try again, by this time my husband had become
an American Citizen, (he had a green card prior to that). This time we
thought this would make a more positive impact on their case. So my
family did all that is required, again, and paid their fees. This time only two
of them were going to try. One of them had an excellent career in Colombia
and the other was in graduate school.
So off they go,
we are positive this time they will say yes, why wouldn't they, right?
We wait for
their call anxiously all morning...
Get the
call...they are crying as they were told NO again. They were treated
exactly the same way...
By this time I
am very mad...I feel that as an American citizen I should have the right to
have my family visit me! After all I am writing a letter saying that I am taking the responsibility for their return to Colombia!
I call my
Representative... I live in Texas so you can imagine..
Representative
clearly says,
"Honestly
it's up to the officer, what their mood is in order to give a VISA, there
doesn't have to be a reason not to give the VISA, it's all up to the officer
and how he feels that day." -SERIOUSLY!
Then she
retracts and says "no I'm sorry I shouldn't be saying that."
She proceeds by saying, "well I think its because there is only a
number of VISAS that can be given each month and they probably had already ran
out."
Um she just made
it worse! So you are telling me that the Embassy knowingly knows they
can't give a VISA because of the number of slots available, yet you
take the money of these people and know what it costs for them to travel to go
to the appointment, wow very encouraging words. (Please know that if that is
the policy to have only a number of slots per month, that is OK, but it is not
ok to keep taking money from applicants when you know you can't give them a
VISA).
So this gives
you a glimpse of what the rest of the world has to do to come to the USA just
as a tourist. It's not as easy as you may think it is. It can be
very expensive and you don't have any guarantees.
If it's this
difficult to come as Tourist, imagine trying to come to work, study or even to live
here.
As I said
earlier, I agree, immigrants should come here the correct way, but before we
use this as our banner for immigration policies please educate yourself on how
difficult it is.
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land,
you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with
you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you
were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus
19:33-34 (ESV)
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