What do you think of the new immigration bill's fee structure?

Question

Below are just a sample of the fees paid in the process of obtaining a “green card” (not citizenship) when a person immigrates legally. They are only paperwork expenses and do not include misc. costs incurred in obtaining necessary documentation required, (i.e. long form birth certificates, police/fingerprint checks, etc etc) which run into the hundreds of dollars on their own. These are just the initial application USCIS fees and do not include the hundreds of $$$ in forms/fees that are imposed by the Dept of State which must also be paid in full before a green card is issued.
Fiance application – $455 or
Relative application – $355
Biometrics - $70
Adjustment of Status – $1010 (for PR)
Advanced parole (travel) – $305
Medical exam $200-$300 + vaccination costs
Remove conditions $545 + more biometrics
Employment authorization $340

Given this info, is it excessive to ask someone who is illegal to pay $1000 and do a background check to be able to live and work here?

The above fee structure applies only to the easiest and quickest route which is family based immigration (fiance, spouse, parents, minor children), obviously if an immigrant were to sponsor themselves on their own merits and/or financial position as an investor the requirements/fees are a lot higher.

It makes me wonder how many of the illegals will actually take the time and spend the $$$ to become legal, even though they are being offered an easy deal.

Answer 1

What is the old saying? "If it looks like $hit and smells like $hit, it must be $hit."

Not one part of this new bill is enforceable. Plus we are rewarding people for breaking our laws. We dont need to make new immigration laws, we need to better enforce the ones we already have. The border states are being over run.

I could care less about the humble migrant worker looking for a better life. but that is just one type of person crossing our border. Ask someone at the FBI about the South American gang MS 13, that makes the bloods and the crypts look like saints. We dont know who is crossing our border, and we havent enforced our immigration laws for the last 30 years.

Now all our problems are catching up to us and we want to pass legislation full of loopholes and place more burdens on the average American.

The fact is this wouldnt be a problem if people were being proactive and willing to change a little bit of their life style in order to come to the US.

But, we have people who want to live just as they did in Mexico, but reap the benefits of our society, and we are the only country in the world that puts up with it. Try going to Europe and trying that.

Answer 2

$1000? Although the question is legitimate, the information in it is inaccurate. Let's at least have an honest debate.

The fee for the Z visa is "cost" capped at $1500. The visa's good for 4 years so will require an extension before the backlog is cleared and they are permitted to seek a green card. That's another $1500 for an extension. Then there's a $1000 penalty, a $500 state impact fee and $500 per family member. That's just the Z.

Only after the line has cleared can a Z visa holder seek a green card. The cost there is the regular application fee + $4000 penalty.

Assuming NO family members, my math is $8500 PLUS the regular application fees you list.

Answer 3

Although I believe any legislation both parties agree on usually has no teeth, immigration reform is badly needed. The major provisions should include heavy penalties for businesses that employ undocumented workers, access to only immediate emergency medical services, and no access to public schools. Hopefully this would help discourage illegal border crossings by limiting job and social service prospects. Rescind the law for automatic citizenship for those born here to non-citizens, and streamline the legal immigration process so the best and brightest don't have to wait 5+ years for the paperwork to process. Immigrants, legal or undocumented, have all been valuable assets to our nation and culture, but it's not fair to those who wait out the years long burdensome legal process to see the undocumented living and working here because they made it through the desert or overstayed their visa.

Answer 4

This new bill will largely be funded by taxpayers. The fees they pay will not even come close to paying the costs associated with the needed processing, background checks, etc. And most illegals will probably opt to keep their probationary visa (which allows them a lifetime of renewals yet little cost).

They don't have to pay back taxes, no medical evaluations and the background checks are a joke.

The whole bill is a bad joke on Americans but a great deal if you are a criminal.

Answer 5

The Eisenhower administration had the "cure" for illegal immigration.
Why can't the current congress learn from history?
His administration fined and jailed those MOST responsible for HIRING illegals.
The jobs dried up and the illegals moved back home on their own with NO cost to the American tax payer.
That feature isn't even mentioned in current legislation.
WHY?
Those that contribute to political campaigns are "fat cats" that want cheap "slave" labor to hold down the wages paid to everyone.
They are ALL guilty.

Answer 6

Under this bill the illegals would be getting a deal billions of poorer people around the world would jump at. That isn't the issue. The issue is that this bill creates more loopholes and slashing of current security and enforcement provisions than it does attempt to actually stop the problem going forward. Then it adds expanded legal immigration on top of that. Our schools and hospitals that still function would fail. It is a terrible bill.

Answer 7

Phillip H I would give you a star if I could....

Some think anything but a free ride at the expense of the taxpayers is unacceptable. Most will not pay fines no matter how high or low and almost none will return to their homeland to begin the path to citizenship.

Answer 8

that bill will be defeated by the conservatives and it will fail.
illegals aren't able to afford paying for all those fees.they are poor immigrants who just want to make a decent living in this
country. there is only an option to put an end to this complicated issue; arresting them and sending them back and sealing the border.

Answer 9

Should'nt it cost them even more since they are wrecking havoc with our schools, hospitals, etc..?

Answer 10

I think it will keep a lot illegal people from becoming legal.