Why would someone hop the border illegally instead of getting a Visa like everyone else?

Answer 1

Getting a visa is not always easy. Lots of governments put many restrictions on the number of visas that can be granted for travel from a particular country.

Answer 2

It's not all that easy to get a visa from certain countries. Think about this situation for a minute. An illegal I know spent $3000.00 applying the right way. This was money his family all donated to so he could get here and work. I'm not talking just mom and dad but the ENTIRE family scrapped it together. After 2 years he was denied the visa because he couldn't afford to open a bank account after paying all these fees for nothing. Not to mention living in abject poverty for those 2 years while he hoped. In desperation he finally crossed illegally. Leaving behind EVERYTHING he held dear. The money he spent applying hurt his family further but they tried. Maybe the fees shouldn't become due until a person is approved. At least it would give more an incentive to apply.

Answer 3

Because getting a visa is not as easy as you might think. For instance - it is easier for a man from France to get a visa than one from Korea or China. Students who want to study in the USA usually wind up in Canada or Australia because the the expense of getting the visa and the difficulty of the process.

So, especially for poor mexicans with no English, no money, no place to live and no job (Remember you must have a permit to work in the USA), the jump the fence and try to blend in to ethnic communities so they are not easily distinguishable.

Answer 4

Quite honestly. Who really knows. All I know is that it's not right.
There are laws and rules set forth for all of us, including immigrants, to follow. If they are not going to follow these guidelines, they should be punished like the rest of us. No special treatment.
I think they cross borders to work illegally, to smuggle drugs or to get away from their current situation.
They should all have to get a Visa and legally become citizens.
Then they ask why they are getting deported or why the children they have are threatened to be deported.
Here's why: because you did something illegal and this is the consequence!!!!!

Answer 5

Immigration does not 'hand out' visas. If for example you come to the US with a needed qualifacation ex. teacher. And you ask for a visa to come teach... (As you would when applying to Canada) you will be refused because you can not come to Seek employment, but if a US employer goes to you and hires you and they apply for you you can get work visa. Employers who need Dishwashers, delivery boys and other low paid jobs are not going to fly abroad to hire a guy for $4.50 per hour..... Each country is given a fixed number per year Also College students can get J1 Visas for temporary summer work if they can prove that they will be returning to College/ their Country. Those fence hoppers may not fall under any category and theirr ONLY option is to take the scenic route! Pity they are taking away all those great jobs from the rest of us!!! Or keeping many others US citizens employed to keep them out ! Would be cheaper to just give out the visa.

Answer 6

Supply and demand. Far more people want to come to the US than there are available visas or any other legal entry to the US. The disparity in numbers are such that most realize they will never get a visa in their lifetime, so they decide to pursue the American dream by other means.

Answer 7

It is really hard to get a Visa....MOST people get turned down when they apply for one.
ie: My father (who lives in Brazil) has tried to get one (so that he can come to the US to live with me) about 3 times ever since 1998 and always gets turned down for no real reason. They tell him that since I have a greencard I can go visit him in Brazil and so he does not need a Visa. Even so, my dad is not crazy to go hop the border.

And to the person above me you need to get your facts straight because the US does not allow this to happen...the US is one of the hardest countries to get into because of this problem. Also, other countries do not have to deal with this as much because they don't deny so many requests for Visas (because they dont have such high demand)
Most people who come to the US illegally do so to stay and work HERE to have more money for themselves and their families, not to go back to their country and use our money there.

Answer 8

because its not as easy- Americans citizens ( not naturalized) think is easy because you can just request a passport and fly everywhere you want. In foreign countries to request a Visa you have to a bank account, properties, passport, steady Job ( its hard to have all that when you live in a third world country...

Answer 9

I've heard its hard and expensive to get a Visa and it can take years to get one once your qualified. Not to mention it's easier to get a job without one. If you were living in some crap hole, what would you do?

Answer 10

If you heard a country was handing out every amenity for free to everyone EXCEPT its own citizens and there were no consequences for it aside from a nice scenic drive back to where ever only to come right back the next month, would you want to wait??

AZ Hotline: [phone]
Report Employers of Illegals: 800.829.2423
INS Tip Line: 866.347.2423

Answer 11

It's not that easy for everyone to just 'get a visa' - there isn't a 'because I want to live there, please' visa category. Which leaves the options of a) not bothering or b) entering illegally.