Naturalization fees to increase

[Richard]

Here is the link to the article in my local paper (South Florida Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale):

http://www.sunsentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-128citizen.story?coll=sfla%2Dhome%2Dheadlines

The reason cited for the increase is to spead up the naturalization process which, according to the article, can take up to 30 months to complete.

I for one would be willing to pay an extra fee for expedited handling on a K-1 visa when I get to that point.  How do other people feel?

[ChuckRM]

... in response to Naturalization fees to increase, posted by Richard on Jan 28, 2002

You can check on the fee increases through the INS web site.  Get it straight from the "horse's mouth", so to speak:  http://www.ins.usdoj.gov

I don't know what they are going to do with the extra money.  I think that they are raising the fees just because they have a legal right to do it.  As far as I am concerned, the INS fees are too high already, considering the level of "service" they provide.

The INS is reorganizing - they are splitting the "service" and immigration law enforcement functions into two separate departments.  They claim that the reorganization will improve service.  You can look at the INS restructuring proposal on their web site.  A lot of promises are made in the proposal: for example, they will eliminate the differences in processing times between different regional offices.  Hopefully, the slow offices will become faster.  Knowing the federal government, it could be the other way around!  The INS restructuring is supposed to be completed by the end of 2003.  Maybe just in time for my wife's green card interview!

[JohnG]

... in response to Naturalization fees to increase, posted by Richard on Jan 28, 2002

Richard, how far along in the process are you? I am in the Ft. Lauderdale area also, and my fiancee, now wife, is here too.

[Richard]

... in response to Ft. Lauderdale, posted by JohnG on Jan 28, 2002

nt

[apk]

... in response to Naturalization fees to increase, posted by Richard on Jan 28, 2002

I have read an editorial here in a California newspaper that the fees will increase for all INS procedures (almost double) not so much to speed things up, but to hire more people to scrutinize the process..and eliminate more of the people that squeeze between the cracks of the visa process for illegal activity (and terrorists).

My eyes have been opened up to a sub-culture of immigrants from FSU that come here with large families, usually sponsered by a church (because of persecution back home) and given amnesty and a green card. Then these same people go on welfare and work on the side for cash money(no income tax).

My wife has met a few of them at her ESL classes and from what she tells me they have been going to the same class for 3 or 4 years! Welfare rules require them to be in a class to recieve their checks...so they show up and then go to sleep!

Now if INS wants to clean up its process, it should first eliminate the church sponsered visas...which are not scrutinized like the k-1 and then be required the financial responsibilities of the many they brought here.  

I do not have all of the facts...just from what my wife hears. I do know that there are probably thousands of Ukraine families here on church sponsered visas, I do not have the facts as to what percentage are on welfare.

[Dan]

... in response to Re: Naturalization fees to increase, posted by apk on Jan 28, 2002

There is no such thing.

There *is* such a thing as religious persecution and the US has provisions for special consideration given to it's victims - in certain circumstances. I suspect this is the topic area you meant to address.

Now, I am NOT at all sure you meant to suggest that we (the US) eliminate provisions for special consideration given to victims of religious persecution - or were you??

- Dan

[micha1]

... in response to "Church Sponsered [sp] Visas" ..., posted by Dan on Jan 28, 2002

Yes Dan, you are right, but this clause is mainly use for a religion I can't name here.
If you are not from that religion or persuasion, it is good luck to you.

[Richard]

... in response to "Church Sponsered [sp] Visas" ..., posted by Dan on Jan 28, 2002

While church groups may not technically sponsor visas, they do arrange for groups of persecuted immigrants to come to America.

I will give you an example that I am familiar with.  For a while, I had neighbors who were Vietnamese boat people.  How did they end up in my neck of the woods?  The Mennonite Central Committee arranged for them to come to Lancaster County.  They supported them in many ways (food shelter etc) until they were able to get on their feet so to speak. While the Mennonite Central Committee may not have  technically sponsored for their visa, they really did sponsor them with all of the logistical and financial support they provided.  

This sort of arrangement may lead people to believe that church groups do sponsor immigrants.

Disclaimer:  I'm talking about one particular family that I got to know a little bit because they lived next to me. I'm making no value judgements, just passing on some information.

[apk]

... in response to "Church Sponsered [sp] Visas" ..., posted by Dan on Jan 28, 2002

No, I am not against the need to harbor those that are the vivtims of such persecution. What I am saying is there is a large number of those people that enter this country for the sole reason to be financially supported, which is obvious to me is what is going on.  
And yes, these people are sponsered by some religious organization to initiate their visa papers...I will not name names but I know which church is most often used to front this activity.

Now, I may further add....why is there the need to harbor families of FSU since the downfall of the Soviet Empire has opened up religious organization and their freedom to practice their own religion? My wife is a Christian, I even visited her church in Moscow, is life so much different in Ukraine?

There are entire neighborhoods in northern calif. of such FSU families,living in tenement housing for welfare recipients and obvious that they milk the system for all that they can get. The new welfare law here is that no one can receive welfare benefits for more than 2 years, after that they will be cut off. It does not appear to apply to the immigrant families of religious persecution.

[Dan]

... in response to Re: "Church Sponsered [sp] Visas&qu..., posted by apk on Jan 28, 2002

Because if you think it is something different, I'd sure like to see your stats.

Russian Jews have been immigrating to America for decades under the provisions allowed for by our INS regulations. I know (or rather, I should say it *seems* obvious to me) that there is a very large percentage of the large population of FSU immigrants in the Denver area that are of Jewish origins.

Is it the Jewish faith you are accusing of this act (of supporting unneedy persons to enter the country)??

- Dan

[apk]

... in response to "I Know Which Church" - Would ..., posted by Dan on Jan 28, 2002

Lighten up, my comments were not meant to be derogatory to any one religious organization...and for your information the Jewish faith is not being persecuted anymore in Russia, as it once was during the Soviet time. From what my wife tells me the Jews were once treated as a non citizen and not allowed a Soviet passport, they had to have a seperate one which stifled their travel and education benefits.

Now, to further expand on my original statement:
There are "christian" based organizations spreading the word in FSU, such as Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists and Mormons. These faiths are not looked upon to keenly in FSU and from what my wife tells me..the dirty little secret is that these evangelistic organizations spread their word by promoting a better life here in America, and prompting them to join their organization and then help them secure a visa for the whole family..sometimes 3 generations all at once.

I do not see anything wrong with this practice, spreading the word of God is not the crime. What I see as the problem is what happens to these people after they arrive in our country. Most parts of USA do not see what these dirty little secrets become once the foothold is taken. Here in california it appears to be a dumping ground for these new immigrants, there are entire neighborhoods of Vietnamese, Laotion, Hmong, and Ukrainian. Most of these people get caught in the welfare cycle and never climb out, the teenage generation of these people often get involved in gangs and terrorize entire neighborhoods because they know each family.

My original statement was: why does the USA allow these people to come here without the same financial support as required by the women on a k-1 visa?
The paperwork we must submit to prove finacial responsibility does not seem fair when you see the thousands of immigrants here with no proven safety net except the welfare program. I think if these "religious" organizations what to promote their own faith, then they should submit the same support as required the rest of us.
Maybe then the welfare would not be so heavily abused as it appears to be.

[micha1]

... in response to "I Know Which Church" - Would ..., posted by Dan on Jan 28, 2002

Dan, it is my guess, only a guess that you know very well it is.
they do run the anglo saxon world, the wasp hate them, but to get elected they do need them, so what the hell.
As far as I am concern, I do not give a hoot.  My best friend is jewish and as far as I am concern, plurialism
kills them and we are going straight nowhere, into a brick wall.  There is no issue.  The air we breath is worse
day by day, the water (who wants to talk about this).  Their god is the only one, right, all the other gods are
phony.  But we are all going to hell together.

[BarryM]

... in response to Re: "I Know Which Church" - Wo..., posted by micha1 on Jan 28, 2002

That you have that view. It isn't true but because so many people share the view that Jews run the world, it becomes the BIG Lie. Replace "Jewish" with "Catholic" and you can see some of the same results. Replace "Jewish" with "Mason" and you could have a case for who runs the world. Can you guess how many US Presidents were Masons"? Jews, Bilderbergers, Illuminati, Masons, Catholics, the CFR, aliens from outer space, and closet Satanists are all candidates for the global new world order conspiracy with the ultimate goal of a "One World Government" that controls everything and marks you with the sign of the beast.

Sit back, read a few Robert Anton Wilson books, and enjoy the paranoia.

-blm