Obama's Address to the Nation RE: K1 Visa

[Texas22 50]

Well first of all I have never heard of an illegal alien having to agree not to accept public assistance to live here. In fact many of them take all the public assistance they can get. On the other hand sponsors for K1 and CR1 visa recipients have to not only prove they meet a certain income level but sign forms stating that the visa recipient will not accept any public assistance or the sponsor can be held financially responsible for it. Not to mention they don't have to wait a year or more in some cases to come here and be with their loved ones while the government collects thousands of dollars from their sponsors and drags their feet processing their applications.

I am a natural born US citizen and sometimes I feel like illegals have more rights than I do. Have you ever heard about the cases of illegals being stopped for drunk driving and other crimes and just being let go without jail time or any sort of fines? If you are a US citizen or legal immigrant for that matter they throw the book at you (as they should). Also last time I checked when most US citizens or legal immigrants get a job they have to pay taxes. Not so for many illegals. Not to mention the free state college tuition many illegals recieve. I could go on but I will leave it at that for now.

Many so called "liberals" want wide open borders. Many so called "conservatives" want to end all immigration all together. I think both views are totally insane. Don't get me wrong. I sympathize with many illegals coming from Mexico wanting to work hard and loking for a better life. I think the legal immigration process should be more streamlined to give them that oppurtunity. However having wide open borders where anyone can just come here and not be in the system like the rest of us paying taxes and allowing them to collect welfare checks is insanity. This country was built by immigrants but at the same time we can't just allow anyone to come here unchecked.

As far as ending K1 visas goes I have heard many people I know peronally talk about it as well as some politicians and media personalities. Like I stated above some politicians want to end all immigration all together. Maybe it isn't in the "mainstream" discussin but lets not pretend it isn't talked about at all.

Exactly what I was trying to say earlier. It "feels like" illegals have more rights or should I say "get access" to things that we are not allowed to. Well said JG. And yes, I do believe "public assistance" is a "right" that we sign off on.

[Pennycat 880]

No, Catherine, you are confused on my statement.

The fact is that the President said VWP. You missed the part where I suggested he misspoke as she entered as K-1. I really, really don't appreciate it when people try to put words in my mouth. Please don't try to do so - it's not a good look.

To your second point - wow - just wow! You are literally arguing my own point to me. Yes, I totally agree with what I said earlier - I highly doubt if Congress is limiting the scope to only Iraq and Syria. If you wish to prove me right again, you are more than welcome to do so.

Congress IS limiting the scope to Iraq and Syria and MAY decide to give the Secretary of State authority to add countries to the list.

And given your insistence yesterday that Obama was not talking about K1s but about VWP (unless you weren't making yourself clear then either), it seems pretty likely that when you said "I doubt that is the scope, it wouldn't have caught the San Bernardino people" even thought this bill is designed to stop the Paris-type people....you're still confused. If you're not, sorry. But you're also not making any sense and if you yourself aren't confused, you are confusing the issue one way or the other.

[Amhara 460]

Congress IS limiting the scope to Iraq and Syria and MAY decide to give the Secretary of State authority to add countries to the list.

And given your insistence yesterday that Obama was not talking about K1s but about VWP (unless you weren't making yourself clear then either), it seems pretty likely that when you said "I doubt that is the scope, it wouldn't have caught the San Bernardino people" even thought this bill is designed to stop the Paris-type people....you're still confused. If you're not, sorry. But you're also not making any sense and if you yourself aren't confused, you are confusing the issue one way or the other.

Congress WILL expand the countries on the list once enacted. ISIS is not just in Iraq or Syria, which is why I doubt the scope will be limited to only these two countries.

I was not insisting anything - I was establishing facts. This thread is about the K-1 visa, not the VWP. The President brought up VWP, and the review activities that were underway before he made his address.

Clearly I am very confused with the way you explain my opinion to me. You totally have my opinion turned upside down, which is why I already asked you specifically not to put words in my mouth. If you continue to misconstrue what I say, that provides an explanation of the source of misunderstanding.

Please, DO NOT put words in my mouth.

[amkhan 108]

the country may be ban is Syria, Iraq, Iran and Sudan for far now i just read on CNN

[Kat&Jon 86]

Amhara,

The switch to clarifying the changes to VWP from the original discussion regarding possible changes to K-1 may have been my fault. I am one of the original people who posted concern regarding the VWP because while at work I wasn't able to verify what the changes were and thankfully others corrected me so I apologize if it caused additional confusion on the thread, but thanks to everyone who clarified for me and proving that in my situation the changes won't affect my upcoming trip.

CatherineA,

Thank you for providing the links to the actual bills for all of us to review. I know it's always public information but I never remember where to find them. I attempted to search for news related to the topics of changes to K-1 but for some reason I can't find this news as easily as the VWP discussion. Do you know of any links to news articles regarding this I can review. I know from posts here it seems that it is all just talk and no action, but I would still like to follow the stories as they update when they can!

Thanks again to everyone for the clarification on the confusion between the two proposed changes. I am still a but anxious due to not applying yet, but I hope this storm blows over soon!

So far I have read every link here regarding the correction to what the President said in error, but I was hoping to find one on the discussion regarding proposed changes to the K-1. I hope to be armed with as much information as possible!

[Amhara 460]

I attempted to search for news related to the topics of changes to K-1 but for some reason I can't find this news as easily as the VWP discussion.

I would hanker to guess that there aren't any immediate changes on K-1 visas. If the President didn't misspeak, it could have been a 'smoke' ploy - common political tactic.

The DOS keeps the 'administrative processing' review in obscurity, which why Congressional reps and lawyers can't help pull a person out of AP. They may need to make changes to their criteria of who and who does not need to go in AP and any other additional AP steps - which would be a much more effective way to change the K-1 visa. If that's the route they go, then there won't be any release of info.

But it's good to keep our ears to the ground, that's for sure! You never know...

[TBoneTX 46,113]

Sincere thanks to all for having kept the discussion on a mature level despite seeming disagreement. This thread has so far been a landmark example of high-level debate on an admittedly emotional and speculative topic. Keep it up!

[NatashaSah 3]

HI guys, I've been looking for this thread since I'm starting to get a little paranoid about my K1! I received my visa two weeks ago but was only planning to move in March 2016 because of work and study commitments. My visa is valid till May, so I did not see any problems with this. Now I'm suddenly getting a little paranoid and wonder if I should go in December itself before any rules change and the K1 is cancelled or something. Do you think this is a valid fear?

[dwheels76 5,469]

HI guys, I've been looking for this thread since I'm starting to get a little paranoid about my K1! I received my visa two weeks ago but was only planning to move in March 2016 because of work and study commitments. My visa is valid till May, so I did not see any problems with this. Now I'm suddenly getting a little paranoid and wonder if I should go in December itself before any rules change and the K1 is cancelled or something. Do you think this is a valid fear?

It's really not about the K1 but where the beneficiary is from. You already have your Visa so see no issue.

Those from countries that may have links to ISIS or Al-Queda may get more scrutiny no matter the Visa type.

You may be asked at border why the delay who knows but I see no fears of not letting you in. I doubt it and laws don't get changed in a blink of an eye. People are just talking and discussing.