fully prepared to be flamed,

[AlmostMex 0]

And please spare me the $2K fee. That's lipstick on a pig.

I agree. Who here has paid only $2000 to legally immigrate AND been allowed to stay in the US earning US dollars during processing? Definitely not my husband (nor I by association). We've spent about $5000 dollars on pure Immigration paperwork and lawyers fees alone, not to mention all the travel expenses it took for me to travel to Mexico during the 5 years of his removal order. Plus the money and career opportunity I lost when I quit my job to move to Mexico to be with him. Were these my own decisions to make? Yes. Were they directly connected to our decision to do things legally? Yes.

That burns me.

If they do grant amnesty to all of the illegals in the US, they sure better have to sign the same affidavit of support paperwork we had to stating they are not eligible for welfare, medicare, etc. And if they've already used welfare, medicare, etc., they should have to repay the US government.

I say all of this even though I personally know many Mexicans who at one point worked in the US illegally and from things I have observed through direct personal knowledge of the types of benefits they have freely taken while my husband and I aren't eligible because we did things legally. Do I wish these people ill? No, I just wish they would have better moral comprehension that what they're doing is wrong, it does hurt others, and there is a connection between illegals and the US economy, and it isn't all beneficial for the US.

Should the Mexican and US government and the people who employ them take more responsibility? Heck yeah, without a doubt. But so should the citizens of those countries.

Just my two cents.

[pedroh 21]

ouch.. $5000?? thats a lot of dinero..

[PsychoKat 0]

I have a question.

The media and politicians have stated that there are 12 million undocumented workers here. In the heated discussions I have seen here I have seen that number quoted often.

Has anyone actually looked beyond the media and political resports, and examined the research material those numbers are from?

Some of those actually going through the legal process, possibly even members of these forums are included in that 12 million number.

The actual number is 11.1 million

Of that number approximate 1.5 million are people who have not completed their adjustment of status as of yet and are here and working under K-3 and K1 visa's, that number also includes other people here who although not in green card status have been given an EAD to work, a few other groups such as those awaiting refugee status are also included in that number. So 1.5 million of those classified as illegal are actually not.

1.6 million of that number are children and not part of the work force.

and finally

6.2 million of that number are from Mexico

I was unable to determine how many of those 1.6 million children, and 1.5 million that include the K visas are included in the 6.2 million from Mexico so it is possible that number might be smaller.

The remainder of that number are from other countries of origin.

[ace13 0]

Keltic, I don't see how it will affect anyone else. It will give a bunch of Mexicans work visas. That's not going to hurt anyone's process or anyone's personal life.

now, that is true.. again, i dont see a direct relationship between giving h1b visas to some dudes and the family visa procedures

Tell me who will process the papers for the 5-10 million cases that this proposed amnesty would create overnight.

They could hire Mexicans

[pedroh 21]

PWNED

[AlmostMex 0]

We spent $2000 USD in one week alone. It all went on immigration fees, airfare, hotel, food, and transportation in Cd. Juarez during the week we had to stay there to get his K3 visa. In one week. And prior to that, we were both in Mexico earning pesos and saving our butts off for 2 years in order to have that money saved in time for the interview date. Was it worth it to have my husband join me legally in the US? Yes. But it's still ridiculous to think paying $2000 in fines is anywhere near what it costs to do things legally.

Keltic, I don't see how it will affect anyone else. It will give a bunch of Mexicans work visas. That's not going to hurt anyone's process or anyone's personal life.

now, that is true.. again, i dont see a direct relationship between giving h1b visas to some dudes and the family visa procedures

Tell me who will process the papers for the 5-10 million cases that this proposed amnesty would create overnight.

They could hire Mexicans