Immigration: Merit over Money or Need?

[Decade_Later]

Dipping my toes a bit into this as the debate has now flared up about whether family can or should be able to sponsor others to get into the US. I honestly don't have a dog in the fight as I am an expat and have no plans on returning to my home country, but I was chuckling a bit when I read about the latest flare up. Especially with this revelation from last year: "Federal prosecutors are investigating Kushner Companies, the real estate firm owned by the family of Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, over its use of a program that grants visas to wealthy overseas investors.

The authorities, in part, are looking into the role of Mr. Kushner’s sister, Nicole Meyer, according to a person familiar with the matter who confirmed the inquiry.

The investigation centers on the real estate company’s use of the so-called EB-5 program, which offers visas to foreigners in exchange for a $500,000 investment. Critics say the program has weak oversight and lax rules."

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/business/kushner-eb-5-china-green-cards.html

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[djangocoin]

I know one thing: no amount of Merit garnered or appropriated on here is going to get you in to the U.S.

[Mometaskers]

I know people from my country who do this, petitioning their children to move there too. Since more often than not those parents are working there and the children grow up to be taxpayers I don't think it's as bad as suddenly opening your borders and saying "You get in, you get in, you all get in!"

Can't say much about the Kushners but aren't there already countries selling citizenship for money? Might as well make them pay for the visas, though I think it should go to the treasury rather than private pockets.

[Decade_Later]

I know people from my country who do this, petitioning their children to move there too. Since more often than not those parents are working there and the children grow up to be taxpayers I don't think it's as bad as suddenly opening your borders and saying "You get in, you get in, you all get in!"

Can't say much about the Kushners but aren't there already countries selling citizenship for money? Might as well make them pay for the visas, though I think it should go to the treasury rather than private pockets.

You can't necessarily buy citizenship, but you can buy residency. The US has this legally, you invest in a company, you hire family members to be employees with green card sponsorship from the company, and there you go.