Editorials
Saturday, June 2, 2001
THE Immigration and Naturalization Service's new program to speed processing for certain work visas if the applicant pays a $1,000 premium smacks of government-sanctioned bribery and creates a two-class system of those who can afford the extra cost and those who can't. For INS, money talks
and fairness walksThe issue: An INS program allows
visa applicants to cut in line if they
pay a $1,000 premium.The INS contends that the new fees will eventually benefit all applicants because the service will have more money to hire additional workers and modernize its systems. This may well be, but allowing those who can pay to go to the head of the line unfairly forces those who can't to have to wait longer.
Under the program, the INS promises that for $1,000, plus the normal $110 processing fee, it will act on work visa applications within 15 days instead of the usual 90 days or more. It doesn't guarantee the visa will be approved and if it doesn't complete the work in 15 days, the $1,000 is refunded.
The program is designed for foreign performers, athletes, corporate executives, scientists and other specific types of workers who plan to work in the country temporarily. By the end of August, the service plans to expand the program to include foreigners who want to work in the United States for longer periods, but who are not seeking permanent residence.
Congress approved the fee program in part because the INS needed to raise more money for its services, which are paid for primarily by such fees. However, the solution here is for Congress to fund the agency properly for efficient service. It should also keep its hands out of the pot and not divert this money to other purposes like building detention facilities, as it did last year.
Moreover, the message this program sends to people who want to work in this country is that money speaks louder than fairness. It should be rescinded.
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, President
John Flanagan, publisher and editor in chief 529-4748; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Frank Bridgewater, managing editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, assistant managing editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, assistant managing editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.com The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (USPS 249460) is published daily by
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