US Citizenship For Chinese Investors & Their Families

[93henfan]

Holy bajeezis. T-Man will love this one. It really is remarkable where this country is headed. All I can do is laugh, because I have no more tears to give.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/2 ... _link.html

Chinese investors have begun signing up to spend $500,000 each to help pay for a long-awaited connection between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-95.

In exchange, the investors hope to get permanent residency in the United States for themselves and their families...

[travelinman67]

Holy bajeezis. T-Man will love this one. It really is remarkable where this country is headed. All I can do is laugh, because I have no more tears to give.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/2 ... _link.html

Chinese investors have begun signing up to spend $500,000 each to help pay for a long-awaited connection between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-95.

In exchange, the investors hope to get permanent residency in the United States for themselves and their families...

...or a one-time shift of $200m from Gen Fund social programs to Traffic Funds...

[CID1990]

This is true but it is not just for Chinese investors.

Anyone who contributes $500K to job-creating ventures in the US are entitled to an immigrant visa. There are few other rules but that's the short version.

And yes, it is selling citizenship- but isn't this what people tell us when they say we need to reform our immigration system? That we need to be attracting contributors? I don't agree with much of the INA when it comes to who is entitled to an immigrant visa, but generally speaking the Chinese and Vietnamese and Australians who qualify for these visa classes are not the types of people who come over and immediately go on public assistance.

If you really want to be pissed off, take a look at the F-2 immigrant visa- spouse or child of a legal permanent resident. It is the "you dont have to become an American if you dont want to, but you sure can bring your family over" visa.

[Skjellyfetti]

You do realize there is a difference between residency and citizenship, right?

[CID1990]

You do realize there is a difference between residency and citizenship, right?

The fact that you are asking the question in this context shows your own understanding of the difference is limited.

ALL recipients of immigrant visas, upon their arrival in the U.S, become Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) immediately. They then must go through the citizenship process in order to naturalize as USCs. This involves classes and then a very simple test. LPR status is the step that ALL immigrants go through for citizenship with the exception of children under 18 who naturalize under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

The real differences between LPRs and USCs are only really pertinent when they are overseas and how they are handled by host governments. Inside the US, they are essentially the same. LPRs have the right to petition for their spouses and children to immigrate, they have social security numbers, they have the same ability to work that a USC does, they can draw public assistance, etc etc.

The ironic thing is that they do not have the right to vote in elections, but they do so in droves. If I had a nickel for every LPR using a voter registration card as "evidence" of physical presence in the US (you need 5 years of it to transmit your eventual citizenship to your children born abroad) I would be able to quit to the Vietnam highlands next week.

[CAA Flagship]

People that are able to spend $500k on our infrastructure are welcome. They are not likely to loot and burn down our towns.

[GannonFan]

I'm not really against rich, successful, motivated people from coming to the US. I doubt these folks will be taking a lot of benefits from the government while not contributing in the form of taxes or other productive activities. We should put a premium on bringing in smart people as much as possible.

[AZGrizFan]

I'm not really against rich, successful, motivated people from coming to the US. I doubt these folks will be taking a lot of benefits from the government while not contributing in the form of taxes or other productive activities. We should put a premium on bringing in smart people as much as possible.

I'm not against it either. I AM against fasttracking them over people who are of modest means who've waited patiently for their turn in the system. If we can fast track THESE people, why can't we fast track everybody?

[93henfan]

I'm not really against rich, successful, motivated people from coming to the US. I doubt these folks will be taking a lot of benefits from the government while not contributing in the form of taxes or other productive activities. We should put a premium on bringing in smart people as much as possible.

I'm not against it either. I AM against fasttracking them over people who are of modest means who've waited patiently for their turn in the system. If we can fast track THESE people, why can't we fast track everybody?

That's the funny part. What really takes so much time to make somebody a citizen?

I guess it's similar to passports. If you pay regular price, it takes several weeks, but if you are willing to pay extra, they can get you an expedited passport.

[CAA Flagship]

I'm not against it either. I AM against fasttracking them over people who are of modest means who've waited patiently for their turn in the system. If we can fast track THESE people, why can't we fast track everybody?

That's the funny part. What really takes so much time to make somebody a citizen?

I guess it's similar to passports. If you pay regular price, it takes several weeks, but if you are willing to pay extra, they can get you an expedited passport.

Learning the English language.

Oh, wait.

[CAA Flagship]

“Give me your motivated, your rich, your hard working masses yearning to breathe free. And for God's sake, stay out of the left lane when driving slow.”

[bluehenbillk]

I have no problem with this, the federal government is already on the take so why can't all levels of government be so as well.

[YoUDeeMan]

You do realize there is a difference between residency and citizenship, right?

I'm not sure why you post anymore...unless you really enjoy getting schooled.

[Ibanez]

America's for sale
And you can get a good deal on it
And make a healthy profit
Or maybe, tear it apart
Start with assumption
That a million people are smart
Smarter than one