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talking to your congressperson and senators
Don't expect to directly talk to your Congressperson
or Senator when you first call their office.
Congresspersons and Senators are very busy.
They have aides who handle various aspects of law.
If you are unable to talk to the Congressperson or Senator
directly, ask to be connected to their aide who
handles immigration. It is best to
call a district office close to you.
Immigration aides may or may not know the details of
this issue,
so be prepared to explain. You can request
an in-person meeting with the aide to explain the
situation further. An in-person meeting,
while harder to arrange, is usually much more effective.
If you would like to contact us before calling your Congressperson
or Senators or would like to share your experience in contacting them,
please do
write to us.
Here are some points to highlight during your
conversation with the aide:
describe the problem:
- We are only asking that LPRs be allowed to live with their
families. An immigration system that splits the family
for more than 5 years is in serious need of change.
- Separating families takes a heavy emotional toll on
the permanent resident and his/her spouse/children.
- Only permanent residents are in this predicament.
There are no numerical limits on visas for the spouse and
children of non-immigrants or U.S. citizens.
Family members can live in the U.S. Family members of H-1B and
L-1 non-immigrants can adjust to
permanent residency while in the U.S.
- An H-1B non-immigrant who marries and
then adjusts to permanent residence faces
no separation. However, a person who first
becomes a permanent resident faces approximately
a six year delay before he/she gets united
with his/her spouse.
the solution — eliminate the numerical limits (immediate relative reclassification):
- The House passed this provision in 1990 under the chairmanship
of Bruce Morrison. Senators Hagel and Martinez introduced
this provision as an amendment to the Senate version of
Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2006.
- Immediate relative reclassification does not provide a
benefit that U.S. citizens
do not enjoy. Nobody jumps ahead of anyone who has
an application pending.
Security checks are not bypassed.
Amnesty is not needed, nor requested.
- Immediate relative reclassification serves one purpose —
to allow a lawful permanent resident of the United States
to live with his/her spouse and minor children.
emphasize the positive economic impacts:
- Conservatively, LPRs remit an estimated $4.2 billion
annually to their immediate families abroad. If family
unity is achieved in the U.S., this money will remain
in the country.
- If family members are allowed to come into the country, they add
to the consumer base. According to the
Institute of International
Education, the spouse and children of non-immigrant students
added $479 million to the economy in 2002-03. Family members
of LPRs will contribute a lot more.
- LPRs have a proven track record of creating jobs.
An LPR forced to leave the country takes these jobs with him/her.
- More on economic impacts...
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