Immigration Law

CAN IMMIGRANTS HELP ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL MELTDOWN

By Greg Siskind

A lot of people may not be aware that hundreds of thousands of highly skilled immigrants - people with bachelors, masters, Ph.Ds, medical degrees, etc. - are stuck waiting in a queue for green cards that can last ten years or more. These are precisely the people who can help keep American competitive and they could provide some needed help in resolving the banking crisis that has gripped the country. One group, Immigration Voice, is proposing Congress consider a legislative solution that would provide green card numbers for people who can demonstrate they qualify in one of the employment-based green card categories if they buy a home and place at least 25% down on the property. This won't solve the crisis, of course, but it is one way to inject some life in to the bleak housing market.

I'd like to see this proposal possibly coupled with a retiree visa which would provide long term visas to people who have the means to pay cash for a home and buy a home within a specified period of time after coming to the US, have substantial assets, have pre-paid for health insurance and who do not intend to work in the US.

Full post as published by Greg Siskind's Blog on September 23, 2008 (boomark / email).