Another way of addressing the “illegal immigrant” problem would be to absorb them into the population. This means turning them into productive, legal, law-abiding, and tax-paying population. By no means does this imply that they will become permanent residents or citizens of the U.S. Instead, this proposal only means that they get their visa legally extended for the duration that they will require to stay and complete their employment contract. This would be very much like granting them a work visa.

However to receive this “work visa” they would have to satisfy certain criteria. Those criteria would include Proof of:

1. residence
2. stable employment
3. registration as a tax payer
4. good character and lack of criminal history
5. adequate financial resources for the purpose of becoming a public charge

While the authorities need to study the specifics of such a system, this would be enacted more or less akin to a time-limited work visa. That type of visa extends to the immediate family, thereby making the offer more attractive to the hidden immigrants. However, for such a system to succeed the fear of prosecution and deportation must be removed from their minds. This can be achieved through effective communication using mass media and word of mouth.

If the CIR incorporates this and is approved, U.S. government agencies that deal with immigration will have to be prepared to handle the flood of applicants who will come pouring in. The “illegal immigrants” will also have to take measures towards getting into line for processing by:

1. saving for government filing fees
2. saving for legal fees for an immigration lawyer
3. collecting and organizing of documents
4. gathering of supporting documents and information for the completion of government forms

Any applicant who is interested should immediately seek legal advice from a qualified U.S.-licensed attorney who is well versed on U.S. Immigration laws and regulations. Preferably, they should approach a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Citizens of countries around the globe who want to immigrate to the United States will want to ensure that procedures regarding their immigration are handled properly. When procedures for immigration status are handled right, the prospective immigrant can avoid legal hassles or minimize the risk of fines or deportation down the line.

Among the best ways to ensure that procedures for immigration are handled right is to hire an attorney experienced in immigration law. Even if others encourage you to circumvent this step because it will be quicker and cheaper, in the long run having competent legal counsel that knows the ins and outs of U.S. immigration law is a wise move. It may prove more costly and time consuming than entering the U.S. on an undocumented basis, but the immigrant can sleep more soundly knowing that they did not cut corners and will not be facing arrest or deportation.

An immigrant who wants to permanently relocate to the U.S. for business reasons can ask business contacts for qualified legal referrals. An immigrant who already has family members in the U.S. with legal immigrant status can also be counted on to help find a qualified and reliable immigration attorney.

There are numerous pitfalls to handling immigration procedures without qualified legal help. These range from not filing the proper documents to the inability to find employment without proper documentation. In addition, undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who have children born in the U.S. who are automatically citizens, face complicated legal issues that may find them separated from their children should authorities challenge their immigration status.

Because there are numerous legal steps to follow throughout the immigration process which involve filing sometimes complicated paperwork, the best tip to ensure that immigration procedures are handled right is to have an experienced immigration attorney guiding the prospective newcomer every step of the way.

Certain parts of the immigration system in the U.S. appear to work well. The NonImmigrant visa (NIV) which is limited in duration and purpose, is one such success story. The Naturalization process is where a foreign-born national acquires U.S. citizenship and this system also appears to be functioning well. Both of these processes will not need attention by the CIR as there is not much to fix.

The Family sponsored immigration, however, needs some attention from the CIR. The process is plagued by backlogs and quota limitations. Many cases have crawled along for more than 10 years before they have been processed and adjudicated. The slow process in turn creates complications that either prolong or most likely stall the case. For example, children have “aged out” by turning 21 before they could obtain the Green card. This results in families being split apart as some members have obtain LPR (Lawful Permanent Resident) status and some have not. The fastest processed LPR cases are those based on marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Employment Verification, employment of immigrants and the issues of illegal immigration are unfortunately the key issues the CIR is expected to fix primarily. Although government figures officially place undocumented Aliens at 12 million to 15 million, the unofficial figure is expected be as high as 30 million as reported by other surveys. Mass removal is not an option, and therein lies the problem for the government. The needs of the U.S. economy, national security, compliance with laws and the needs of immigrants and their families must all be addressed by the CIR.

The U.S. Immigration problem is bigger than the public knows. This largely due to the way it is portrayed in media. Known generally as “Illegal immigrants” to the public and “undocumented aliens” to the professional community this group numbers in the millions.

Government estimates put the numbers in the 12-15 million region, while other agencies and communities estimate the number to be closer to 30 million immigrants. This second number considers all non-U.S. citizens living in the U.S. who do not have legal immigration status and those have arrived with previously legal immigration status but have overstayed.

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform or CIR that is to be implemented aims to deal with the presence and legality of undocumented aliens in the United States. But other than that it will also have to deal with:

1. Limitations on Visa Numbers – Although this has been mandated by Congress, it will only make it difficult to acquire skilled workers in the numbers and cost required by the U.S. Economy.

2. Arbitrary Numerical Limitations – Caps will be imposed on certain categories and classifications. The ramifications of this move will only be felt as time goes by. Potential problems are extensive backlogs, and processing delays resulting in hindering legal family integration and unification.

3. Employment Enforcement problems – These will be caused by inconsistent, inefficient or inappropriate efforts to enforce wage and workplace violations at state and federal levels. Employers and employees alike will be affected by this.

The U.S. Governments poor efforts at establishing a sustainable CIR in the past and even the present is the chief cause of the Immigration issues face by the country today.