INS rule will restrict family visits, critics say

ASHINGTON - Vidya Iyer and her husband are expecting their first child in June. That's happy news for the Iyers, who live in North Andover. And it's happy news for their relatives in India near Bombay.

Vidya has stopped working as an accountant to prepare for the baby's arrival. All along, she has been expecting help from her mother, the kind of help so many expectant mothers count on.

''Fundamentally, the system doesn't change at all,'' said Russell Bergeron, an INS spokesman.

But we all knew that, didn't we? -- particularly with regard to the INS. Politicians will slice, dice, stir and puree, but in the end, the rights of foreign nationals, and the votes garnered by pandering to immigrants, will trump the security of American citizens.

For one, INS will inspectors will not arbitrarily limit people to 30 days. The rule states "a period of time that is fair and reasonable for the completion of the purpose of the visit”.

In the case of Vidya Iyer, I doubt there would be any Immigration Inspector that would not allow her stay up to 6 months if that is what she wanted to do.

Anyone that criticizes this rule for the above reasons, has not read or understood the rule.

Know if you wish to criticize the rule, this is how you criticize it:

These people go to the US Embassy or Consulate in there home country, file out an application for a visa, get interviewed and have a background investigation done on them.

So for the most part we know who these people are.

Mow consider the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uruguay may travel visa free under the VWP.

No interview or background investigation. They just show up with there passport and they get 90 days. Of course there are a few restrictions but basically they are free to come and visit the US for 90 days.

Food for Thought.

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