4 ms·

As an american expat, no it is not particularly free. But it's good at presenting itself as that, or as a land of opportunity in all of the media we heavily exp

As an american expat, no it is not particularly free. But it's good at presenting itself as that, or as a land of opportunity in all of the media we heavily export to the rest of the world. Leading many people to want to move there when in reality america is a land of poor social mobility, and extreme incarceration rates and legal restrictions on dumb things like giving a sandwich to a homeless person.

sandworm101 7y ago
And it is very easy to work illegally in the US. Other countries make it very difficult. Working as an illegal in Canada or the UK is possible, but not nearly as easy as in the US.
- drcross 7y ago
  The reason for this is to protect the social safety net which is non existent in the US. It's also harder than you think to get a visa for the US so it's pretty much attracting unofficial undesirables.
  - sandworm101 7y ago
    Visas are dead simple to get for the US. Some of them are even allocated by lottery. Other countries (canada) have points-based systems, standards, that applicants have to make. The US prefers a rights-based approach, a combination of family links and naturalization based on the leveraging of "temporary" permits into permanent residence permission.
    - raincom 7y ago
      Not dead simple for those who live in the third world or any country with huge population (India, China, any African, Asian country, Mexico). Diversity visa benefits those countries with small population. 50,000 lucky people from these countries get a visa.
- raincom 7y ago
  Yes, it is easier in the US compared to the UK, where its border patrol agents can ask for papers at any bus stop or tube station. Even one has to seek permission from the home department in order to marry a UK citizen. After E-Verify in the states, things are not as easy as used to be. Large employers attract I-9 audits if they don't participate in E-Verify. So, illegal labor has shifted to small employers: restaurants, general contractors (in construction), janitorial services, etc.

sandworm101 7y ago

And it is very easy to work illegally in the US. Other countries make it very difficult. Working as an illegal in Canada or the UK is possible, but not nearly as easy as in the US.

drcross 7y ago
The reason for this is to protect the social safety net which is non existent in the US. It's also harder than you think to get a visa for the US so it's pretty much attracting unofficial undesirables.
- sandworm101 7y ago
  Visas are dead simple to get for the US. Some of them are even allocated by lottery. Other countries (canada) have points-based systems, standards, that applicants have to make. The US prefers a rights-based approach, a combination of family links and naturalization based on the leveraging of "temporary" permits into permanent residence permission.
  - raincom 7y ago
    Not dead simple for those who live in the third world or any country with huge population (India, China, any African, Asian country, Mexico). Diversity visa benefits those countries with small population. 50,000 lucky people from these countries get a visa.
raincom 7y ago
Yes, it is easier in the US compared to the UK, where its border patrol agents can ask for papers at any bus stop or tube station. Even one has to seek permission from the home department in order to marry a UK citizen. After E-Verify in the states, things are not as easy as used to be. Large employers attract I-9 audits if they don't participate in E-Verify. So, illegal labor has shifted to small employers: restaurants, general contractors (in construction), janitorial services, etc.