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People may realize that familial relations can significantly shape immigration process, but they tend to greatly under-estimate the extent. Immigration is almo

People may realize that familial relations can significantly shape immigration process, but they tend to greatly under-estimate the extent. Immigration is almost always discussed in terms of fairness and, usually, "the line." But the metaphor is a bad one; instead of "the line," it might be better to think of the system as multiple, separate lines that are of varying distances from the destination. And honestly, some of those lines have some nasty obstacles laid out in front of them.

dragonwriter 13y ago
> People may realize that familial relations can significantly shape immigration process, but they tend to greatly under-estimate the extent. I don't see any real evidence that's true, but, maybe it is. > Immigration is almost always discussed in terms of fairness and, usually, "the line." But the metaphor is a bad one; It's not really a metaphor at all, its a fairly literal description of the family-sponsored visa system which dominates immigration. At least as it pertains to the countries where immigration demand exceeds per-country quota, where qualified immigrants are literally on a wait list (in some cases one that will take a decade or more to reach them). And I suspect it dominates the discussion specifically because the family-based part of the immigration system is the one most people know the most about. > it might be better to think of the system as multiple, separate lines that are of varying distances from the destination. Well, that would be even a more literal description of the family-sponsored system, since each category of visa has its own quota and queue. Most of the rest of the immigration system doesn't really consist of lines...