Sum of departs
Ahead of Zelensky’s arrival in the States, Republican senators are moving to block wartime aid to Ukraine, unless President Biden is willing to make “significant compromises” during border policy negotiations following near record-high illegal crossings earlier this year.
Although border control is likely to be a major subject in ongoing political discussions, US visa protocol may also be crucial in curbing immigration. Last year, ~170k employment visas were reportedly issued above the federal cap, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services in January already proposed substantial visa fee hikes — including a 2,050% surge in E-registration prices for H-1B visas, which allow employers to hire specialist foreign workers.
In the green
Among the suggested changes is raising prices related to the all-important ‘green cards’, which grant lawful permanent resident (LPR) status to live and work in the US. Already expensive for many applicants, the high costs associated with filing hasn't diminished applicant numbers. The number of people obtaining LPR status has grown since the pandemic, with the US accepting over a million green card applications last year, a ~38% increase from 2021.
