Mel recently blogged something that stirred up old memories.

Colored Factoids:

• Each year, US Government allows 65,000 H1-B visas: a necessity for any foreigner to work in the US legally. High-tech companies snatch them up so quickly like kids do to the new Harry Potter book — they waited eagerly for the opening day and flood in the applications. These companies could not find enough skilled workers in the country and must rely on foreigners to stay competitive. Every one of those visa applicants is a highly paid employee who buys houses, pays taxes, attends PTA meetings, and abides laws as good citizens. They usually settle down and melt into the pot. Many of them went on to build successful businesses. H1-B visas generate so much wealth for the country that US government wants less of them.

• For China, and many other countries too, the US government now requires 1-month, with proof of travel, lead time for business travel visas. An in-person interview is a must. It usually takes days to arrange this interview and hours of waiting. If you live in a city without an embassy, you will need to make travel arrangement for this interview. Just for the inconvenience, company executives now avoid US destinations for business meetings.

  These executives stay in 5-star hotels and play golfs. They and their entourage spend lots of money during those trips: air-fare, car rentals, hotel, entertainment, power-lunches, shopping, etc. These trips are so lucrative that US government wants less of them.

• For normal tourists, the process is equally gruesome, with additional insult and disrespect added. The interviewing process assume all applicants are either terrorist or will jump-ship after they enter the country. The profiling pattern is obvious: single women are usually denied, since they will try to marry an American or get engaged in, huh, profitable but not legal businesses; elders are not good, they will cling on their kids and suck the social welfare provided by the generous US government. No significant assets in China? Clearly you are not coming back. Hesitant in answering the questions? You are hiding something. Not fluent in English? Why are you going then? Very fluent? You have been preparing this. Why?

  Sigh, sigh, sigh. Would this process really deter real terrorists? Are their easier ways to become an illegal immigrant than submitting a visa application for tourism? The US government seems to want less tourists, at least not from shopping mania countries like China.

• The US is experiencing historically high trade inbalance. They imported way more than exported. Letting foreigners into the country to spend money may help. Do you think?

• Recently, President Bush attempted the new immigration bill that, among other objectives, will legalize about 100 millions illegal immigrants who are already in the country.

The US does not want people who can generate domestic wealth or bring money into the country to spend. It treats everyone either as a terrorist suspect or one so envious of US lifestyle to jump ship. The government erects filters that keep out those it should welcome and allows those it dose not.

Is this puzzling to you too?