My letter to Senator Arlen Specter in support of McCain-Kennedy
Please use this letter as a template if you wish, contact as many Senators and Congressmen as you can. Replace the x's, y's, z's etc and modify the language slightly so that all letters don't look the same.
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Senator Specter,
I really appreciate the important work that you are doing in the US Senate on behalf of Pennsylvania residents. This letter is to tell you that the immigration system to the United States is broken, and to appeal to you to work with Senators MacCain and Kennedy to fix it.
I am a prospective immigrant to the United States. I have lived in the US since xxxx, and have a xxx degree in xxx from xx University. I have worked for xxx in Y town, Z State, for over x years, and have risen to the position of xxx. I have been doing my part to contribute to the American economy, both with my career, and with my Social Security and Federal and State taxes.
My employer filed for labor certification (the first step in the Green Card process) in xx date, to start the permanent residency application process for me. However, this application is now at a backlog elimination center in Philadelphia, with no estimates as to its adjudication. Over 300,000 applications are pending at the backlog centers, with most of them being applications from illegal and out-of-status workers who were allowed to enter the mainstream under Section 245(i) of the immigration statutes in 2001. These workers will also use up the visa numbers to immigrate to the United States for years to come, delaying the applications of honest taxpayers and contributors to the US economy. At the current pace, it will take me over 10 years to get a green card.
Since my application for a green card is tied to a job, I cannot get a significant promotion in my job since that would force a fresh application and move me to the end of the immigration line. It is a shame that to advance in a career would mean to retrograde in the immigration line.
Senators McCain and Kennedy propose to increase the visa numbers available for immigrants. They also propose to let some workers self-sponsor themselves for green cards, without being tied to a job. This is a laudable concept, and would free workers such as myself to pursue our careers, to advance in our careers and still hold our places in the immigration line.
I appeal to you to work with Senators McCain and Kennedy on the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, HR 2330. Please increase American immigration visa numbers. Please allow honest workers to self-sponsor themselves for green cards instead of relying on an employer.
Sincerely,
Your name here
