the waiting is the hardest part - Thirdway

THE WA ITING IS T HE HA R D E S T PART We’ve all pulled a number to wait in line at the DMV. But even on the worst of days, that wait is measured in minutes or hours. For people waiting to legally immigrate to America, the line is about 5.5 million people long and can last as many as 24 years. These decades-long waits are one of the key ways our broken system encourages illegal immigration. Passing tough, fair, and practical immigration reform (like the Senate-passed bill) will fix the problem once and for all—so the choice isn’t between standing in line for two decades or breaking the law.

FELIX brother of U.S. citizen from the Philippines

24

HECTOR

NUELA

son of U.S. citizen sister of U.S. citizen from Mexico from Mexico

20

17

SHAKIB

YING

skilled worker from India

Ph.D. holder from China

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YEAR APPLIED ON THE RADIO ON TV IN THEATERS IN THE NEWS

Featured immigrants are fictional, representative amalgams based on actual immigration wait time data. Immigration wait time data from U.S. Department of State (http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5953.html). Total number of pending applications from USA Today, 6/23/13 (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/23/millions-of-immigrants-waiting-for-green-cards/2450461/). © 2013 Third Way. Free for re-use with attribution/link. Infographic by Bill Rapp, Sarah Trumble, and Clare Jackson. http://www.thirdway.org